masala chai

I didn't realise I'd missed my chai on the run stops till I had my first cup on Tuesday morning.
The hot sweet tea, the rough terracotta cup, standing and sipping. A quick pick-me-up.

It's great to be back here in Kolkata, though my time is not so leisurely as before. It's full steam ahead. We begin installing for the exhibition on Tuesday, with four days to complete, and it opens on Saturday 6th Feb, which is also Dominic's birthday.

I'm going into Harrington Street Art Centre this afternoon, to measure up the fireplace and make a template for the velvet spill. Still sewing.

red sea

Bags packed, somewhat overweight.

Contents:

25 kg of glass

6 metres red velvet, gathered and stitched

1 pair scissors

pins

thread - pink and red

Clothes, shoes, yoga mat, notebooks

Heaven's Edge by Romesh Gunesekera,

laptop (almost).

Arriving Kolkata 7.30 pm tonight.

Twelve days till the opening of 'Stains on my Chintz'.

ghost in the machine

no diversion, no distraction

says the sewing machine oracle

no zig zag, no reverse

straight stitch only

going forward

afloat

5,000 or 1,000 invisible objects ... sea or air ... somewhere afloat on the Indian Ocean.