Wanderings

Goosander, Water of Leith by Murrayfield Stadium

I had intended to go swimming today but felt quite fatigued (the hormone treatment is still active in my system and will be for a few weeks yet) so I decided to go for a walk instead. As it happened I ended up walking 13.3km (8.25 miles) to Dean Village and back along the Water of Leith Walkway. It’s a walk I know well and like very much. I keep my eye open for wildlife, especially dippers and kingfishers and the outside chance of an otter. None of those today though there was an audible but invisible woodpecker. I also let my mind and thoughts wander.

And wander they did.

For some reason it occured to me that 50 years ago, in 1976, I was, or should have been, working towards my Highers at school. At the time I was studying Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Engineering Drawing, Art and English. At the end of that school year I had acceptances from Glasgow and Strathclyde universities for courses including Applied Physics and Mechanical Engineering. In the end, I completely changed my mind and returned for sixth year, initially studying English, Art, French and Latin. I dropped the Art for additional French.

That fifth year in 1975/6 included one of the few things a teacher said that I can remember clearly as if it were only said moments ago. Higher Art and Design included a module on the history and appreciation of art. One day, while we were considering one of the impressionists, I forget which one now, I said, in the way that only 16-year-olds can, that I didn’t like the work of one of them. ‘Laddie,’ said Mr Bennett, ‘ Yer no’ here tae like it, yer here tae appreciate it.’ One of the most profound and long-lasting lessons in all my school life.

I thought too about the post I made the other day about the persistence of quiet faith and remembered something I noticed in China some years ago. Buddhism is generally tolerated rather than encouraged by Chinese authorities, especially in places where tourist income can be generated. But the Buddha is everywhere when you look and become attuned to it, and more often than not small statues become small personal shrines, even in Beijing (which I wrote about here). Memorably, there is a large room in the magnificent National Museum of China on Tiananmen Square devoted to statues and images of the Buddha, and it is noticeable that these usually attract small devotional offerings. Again, faith persists.

It persists too in some of the odd things that are known to appear along the Water of Leith Walkway, workings in wood and string and feathers that may or may not be amateur folk art but also give off a distinct hint of paganism.

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I have a current YouTube obsession with the channel of Ben Maton, the Salisbury Organist. Ben was an Organ Scholar at St Peter’s College, Oxford and, unlike Anna Lapwood who is known for playing grand organs that respond to the merest touch of the keys, he focuses on playing small instruments in village churches that may or may not have been well-maintained. I hate to use the ‘A’ word but there is an authenticity about Ben’s videos and a gentleness that I really like. I have no idea about Ben’s faith because he never mentions it, but it doesn’t really matter.

I’ve embedded four videos below, one playing Elgar in his birthplace, one playing Vaughn Williams in Down Ampney, one playing a tiny organ in Compton Valance, Dorset, and one in which he is a child in a toyshop at the console of the organ of Wells Cathedral supporting the organ restoration fund (watch out for his smile at 13’39.)