New paintings and regular art updates.
Having photos appear on WhatsApp can be odd. I get the pictures loaded into my gallery. I appreciate them all but I don’t always remember who sent them, that means I don’t always remember to reply!
So.. If you sent me this santa Christmas card, thank you! I’ll try and remember to send my cards out before it’s too late! X
For health….
My Parkinsons is getting worse so I’m getting some therapy to help keep my voice strong and help my throat muscles.
I’ve joined a few choirs over the years and found out singing is great for lung health, breath control, and keeping your throat clear.
So this week I’m actually going to 4 rehearsals and will be singing with friends at a Christmas show on Friday. My main concern is my poor balance and weakening muscles. Shaking and stuttering isn’t helping either, I need to keep trying to improve. Maybe I need physiotherapy. Thanks for hearing my moaning!
80 years ago, on the 8th of May 1945, Hitler was defeated in the second world war. But that was only in Europe, the war actually ended on 2nd September of the same year when Japan surrendered.
It’s significant that it is the 80th year as it is probably the last time that many veterans from the war will be able to celebrate it because if they were 21 (start of adulthood) when they joined up they would be 101 or older now.
Memories fade but this is a way to remember the joy of the ending of the conflict, although not for everyone. We should remember those that were injured or wounded, either in the military or civilian. Those that were made homeless or those that lost relatives and friends. I’m glad and sad in equal measure.
Today I had the honour of holding the Cerimonial Mace of the borough of Newcastle under Lyme. We were Celebrating the Mock Mayor Ceremony that was held in 2019 to crown a Mock Mayor for the day. Then covid happened so there hasn’t been another event and I’m effectively still the Mayor! My hubby played the Mayor’s wife in one of my dresses…
The marvellous Glenn Martin James who organised the extravaganza is standing next to hubby in this photo by a lady called Amanda. Glenn has done a wonderful drawing of the whole cast at the event and it is now on display at the Guildhall. Hopefully there will be a new ceremony in the future. X
Had a lovely but tiring afternoon. Might post more later!
Invent a holiday! Explain how and why everyone should celebrate.
There may already be one?
A day to celebrate the Earth, a day to spend thinking about how to improve and support the world. Trying to clean the rivers and seas, reducing pollution, supporting poorer countries so the world uses greener and safer technologies. Actually caring about the land under our feet. Working out how to capture carbon and start to reduce gobal temperature surges. Hoping that the richest people get involved too.
Why? Because it’s needed, it could be the most important holiday that we ever create.
Bento box at a local Japanese restaurant. It was my birthday treat today. I like how the various types of food are held in compartments so you can mix and match flavours. You chose when main meat or vegetarian portion and the bento comes with rice, salad, sliced pickled ginger, goyoza, sushi, all very tasty. I had roast duck with Teriyaki sauce as my main choice. It was very pleasant sharing the evening with friends and putting worries to the back of my mind.
We just held, a celebration of my hubbys life. He was always interested in acting and theatrical performances so when my friends offered to greet guests at the start of the celebrations on stilts and in circus costumes I had to say yes. They stood outside and looked funny and magnificent. They stayed and enjoyed the rest of the evening. A group of us sang ‘always look on the bright side of life’. A good friend read a eulogy and showed slides and video of my husband. We had almost 200 photos of him on the hall walls. People read poems for him including one specially written and ‘do not go gentle into that dark night’ we had a harmonica playing and a friend singing and playing the banjo. There was a lovely buffet laid on by the hall.
People also wrote memories of him on cards so I could take them away. The plan is to create a memory book of the celebration. I took some of my portraits of him up to the hall.
All in all it was a fantastic evening and I was very pleased with how it went. I think my hubby would have appreciated the occasion. X
Tomorrow is November 5th, Bonfire night, Guy Fawkes night. He tried to blow up the houses of Parliament several centuries ago. There is a rhyme. Remember remember the fifth of November, Gunpowder, Treason and Plot.
Apparently gunpowder had been stored under the Houses of Parliament and a group of people intended to blow it up, but the ringleader, Guy Fawkes was caught. Traditionally children collect money to buy fireworks by making a ‘Guy’ out of scraps and wood, and asking for a ‘penny for the Guy’. This usually happened after Halloween.
So tomorrow night I’m expecting lots of bangs and whizzes. The cats will be in. I’ll have the TV on to drown out the noise. Hopefully everything will be OK.
My friend bought me this mousse Mouse today from a Greek cafe as a gift. I was going to keep it till tomorrow but then I got the news that I have got my painting in the local art exhibition and I just had to celebrate.
He had (yes he’s gone) a chocolate sponge base, chocolate mousse topping and mouse shape, a shiny chocolate ganasche covering and chocolate buttons for ears and a tail. Then two white icing dots for eyes. It was very sweet to look at and eat.
We will go back so I can try some of their savory food. I fancy a Greek salad and stuffed vine leaves.
Illustration idea for a Christmas bauble to hang off the tree. Just a doodle really. Using sharpness and blurring tools, a bit of a texture tool. I guess it would be nice to have patterns printed onto baubles but I don’t know how. Anyway I like it. I would call it an illustration? I guess these patterns could have the hues changed and be put on Christmas cards maybe?
Mallaband-Brown