My three cats

Posted on March 3, 2025 Posted in Cat, Memories, UncategorizedTagged Black and white cat, Calm, Cat, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-1866, Help, Life, Love, Stress busting, Tuxedo catLeave a comment

What are three objects you couldn’t live without?

My three cats keep me calm. I took my blood pressure today and it was considerably lower when the cat came and sat on my knee.

Each one has a different purrsonality. Calm and relaxed, cheeky and quick to pounce, one that would trip me up if he got the chance. They love being close to me and they are a comfort during some difficult times.

In fact I think they have helped me keep my sanity over the last few months. Keeping them fed and watered, giving them love and attention. I need the love they give back. X

Props

Posted on March 1, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged Art, Design, Making props, Memories, Painting, Papier mache, penkhull mystery plays, Scenery, WhaleLeave a comment

A whale that was made for the Penkhull Mysteries plays. It was used in the story of Jonah and the Whale and the story of the river Trent which rises on Biddulph Moor and travels through England in a North East direction to eventually flow through Nottingham and on to the Humber Estuary at Hull. This was made of willow withies held together with masking tape then covered with water based glue and newspapers (papier mache). It was painted white to block out the printing and then painted in grey black and white. The makers added serrated teeth and the jaw was articulated so it could open wide. I think the throat and tounge were painted pink and white. We made lots of props for the plays including a set of horses, butterflies, flowers, plants, and all sorts of other objects. I used to help paint some of them and also large flat boards that were joined together as scenery. I hope we get to do more this year.

Raffle!

Posted on February 28, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged chip butties, enjoyable, Fun, hard questions, penkhull mystery plays, Quiz, Raising fundsLeave a comment

Just back from a quiz to raise money for the Penkhull Mysteries day. Some very hard questions, when was Port Vale football club formed, where does the Boat race start on the River Thames. What age was Joan of Ark when she died? Our team didn’t do badly, but we were 6 points behind the winners.

I did win a raffle prize, I usually do for some reason. I guess I get some luck occasionally. I enjoyed the evening, enhanced at the break by chip butties. People had fun and I think we raised a reasonable amount of money from the evening. X

A complete unknown

Posted on February 27, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged 1960's, a complete unknown, biopic, blowing in the wind, Bob Dylan, Film, Life, Music, Songs, Time3 Comments

I just went to see “A complete unknown”, a biopic of Bob Dylan early career up until he started using electric guitar at the Newport folk festival in 1965.

It showed his collaboration and love of Joan Baez and his other girlfriend Suze Rotolo. There was wonderful singing in the film by all the cast. A lot of songs that I only vaguely remember from the 1960’s because I was only a young child. But certain songs like “Blowing in the wind” are strong memories. I also remember Joan Baez songs as my hubby used to play them a lot. Time plays tricks with memories but so much came sweeping back into my mind as I watched the film.

Music is a wonderful form of communication. This was a brilliant film. If you can go and see it. X

Palm tree (artificial)

Posted on February 26, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged Art group, artificial, Beach, cardboard leaves, Cold, February, Freezing, palm trees, theatrical props2 Comments

Well pretend. I was sitting in a freezing warehouse where an art group meets and it struck me that their theatrical group had constructed these trees for one production or another. About three meters high, they must have taken some building. The green leaves spread out as a canopy above visitors heads. It made me think of warm sand and gently lapping waves. Or benches and tables laden with cool fruit juices and melon, papaya or mango. That helped me feel a little warmer despite the cold of a freezing February evening.

Warm Arctic?

Posted on February 26, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged arguments, Flat earth, global warming, Globe, Life, north pole, South Pole, Summer, Time, Weather, WinterLeave a comment

I just read a post from a flat earther on a flat earth page asking why people can stand outside in the sunshine with just a tee shirt or hoodie on? I tried to answer.

Arctic and Antarctic summers happen at opposite ends of the year. In the North it’s around June/July and in the South it’s December /January. In the summers the temperature can rise well above zero, because in the summer months the sun doesn’t set (in the winter months it stays dark for several weeks), hence, yes people can wear hoodies and tee shirts. It’s getting warmer because of global warming and it means sea ice takes longer to form. In addition the temperature rises at the poles are happening more strongly than at other parts of the globe.

I hope this makes sense.

Celtic cat, an old painting

Posted on February 25, 2025 Posted in Fine Art, Memories, UncategorizedTagged Art, Cat, Celtic knotwork, Design, Fine Art, Memories, my history, Oil on canvas, Old painting, PaintingLeave a comment

When I finished college I still loved Celtic art so I tried very hard to create a Celtic cat including Celtic knotwork. This was really difficult to do.

I was pleased with the work and glad I did it. I don’t do such complicated things these days. Very difficult to follow the rules of knotwork so that the overlapping patterns need to follow. Oil on canvas think.

Tub of pencil crayons..

Posted on February 25, 2025February 25, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged B'arts, Burslem, Meeting, molly leigh, Opera, Planning, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent, WikipediaLeave a comment

I went to an event planning meeting today at BArts in Stoke. It’s going to be an opera based on the witch (wise woman) from Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, who was alive in the 17th and 18th centuries. She was buried at 90 degrees to the normal North South orientation.

From Wikipedia :

Margaret ‘Molly’ Leigh (1685–March 1748) was an English property owner in the Staffordshire town of Burslem who, in her will, left substantial sums to charity. She was also accused of witchcraft, and, after her death, her grave was disturbed following claims she was haunting the town.

We had a singing session based on some of her life and the treatment she received from her neighbours. We were also invited to create some art based on her life. (hence the tub of pencil crayons. The opera is due to be put on later this summer.

Liberty

Posted on February 21, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged America, Cinderella, Hero, Lady Liberty, Life, migrants, Pantomime, Scenery, Statue, ThoughtLeave a comment

Scenery painting from a few years ago… I think I got the arms too long, the flame too small and the head too small too! But anyway it gives an impression of lady liberty. This was done for a pantomime just before or after the pandemic. I can’t remember.

And….. I think all that is happening in the USA at the moment has pantomime qualities. The two ugly sisters are obviously two billionaires. The fact that in a pantomime they would be men wearing drag is very ironic!

Who is Aladdin or the hero of this panto? Who can say, but it needs to be someone brave who will stand up to bullying! Maybe he should be a Robin Hood character instead, taking from the rich and giving to the poor?

Lady Liberty could be a Cinderella figure, she is there to support the huddled masses and the poor. She understands their situation as she is an immigrant from France.

Finally the whole thing is stage managed with boos and hisses… Evil takes control for a while but Good will triumph in the end. And the baddies will be banished!

In Car news…

Posted on February 21, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged anxious, Car, car door, Fixed, Lock, Mechanic, Memory, OK now, update, Window lock, WorryLeave a comment

On Tuesday night I got trapped in my car. I booked it in a garage to try and get it fixed. The mechanic came and took the car this morning but came back in less than an hour. They said the lock and window are now working. They think the window lock button might have got knocked accidentally? Also the door opens now? I hope it’s just reset itself, but it makes me nervous, I might have to try and visit friends and make sure they are in if I visit. I will also have my phone at the front of the car so I can get to it straight away. If I decide to drive myself to the shops I might need someone to let me out!

Mallaband-Brown

Category: Memories