Seals and Lord of the Rings

This month is the 20th anniversary for the cinematic release of Peter Jackson’s Fellowship of the Ring, the first film in his exceptional Lord of the Rings trilogy. That means it’s 20 years since I queued outside the Camden Odeon driving my family mad because we hadn’t anticipated how early we would need to arrive to get good seats. The following year, for the release of Two Towers, we arrived at least an hour early and I sat unmoving outside the door to the screen as the lobby below filled until it was a sea of people.

I have been celebrating the anniversary in the best way I know how, re-watching all three extended editions and the 6 DVD discs of special features. Next I plan to reread the books.

Lord of the Rings is one of the enduring loves of my life. I first read the books in about 1998. I have dyslexia and read slowly, so you can imagine how long it look my childhood self to read these epic tomes. After the first time, I read them once a year for years. I took them to university with me as my safety blanket. I have multiple editions including some incredible second edition bought for me by my sister. One of my aims in life is to own a set of first editions.

Lord of the Rings is a quest narrative. The quest is one of the oldest narrative forms in the world and can essentially be boiled down to the characters need to see something, do something, experience something, or discover something.

So much of who I am has been informed by my love for Lord of the Rings not least my desire to journey, to quest, to see, do, experience and discover for myself. To know the natural world around me in an intimate and real way. To find the good and to fight for it.

Last week my van had its maiden voyage. A friend of Mums came and drove us all, Gem included, to Godrevy to see the seals. I cannot imagine a more perfect first mini adventure. Climbing out of my van and walking until I was standing on the cliff tops looking down at a beach positively covered in one of my favourite animals. There were so many of them, sleeping, occasionally lifting their heads to scratch, surfing in the waves.

Godrevy is an interesting. It is gentle and manicured, trimmed grass and easy paths. There is very little wild left in this piece of land except for the seals. For though their big soft eyes might seem familiar, and their friendly behaviour means we often compare them to dogs, these creatures are wild to their core.

That is what I want to find in the world beyond the doors of my van: the deep and rich wild of the natural world. The ancient wild, like Tolkien’s Ents who awaken to fight the destruction of their world. I dream of opening my van doors to discover something new and wonderful beyond. I dream of using my art to fight for what I have discovered.

Today is the Winter Solstice, the longest night. From here the nights will begin to shorten, the days get longer, the light return. Last night I walked around the Lost Gardens of Heligan, lit up by incredible flowers and animals, a true celebration of the reawakening of the Earth from winters sleep. Towering foxgloves and giant owls filled the night, art reminding us of the living world, inspiring exclamations of awe around every corner.

I will be building my van throughout this winter, knowing that the nights are get shorter and watching as the first flowers begin to appear. I am feeling excited once again, my dream renewed by seals and Lord of the Rings.

So, I wish you all a Happy Solstice Folks, and if you haven’t watched Jackson’s masterpiece I cannot recommended it highly enough.

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