Kilmartin in the summer, part 1.

Kilmartin, on the Scottish West Coast, is home to ancient standing stones, burial cairnes, Scottish kings of yore, thousands of species of plants and animals, and also to Chris Carr, a talented fanfic writer and artist.

Jenni Debbage, another talented fanfic writer, and I were invited to stay for a week with her (just this past week) and I jumped at the chance. A mini FOLC fest, right enough, though with a less emphasis on LnC. I drove through Dundee to pick Jenni up last Saturday and we made our way across the highlands from the east coast to the west coast, stopping by a loch for Jenni to have tea and me to stretch my legs.

By the time we reached Chris's, it was fairly late and we just basically chilled out. They were so sweet to wait with me till it was time for sunset and we could sit down to dinner. I don't think they understood how much I appreciated their actions for they didn't have to do that. Because of the long drive, Jenni and I were tired and slept early.

By the next morning, the sun was shining and the day began gloriously. You cannot appreciate how fresh the air is out there unless you're from the city. So, with a gloriously sunny day, fresh air, and an art event in Argyll (http://www.artmapargyll.com/index.html) that day, we went to immerse ourselves in art. The first to be visited was Fraser MacIver (http://www.frasermaciver.com/), a real character. He lives along the Crinan Canal in a wagon, without all the creature comforts we take for granted. While we were there, I was fascinated by this painting he had of different planets. I really wished I had the money but for a hundred quid, it was out of my price range. Anyway, he showed us how he printed some of the smaller prints.

By the time we finished at his place, we walked back to Crinan Hotel where Chris parked the car. After Chris and Jenni had lunch, we checked out two more artists who were showing in the hotel. From there, we went up to visit another artist who was showing near Tayvallich. What was great was that his hosts were artists themselves and the wife's work is mainly in posters for Shakespear's plays. Impressive collection and Jenni fell in love with a Richard III poster which included a sweet horse and a fallen crown in black and white with a splash of red for the rubies.

Our last stop of the day was at Kilmichael Glassary where Louise Oppenheimer a weaver was showing her work and sharing her workshop space with Melanie Chmielewska, a scuplture. Both of them really impressed me with their works and patience. Louise does not use any loom but painstakingly weave the threads together from a frame. Melanie whose sculptures take my breath away works with stone and uses the simplest tools of chisel and hammer to create sculptures which felt soft and alive. I have a feeling that Chris will one day commission a work from her. The first day ended with a lovely dinner and cakes that Jenni brought.

The next day turned out to be opposite of Sunday, with overcast skies and frequent showers. Since Chris needed to visit the doctor in the hospital, we decided to go into Lochgilphead and visit a few more artists while waiting for her appointment. I was impressed with the glass work of Kirsty Brady. Then, while waiting for Chris, I took a stroll into the woodlands near the hospital and found some interesting stuff to photograph. I think one of the reasons why I enjoyed this visit is the great combination of walks and photography.

Tuesday was again another beautiful day though it started out with a bit of rain. Chris and Jenni decided to take me to see the gardens of Arduaine and Ardmaddy that day. Arduaine Garden (http://www.arduaine-garden.org.uk/) is spectacular; artfully wild, which I think was what they were aiming for. We met the head gardener on our way in and had a pleasant chat with him. Had some lovely photographs of various flowers and plants as well as scenic photographs of the west coast isles from various viewpoints. I really hope that they manage to save this lovely garden from closing. Ardmaddy Garden is definitely different from Arduaine. Ardmaddy is part of a castle and has formal and woodland gardens. However, even its woodland garden is not as rugged as Arduaine.

Wednesday, we stuck closer to Kilmartin, choosing to go see what the beavers, reintroduced back into the Knapdale forest last year, have been up to. Chris told us that they had their first young, born in the wild earlier this year and have already been damming up part of the forest. With Isabel, Chris's neighbour joining us, we headed out to the forest to see some of their handywork. While we didn't get to see the beavers themselves, their handywork is pretty impressive. They had gnawed through more trees than I expected, and the area was thoroughly flooded by the dam they built. The water was pretty deep at some places. I wonder if the partially submerged trees would ultimately die.

After that, we walked up to Bellanoch viewpoint. The walk was definitely worth it just for the breathtaking view of Loch Crinan and the River Add Estuary. And on this beautiful Wednesday, we were blessed with clear blue sky that allowed us to see the Isle of Mull. There is a sense of peace as the four of us sat down on the benches and gazed at the meandering river. If ever I wished I was a painter, this was it. No wonder Fraser painted it and Isabel is working on a drawing of it. The landscape inspires people to reach their innermost souls for that creative instinct. The photos I took can't do it justice.

