Tag: Life

Samantha

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If you had to change your name, what would your new name be?

I was going to be Samantha, it was one of the names that my parents had considered for me. I suppose that might be the name I would choose? But why would I need to change my name? I hope I never have to.

To change your identity must be a drastic thing to do. I know you can change your name just by telling people, but to be legally accepted don’t you have to do it by deed poll?

Then, there are documents you need to have to identify yourself. Driving licences, energy suppliers, proof of address, background checks for some jobs. Even mortgages or tenancy agreements, or getting married or using the health service.

If you change your name do you tell friends and colleagues? What will they think? Maybe you are trying to get away from someone or somewhere. Life is complicated enough without a change of name. So no I’m not going to change.

I do know people who have changed their names for whatever reason. They were happy to change, but it just felt strange to me. I have accepted the new names but I still think of them as their original names.

Paint, wrapped..

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My pallette wrapped in cling film. I did a bit more on my painting today but my arms are aching and I want a rest. If you wrap your acrylic paint up to keep the moisture in it will stay soft and you can carry on using it. It saves wasting it. This is a trick I didn’t really know about until a while ago, I’ve always let my paints dry on the pallette so I’m glad I learnt about this x

Old Yeller

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Do you remember your favorite book from childhood?

I was about ten when I read Old Yeller written in 1956 by Fred Gipson.

I only have a memory that it was set in the southern area of America, maybe texas. There’s a boy who is helping run a farm and he takes in a stray dog which he calls old Yeller because it’s yellow coloured. I think they had adventures, a bit like Lassie. But eventually the dog was bitten by something that had rabies and was infected. The boy had to decide what to do and I can see in my mind that the dog has to be tied to a tree so it can’t bite anyone. Eventually it has to be shot. I can’t remember what happened next, but I do know it really upset me. I guess that’s why it’s stuck in my memory. I think Disney made a film of it, but I don’t remember seeing it. I do think the book cover had a yellow dog, like a labrador on it.

I enjoyed other books, Nancy Drew, The Hardy boys, and books on myths and legends, but Old Yeller really stuck.

Peace reflected

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Collage of my dove of peace based painting. The dark line across the centre makes it look like the birds are reflected in water. I did this to show my support for Ukraine.

Hearing that the Russians have destroyed a dam in Ukraine makes me wish for peace even more. Villages are flooding and water levels are rising. The hydroelectric plant there has been affected anf the Nuclear power plant nearby is also at risk. This is awful. Inhumane, violent, innocent citizens will lose (have lost) their homes. It’s also an ecological disaster, destroying habitats that were homes to animals on the delta. How can Putin be so evil? Those responsible need to be bought to account. Give peace a chance.

No rain for a month

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At Etruria festival yesterday, bring your own cloud!

See cloud man fly

As he floats by..

Oh my word! It’s been so dry,

There’s been no rain, I wonder why?

The clouds do roll across the sky

But squeeze them, they stay dry.

Most of May it wasn’t wet

Or if it was then I forget…

From sun-up to sunset!

High pressure domed

Across us roamed

Mild dry air

No rain to spare.

Just high uv

Sunburn you see

So let it rain

And rain again!

Bench

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On my walk this morning I found this forlorn bench. It was just on a path on a patch of grass. I didn’t take a photo of its view, because it overlooks a car park and then some old buildings.

I did notice a Magpie (hello Mr magpie, how’s your wife is a saying to dispel sorrow caused by a single Magpie) and a little pied wagtail nearer the fence. I wish the street furniture was a different colour. The bench, bin and fence look somber in black, although that matches the birds. Maybe a nice shade of blue or red? Who knows….

When did life get so complicated?

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Just read a fellow bloggers post about the paper trail (or lack of it) to get her vaccum cleaner fixed. It reminded me of recent interactions with the Internet where I have struggled to find out information.

First you have to find the right website, then you have to register, add a password, make sure it’s strong enough, accept cookies…

Then you have to find the right section of the website to fill in. I thought I’d done that, but when I visited the place I was trying to register with they didn’t have my information. Turns out I’d registered to get special offers not service!

Back to the website. I found the right section after ringing the helpline and waiting 40 minutes for an answer. So I had to attach documents. Luckily I have a printer/ scanner. So I created .pdf files.Is everyone following so far?

I sent the documents only to get a message back saying one of them was too old. I found the up to date one (which inconveniently had tea spilt on it) it was still legible.

I had to send it off again, hopefully they have it now.

Then, a friend who has no Internet rang. Could I help? She’d had a letter telling her to go to a council office. But she couldn’t find out where? I checked the Internet and got a phone number, rang it, after twenty minutes I got an answer. Sorry this department doesn’t deal with that… You need another department. (the select number 3 option did not include the right section) She gave me the direct phone number (wow!) but there was only an answer machine so I left a message. THEN I turned the letter over…. The address she needed was on the back…. I could go on, but everyone probably can relate.

Why is this happening? Cost cutting, cheapness and a belief that everyone is computer literate….