2018 drawing

Posted on February 23, 2024February 24, 2024 Posted in Memories, Sketching, UncategorizedTagged 2018, Art, Black and white drawing, Conway, Holiday, Sketching, the smallest house in Great Britain, Time, Visit, WalesLeave a comment

Smallest house in Great Britain, in Wales, is it in Caernarfon? (I’ve just been told its actually in Conway) If I remember it’s one up one down. If you spread your arms out it’s only just a bit wider than them (it’s smaller on the inside). I remember there was a woman called Carole dressed in Welsh traditional costume standing outside. We went in (squeezed in) and were amazed at how small it is.

I wouldn’t be surprised if some flats in big cities are actually smaller than this, although I don’t remember seeing a bathroom in it. It’s on the seafront between the castle and a bigger building than it if I remember correctly. It might be worth Googling it if you are interested. I didn’t realise how long ago it was that we visited it, hence the hazy memories.

Floating

Posted on February 23, 2024 Posted in Fine Art, Memories, UncategorizedTagged Art, Blue sky, Collage, Life, Memory, Photography, Sunlight, Thought, Time, wispy cloudsLeave a comment

I used to do a lot of collages like this. I just looked back and saw this. Blue sky and wispy clouds with an old building suspended in the sky. I think I might try and do a few more if the rain ever stops! Grey skies and lack of sunshine makes me a dull woman. I need to try and do more art and experiment more. I don’t want to come to a stop. I hope when the sunlight comes back I feel more bright myself.

Floor paint

Posted on February 23, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged Acava Studios, Art, Ceiling, chipped, Cold, concrete, Memories, Scratched, shiny floor, Spode siteLeave a comment

Seeing the floor in the Spode Factory is a memory of what went before. Industry and creativity joined. Scratched and chipped, the surface is damaged. Most of it is hidden by studios on either side of a central corridor. When you go into the studios some have metal, single glazed windows that let in the cold of winter. And once the cold gets in it doesn’t seem to get warm again till March!

The building is solid concrete and brick, with arched, barrel shaped ceilings high above. I think any heat rises up there and is lost to us on the shiny, scratched floor.

But here people worked hard to create beautiful ceramics, magical pottery, a hive of hot activity that didn’t need heating because of the kilns and machinery, now long gone.

Another cat?

Posted on February 22, 2024 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Black and white cat, Cat, Chasing, Door, Life, Poem, Poetry, Splodge, Tuxedo catLeave a comment

My boy cats twin

Came in tonight

Peering round the door

He’s got the same splodge

On his nose

Or just a little more?

T’other cat assumed the pose

Of cat ready to pounce

Then off he shot

And saw it off

Through the catflap

With a Roar!

Paddling home

Posted on February 22, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged Adventure?, Bay, Beach, blow up bed, Devon, Holiday, Ocean, paddling, Sea, Silly, trowel2 Comments

Sitting on a blow up bed, with a trowel for a paddle, my hubby a few years ago decided to paddle across a bay in Devon. I was standing on the beach wondering whether to jump in the sea and drag him home to shore!

Always adventurous, he managed to get back after twenty minutes. He did slide off the bed and kicked for shore. I admired his strength, as the off shore breeze had started to tug him out to sea for a while.

He was grinning happily when he came back up to me on the beach. He enjoyed being adventurous and I was just glad I hadn’t had to call out the coast guard!

Afternoon tea at the Quarter

Posted on February 22, 2024 Posted in UncategorizedTagged afternoon tea, Coffee, Decaff, enjoyable, ladies, Life, Lovely, Spode, Stoke-upon-Trent, Tasty food, Tea, the QuarterLeave a comment

I went out for afternoon tea with some lovely ladies. It was a spur of the moment thing but I was really pleased to be invited. It’s not something English people do everyday!

The meal included various small sandwiches, mini quiche, a scone with jam and clotted cream, a mini Victoria sponge and a mini chocolate brownie.

And lashings of cups of tea or coffee (normal or decaff). The result was a delicious and tasty meal.

The Quarter cafe is at the Spode Site at Elanora Street, Stoke upon Trent. I think there is another one in the city centre (Hanley). You have to book the tea you can’t just arrive. Service was really good, the waitress was very helpful.

Mossy peeling paint

Posted on February 22, 2024 Posted in UncategorizedTagged appreciation societies, Art, boring men, Life, Moss, Peeling paint, Spode, ThinkingLeave a comment

A miniature forest? No, moss and peeling paint on a windowledge at Spode Site, Elanora street, Stoke today. I like the look of it, but when I think of the deterioration to the buildings I realise they must be crumbling inside and out.

I took quite a few photos today, some of them seriously boring! I’m not sure how I will use them. There is a boring men Facebook page I think? I don’t know if I could post them there or if I want to. I might just post them to the peeling paint appreciation society and the moss appreciation society pages!

21.2.2010

Posted on February 21, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged 14 years, Facebook memories, Fun, Life, orange glow, Photo, Snow, sodium lighting, WinterLeave a comment

14 years ago and we had heavy snow. On the night of 14 February 2010. The orange sodium streetlamps cast a reddish glow across the snow. Those lamps are now changed to white LED lights. Less energy used, less atmospheric lighting. No snow!

This has been the hottest February on record. Even in the alps and other mountains in the UK and Europe the amount of snow is 47% less than in previous years. Not good for skiers and winter sports.

This was on my Facebook memories today.

Lime and soda

Posted on February 21, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged dailyprompt, dailyprompt-1855, gin, Lime, lime cordial, Party, refreshing, soda water, tonicLeave a comment

What is your favorite drink?

Something refreshing for summer days. Non alcoholic, sparkling, tasty.

Fresh and cool with lots of ice. Safe to drink if you are driving. The zest of limes and lime cordial add flavour.

It looks convivial and more interesting than tap water. So you don’t feel left out at a party. And you can always sneak in a gin and tonic if you want a small drink to join in the fun!

Young at heart

Posted on February 21, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged Countryside, Friends, Fun, Health, Hubby, Memory, Photo, Sadness, swing, Time, WalkingLeave a comment

Hubby on a swing we found, at the edge of a field a couple of years ago on a country walk. Soon he was flying up to the sky! Luckily the rope didn’t give way.

When covid was going on we actually went walking more, getting away from the city and people, then when lock down ended we continued but with more friends. This was one of those occasions.

Later I stopped walking as much after badly pulling a muscle, but we were trying to get back into walking when I trapped my leg in the car door and that resulted in a wound that took months to heal. We were just getting back into walking when my hubbys health deteriorated and he passed away. The universe seems against me!

I think I need company to get back out again. I don’t like walking on my own, easier to hide.

Mallaband-Brown

Author: artbychristinemallabandbrown