Ramadhan is nearly here

Once again, Ramadhan is coming around. I pray that this Ramadhan would be a fruitful one for me. Funnily enough, this Ramadhan I will be travelling just as I travelled last year (to Munich) and the year before (to come to Edinburgh). Actually I think it is a kind of tradition for me to travel during Ramadhan for many years now. But insya Allah, I will try not fail in observing Ramadhan this year...

Poem: God's Gift

Sunrise and sunset,
time is a gift
that one rarely appreciates
until it is too late.

No service is done
by our headlong rush,
For God's gift of beauty
shall we likely miss.

Every breath is a gift,
A gift of life, of moments,
For who knows
when the journey's end.

Looking without,
searching within,
To seek the Truth,
A precious gift
for those with understanding.

The ultimate prize,
so illusive is it,
that rarely we attain,
God's gift of peace.

To my dearest grandmother,

You're meeting Allah today after being with us for so long...a gift from Him to those who know you. I wish I was there with you, but Mak Ngah said that you died peacefully in your sleep. I guess to a certain extend I would rather remember you as the grandmother of my youth.

I never got to tell you how I appreciate the love you gave us, even though we weren't of your blood. I remember the times when you would help Mom look after my siblings when they were born, and I'm sure you did the same for me. You were there for us during our growing up years and when we had to go through the painful time of losing Mom. You looked on with pride when I graduated and gave sound advice whenever I visited you.

I know you missed Mom so much that it triggered the early onset of alzheimers for you. But for all that, I know somewhere in you, you still remembered her and us. So, on this day, I thank God for you and ask Him to extend his Mercy, Love, Forgiveness to you.

Your eldest grandchild.

The Ka'abah

A few years ago, I had the privilege of being called upon to visit the House of Allah in a small pilgrimage (the umrah). In that visit, once I sat in front of the Ka'abah and spoke to it, the essence of which is encapsulated by the poem of Ibn 'Arabi:

"Oh Ka'ba of God, oh Zamzam, how strongly you demand my friendship, but no, no!
If I must get involved in a friendship with you, it is through compassion and not desire towards you.
The Ka'ba is nothing other than our essence, the essence of curtains of pious fear.
The True One is not contained by sky nor earth nor any word.
He appeared to the heart and said to it: Be patient! For it is the Qibla established by Us.
From Us to you and to your heart, towards the encounter with My house; how magnificent it is.
It is a duty for Our Ka'ba to love you and to love Us is a duty for you.
Enough!"

And I wonder if I had offended It by my questioning of its importance. So when I read Ibn Arabi's dialogue with the Ka'abah through the various poems he wrote on it, it called to me. So here are some of the poems of the wise teacher based on his "Love Letters to the Ka'abah."

"My heart took refuge in the sanctuary when it was struck by the arrows of the enemy.
Oh, clemency of God towards his servants, God placed you among the minerals.
Oh, House of my Lord, light of my heart, freshness of my eye, intimate friend of my heart.
Oh, heart's secret of true existence, oh my inviolability, purity of my love.
Oh, Qibla towards which I have turned each time I have camped, in each valley,
Of permanence, then of heaven; of extinction and of the cradle.
Oh, Ka'ba of God, oh my life, path to happiness and justice,
You are God's depository of the only safeguard against the terror of the final return.
The noble Station shines brightly in you, in you resides the servants' happiness.
In you is the Right Hand which my mistake has covered with a black mark.
In the place where we attach ourselves to you, he who perseveres with his amorous passion will know happiness on the Day when we are called.
Souls have died because of their desire for it (the Ka'ba), through the pains of longing and exile.
Because of its affliction for them it donned a mourning blanket.
God makes a light shine on its summit, which shines on the heart.
Only the afflicted whose eyes have suffered the Kohl of insomnia can perceive it.
It turns, seven after seven, after the fall of night to reply to the call.
It weeps endless tears, received in token by its passion, without weakening.
I heard it call out to the Stone for help: oh heart of mine!
The night quickly passed but my amorous passion was not appeased. "

And even more beautiful:

"My Ka'ba here before us is the heart of existence And My Throne is, for this heart, a limited body. My House, the one who contains Me, is your heart which I am watching, Deposited in your body, through which I bear witness."

Here, Ibn Arabi likens the Ka'abah to the heart of existence and links it to our own hearts which are also receptacles of Allah's divine presence/love as stated in the hadith: "Neither My sky nor My earth contain me; only the heart of my believing servant contains me."

The beauty and the honour of the Ka'abah is then apparent; as the sanctuary of our hearts. Perhaps, even the one through which Allah unites the hearts of the believers...the Heart of hearts. So, a Being of stones, minerals, and motar, whose "Noble Station" shines brightly, links with us through the connection of the hearts and of love of the Creator who created both Houses.

I hope that in this I shall not make the same mistake if the Ka'abah beckons again and the invitation is issued.