Bus or not?
I have a driving licence and driven for almost 50 years. I don’t own my own car; preferring my bike or buses for local journeys and happy to go by train on longer trips.
My husband needs a car for work and uses it at weekends, for heavy shopping, and holidays etc. I, of course enjoy that convenience but he is reliant on the car even for short journeys when parking is inconvenient and very expensive; so much so that he will often think that a journey is not worth taking is the above mentioned difficulties are hard to overcome. He also considers public transport overpriced and inconvenient. Until now this argument has been one not to enter … but as retirement looms and funds will be curtailed considerably, the battle must begin I believe !
I will continue to cycle while I am fit and maintenance at present affordable and take the bus as it is free; he will have to make some decisions.
Today, for instance, we plan to spend most of the day in and around the town centre; meeting friends, lunching, shopping and taking in some cultural stuff, before having tea at a cafe later and returning homing. There is no convenient place to park, and wine and beer will be an option at some point during the day, so already there are some bones of contention. Taking the bus is the only option … while we may have to carry an umbrella and some shopping bags there is little to argue about is there?
Abstract … Weekly photo Challenge
No great shakes at photography particularly, but love the negative shapes in this; it might stand up well as linocut!
Thank You Badger Press …
Its Monday after a successful weekend at Badger Press doing a wood engraving workshop. None of my previous doubts and fears were founded. I will not make any great shakes as a wood engraver but that was never in doubt; hand on heart I have no regrets.
However, I will continue to enjoy all the other aspects of being an artist … those that not only bolster fear but weigh it out 100% … the joy of learning, relief of completion, companionship, like-mindedness, diversity, womanly warmth, laughter, connection, energy and beautiful exhaustion. Need I say more? … Oh yes, in between the enforced tea drinking we enjoyed some glorious work breaks!
For today I wish …
Today, I am off to a wood engraving weekend workshop. I am as usual a little anxious; no matter how much I want to do the session and anticipate the delight at the end; I always have doubt about my ability, credibility and place in the world of printmakers.
Then, there’s the further fear and I wonder if other relief printmakers feel this or at least understand. When we begin engraving our image on the black blank surface, we let in light, add texture, depth and colour. We know that we cannot go back; yet why is it I keep thinking about a finishing touch … and find myself overdoing it?
My prayer for today and for all beings is ; may I be aware that ‘it is just right’ sooner rather than later.
to the library @ Yellow Teapot Cafe …
In the Yellow Teapot Cafe we hope to start a library. It will be small as we have no resources and less space. The subject matter too is vague.
So far we suggest the books should appeal to all ages, be light on words and be colourful …
I begin with this …
How about this cafe malarkey?
You know how much I enjoy to drink tea and how that a biscuit is to dry without it. However, the cafe culture for me is still an extravagant step too far; I am inclined to go into a heated conversation with myself about the pros and cons. The debate is complicated and for me can become a serious issue.
However, I am becoming aware of the triggers as they bubble up and thwart them and even laugh.
So today my mantra …
Going to the cafe is not a side-step, quick step or a dance with time and hard earned cash
But a waltz with refreshment, shelter and opportunity.
Even a cake may not be over indulgent but an investment in the local economy.
The perfect place to spend time …
Downsize … upsize?
I am beginning to consider retiring from full time employment after almost 50 years. Financially is is going to be a painful downsizing exercise and the empty space looks grim …
Yet, as the time gets closer I am seeing something different …
Weekly photo challenge … Dinner is it?
I go to Brazil once a year to see my beloved daughter; she, as you can imagine being so far away cannot join in with family events. So we spend three weeks catching up on every celebration she has missed out on! My son-in-law is bemused, as we ensure we say ‘cheers,’ ‘happy birthday,’ or ‘happy Christmas amounting to 365 times, when we sit down at mealtimes!
Even when we grab a mate in between meals we celebrate … but who wouldn’t!
Record Store Day
I went off piste on Saturday, and followed a dream by celebrating Record Shop Day. It is something I have wanted to do for a long time, perhaps decades. From a dormant place it has waited (the seed I mean) to continue since 1966. A long story but suffice to say that in 1966 my dreams were thwarted by ‘other’ worldly requirements. This of course was not all bad probably mostly quite acceptable.
However, as I fast forward; I have the remnants of a collection of LPs begun then, and while my love of contemporary music has continued, I have collection of CDs.
Since space has become a serious issue in my tiny home and in particular my studio I have taken to downloading and listening to Radio 6 Music.
I have a passion for the voices of women and especially those who make loud noise; so my collection is predominantly women and mostly those from my generation.
So my dream is to perhaps to find a space for a few records that didn’t make it to my collection way back then … and also add some early punk that escaped me while I had a young family.
So while Janis Joplin is not chronologically correct … she seems a nice place to start and I don’t think they have seen the last of me at The Sound Machine … as they had a nice album by Patti Smith, that was a little out of my price range.
Silent Sunday …
Coat Hanger Doll's House 