Xenophon created the Cyropaedia in the 4th century B.C, a semi-factual work about Cyrus the Great.  In some tangental link, I have been trying to compile my own encyclopaedia of my ideas and inspirational images for over a year now, using the Cyrus Garden Blog as  the framework on which to hang it. Everytime I get nearer the end it concertinas out like a long, metal Slinky, revealing more ideas, more images more of interest. And whether to stay in print format or go with the digital-only version, goodness knows.  My latest attempt is to simply cover the letters A to D as a first volume, with a severly implemented cut-off point beyond which no new subjects will be included.


Perhaps it is more of a compendium or a directory or an inventory than an encyclopaedia? 
Encyclopaedia: Origin; mid 16th cent.: modern Latin, from pseudo-Greek enkuklopaideia for enkuklios paideia ‘all-around education.’ My book certainly won't be 'all-round' but decidedly 2 or 3 sided, partial and with large gaps in it.

Nicola Naismith sent me this image from a shop front in Norwich. Perhaps an alternative model for the book?

Guernsey Docks

Two postcards of White Rock Pier from my growing collection that I am itching to make some work from but cannot until I resolve my A to Z book of my work, or at the moment A to D. I have been working on it for more than a year and just cannot get to an end point or even a point that feels middling like a comma or a pause for breath.

Reconstructing A Garden for Cyrus

I spent today in the freezing studio bringing a lush garden back to the parched ground surrounding the card image of Cyrus The Great's tomb. Perhaps not the original chahar bagh, but there are trees for shade, a few flowers and even a pool for reflection (albeit reflecting a garden pavilion from elsewhere).  I feel inspired to make Cyrus some more gardens, but the rule is that I must only use postcards and that was my one Cyrus tomb image.