      People   |
in Newport, Wales. including celebrations such as weddings, baby welcomings and memorials.  News items move here as they get older to become records. The most recent part at the top here is the same on the homepage.. So look down for older stories. To start from the beginning of the House Morgain story see here (bottom of this page).
July 2007 July heen a BIG month with lots getting done. But it didn't start out looking like that at all. At first down to very few workers again and worse a whole series of people who didn't turn up as promised. When someone doesn't turn up as arranged it wrecks the day's arrangements for the Morgain family themselves so cuts down what they can do. People also hadn't realised that as time passed by bills still have to be paid and this is pointless for an empty unused building. Response was a warning call: either the basics get covered by shared work NOW or the project will be switched to commercial use. People responded valiantly. Colin came to stay for a whole week and steadily fixed, assembled, sanded down, cleared up, painted etc etc etc ending with - to his own surprise - starting our first mural. By now Colin is much loved as an Elder of the House. Kim returned with Steve, our indefatigaible CUPS friends, bringing Lucy to join the team. The Dance Room was almost finished painting due to their big effort. Gillean and Gareth of Devon popped up and added their bit to the walls too. Francis of Oxford arrived with long flowing white hair + beard and a twinkling smile. What a guy! At almost 80 he flashed round the kitchen painting most of it before dashing away again! Meanwhile Shan, now getting a lot stronger, painted a fair bit of the hall. The new front door will have arrived by the end of the month: oak, stable type split door with window in top half. A dragon door knocker awaits. Tal descended from on high and flexed the famous mighty muscles to paint the Dance Room ceiling. Tal as the son of the House, has of course done many contributions, carrying, fetching, clearing and background work but does have to be summoned from the heavenly levels if needed. Tracey made a fleeting visit but nonetheless added her bit to a wall. Steve returned yet again bless him to lug out loads of rubbish. He introduced us to Helen who patched walls ready for mural painting and learned a little Morgain philosophy at the same time. Together with Colin, Steve investigated the Hot Tub which was unpacked, analysed and first stage assembled. It was John's birthday July 22 so characteristically John enjoyed himself cooking a feast for all (see pics page)
Meanwhile Sofia the Siberian is enjoying pregancy as it means prawns for tea. Lammas kitties ... [Later] And so it proved when on July 26 Sofia laboured through the night until at dawn she brought forth her last and third Kitten! Mother is very proud and happy, kittens unusually big and strong with long legs and tails - Siberian style. Our trusty team at Aquarius Maintenance came and installed a magnificent new boiler, the biggest combi on the market. Hot water on command - bliss! and thermostats so heating can be turned on in the room being used but not wasted elsewhere. A big anxiety about bills is now covered.
Finish off a last few bits of painting in the activity rooms (not much left now at all). To lay oak floors in activity rooms (mostly click together boards except some cutting around edges). Hang curtains. Make velvet covers for floor cushions. Get Hot Tub going? Sort out the lighting switches madness? Strip lounge of old thin wallpaper and paint white. Most of these walls are not full height due to fitted couches. Possibly get Sauna going? - needs a shower installed, hot/cold feeds ready. June 2007 What shall we do with all this sheep's fleece left over from the demolition a sad story left behind? said I. Trusty John replied have some spinning classes so that afternoon what did I find in a junk shop but an old spinning wheel - no teacher yet any offers?  Met some more neighbours, nice people who promised the dance stereo was no problem for them. No no the sheep pic is about the spinning bit the neighbours are just as nice but wholly human. The painting has started so Dance room whitens into space full of light - as yet MORE velvet curtains arrive. Plus huge ivory silks for the arch across the main lounge. More gothic candle sconces. Some clocks on order ... Ebay has a lot to answer for!
But the big lesson out of this was that this HAS to go forward as a shared work - your hands in it makes it OUR place not just a provided package by me. So I learn to hold the vision and wait for when you can all make it.
As if that isn't enough to hum the web of the universe a mere week or so later and Lorri & Dave are talking of moving over here for a year from America to help us get established. Dave's an ace engineer, straight talking, strong and clearsighted. Lorri is a lady of ferocity, wisdom and tenderness all woven up in practicality - expect miracles and magic! Oh and four huge dogs so the cat cult will be seriously challenged. New oak front door ordered, hand made, stable type with window in top half to light the hall. Elaborate brass fittings including dragon stuff natch! John fitted intercom so deliveries can get us to the door and not run away before we get there - it's a long way! New oak door to Dance Room. The kitchen is operating thanks to Aris and his team, and some lovely shared dinners already.
