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

Almost 2026

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Staring into 2026 which hideous monsters stare back? Will things continue along the lines of this year… War, starvation, animosity, selfishness…

Do we even have the capa to change. Why are we signing over our lives to tech and billionaire masters. Why is it OK for AI to make up facts and misrepresent and tell us “unfacts” (lies).

We need old fashioned education, knowledge and hard work to improve the situation. Caring for and guarding the information we have hard won over the years. Trying to explain and explore, not fight.

That I think could be my new years resolution.

WordPress problem?

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I keep getting a message when I try and like people’s posts….

“there is a problem with your request, please try again later”…

It’s annoying because I like to go through peoples posts on the reader section of WordPress and mark the ones I like. I’ve tried twice today but it still doesn’t seem to be working?

So for all of you who I would have liked here’s a thumbs up to you! 👍👍🏻👍🏼👍🏽👍🏾👍🏿

Invasion!

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One of the most fun things we did when we went round carol singing on Monday night was to pile into the local fish and chip shop was to sing a couple of songs to the staff and customers!

About 20 of us squeezed into a small space, singing “Welcome all, good friends here, a very merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!” we sang it as a round of three. The place was full of jollity and hilarity. I’m glad we did it, it’s one place we have never sung in before.

Christmas dinner on boxing day.

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Just started cooking at midnight, so Christmas day is over. Felt a bit weepy. The sweet potato and sprouts are on. I’ve got some pigs in blankets, a few stuffing balls and some potato fritters in the airfryer. I’m going to do a chicken thigh that’s already cooked in the microwave along with some swede mash. And gravy. It sounds like a lot but I’m only doing small portions.

Might save it for tomorrow (today).

Today. 25.12.25

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Being on my own today I only have to cook for myself so when I finally go to bed I don’t need to worry about it. I’m doomscrolling on my phone because it’s cold in the bedroom but I can’t stand a hot bedroom. The cats are huddled around the oil filled radiator. I’ll try and find mushy old films and finish making my trifle with port not sherry. Oh and I’ve got a bit of salmon in for the cats x

Merry Christmas

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Not the best card I’ve ever drawn but I’m limited in what I can do because my computer needs setting up so I did a finger painting in Artrage and they edited it in something called Sketcher app.

I’ve donated to Parkinsons UK this year so I’ve not sent any cards.

I hope you all have a lovely time wherever you are and no matter what you celebrate or don’t.

Let’s hope for more peace and less war and conflict in the coming year. Try and do at least one kind or generous thing for someone in 2026. You don’t have to be boastful about it. Just try and care.

Kindest regards X

Almost Christmas eve

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What happens if we see a supernova on Christmas eve? It could happen, the star Betelguse in the constellation Orion is a Red Giant and fluctuates in brightness as if it is flinging off layers of matter. The variability and it’s massive size means astronomers think it might be due to explode in 1000 to 1,000,000 years.

But Betelguse is 642 light years away from us, so it might already have exploded. We wouldn’t know until the light reaches us. Then for a glorious couple of weeks the light would outshine the brightest stars and possibly be visible in daylight.

Supernovas fade after a few weeks, the star stuff is all burnt up or exploding out in a cooling cloud that will eventually stabilise into a nebulous cloud. Examples include the Crab Nebula.

Meanwhile back on Earth because of the date of its imagined eruption, I wonder what the reaction of the population would be? Secular or religious, it would be interesting.

Waiting for a call

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Keep your phone charged, waiting for a call. Going out, I might need a taxi. Waiting for a call… Is she going tonight or tomorrow? Waiting for a call.. You passed the test, welcome on board.

We’ll meet at 6pm… But that’s gone, maybe there’s a problem. Waiting for a call. The same four words repeated.

Will they ever call me? Is there a reason they haven’t? Information required. I hope they call soon….

Pondering questions passes the time. Phones are too important these days. What else could we do? Relax, read a book. Switch the phone off!

Shout

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I was shouted at by a youth in a hoodie on a bike tonight as I walked home with my shopping. He shouted “bitch” at me so I said “piss off” which is a mild swearword here in the UK. He heard me because he shouted the same word again and I responded “piss off” again!

He disappeared but he must have gone round a mini roundabout because then he cycled back past me and up onto the pavement in front of me. I didn’t want a confrontation so I crossed the road and walked into another supermarket. I asked a manager in the shop if I could wait a few minutes because the shock of what might have happened got to me! I finally walked home after talking to a friend on the phone (I’d tried ringing the non emergency Police number but couldn’t get through). Then I checked the lad wasn’t about? What is wrong with lads/men these days?

When I got home I posted on social media and it turned out another woman had been frightened by him. He cycled up behind her and screamed in her ear!

I’m going out earlier in future to avoid him.