James King, Eamonn and Friends

Rachel from London was in Derry for the day having spent the weekend at a performance art gathering in Belfast.

Upon entering the Foyleside shopping centre Rachel noticed the sign 101 SANTAS. Not realizing that this referrred to a publicity stunt the previous weekend we decided to check out the accuracy of this claim. While Rachel took the commanding role of Counter I ,as amanuensis (what a wonderful word for secretary), kept a written record .

In the first shop window a screen made of Xmas wrapping paper had 325 Santas, so we were off to a good start. Does a picture of a Santa count as a Santa? Does a man dressed in a Santa claus outfit count as a Santa? What would Magritte say? (see Bulletin number * of the **th Splobril 1874).

Who cares? Well I suppose nurses do. Santas came in all forms, materials (including chocolate) sizes, colours and designs. These included, "One fat one, 10 Skiing Santas, 18 Highland Santas, 1 Posing Santa, 20 Traditional Santas, 9 Rootin' tootin Santas. We stopped at 534.

Leaving the Foyleside we took turns a leading each other in Follow the Leader before chalking on Shipquay Street. We took it turns to write words on the ground in response to the environment and each other's statements. Sometimes we added on to each other's words. eg. Rachel drew an arrow pointing to a shallow drain which bisected the pavement, and chalked WHERE NOW? Nearby, at the pavement kerb, I wrote BE- WARE HERE.

Come to think of it Rachel was into drains and the drainage system. She labelled a drainpipe TUNNEL OF LOVE - which was very appropriate if you consider how the outlet of a drainpipe suggests the dark unknown of the Funfair favourite. She also titled a manhole cover FEELING DRAINED. I was pleased with WIRE YOU HERE? after framing a small piece of copper wire with a spiralling circle. Noticing a fallen leaf in the centre of a flagstone I wrote, LEAF ME ALONE. I applied one of our standard phrases, BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER to a wide spread of dog dirt at the base of a tree.

In between our writing we walked in slow motion until the next opportunity presented itself. I noticed that this enabled me to focus upon my surroundings. eg I heard the steady gentle drip of water from the base of a drainpipe as I observed the velveteen green of moss on the side of an adjacent step.

Here I wrote , LISTEN TO THE MOSS. Rachel modified this to: LISTEN TO THEM MOSSY. To end we responded to the falling rain by going for a late lunch.