Tyred memory

Reading someone’s post on Facebook about her losing a wheel cover bought back not so fond memories.

I took my tyre out of the boot once. Leaned it against the side of the car.. Only to see it roll down our hill…. Luckily it bounced off the side of a bus and rolled into the side of the road instead of down the hill onto the main road! The bus driver just laughed as I stood there open mouthed!

Three books

List three books that have had an impact on you. Why?

Youngest influence? Old Yeller. I was at Junior school and read about a boy whose dog catches rabies. It was frightening and sad and tender. I don’t remember everything about it but I learnt about American society. I think Disney might have made a film of it.

The next was the Plague Dogs, written by Richard Adams who also wrote Waterside Down. Two dogs escape from a laboratory in the Lake District, called Snitter and Rawf, it’s about their desperate journey across wild moorland to try and escape to a better life. It’s full on dark adventure. Emotional and sad.

The Third one was when I was at college. It was the handmaid’s tale by Margaret Attwood. Yes it was on bookshelves in the 1980’s. It’s story was frightening then. Now it’s almost prescient.

Yes they influenced and informed me and it’s about time I read them again.

Cricket

Have you heard of cricket?

It’s a long game…

Two teams hit a ball.

Try to knock it over the boundary.

Two players run between stumps

On the playing surface

Between the two wickets.

A bowler bowls a ball fast or slow

Seamers, googlies, bouncers, catches.

The bowler tries to hit the wicket

Two short bales lie on top of three stumps.

That’s the wicket.

Hit the bales and knock them off?

Or knock over the stumps

Player is out.

11 players to a side

Two play

10 field

1 bowls

Collect runs to win.

1 point running between stumps

4 if the ball rolls to boundaries.

6 if the ball flies out over the boundary.

That’s cricket in a nutshell..

Highest score wins

Don’t get your leg before wicket…

It’s a very big nutshell…

Tired out again.

WordPress free library

Ugh! Been a long day. Stuff to do first thing, then the local writers group. I was thinking of singing with some friends after that but I was too tired. I was late for yoga group because of a phone call. After yoga choir practise.. Came home via the local takeaway because I didn’t have energy to cook. Now I’m debating going to bed early as I need to go to the hospital first thing before an art group for mental health, then a committee meeting for the Mystery Play. Finally tomorrow night is a singing in a local pub. I’ve got involved in too much stuff possibly. But it keeps me busy and I  don’t think of hubby as much when I’m doing things.

Making art

Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.

Any type of art.

I love painting (oils, watercolour, acrylic) , drawing, digital art, printmaking, pastel and charcoal drawing. Pottery, jewellery making, creating fused glass. Collage, scenery painting, illustration, photography and more.

I’ll try and do anything once. I’ve even tried drawing with boot polish and had a go at melted wax art. (I’m quite old and don’t like getting bored). Even had a go at brass rubbing once!

Melusine

While I was looking up “terpsichory”, I came across “Melusine”. I decided to share the Wikipedia explanation. I just liked the idea of such a strange creature, hope you think so too.

For other uses, see Melusine (disambiguation).

Mélusine (French: [melyzin]) or Melusine or Melusina is a figure of European folklore, a female spirit of fresh water in a holy well or river. She is usually depicted as a woman who is a serpent or fish from the waist down (much like a lamia or a mermaid). She is also sometimes illustrated with wings, two tails, or both. Her legends are especially connected with the northern and western areas of France, Luxembourg, and the Low Countries.

Morris dancing

Etruria Canal festival. Doomsday Morris dancing by the side of the junction of the Trent and Mersey canal and the Cauldon canal. I love watching them. They have a small group of musicians playing and clash sticks together as they dance. You can hear their boots stomp and the bells they wear jangle loudly. They dance in intricate patterns and whirl and twirl in convoluted ways. A brilliant display of ancient terpsichory.

“In Greek mythology, Terpsichore is one of the nine Muses and goddess of dance and chorus. She lends her name to the word “terpsichorean”, which means “of or relating to dance”. Terpsichore is usually depicted sitting down, holding a lyre, accompanying the dancers’ choirs with her music. Her name comes from the Greek words τέρπω and χoρός.Wikipedia

Etruria Canal Festival

I have some paintings up at Etruria Industrial museum. The museum is open this weekend (31st May and 1st June 2025).

Red horse. This is a painting I did a few years ago, acrylic on canvas. From a friends photograph. I had her permission to paint it.

The Canal festival has all sorts of activities including music and canal boats on display and usually morris dancing. I’m looking forward to it if the weather is OK. I might struggle to walk around but will try my best.