Tag: Life

He knew his tractors

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If he saw this tractor he would have known exactly who the maker was. A Fordson , John Deere, Zeta, New Holland, Massey Ferguson?

He knew by their colours /livery., by their shape, by the setup of the wheels. Whether they were row-crop tractors, diesel, paraffin.   So much knowledge.

I used to guess what sort they were and he would congratulate me or correct me. Now has gone, I can’t remember.

We would sometimes go to agricultural shows. Hubby would have a pint in the beer tent, avoiding wasps, have a bite to eat, and then watch the tractor or steam traction engine parades in the main show ring. Then a ride on the steam gallopers, or  trying to win a teddy bear on the air gun shooting range.

Memories are what I have….

He used to climb

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When he was young he used to climb

But I had no head for heights

He’d climb down cliffs

Or up tall pikes

While I stood by in fear

He’d disappear below my view

And I would cower in dread

Till he came back from his perch

On steps above the sea.

He never slipped, or dropped or fell

I was so proud of him

While I crawled on hands and knees

A victim of vertigo,

Atop the smallest hill!

Now he had fallen out of sight

Never to reappear

But I will wait and hope one day

I’ll join him safely, my fate?

“She wants to be an artist”

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If there was a biography about you, what would the title be?

Digital drawing of a lion.

If someone wrote a biography of me it would be about my art I think.

But I have a lot of lights hidden under a bushel. Lots of knowledge about different things, science, music, nature, history. I’m definitely one of those “Jack of all trades”, I seem to absorb information and retain it.

I can remember songs I haven’t heard for years. Name most of the bones in the body and know where they are located. I’ve had various jobs and worked for over twenty years for one company. I won a student award whilst studying on a college course. I’m reasonably good at using computers in this digital age. I believe I’m well read, but know my knowledge is not all consuming.

But, what gets me really going is art, ancient and modern. I love skill and technical ability, but also innovation and experimentation. I think I have good expertise at art. I must have done much more than 10,000 hours as a painter. But I can still learn. Education and thought are important. That’s me.

Not everyone can answer this.

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What were your parents doing at your age?

Having a parent die early is awful, but a lot of people have this experience with either one or both of their parents.

In my case it was one, and the other was still working to support themselves at my age now. Income can drop drastically when you lose someone. My siblings and I did part time jobs to help support the family. My parent worked in two jobs to care for us. We mostly managed, and had to learn to be strong in the face of adversity. Sometimes we got help, but mostly we coped. Using a coat as an extra bedspread was a normal experience, and cold food more often than not saved money.

No one wants to lose a parent, or parents, and I’d give anything to speak to both of them now as the remaining parent passed away at a relatively young age too. It worries me because I don’t think we are a long lived family, but I want to be around for a good few years more.

A house with a studio attached

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Write about your dream home.

I need more space. I could build a small studio on the side of my house if I had the money and planning permission. It would be somewhere that didn’t affect the fruit trees in the garden. I would move all my art equipment and works in. That would make more room for all the other things we collected over the years.

I’d also insulate it and add better windows and doors. Maybe underfloor heating.

My income is too low so this is all a pipe dream. Unless of course a Millionaire or Billionaire reads this and feels like making a generous donation? (or I might win the lottery). I would take over the empty house next door to offer accommodation for friends and family and make a gallery downstairs. Then I’d also add a lift to save my knees and hips that are starting to ache more and more x.

Tell everyone!

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You get some great, amazingly fantastic news. What’s the first thing you do?

I want the world!

Another of my digital drawings

My background is that I come from a very talkative town, always willing to share our stories and jokes. I came to my current city over 40 years ago and found the residents were warm and friendly but had a different take on life.

That doesn’t stop me sharing news with everyone. Recently that’s been a lot of bad news but I’d love for it to be great news instead. I live in hope that I will be able to say one day that this is my news, it’s great, and I want everyone to know. After all if a trouble shared is a trouble halved, then maybe good news shared is amazing news doubled?

A Dragon for Chinese New Year

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Just a sketch of a dragon using Artrage app. I tried to use metallic paints to give it a sheen. I have to say it didn’t turn out as neat as I would have liked but I’m using a stylus instead of my finger. It’s controllable but in fact I’m not used to using it that often. Anyway enjoy Chinese new year. X

I don’t know where this came from?

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It’s the sort of photo I’d take, but I don’t remember it? It might be something that’s on my phone from a WhatsApp post, so if it is apologies to the owner. I’ve posted this here because I’m a member of a group called the peeling paint appreciation society on Facebook. Some of their images are amazing. I do wonder if some have had the saturation and sharpness enhanced. I feel like I should look out for more interesting images.

First haircut since lock down!

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My friend came round and gave my hair a trim today (another friend has also offered).

I was sitting in my dressing gown keeping warm, when a friend rang up. Do you want a haircut? I thought about it. Yes why not. She arrived twenty minutes later with scissors and comb. Ten minutes later and I felt lighter and neater. No fuss with washing and drying, no conditioner. I’d washed my hair already. I tried cutting my fringe (why do Americans call a fringe  bangs?) but I couldn’t really see it properly so she finished it off.

Midway through the cut another friend rang, so I rang her back and chatted about this and that. All the company tired me out, but I’m glad they got in touch. Now I’m surrounded by hungry cats. A reason to go shopping in a bit. Life, you can’t always hide.