New paintings and regular art updates.
Coton in the ElmsThe village that is further from the sea than any other human settlement in the UK is Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire. One kilometre south-east is Church Flatts Farm, which is 113km (70 miles) from the nearest point on the coast, or 72km (45 miles) from the nearest tidal water.
This came up in conversation so I googled it. I’m not sure if anyone’s interested but I thought I would share it.
Still llife photo of conkers. Photo taken last year at Bodnant Garden in North Wales last year. What a great trip out that was. We walked round the large garden grounds. Down into the river valley, past huge and ancient trees. Late flowering perennials and bushes. Its a charming place to visit, but be aware it is hilly. Its a National Trust site so its very well maintained. There are small shops trading there, a garden centre and a cafe/restaurant.
Great for a visit when the garden is in full bloom, especially the laburnum walk. You can join the National Trust or pay when you visit. BUT check opening times, it does close in the winter and with the lockdown for the pandemic there will be changes to visiting and probably closures.
Each of these photos was put through the photodirector app I use and also Instagram. I do like the effects but only use a few of them. Some of the filters in Photodirector have to be paid for so I limit my use.
What am I trying for? A pleasant abstract distortion. Perhaps a feeling of movement. I might use a couple of filters, and cancel some of them if they are not working. I just enjoy being creative.
We look on
As the rain falls
Slurs across the road
Like a drunken man
Distortions on my glasses
Watery waves
And rivulets
Oil on water smears
As cars drive by
Bow waves like ships
Excited by the waves
Of water and light.
I’m not convinced getting a motorbike was a good idea for my hubby. He doesn’t use it very often. He’s done 160 miles in…….. Two years! His tank was on red so he went down the garage. It cost £2.65 to fill the tank. When I think how much it costs to fill my car. No comparison. But I have only filled my tank up five or six times since March so its cost considerably less than before. Plus we are walking more.. Win win.
I wanted breakfast but we have no milk or eggs, so I had a rummage in the fridge. I found corned beef, cheddar cheese and some pickled beetroot. I toasted a couple of slices of brown bread then buttered it. Placed a slice of corned beef on both slices (I could have done just one and made a sandwich but I was hungry) added cheddar cheese and microwaved it till the cheese had melted. Then added the beetroot to spice it up a bit. I have to say I enjoyed it. Probably far too much fat, but sometimes you have to go for it. Other options would be cheese and tomatoes (if I had any) melted onto the bread then a topping of beetroot or even advocado?
Anyway, that feels a lot better.
X
View down a hill across the city as we were walking back home tonight. The street lights of the main dual carrageway road that runs through the city were shining brightly. Up here the view is across the valley of the river Trent. On a clear day you can see the way the land undulates towards the horizon about three or four miles away? There are hills to the left behind the buildings that rise up to a TV mast on a hill and then further on the green fields and pockets of woodland heading up to the Staffordshire moorlands. Straight in front and over the city hills would lead you eventually East into Nottinghamshire, and South the land is also covered in farms and woods, heading towards the Birmingham conurbation fotry or fifty miles away. We are an isolated city, surrounded by mostly countryside. A pleasant situation when so many other cities around England seem to be be surrounded by satellite towns. Fresh air is not too far away.
We met one evening
You were on a wall
And smiled at me
Your toothy grin
Orange teeth
Sharpened for snacking
The flame lacking
From your triangle eyes.
Wait till dark
And someone will light you
A spark to your candle
A soft light
Orange shaded
But beware
The wind may blow
And your spark will go
Out….
Well he is around, and he did come in and eat earlier on, but despite it blowing a gale he doesn’t seem to want to come in. I think becausemy hubby has dragged him in a few times so he has decided he might be trapped inside (this despite spending two hours on the settee last night). I guess he knows his own mind, he yowls loudly to get out once he’s in and the door is shut… We will make progress I’m sure. But on his terms, not ours.
My friend went to the Wassail in 2018 wearing his tricorn hat and a plague mask! Completely coincidental, but I just found this while clearing old photos off my phone, so spooky I had to share it.
Mallaband-Brown