Three years ago today, we sadly had to say our last goodbyes to this amazing man and true friend, Vernon Levy. I may add more about him one day (as there is so much to add), but right now I just want to say how much all of us at Guru miss him. He was a true friend and a great teacher to so many. We (and I suspect all who had the pleasure of meeting him), think of him often and always will.
The picture below is admittedly a bit cheesy but it puts me in mind of the wonderful bond I had with my best doggie friend, Lucky. He was a rescue dog and in a bit of a state when I first met him. I sat on the floor and put my arm around him (just as the girl in the image is doing), and that was it… We bonded and I just knew he and I were going to be friends for life. Due to his paws being in a terrible mess (from trying to tunnel his way out of the filthy locked pen where he had been kept with several other quite aggressive dogs), I had to carry him most of the way to the vets. That was no mean feat (as he was an Alsatian cross and quite large), but it was worth it as they fixed him up and he was soon physically on the mend. Mentally he took longer to heal. He never even barked for almost two years and would cower if anyone so much as raised a hand or rolled a newspaper up in his presence. Eventually, he learned to trust us and became the most lively loving dog one could imagine. We shared our lives for over fourteen happy years. I used to say he was a dog with a split personality as, because of his ordeal, when he was out on the lead he got extremely agitated when he saw other dogs – BUT when we were walking alone or when he was at home, he was nothing short of an angel and a truly fabulous member of our family.
Beryl.
I’m drooling over these stunning natural crystals we used to stock in our shop, so I’m sharing some here so our friends can see what I mean. What a wonderful artist Mother Nature is. I think she is beyond comparison… The image speaks for itself.
This book was compiled and published in 2007 to mark a significant change to a much-loved feature of our town. It is a heartfelt piece of social history and is still available at a reduced cost of £10 from our physical shop or online at https://guruboutique.co.uk/product-category/books-cards-and-stationery/
We once had a lovely Saturday girl named Caroline. One day a lady came in and announced she was a clairvoyant and could she look at our crystal balls. Caroline showed her to the glass cabinet where they were on display and the lady took them out one by one and carefully handled each in turn before suddenly crying out, “This, this is the one!” Then turning to Caroline she continued, “look carefully dear, and tell me if you can you see something in this crystal?” Caroline stared into it for a while and then declared, “Yes, I can.” Delightedly the lady asked, “What can you see?” Our honest girl replied, “I can see your shopping. It’s down there by your feet!!!”
On Steve Wright’s radio show we heard that British scientists plan to adopt an idea first thought of by scientist Nikola Tesler, in order to produce a battery to use with our mobile phones which can be charged up by using our own urine.
Guru’s Tony’s comment was, “oh right, pee as you go!!!”
A few years ago we ran a competition to design a T-Shirt suitable for the Guru Tribe. Here’s a bit about how it went…
“…after a lot of deliberation Joanna Morris (Northern Echo), our chief judge who I really do have to thank for doing a very difficult job so well, has picked Glenn Wigham’s handpainted T-shirt as the winner of our CUSTOMISE A GURU T-SHIRT COMPETITION. Joanna said: “Glenn’s entry was bold, colourful and provocative. Along with its touch of rebellion and non-conformity, it beautifully embodies the spirit of Guru and those who flock to the tiny shop that keeps Darlington’s counter-culture thriving and well-dressed”.
We would like to add, “A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ENTERED SUCH A HIGH STANDARD OF WORK – WE LOVE YOU!!!”
The image is of Glenn Wigham wearing his winning design. He wrote that his design is both a protest at the way the 1st world often exploits other cultures and a celebration of how the life, colour and vibrancy which the respectful appreciation of the art of those cultures provides, enhances and enriches all of our lives.
THE SPIRIT OF GURU TRIBE
I exist without religious affiliation
I exist without political persuasion
I exist without sensory perceptions
I exist without any preconceptions
No nationality aligns me
No physicality confines me
No gender defines me
No limitations can ever bind me
I am pure energy
I am soul
I am alive and I will survive
I am the spirit of Guru Tribe…
Rhyme by Beryl Maughan Hankin. Image by Glenn Wigham
MANY, MANY MOONS AGO, BACK IN THE TIME OF ALL THINGS ‘70’s A SMALL SHOP WAS BORN IN A BRAVE ATTEMPT TO OFFER TO THE WORLD, AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE UNEXCITING AND PREDICTABLE.
