The Retreat
The retreat is close upon us and I am excited and nervous about choreographing and holding together a big group of people. We are watching 'The Chair' and it reminds me of being Head of ESRI and having to work with people as people and go with who they are. In Dorset I held these Shed Events:
1. One with Naturalist Sean and his partner Lynn who is a Dormice specialist and their daughter who rescues animals and my aunt Margaret and me and Molly and Joy. We had vegetarian Chili to eat, and in the middle of eating Sean went rushing into the wood and said, Kate, this is why I love this wood, this is a coppiced Ash that was coppiced over a hundred years ago. It is still alive and not dying like many of the Ash Trees in this wood. We went over and it was there, like a cave but still growing.
2. One with Bill and Rebecca to say thank you - I gave Bill Jon Drori Around the World in 80 Trees and the Richard Mabey book on trees and Feral by George Monbiot. We ate kebabs and Bill talked to me about how the shed was a portal into the wood - it was a way to live in the wood and the sun came into the cabin and lit it up. I met Jon Drori later and he sat in my shed but he said we should have had whiskey and tea to offer.
This is my uncle sleeping in the camp bed. He told us stories about the trees he planted and how many of them died, but you have to allow trees to die, as well as celebrate those who survive. He is 82 and very alive. He cut his fingers off in a chain saw but he is fine and is off to Germany to go down the Mosel.
What I learned about leadership from running ESRI is that listening to people is the most important thing and also appreciating them. I need to appreciate the people who have given their time up to come. I am glad you are artist in residence and we will do the tree thing but maybe it wasn't the right time and when the time comes, it will work.
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