New paintings and regular art updates.
I don’t remember taking this photo. I think it might be from a free photo library. It’s in my media files. Anyway I just want to start planting up my pots with lovely flowers like this. Ideally I’d like a friend to be here to keep an eye on me and perhaps help with heavier pots. I love creating a colourful garden in the yard for the summer. Fingers crossed I can still do it.
What place in the world do you never want to visit? Why?
I know it’s an awful thing to say, because as with all countries there are good and bad people in all of them. It’s not so much the population as the behaviour of some of them that I find so frightening. Just writing this on social media could see me detained and deported because it could be read as criticism.
But I am afraid of flying, and there have been too many crashes lately. My health is poor, and I could not afford the exorbitant costs of the treatment I might need.
I also would not be comfortable in a country that is so happy to allow it’s population to freely carry guns. When I read of the school shootings that happen on an almost weekly basis I cry inside for the loss of the children.
More fears grip me, the lack of safety because vaccination is not encouraged. The levels of measles and bird flu are increasing, but you cannot find out what is happening because many government websites have been deleted or distorted to remove useful information. How can this continue?
No, I don’t think I would dare to visit. It’s strange and threatening to outsiders. It’s not for me, sorry.
I’ve joined a small writing group in my home town and we are being given prompts to write about. I’ll write up another one later but here’s a poem I did on the spur of the moment when I misheard the prompt Loss as Gloss:
Gloss over your loss
Hide it behind your mind
Don’t let it take hold
Your thoughts must not fold
Into a melancholy way
So be quiet and say
My life will be OK?
If I can find my way.
It started so well
I had a shower, struggled as usual to get ready to go out. Honestly five minutes to put my shoes on. Then I decided to drive to choir practice because I can’t walk fast enough. But got stuck in a line of traffic. It’s only a few hundred yards but I couldn’t get round the corner, then had to park a distance away from our meeting room.
I enjoyed the singing and didn’t trip up over my handbag despite getting my foot trapped in its strap. Then lunch with some friends in the restaurant there.
I’d taken the car so I could also go shopping. I can’t carry much and I needed to resupply as I was almost out of groceries. I managed to park badly in the disabled bay, half over the line. I apologise to anyone I obstructed but my arms don’t seem to pull well on the steering wheel. I chatted with someone sitting outside who was obviously in need of help. I could only offer to get him a sandwich, but that was better than nothing.
Home and I had to clean and dry the fridge which had a pool of cold water in its base? I think I’d moved the thermostat dial by accident and it’s not been cold enough. Then I hauled the food into the fridge slowly. I had several bags so I didn’t need to carry much at a time.
By then I was shattered and fell asleep in front of “escape to the country”, escaping my own time line and waking up just in time for an episode of “star trek voyager” where time paradoxes abounded.
But, half way through I remembered choir practice tonight, so had to go out again. I’m tired now because we have to stand up to sing if we can and I use that as an exercise class, I’m not mobile enough and I need to make an effort.
Now I want to go to sleep but need tea. I was going to try and make scrambled eggs on toast. But porridge seems as appealing and easily done in the microwave.
That was a full on day. I’m shattered. But I need to socialise with people. Most of the week I just sit and watch TV. I’m thankful when I can fight anxiety and escape for a while. Singing helps sanity!
Rather than writing a long post about this I’m just sharing this. I do think a lot about the disease and perhaps need to try and overcome my fears. X
If you could be a character from a book or film, who would you be? Why?
Now that a woman has played Dr Who on TV I would love to play the character. I’ve watched the television series over decades, from the 1960’s. The doctor was always my hero and was one of the things that got me into science fiction.
Suddenly when the doctor regenerated as a female I think it gave young girls the opportunity to imagine themselves fighting daleks and cyber men, having to tackle technical problems and fix mechanical issues. It made her a choice of hero to play as they are growing up. And that makes the show greater than it was although there was a lot of antagonism from some fans. Life changes and why should characters stay the same?
I know I would have fun!
Esther Chiltons weekly prompt was light. As I’m feeling rather sad it bought out a feeling of regret in me:
Light, a rainbow effect, but black? Darkness, hidden, lonely. Why do I want to sit hidden in the dark as the days sparkle around me? Is this my fate? I need to escape into light, but by the time my sad thoughts allow me it will probably be raining. We have been singing “this little light of mine” at choir recently. I need a glimmer of hope. X
Which aspects do you think makes a person unique?
We are all unique, even twins have their own traits. Their fingerprints are different, their hair follicles are not identical. Faces vary because of our genetics but also our physical lives. How external circumstances affect body and mind. We may have doppelgangers but they won’t be exactly the same. We should revel in our differences, appreciate our odd ways, enjoy knowledge and learn from each other.
Some people excel at science, others in the arts. Why not a bit of both, with other skills added to the mix. Unique ideas and resources to make the world a more interesting place?
Our voices are unique but can be copied. Mimics try and speak celebrity words, but a voice print would clarify who was really talking. It’s only things like AI that could truly copy. And that would be a loss to humanity. I think us all being unique is best.
You hold my heart in your hands.
Squeeze a little and my heart burns.
Squeeze a lot? Somersaults.
The thumping steadies.
I need blood pressure medication.
Once many years ago we met.
First sight love?
No, it took a while.
No dancing bliss.
I almost gave you a miss.
My first kiss? Shy.
Then you were my guy.
But once it started.
Love and happiness grew.
Blossomed in Spring.
Flowered in summer.
Was gentle in autumn.
But flew away and was lost in winter.
Now love and greif mix.
I can imagine no one else.
But you.
Ferns are growing in the wall again, catkins are appearing on the trees. My snowdrops have flowered and now the daffodils and helibores are in flower. Soon the tulips will open.
I can’t wait for warm breezes. Marigolds, wallflowers, wisteria and nasturtiums. Blue skies and then the fruit blossoms. The days will be longer and it might help me feel better. I hope the bees and ladybirds arrive soon.
Mallaband-Brown