vivdunstan

Absolutely brilliant Capercaillie gig tonight in Perth. Huge thanks to all the band, celebrating 40 years together. Karen Matheson’s voice was sublime as always. But I loved how their strength as an instrumental Scottish folk group was also highlighted. Normally accordionist me is glued to Donald Shaw’s virtuoso playing. Thanks muchly from an old timer for playing Calum’s Road! But tonight I was most wowed by Charlie McKerron‘s fiddle playing. I’m a very long lapsed fiddler too, and his playing was epic. Absolutely brilliant treat. All the best for the remaining concerts.

It was a really big step for us to go to this, since the start of Covid, and how much iller I’ve got neurologically in recent years. But it went brilliantly, and we’re so very grateful to have been able to go. Both of us have loved Capercaillie’s music since 1989/90. We last saw them in concert in Edinburgh in 1997 or 1998. Seeing them again was special.

Finally arrived, my hardback copy of The Hobbit translated into Scottish Gaelic. Looks superb, and includes Tolkien’s original full page illustrations.

The printing/delivery was slow. I ordered two weeks ago. But finally have it! There's no way I can read the text consistently yet. My Gaelic learning is still much too rudimentary. But viewing it as a life goal!

Our current viewing. Hoolie in the Hydro, recorded live in Glasgow just the other night. Fab traditional Scottish music line up, including Capercaillie, Mànran and Talisk among others. I think BBC ALBA are airing it in two parts, last night and then the rest between Christmas and the New Year. Here is the link to part 1.

I dug this out again, and had a go drawing some cards. Here are the ones I drew tonight.



Note this is not any standard layout or spread, just something I drew up impulsively. I wanted to draw more than 3 cards, but not too many more. In particular I wanted enough that I could choose to ignore some if I wanted. Equally I don't want cards in particular positions to have any special significance. So it's 5 cards drawn, at random, of which I can choose to ignore several in my musings, if they don't feel right for me now.

The artwork is gorgeous. It's woodblock based, by Spanish artist Tomas Hijo. On the downside the Minor Arcana cards are mostly just pips-style, like ordinary playing cards, so lacking individual illustrations. But the court cards have proper individual illustrations, as do the Major Arcana.

The biggest downside for me using this deck is that the accompanying guide is akin to a foldout map/poster rather than a little booklet as you often get with Tarot decks. I can ignore that guide, using other references for help with interpretations. But I do like the extra information the foldout guide has relating the cards to the Lord of the Rings theme. And I don't want to miss those. I could easily see me getting tired of battling with the foldout poster though.

Here are the 5 cards I drew tonight:

Top left - The World (The Fellowship)
Middle - The Fool (Frodo)
Top right - The Eight of Rings (the deck replaces Pentacles with Rings)
Bottom left - Justice (Legolas)
Bottom right - The Magician (Gandalf)

Of these Eight of Rings relates to study and learning. I'd like to use that to remind me that I need to return to my Gaelic language study. It's easy to keep meaning to do something in future, but never get round to it in a reasonable time. I need to make a deliberate effort to prioritise this.

Frodo's Fool card relates to great opportunities being offered, the chance of an exciting adventure. This doesn't resonate with me at the moment. I am too limited, even considering more cerebral adventures. And trapped for now in a never-ending cycle of many extended neurological flares. But it's a gorgeous card.

The Fellowship card is, if anything, even more gorgeous. The guide with the cards suggest this is about having nearly reached a goal, and a sense of community. Well this does resonate. IFComp 2024 is going to open for judging in a fortnight. I have a new game all finished, entered and ready for the competition. And I am really looking forward to taking part in the closed IFComp authors' community on the IF forum this year. Just excited about it to be honest, however my game fares. Which is a nice place to be in.

Justice - which I thought at first glance was Faramir not Legolas, yes I missed his ears! - seems to be about keeping your vision true and clear. Which I could apply to lots of things. But I'm rather in a muddle of different projects and interests at the moment. And it doesn't really resonate.

The last card, a gorgeous Gandalf illustration for the Magician, reminds me that I need to think of others and not just my own priorities. Obviously paramount in this is Martin, supporting him. But also my friends and family. We hope to have a visit soon from in-laws. Which will be lovely. That's using the interpretation provided in the guide for this deck, rather than a more traditional one.

So 5 cards drawn very loosely, and of those 3 resonated with my current situation a lot. I *adore* the art, though that's on the fully illustrated cards. The simpler pips based cards are disappointing. And I could definitely see the foldout guide becoming a menace. I might have to convert that into a different format. But an interesting experience drawing these.

And yes, I really need to sort out a Tarot/oracle card icon for posts like these!