When the hammer finally came down...
On Wednesday evening, on the terrace overlooking the town of Skyros, the last plate and knife and fork were cleared away, the glasses were charged and Lisa Hennessy picked up a hammer...She was commencing an Auction of Promises and twenty two participants attending a writing course, a life choices course and an art course had offered both to sell and to buy promises.
Lisa's cry, 'Oh come ON! That's so cheap!' drove people on and she had the habit of letting the audience go silent, letting the moment hang, hefting the hammer, just giving someone the opportunity to sneak in a quick shout as the hammer finally came down...'Gone... to the man in the corner!'
It was electrifying good fun, and promises appeared out of the woodwork: a painting by Linda Norris, Jules Smith's relationship counselling session, Haley White's tarot reading, Pat Holden's B&B experience in Hampstead, a week in Capetown from Brian Vester and Cat Glennie, a front page of the Financial Times to your own design from Francesca Jakobi, a book cover design from Ruth Bateson, a weekend in Luxembourg from Cornelia Tudor, a weekend in Dublin from Ciara Scott, a set of 6 supervision sessions from Sam North, massages from Bo Borzyskowska, a Reiki session from Greta... wow!
The hands rushed up in the air, and some people were forced to sweat for what they wanted, to the delight of all who watched the battles. When the sawdust, the tears, the blood and the wine were cleared away, over 2,000 Euros had been raised towards keeping Skyros' schools, clinic and nursing home warm this coming winter. 
Last winter, this could not be afforded due to Greece's financial crisis, and the winters here are freezing. This message comes with sincere thanks to all who sold or bought - because on both sides of Lisa's hammer, there was the most generous of spirits.
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