Accordion

Can you see this… Sketch of an accordion.. On the back of an envelope in pencil. I loved the curve of it. The way the lines flow up through the instrument and into the knitted jumper. Yes I loved drawing the hands as he played. There is a round table with a half empty glass of bass beer (with a triangular trade mark), a notebook and his mobile phone. Plus a bass beer mat. I am not advertising though. It was lovely and welcoming at the Beehive pub in Honeywall, Stoke-on-Trent.

Asterix the Gaul

What’s your favorite cartoon?

I loved the Asterix books when I was a child. I think I read most of them. All the characters were so funny, getafix, obelix. The chieftain who walks around under a shield because he’s afraid the sky will fall on his head. The tiny dog.. The magic strength potion.

They live in the North West of Gaul and are constantly fighting the Romans or the British. The artwork is tremendous. The books by Goscinny and Uderso were translated into English from French I think. It was the first time I had seen swearwords depicted as symbols. Like. X&@#!? £X! For example. I didn’t know about swearing at the time so I assumed it was a coded language!

I learned to draw cartoons by copying the characters. I think that helped develop my hand eye coordination, I was happy.

Missing fine weather

A few months after our driest summer in years we are constantly getting wet weather gales and storms. The rain gets through holes and doen chimneys and overflowing guttering.

I want brilliant white clouds floating in azure blue skies. Sunlight on my head and shoulders. Soft breezes, not howling gales. Scents and smells that lift the spirits, not mould and fungus.

So, the spring will come again. I hope to enjoy the rest of winter and then greet spring with open arms.

Sketch of a greyhound ornament

My friend brought this to our writing group today. She had written a story about it because she has loved it all her life and has shown it to some antiques experts. I asked if I could draw it.

She called it “The little runner”. I sketched it today. It’s of a running greyhound. It’s a studio pottery piece by Anne Potts, an Art Deco ornament she made aged 16 in the 1930’s. Totally unique. She went on to be a famous potter from Stoke-on-Trent.

On WhatsApp

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

Singing

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!

Two years (almost)

If I wait a day or two

My tears will flow

Again

Two times around the sun.

Millions of miles away from me.

Energy evaporated

Thoughts dissipated

My memory is all

That holds you

A ghostly shape

3d nothingness

Grasping for you

In my sleep.

Such a robust person,

Lost and gone.

No more conversations…

Gone.

Gon

Go

G

….

Old self portrait

Painted in 1991? that was when I flirted with getting my first studio, but one of the three people sharing it enjoyed playing loud music too much. Eventually it drove me out. I just wanted to paint in quiet and peace.

The cat was one of the first cats I had when I came to live in Stoke on Trent. She was extremely intelligent and followed me everywhere or rode on my shoulder. I was in my early thirties when I painted this. It was acrylic on canvas. Called familiar friends.