VE celebrations

Posted on May 6, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged 1945, Celebration, History, Life, Memories, Sadness, Time, VEday, veterans, Victory in Europe1 Comment

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.

Communication or not?

Posted on May 5, 2025May 5, 2025 Posted in UncategorizedTagged arguments, Communication, Facebook, Life, misunderstood, Opinion, Talking, Thinking1 Comment

I have a good friend who has become slightly obsessed with a subject. She is determined to get her point of view across but I fundamentally disagree with her. I said as much on a post today but she wasn’t impressed. I can’t get her to understand you shouldn’t tar everyone with the same brush. Not everyone is the same, not everyone of a certain type of person will act in a specific way.

She started to talk about someone and I pointed out that my examples were not that person and I wasn’t going to describe or identify them. I don’t think that’s the right thing to do in public.

So why talk about communication? Well it’s that thing about nuance. Unless you write exactly the right words it’s hard to get your point across. Typing and texting don’t show emotions so maybe physically talking to that person might get your message across better than in writing. At the moment I’m nervous to respond to her, I don’t want to lose her friendship.

Voting

Posted on May 3, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged dailyprompt, dailyprompt-1927, Elections, Life, reform, sufferage, Voting, WomanLeave a comment

Do you vote in political elections?

Yes I vote, voting is important. If people abstain or spoil their ballots they leave the opportunity for a different party to be elected. In one byelection this week someone won by 6 votes, overcoming the other party’s majority of 15000 votes.

Unfortunately Reform, a right-wing Trump style party won several council seats and a MP position and a few mayoral posts.

Reform is a bit like the republicans in America, they want to set up a Doge department to cut back spending in the UK, make people pay for health insurance (we already pay national insurance to fund the NHS). Our health care is currently free at point of contact, they would take that away.

I’m obviously telling you how I feel, I don’t know how my readers will react. I feel very strongly that people should vote, it lends stability to the country. I also want to honour suffragettes who fought for a woman’s right to vote.

Nostalgia, schooltime

Posted on May 2, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged childhood comprehensive, CSE, lessons, Life, Nostalgia, o levels, SchoolLeave a comment

The world was simple once. No one had smartphones. If you wanted to find something out you either looked it up in a book at home, in the library or looked in an encyclopedia at school. I’m remembering my school now.

Lessons were many and varied. We had a choice of Art, Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, History, Pottery, Woodwork, Domestic science, Technical drawing, Sewing (can’t remember what it was called), Geography, French, German, Spanish, Music, Sport science, English language, English Literature. At “O” level or CSE.

These were the days when Comprehensive schools had recently been created and our school had been amalgamated from two other senior schools. I found out later that our area was well thought of and the money used gave us standards equivalent to London and Edinburgh! We had an orchestra and other clubs. Computing was just coming in but I never used one. We still had exercise books and biros and pencils.

The school had a swimming bath, sports hall, science and art blocks and a music block later on.

We were just normal council house kids, we were really lucky to have a wonderful school. I remember my time there with mostly joy.

Cataract

Posted on April 29, 2025 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Blurred, Colours, Distorted, Eyes, Fed up, Life, Photograph, Poem, Poetry, Sad, ViewLeave a comment

Abstract eye

Blur like romantic film

Smeared out colours

View impeded

Glare at night

Sunshine glows

Tones changed

Eyes dimmed

Distorted life

Fed up.

Cataract check up

Posted on April 29, 2025April 29, 2025 Posted in UncategorizedTagged cataract, check, clinic, Eyes, glaucoma, Lens, Life, Looking, operation, Surgery, Time, Vision2 Comments

Today I had a check up to see if I was suitable for cataract surgery. I went to a clean, bright, smart clinic. I had to have transport because I was not allowed to drive.

After a short wait and having read the booklet about cataract surgery I went to see the technician to have eye drops put in and then photos taken of my lenses. She also did a check of my eyes looking at an eye chart with and without a small grid that you had to try and focus through. I found I could see the chart better with it, less fuzzy. Finally they checked my blood pressure which was a bit high but the bottom figure was OK as I managed to relax.

A short wait and then I saw the optometrist. This time she checked my retina and also the pressures within my eyes that would indicate glaucoma. Everything was OK. Now I just have to choose when I have the operation as I have other things to deal with before I can get the first eye done.

Wish me luck. X

Cat design

Posted on April 28, 2025 Posted in Cat, Sketching, UncategorizedTagged Art, Bed, Black and white cat, Cat, Celtic cat, Curled up, Design, Life, Poem, Poetry, SleepLeave a comment

Semi celtic cat design

I love the way cats twist

And squirm

Paws and tail,

Mouth and leg

Shuffle over on the bed

You like to sleep

In my way

But I love you so much

You can stay!

Witch of the wood

Posted on April 27, 2025 Posted in Memories, Sketching, UncategorizedTagged character design, Doodle, Hair, Life, Mystery Plays, Nature, punk, Sketching, Time, witch of the woodLeave a comment

I’m involved in the Penkhull Mystery Plays and we had a read through of the whole play yesterday. I just decided to doodle what I think the main baddie in the play could look like. Her hair is a tangle of flowers and weeds and twigs. Sharp faced, but without the beak of a nose and hooked chin of traditional depictions of witches. She’s more punk than ancient. I could imagine piercings and tattoos too.

Painting update

Posted on April 26, 2025 Posted in Fine Art, Memories, UncategorizedTagged Acrylic on canvas, Art, Art group, Imagination, Life, Painting, Seascape, Work in progress2 Comments

I’m still working on this. I tried to sort out the horizon line as it was wobbly. I think that the land in the background is too dark. I want to try and resolve the colours and waves on the sea…. Is it too light or dark….

This is from my imagination but I might try and find something that is similar. Or I could turn it into a more abstract image?

Story board

Posted on April 25, 2025 Posted in Sketching, UncategorizedTagged back of an envelope, Drawing, Life, penkhull mystery plays, pictures to explain, Sketching, story board, Tired2 Comments

Drew a story Board for the Penkhull Mysteries today, started by drawing in the back of an envelope then did better A4 sketches.

This took a couple of hours. I was absolutely shattered by the end. I had intended to go shopping afterwards but I came through the front door, sat down and fell asleep!

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: Life