Adders

Posted on Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Speaking to a friend in America about snakes reminded me that there are a few species here including the most venemous one, the Adder. It’s recognisable by the diamond pattern on its back.

My hubby was climbing cliffs in Devon when he was young and put his hand onto a hand hold. He realised to his horror that it was a nest of Vipers! He told me he had nightmares for weeks afterwards.

But there are grass snakes which are lizards not snakes, they have vestigial legs I think. We found one basking in the sand on a Devonian beach one summer holiday. It glinted gold in the setting sun. Wonderful.

Shrove Tuesday

Posted on Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Today is pancake day in the UK. The chance to eat something nice before Lent starts. Lent is a Christian tradition where people give up a favorite food until Easter. I guess in some ways it’s comparable with the tradition of Ramadan in Islamic culture, where people do not eat between sunrise and sunset until the end of the period of time when they celebrate the end fasting. I don’t know much about either religion, but it’s interesting that both are movable feasts (related to the phases of the moon).

Going back to pancakes. UK ones are bigger but thinner than the ones in America. The crepe suzzette in France is even thinner and served on a more regular basis. We tend to mainly eat them on Shrove Tuesday. Served with sugar or sweetener and lemon juice. Some people add blueberries or other fillings.

I’ve had a varied life…

Posted on Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

You’re writing your autobiography. What’s your opening sentence?

I’ve had a varied life, most of it devoted to art, but I’ve also managed to cram a lot of experiences into it.

I would then go on to detail sow of the art work I have done, but also the adventures I’ve had with my hubby, who was a most eccentric man. Our main mode of transport when we were younger was by bicycle and then a series of pulled old cars that consequently meant we had a lot of situations to deal with. My jobs were also varied and I would talk about as much as I could without disclosing personal information. I am not sure if it would be interesting to anyone else though?

Happy eighth blogging anniversary to me!

Posted on Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , 9 Comments

This came up in my  WordPress a few weeks ago together with a blog saying something along the lines of “wow, it’s amazing I’ve been with WordPress so long and here’s to another eight years.” I don’t mind but I do prefer to write my own blogs rather than some bot writing them for me!

I hope my blog is interesting, sometimes humorous, hopefully informative. I don’t think I am as varied as I used to be. Maybe I’m running out of steam. Anyway hope to be around for a few more years. Cheers x

My three cats

Posted on Posted in Cat, Memories, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , , Leave 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 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , Leave 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.

Altercation…

Posted on Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

We saw the altercation in the White House here in the UK. Most of the UK is not impressed. It looked like two bullies ganging up on someone whose having trouble but could succeeded with their help. Utterly disgusting behaviour. The fact that Ukraine was considering giving up half their mineral rights to the great galumphing orange one is bad enough, it’s basically blackmail. But then the smug one with mascara and a reporter complained their victim wasn’t wearing a suit and was being disrespectful? So why was it OK for the owner of X marks the spot to go in wearing civvies when he bought his kid to work at the Oval office, some double standards there.

So there they were, shouting down a president of a sovereign state, telling him he had a bad hand of cards. When he respectfully tried to say he wasn’t in a card game the orange turnip shouted and pointed and pouted and ranted. He showed the world what he really was, a tyrant and a bully (allegedly).

He’s coming over to the UK on a state visit to see the King, maybe the invitation should be rescinded?

Raffle!

Posted on Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , Leave 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