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Time marches. Sometimes on hot coals, other times on pillows. Either way, it does.And while it does, tides turn, whispering in my ear the significance of the turn on an arcade sixpence.

Since my last entry, I have put together a book of poems, a handful of which have been previously published. The decision to self publish was not an easy one. I understand that I surrounded by the market reputations of publishing houses, but then, with the advent of the Ebook eclipsing paper, what is there to lose in this life?

The truly excellent Shamshad Khan has very kindly offered me a launch night.

http://www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk/event/2011-03-28_all-irish-poems-under-sun


the book itself is called a Million Ways to Measure the Sun, and is I feel, the book I had to get out of my system in order that I move forward and develop as a writer. I have to say thanks to the many people who have assisted me along the way, am smiling as i type, for all their individualities, and presence of mind, whether it be about semi-colon placement, or the subtleties of Pagan thought enclosures, or the consideration of consideration, my thanks to you all. And of course, to Nihad Wicho for his art for the cover of the book - Nihad's work can be found on Facebook, and his work i admire very much, a true artist.


http://www.lulu.com/browse/search.php?search_forum=-1&search_cat=2&show_results=topics&return_chars=200&search_keywords=&keys=&header_search=true&search=&locale=&sitesearch=lulu.com&q=&fListingClass=0&fSearch=steve+garside&fSubmitSearch.x=0&fSubmitSearch.y=0


Outside of this book, i have been quietly gathering new material, and falling into the musical arms of Radiohead's new album, King Of Limbs, and considering a ghost story.


stay tuned for more rock n roll...

Epicurus plots a course for The Craven.

Over the Summer months, I read a book. The book was about philosophy. More specifically, the consolations which can be drawn from the philosophical teachings of great minds, now found bound on coffee shop shelves and echoed in bus stop conversations.

One of the thinkers noted in the book was a guy called Epicurus. For this greek bloke, living a fulfilled and contented life need only the presence of good food, good friends an other such related aspects of goodery.

Having been a pupil of the school of window gazing as a child, I was simply not interested in the lofty ideals of bearded heads. However, I have since had chance to grow my own beard(s), and so I realise that such learnings from antiquity have a very sheer relevance today.



Good food and congruent company is a full-stop must, if venturing out beyond the squabble of cheap booze shops, crowned with Orwellian cameras, is to be considered a worthy cause.

If Epicurus was alive today, I have no doubt that he would indeed plot course for 'The Craven', where he would find generous portions of Spanish and English dishes, friendly service, and also discover an elegant and contemporary interior - a further non-negotiable experiential when dining out with friends, lovers, family or colleagues.



It goes without saying then, that I am exceptionally pleased that the owner, Mrs Catherine Walsh, gifted me the opportunity to hang my artwork on the walls of her excellent tapas restaurant.



Yesterday, with my good friend Mr Rush, we placed and wall mounted the paintings and photographs - the finishing touches on what has indeed been an interesting year. For me, it is a year which has in some ways crowned the effort and learning I have invested in painting and other artistic mediums to date. Knowing now that my artwork furnishes a space where great food, great service and welcome company can be found, finds me very content in this moment.

So - if you want to escape the couch of mediocrity this Christmas, then...



The Craven, 7 Broad Lane, Rochdale OL16 4PG, England -

TEL 01706 750 600

... is more than worth a visit.

furthermore...

windows are beginning to fascinate...

putting a set list together for Friday, i did the TV recording on Saturday - first take - though i have yet to see the film- watch this space.

Also putting together a collection of poems from the stuff i have written to date

tis cold this morning, not to worry we have an extra day off next year...

leaving the books

Over ten years ago i painted my first pictures.

It didn't matter to me then about art history, technique, form etc - i just wanted to paint.

However, when the first wave had passed, i realised what I had been painting was indeed connected to artists whose work i had the fortune to stand in front of.

So I started buying books and learning about artists I admired.

And now - it's full circle time - i know a little bit about a little bit; perhaps enough to be a half decent escort (must spend more time getting to know one wine from another).

Here is one of a series of new paintings which i completed recently - to me this constitutes moving on from the last ten years, taking only the feelings and painting them over and over again.