Staring at me?

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Who is that man staring at me? Why is he staring? I have never met him before. Never spoken to him. Trying to hide behind a magazine, I peeped out. . Still staring directly at me! How rude and somehow frightening too. Like when a cat stares at its prey, ready to strike? Or a snake catching your scent … Who was he? How did he know me?

Oh no, he’s coming over. Sitting down opposite me at the cafe table. .

Excuse me? You have ketchup on your face. He grabbed the napkin and wiped my face, like I was a child! Then he got up and walked away. I’ve never seen him again since!

 

Painting again today.

I’ve just finished these two boards for the panto  They may be the last ones I do. If they are sold afterwards the proceeds will go to the Penkhull village hall although it’s not clear whether they will be kept or not. Its been hard work but great fun painting these.

Gretna Green is a Scottish village where people used to elope to get married if they did not have the permission of their parents.

The second picture is an impression of Big Ben and the houses of Parliament situated in London on the River Thames.

The idea is that the images should be clearly visible even at the back of the hall.

Sitting here

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With one of the cats, it’s 2am and I’m still not sleepy. Just had a decaff coffee and a yoghurt because we had our evening meal 8 hours ago and I’m more than a little peckish.

I keep thinking I will go to bed early. Like in that old saying about ” early to bed early to rise makes a man healthy wealthy and wise”. I guess I’m none of those. I will go up in a bit..  .. All this started over a year ago when my partner had his new (then) motorbike stolen. We tracked it down and got it back (now there’s a funny story) but ever since I have listened out most nights to the traffic and footsteps of people passing. Its not good for me I know. So here I am again (starting a sentence with so) (but that was OK in the sound of music?) … Anyway. Its dark and I find now I do actually want to sleep. Perhaps I have bored myself to sleep!

Goodnight x

In the Dark (part four)

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I had got to the front door and was trying to unlock it when he caught me. I squirmed out of his grip and opened the door, feeling myself falling down the front step. My arm was yanked back in its socket as he gripped my wrist but I slammed the door on him. I felt his nails scratch me as he clawed at my trailing hand…

Out, I was out, back in the cold dark street. Into the car, fumbling at the lock. He was not following? Something to do with the street lights?

I revved the engine and put it in gear. Where to go so late? All my friends would have gone to bed. My sister? She lived miles away. Far enough away to be safe from him.

I drove out of town, into the dark of the countryside. The street lights dwindled and I drove along, marvelling at my night vision. Normally I struggled to see but tonight? There must be a full moon.

My hand itched where he had scratched me…..

I could not seem to concentrate and sweat dropped into my eyes. The heater was on full blast so I turned it down.

Now I was close to my sisters home. I drove into her street. The lights were out but I have a spare key.

I looked in the mirror to tidy myself up. Golden eyes glowed back at me… My eyes…. And I was suddenly very very hungry……

 

The End

Wedgewood artisan market

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It was a fairly bright morning once you dodged the rain showers so we decided to visit wedgewood artisan market (2nd Sunday of each month). It’s at the Wedgewood factory, near Barlaston,, Staffordshire. We had a fine potters full breakfast in the dining room there (with beans and oatcake). Our friend from Yorkshire was visiting so it was good to show him one of the local attractions. Once we had eaten we went round the outdoor and indoor stalls. Charis Jones with her Sculpted Steel was there, together with Pat Myatt and her potteries art work. Other stalls included whisky fudge, crafted wool blankets, various cheeses and cakes, you could even buy your own fairy kit to make a fairy like the ones at Trentham Gardens. My partner bought me a kit and I bought him a wood turned pen. We also went inside the wedgewood visitor centre and I spent a happy hour trying to create a cat design plate. The pens and pencils they had were not very good but hopefully the image on the plate (a lithograph) will be OK.

I took a couple of progress photos but not one if the finished design. It might take 6 weeks for it to be delivered though…

Where’s the painting?

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I haven’t done anything since finishing Jupiter Blue, except for painting scenery.

I have ups and downs with art. As my mom used to say, and as I said to someone recently “don’t force it phoebe” in other words don’t overdo things….

I will try and get organised again. I have things to finish and I think I’ve said I will do stuff. But with this cold I’m a bit mixed up. I need to rest, but I’ve always got bored easily.

I’ve made one decision though. I want to start trumpet lessons again….

Fear of falling

That’s something I don’t like about getting older, a fear of falling.

I sat on a chair a couple of years ago and because it had a knot in the wood it broke… and I landed on the floor with a broken rib.

Other times I have really fallen, tripped up over the edge of a step, hitting my head..  Luckily that time I didn’t do any serious damage…

I’ve been scared at the top of a steep hill and had to crawl along the top, as everyone just walked past me! So embarrassing .. And yet as a child I would climb up and hang down from the top of the swings in the playground by my knees….

Life is strange, you do go from fitness to infirmity without realising sometimes. I just keep trying to get fitter now…. Trying not to fall….

Cat scratches

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This is Gracie  my little cat friend / fiend. She does insist on coming to greet me by stratching up and clawing my lower legs and knees. Seamus her brother jumps up and kneads my knees with his claws out. Consequently I’m covered in tiny puncture wounds.

Cats are characters, just like people. They have their own foibles and ways of doing things. No matter how I try and discourage her by disentangling her claws she keeps coming back and doing it again.

Anyway here is Gracie , looking sweet. With machinations in mind.

X

Gracie

Gracie sniff stick ,

Bite stick,

Fight stick

Chew it,

Subdue it,

Ignore it…..

That’s exactly what she did. We used to have a cat toy tied to the stick but she pulled that off. The stick has been sitting there, patiently, minding it’s own business. So of course I decided to tease Gracie. She immediately Sniffed it and batted it with her paws. Then she started chewing the tip so I moved it away. As soon as it was still again she ignored it…. So I wrote this poem just for fun.