The name of this shop was GURU BOUTIQUE, and thus the legend began… (cue Native American tribal drums)
As recorded in the annals of the tribe, after a brief trial attempt by Bery’s parents in 1971 which whetted their appetites, it was in 1972 when Irene and Beryl (mother and daughter), properly set out on their adventure into the unknown.
To get more braves and squaws to aid and abet them, they searched the world (well mainly Darlington where the shop was located, actually). Here below is a list of some of those first brave comrades, and some others who have swelled the ranks since. This following record shows both their given and tribal names and in a few cases the reasons why they got those tribal names.
Irene – (Wise Owl). So named because she was the most beautiful, placid, loving, funny, mischievous, caring, level headed and determined one of us all. In times of crisis, she knew how to calm us down, not only with her delicious cups of soothing tea but also with her wisdom, good nature and unfailing common sense… Irene is much loved and greatly missed, and her legacy lives on.
Beryl – (She who stands by till). So named because since 1972 until at least the time of writing this, she has been there, behind the till for all to return to, talk to and see.
Tony – (The Darlo Lama). So named for his simple uncomplicated lifestyle, wisdom, quick wit and dogged perseverance. Quite simply he is our hero.
Colin – Fog maker. So named because when he had to operate a dry ice machine at a fashion show we once put on, he was so interested in the beautiful squaws on the stage, that he forgot to turn it off. That resulted in all the models ending up walking around waist-deep in a haze of dry ice. Which was OK as it gave the whole thing an air of mystery.
Kelly – (Little sky). So named because although not tall in stature, she is as tall as the sky in spirit. She is always looking up and thinking of new and better ways to enhance and improve things.
Now follows a list of some of the first wave of people (and a couple of newbies), who were given their tribal names and thus became members of our tribe…
Ray (big chief gets things done). Joe (builder brave). Uppinder (Pinny of the smiling eyes). Libby (walks in moccasins). Rachal (moonflower- aka the girl with the storm-cloud eyes). Heather (the kind one – aka gerbil girl). Julie (broken hanger). Rosalie (dream catcher). Angelica (firewater girl). Caitlin (little many treasures). Paddy (he of many voices). Mark (friend to many). Caroline (rainbow child). Nicola (helpful one). Peter (bold adventurer). Stephanie (image-maker). Amy (arrow and fire). Sarah (little beaver – don’t ask). Linda (horse whisperer). Nicola (helpful friend), Nichola (shining star), Bridie (running girl). Andy (drum warrior). Stuart (runs with the pack), Gary (music guide). Tracy (life guide). Nellie (aka The Phant). Hugh (Mort). Nick (biker brave). Haggis (toot toots)Karen (Pathfinder). Tracey (bright light). Phil (fffooking brilliant). Sandra (caring squaw). Vanessa (best gig girl). Tracy (life guide). Paula (creative soul), Krissy (swift messenger). Toyah (little treasure). Sarah (little star). Mel (big chief do’em’books). Christina (princess Chrissie laughs a lot). Georgina (princess Georgie jumps a lot). Claire (gentle song). Kamay (music girl). Kayeung (watching girl). Princess Ebi (graceful one). Princess Zoe (little chef). Chloe (the fair one). Hope (watchful one). Beth (retro girl). Karl (fixer brave). Kendall (Mac shaman). Terry (web warrior). Darby (medicine man) et al…
Many more people should be mentioned here, and I could go on for so much longer adding names of worthy tribe members who feature in our long history (you know who you are), but sadly space does not allow me to do that!
NOW IT HAS COME TO PASS THAT THE TRIBE HAS MIGRATED ONTO THE VAST TEEPEE KNOWN AS THE INTERNET AND HAS SET UP CAMP THERE. IN ORDER TO LEARN WHAT THE TRIBE IS DOING NEXT, THAT IS WHERE YOU NEED TO JOURNEY…
As mentioned elsewhere we are on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, as Guru Boutique – plus if you type in #gurutribe that will take you to our Instagram account where we post lots of lovely images and details of the things we stock
Apart from our business pages listed above, we have a special non-commercial Facebook group, created especially for our lovely tribe members to hang out in without fear of hassle, which is aptly called Guru Boutique (Guru Tribe).
