Author: artbychristinemallabandbrown

I'm an artist based at the Spode factory site in Stoke on Trent. I paint, draw and create digital art. Contact me at mallabandbrown@aol.com

Oh to be out and about x

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Let me step out with confidence, stay upright, measure my steps. Just hoping I can do this again soon. It doesn’t matter where I go as long as its somewhere out of these four walls. I refuse to become housebound. I’m too young for this!

Talking to the nurse this afternoon, I explained how I’d originally hurt my leg, the car door had been caught by the wind and had swung into my leg. She said it happens more often than you think.

Places I want to visit? The seaside, relatives, local visitor centres, anything interesting.

Car door and leg

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Thanks to the NHS I’m getting treatment for my injured leg.

Well after days of a weeping wound in my leg I’ve had it dressed and bandaged by a nurse. Very uncomfortable but I’ve got to keep both legs elevated as much as possible to reduce the swelling. I will have to persist in looking after myself. Wish me luck. I won’t have much excitement over the next few days I guess.

Curled at my feet

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Puss cat curled up at my feet last night. I wanted to put my feet up on a footstool, but he wouldn’t move! I think he’s trying to take care of me. He sits next to me on my chair arm sometimes. His brother on the other arm reaching a paw out to me every so often. It’s so sweet.

Then the queen arrives, she jumps up and nuzzles me, saying hello. The boys ignore her but she is nervous of their size, I think she’s a bit bullied by them, but generally they all get on well together and with my hubby….

Humour

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What positive emotion do you feel most often?

Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone? Is that the old saying?

I come from a humourous town. Where I lived people took pleasure in telling long and I silly stories. They liked word play and puns. We would howl with laughter over some of the daft jokes people told.

Now, laughter is a little less frequent but still enjoyable. That’s partly because where I live now has a different sense of humour, harder, more direct. But I will not relinquish my old style. I might come over as sarcastic, but it can be very funny. (Just too tired to think of a joke now!)

Podding peas

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Have you ever podded or shelled peas?

When I was little we used to sit in the back yard and shell the peas dad had grown.

The garden was on the other side of a path that ran behind the houses. The yards were covered in slate blue coloured bricks. I would sit with my mom and siblings, she would hand out peas in the pod. I remember you pressed along one side of the peapod, the seam of it split and a row of beautiful peas sat along the other edge, then you hooked them out with your thumb. Sweet green peas falling into the bowl. Many peas didn’t go into the bowl, but into my mouth instead. It was a pleasure to eat them. They never tasted sweeter and fresher.

Other things that went on in the yard? I remember it snowing in February. Mom collected fresh snow off the yard wall. She used the water to make her pancake mix for Shrove Tuesday. I think she thought they tasted better than using “corporation pop” ( tap water). Probably because of chorine in the tap water?

Memories, they spring to mind without volition.

Don’t ignore!

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The wound in my leg is infected. I’ve got to keep it clean and raised. Not easy. It started as a cut but I thought it would be OK after dressing it. Now it’s sore and red and weeping. Don’t assume that if it looks clean it’s OK. Who knows what the car door shoved through my trouser leg into the wound. I can’t physically see it as its on the side, round the back. But hubby insisted I got medical treatment.

Things like this test relationships. The roles you slot into can be reversed. I’m used to caring for him, now he’s got to sort me out. I realise why patients need patience. Can’t make him do things unless it’s in his own good time. But we will get there as they say, in sickness and in health. x

At my age?

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How do you plan your goals?

I’ve got to the age where I take each day as it comes. I don’t plan so much because something will always come up and bite you just when you think things are going to be OK so you moderate your expectations.

A few years ago I had plans to finish work and become a successful artist. I am an artist, just not very successful! But I don’t intend to be a business entrepreneur. I paint and draw for pleasure not fame.

I wish I had the skills to plan goals, but when I used to be questioned at job interviews… Where do you see yourself in 5 years I was daft enough to say “still here”. I guess I like a modicum of security.

If you are going to make goals for yourself enjoy them, they may be simple or complex, just look after yourself. X