Don’t underestimate the common cold.

Posted on January 19, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Cold, Covid, Fed up, Ill, lateral flow tests, Life, Mask, shivering, sneezing, Time, Tired2 Comments

Atishoo! Atishoo! We all fall down?!

Three negative lateral flow tests, but my nose is blocked and I keep sneezing. I’ve started with a tickly cough… Feeling hot and cold and shivering.. You forget that there are other illnesses out there that can get you. A cold I think, not as bad as flu, but I feel rough. I want to curl up like a hedgehog and fall asleep for the rest of the winter.

Seriously though, I’m not sharing this with anyone. I’m going to carry on wearing a mask when I finally get out again. And make sure you get all your jabs, Covid and flu. Take care, stay well!

Using an ink roller

Posted on January 19, 2022 Posted in Sketching, UncategorizedTagged Art, College, Design, Experiment, Fun, Ink roller, Life, Portrait, Sketching, techniqueLeave a comment

When I drew this, and a few other portraits for college I decided to use an ink roller. It’s one of those that you can use to cover over your address when you get rid of letters. It makes the drawing feel a bit like it’s been collaged with newsprint. I like using unusual techniques to draw. Why not?

Fluid

Posted on January 18, 2022 Posted in Sketching, UncategorizedTagged #bandofsketchers, Art, Beach, Drawing, fluid, Life, Sea, Sketching, Texture, Water, Waves3 Comments

Today’s #bandofsketchers prompt was fluid. I tried to draw a beach scene from above. I used an image off the Internet to give me an idea. I watched an animated film called ‘love Vincent’ about the life of Vincent Van Gogh last night so I’ve also done this with texture. (see second photo).

Condensation trail

Posted on January 17, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Afternoon, Condensation trail, contrails, Life, Plane, Science, Sky, vapour trail, WikipediaLeave a comment

We don’t see many planes overhead these days, but the last couple of afternoons we have seen a condensation trail as a plane has flown over.

Condensation because water vapour in the atmosphere condenses out on soot from the plane engines as the plane flies through the cold moist air. It makes a cloud that can hang in the sky for ages or dissipate quickly. In this case it was almost gone by the time the plane had passed over.

There are conspiracy theories that the trails are releasing chemicals into the atmosphere. This isn’t true but stems from some experiments years ago by scientists seeding clouds with silver iodide to create rain by giving water droplets a nucleus for the water droplet to form on.

So there is a grain of truth, but just that. The reality is far simpler. See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrail. For more information.

Almost a year ago

Posted on January 16, 2022 Posted in Sketching, UncategorizedTagged 2021, Art, Dragons, Fountain, Hanley Park, Life, Sketching, victorian, water featureLeave a comment

I was standing by this fountain in the small part of Hanley Park. The main section is over the road. I decided to draw this in my sketchbook. It’s a felt pen sketch and I could include it as an urban sketch. The fountain had been restored after many years and looks wonderful. I think it’s probably Victorian in origin. The previous year it was frozen almost solid with icicles all over it. I particularly like the dragon fountain heads on it. I will have to try and research its origins.

Sore throat

Posted on January 16, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Ache, cold bug, covid test, Disease, Illness, Life, Negative, Sleepy, Sore throat, Tired2 Comments

Sore throat, aches, tired. But at least I tested negative for Covid. I don’t know how I’ve got this ‘cold’. I go everywhere outside in a mask. But I suppose I could have picked it up off a surface when I’ve been shopping. At one stage I was washing all the shopping that came into the house. I guess I’ve dropped my guard a bit..?

One thing, I won’t be going out to anything while I have this cold. Just because it isn’t Covid doesn’t mean I should go out and share it. I’m just going to take cold medicine and keep my fluids up. I didn’t wake up till 3pm, not good. The sun has now set and I feel dull and sleepy.

Merged

Posted on January 15, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Life, Memories, Merged, partners, People, Photo, Poem, Poetry, Thoughts, TogetherLeave a comment

Merged,

Me and he

Forty years together

Him and me

Us.

Blue and brown eyes

Beard and bare face

White hair and brown

Smile and frown

Friendship, partners

Together.

Thinking of you

And me

Life sentences

Words

Time.

Cat again

Posted on January 14, 2022January 14, 2022 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Black and white cat, Cat, Cat Food, Cheeky, Food, Life, persuaded, Photo, Time, Tuxedo catLeave a comment

Big head, tiny paws. An example of foreshortening. Those dark eyes do stare at me. You have to be a mind reader sometimes with cats. But they are persuasive. In this case its his ‘feed me…’ look. Then when he’s eaten he’ll be back out through the cat flap. Padding around in the dark, exploring his territory.

You know, cats are sneaky. They get humans round their little paws. They are incredible cheeky creatures!

Cold

Posted on January 14, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Chilled, Clothes, Coat, Cold, gas prices, Heating, increasing prices, Life, Party, WeatherLeave a comment

I’m sitting here with my fleece on and a dressing gown on top of my normal clothes. It’s not that cold, around freezing outside. The heating is on, and a little oil heater. But it’s drafty. When it gets this cold in the house I sometimes put my gas cooker on. I can cook a meal and warm the house up. If I get too cold I’ll go to bed and read a book. We have a radiator on in the bedroom. I am trying to save energy. Gas and electricity prices which have been capped are set to rise around 50% in April. Many people will struggle to pay. One energy company recently gave some energy saving tips:

‘cuddle a pet’, ‘eat porridge’ and ‘do star jumps’! It’s nice to know they care.

Meanwhile our ruling political party seems to have turned into a ‘Part-aaay’ over the last couple of years! Marvellous leadership… Not.

Wordless cartoon

Posted on January 14, 2022 Posted in Sketching, UncategorizedTagged Art, campfire, Cartoon, College, Design, Fire, Fun, Life, Memory, Sketching, Snake, TimeLeave a comment

I can’t remember the story behind this or whether there was a prompt. I drew it last year. I had to draw something with four panels for my college course. It starts with someone by a campfire. The fire goes out so they go to get more wood, But instead of it all being sticks, a snake, which had been asleep wakes up. I like the simple style I drew it in and the minimal images in it. But now I look back at it I worry that the snake would have been burned or might have woken up before being put on the embers. Even with a simple story you have to be aware of consequences!

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: Life