One more week of our lovely students in our little online school and summer holidays open up with lots more time for House Morgain. May 2007 At the moment we are renovating the building. We are holding regular workdays on Sundays when we get together, do some work, play good music, dance a bit maybe, snack as we go and finish with a tasty supper together. House Morgain thanks especially Tracey, and Kim and CUPS members for their huge work input. These are the people who are making House Morgain happen - Also many Ebayers! Plus Keith & Phil the van men; Ian the builder. Tina. Malcolm the lawyer and the Lowless staff. Omar. Aris and Jamal for plumbing.
SAT 28 Viv our diamond of clarity, visited and smiled at us, characteristically unfazed by our exhaustion and all the chaos. Backstory -------------------- January 4 2007 The deal is agreed to buy the old workingmen's club. The legal business begins including changing the name and checking its listed building status. A long anxious time of uncertainty followed because Welsh/ English property law won't grant a buyer any security at all until the very end of long months of slow paperwork. Lorri especially held us through this time. December 4 2007 Weds December 13 2006 Visiting another possibility near Newport was a big disappointment. "Let's go and look at the other one while we're out - it's not far" Shan said so as not to waste the trip - we set out with bright hope that day. So we did and as it was a business the club was open. As soon as we set foot in the garden and walked to the door it felt so RIGHT. Then as we went round looking at its huge spacious rooms the possibilities spun our minds. We looked at each other and said "OH YES!" Meanwhile Tal read a warhammer book but graciously consented to approve the project. Furious research followed - Location so people could find us easily - A-OK 100%. Games Workshop - vital for Tal - yes. Good hospital - yes. Shopping - yes. Swimming for health - yes. Parking not brilliant but manageable with care. The history of the house emerged as a fascination. GO! November 2006 By now the Monday nights at Jawahir in Newport were a family fixture in our week Tal had started at the new Circus college in Cardiff the same evening. So every Monday John faithfully ferried his loved ones to their personal hours of happiness, waiting in the car and collecting us both to go home again. One night John looked over Shan's shoulder at the property searches online, and then at the car map she had open to check locations. Monmouth, Abergavenny, Chepstow, Shirenewton ... We didn't want to go far another big move was too much to contemplate, just out of the next county where we languished in durance vile . John said "You know considering how the M4 is a fast road Newport is a possibility for people to get to us" in that dreamy voice that often means deeper wisdom is working. He drifted away from the computer desk he had built. By now Newport was very much part of our family geography. So ... Shan found the old workingmen's club. No said John the pragmatist "... doesn't look like a pleasant location; I hadn't thought of going back into the city life." The search continued. April 2006 Shan gathered courage and emailed Laila the Director of Jawahir dancers who completely encouraged her hope with great understanding and kindness. John drove her to the classes in Newport and agonised by weakness and struggle she kept going. Jawahir teachers helped her every step of the way. Something beautiful and worthwhile entered this grisly time and began to work its gentle but powerful magic. March 2006 At the Monmouth Women's Festival we saw JAWAHIR and were transfixed! A whirl of colour vigour laughter and grace. Belly dance yes but so much more, an ancient tradition of magic music and movement evolving through into the most futuristic techno sound and style, dancers of all ages from children to grandmothers together. Shan especially was transported. Secretly at home that night she peeped at their website. Could I possibly ... after being ill for so long? No - crazy idea impossible dream, 2002 - 2006 The attempt to start a gathering place for our far flung network failed. Life was grim, living among spiteful neighbours under a corrupt Council. Trapped, literally persecuted, hammered, unable to move - enmeshed in bureaucratic paper trails, we were deeply unhappy. Shan searched property listings late at night online as a desperate way to nurture the fantasy of a new life somewhere different. She and John were ill, depressed, weakened; Tal withdrew into cyberspace. 2001 John Shan & Tal left London to live in a country cottage with a huge garden. A peaceful life we thought to regain health for the elders after hardworking years, and a lively country life for Tal. We couldn't have been more wrong! It was hell. Membership of House Morgain is by personal acquaintance with the owner, Shan Morgain. If you don't know an existing member to introduce you then you can contact Shan yourself and start getting acquainted. |
