New paintings and regular art updates.
We went out this afternoon for a shopping trip because I need new shoes. I managed to drive myself to the shopping village in Trentham. It’s been a month since I have been allowed in the car because of my eye operation. It’s only a couple of miles but it could have been fifty. I felt so anxious, but so pleased to get the skill back. Luckily I was with my sister so felt more confidence.
While I was at the village I saw this lovely passion flower. A good reminder of the day.
A strange little window at Spode Works. It’s the only one I’ve seen on the site. I love the way the bricks are built in a circle. A little porthole in the side of an old factory in Stoke on Trent. I love quirky things.
This is an acrylic on canvas. Our Orme Art Group is having a small exhibition in front window of the Brampton museum and art gallery in Newcastle under Lyme in Staffordshire. This is one of two paintings I’m exhibiting. It’s on from next week I think. I might not be able to get along to it as I’m having another cataract operation in a few weeks.
In response to a lot of strange flag waving excesses in the UK I posted this message. I believe it explains how I feel about it.
It’s not the flag, but the idiots waving it whilst shouting abuse at anyone who doesn’t agree with them. It’s not the flag, but people arguing people should be burnt alive. It’s not the flag, but people who think it’s funny to let children drown. It’s not the flag, but people who think paying the taliban to take frightened people back to Afghanistan is a good idea. It’s not the flag, but the people who consider it the British Swastika.
If you fly the flag do it with respect to humanity.
I think this could be a way of describing it to other people too. This might be too much to say here, but I feel it needs to be said. I don’t want to bring arguments here. I apologise for that.
What TV shows did you watch as a kid?
I loved star trek
My favourite?
Spock
So stoical and bright
Please don’t mock!
Kirk, I liked him to
A bit overdramatic
An excitable character
Swashbuckling and hectic
McCoy was the doctor
You’d like to see
He made me laugh
Humour was his key.
Scotty, engineer, brave
Could fix any problem
Given enough time
And not caused by a Romulan!
My world.
I fight
The paint peels
I hold it tight
I won’t give up
Nor give in
My mind
My sight.
Stubborn is
My friend
Stoic is
My motto
I’m still me
I hope you understand.
I’m strong.
Our writing group visited Spode Rose garden this afternoon. The sun was beating down so we took to the shade of the huge old willow tree near the “China” and “1770” end of the China halls. This is on the Kingsway car park side of Spode Site in Stoke-upon – Trent, one of the six towns in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
The flowers were past their best because they usually flower earlier in the season. White, Lavender and Blue are the theme colours of the garden because the factory produced the famous Spode “Willow pattern” that mimic Chinese ceramics that were imported into Britain a few centuries ago. Local potteries soon started copying Spode designs but the pots from Spode are some of the best known.
The willow tree had many coins pushed inro it’s bark over the years, but sadly these have been removed by person or persons unknown. The garden has had a bit of damage through vandalism but there is a strong group of volunteers to care for, and recently extend it. More planting can be found around the side of the building and fresh vegetables are being grown in raised beds.
What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?
A simple thing
But I have my keys
Close by..
If I lose them I panic
I’m stuck without them
Don’t know where
There’s any spare!
Sometimes they go
Where? I don’t know..
Under the clock?
My mind mocks me?
Why can’t I see?
So I keep them safe
Those special
Keys to my heart.
In its prime a few years before it burnt down. Sadly one of the landlords passed away following an infection from a scratch. It sounds bizarre but it is sad that it eventually closed down after his death. The atmosphere was fantastic, with ghost tours and belly dancing groups, the hotel became a great place to meet friends while keeping a spooky edge to its historic building. In fact historical groups met there to discuss the Burslem riot of 1842. The troops were called in to quell it by reading the riot act. One man, Josiah Heapy was killed during it. Many more were wounded.
Old wooden floors and staircases, panelled rooms, hotel rooms at the back each with it’s own Victorian sink. How it must have impressed people who stopped there in the past. I miss the old place.
She came up on the bed, but as soon as I lay down she was gone! Came back later to poddle (air biscuit?). I do love my cats, good company until they try and trip me up! Another quiet, quite lonely day. But I’m used to solitude now. I don’t know how I’d cope with anyone moving in.
What are you curious about?
Infinity or beyond? The universe is around 13.5 billions of years old. It could continue for billions or trillions of years into a heat death ending. Cooling down and expanding forever. Or it might collapse in a backwards big band and a singularity.
I’m not a scientist but my interest was piqued by watching the BBC TV series “The Sky at Night”, I started watching in the 1960’s when Sir Patrick Moore presented it. I loved the old fashioned animations of how things worked. It was well before the time of CGI or computer animation.
I keep watching the 20 minute show monthly, over the years, finding out about comets, eclipses, meteor showers and meteorites. I still try and catch it all these years later. I’m interested in finding out about dark matter and quantum lensing. I hope the programme continues for years to come.
Mallaband-Brown