A reflective day.

Watching my friend, and helping her this morning when she was giving communion to people at a care home (where she celebrates Holy Communion every other Tuesday) was a privilege. The older generation were there watching her every move, well those that were awake anyway, and they so wanted to be part of the Communion service. It was touching. I was surprised at the percentage of the people there that were familiar with the communion ritual.

I was introduced to them when I went in, and when I engaged in conversation with them I looked into their eyes, I tried to have eye contact with them all when we exchanged the sign of the Peace. All life is there in those eyes. Hundreds of years of life experience between them, some hearty and most of them frail, but they had all been where we are now in life. It was all very spiritual and moving.

I have already invited myself along again as a helper or a just a communicant. Those lovely people left me feeling I wanted to return. They live in a world where visitors are few and they appreciate the contact with those that talk to them outside their family circle.

I made me think on my journey home how lucky I am to still be active and alert, and quite young compared to these dear people. I have a lot to thank God for.

The photographs today are of a Camellia taken in my friends garden a few hours ago, and a bunch of flowers that she have me to come home with. Thank you for a lovely day Miss L.

A present!

As I have 'sole male' in pottery, I have 'lone male' in writing. He is a really nice man. Before the commencement of class this morning he asked who would be attending Creative Children's Writing next term. To those of us that were, he gave a brand new copy of the book pictured above, as Jacqueline Wilson is one of the writers we will be studying next term. What a generous man! Nice and generous ... there has to be something wrong with him!

He has connections of some sort I guess, but you know what they say - 'ask no questions and you get told no lies'!

Today's 'Happy 5'.

They look happy enough.

1. A Lovely Spring morning - although cold!

2. A warm welcome in Church.

3. A call from a friend that made me laugh. A real laugh (not a polite one), the kind that you feel all through your body.

4. Writing to a very sick friend and reminiscing about the antics we used to get up to.

5. Completing a new story - to my satisfaction!

Passion Sunday

This morning's sermon was uplifting, and boy did I need some uplifting!

Christians reading today will know that it is Passion Sunday. Two weeks of Passiontide begin, the first week being known as Passion Week and the second being known as Holy Week. This day - Passion Sunday - memorializes the increasing apathy against Christ from the Jews who would not accept Him. They accused Him of sorcery, being blasphemas and possessed by the devil.

The sermon evoked thought on these issues, and if I am honest, I haven't thought about them since this time last year! I think perhaps we are suppose to reflect during this coming week to prepare ourselves for Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter; but then the whole Lent period is about reflection.


I have missed the Bible study group this year as it was held in the Cathedral, lead by the Bishop, but circumstance made it impossible for me to go; but Bible study groups are a good tool to get Christians to focus on the issues connected with this time of year.

It's our Annual Vestry on Tuesday night (Parish AGM), it will be a change to attend one where I am not taking the minutes!

The film 'Bronson'.

Tom Hardy as Charles Bronson

I was unsure about watching the film 'Bronson' but I am glad I have seen it. Tom Hardy who plays Charlie Bronson is excellent. It's hard to tell whether he inhabits the character or the character inhibits him! The film in my opinion is original and pacy, not slow like 'The Young Victoria', I do realise it is a totally different genre, but there's far more substance to this film. The film is based on Bronson's life but it's not a copy of it. The music is spellbinding throughout. Verdi's 'Nabucco', Paccini's 'Madam Butterfly' plus numbers by 'The Pet Shop Boys' and those were just the ones I knew.

The film is about Britain's most violent prison inmate. He was first sentenced in the 1970's when he got 7 years imprisonment for a Post Office robbery; he got away with less that £50 and no one was hurt. What does that say about today's sentencing policy? He would get off with a slap on the wrist and six month probation these days.

Born Michael Peterson, he changed his name to Charles Bronson after the film star of the same name; this was done when he was released from Rampton after being declared sane. He felt the name carried more kudos than his own and to be noticed is what Charlie wants most.

I have an interest in following this guy's progress as my former husband (Gov.1 in a maximum security jail - middle England.) had him for a while. Charlie was *ghosted a lot in those days. *nb. passed around the prison system, when an inmate places too much strain on resources in one establishment, (Charlie, with his hostage taking and violence) he gets moved to another on a 'round robin' basis.

The part is beautifully played by Tom Hardy, beautiful but brutal. He leads you to feel an empathy with Bronson.

Charlie Bronson has served a total of 34 years in prison, 30 of them have been served in solitary confinement because of his constant hostage taking of Prison officers and staff, and persistent violence. Those who guard him and have to deal with psychological problems and physical brutality; they are not equipped to deal with this kind of situation. This is why it makes me so mad when people, who are usually uninformed on the subject, criticize the prison regime as being soft and Prison Officers of having nothing to do. They do one of the hardest jobs around and they do not get, nor do they ask for, any recognition.

Bronson is still serving time.

The N.H.S

The Royal gwent Hospital, Newport

I was given an appointment some months ago to see my Cardiologist today - 3.10 on March 26th. I arrived there and after taking 40 minutes to park, got to the cardiology clinic at 3.05. I was kept waiting nearly two hours. This was pretty much what I expected, but what I wasn't expecting was, to be told by the Consultant (when I finally did get to see him) that he had overrun with his clinic and could I come back in a few months - he would send for me again.

Isn't this appalling? There was ructions in the waiting room with the other people who had been told the same thing, but I was so disgusted that I couldn't be bothered to argue. It won't get you anywhere. The RGH have been treating people like cattle for 40 years that I know of, so it's not going to change now. I am afraid it's just 'put up and shut up' for us NHS patients!

Be Happy!

Isn't this a super picture? I love it.

It reminds me of something I read recently about a 'Happy 5'. Write down five things that make you happy in a day. For yesterday I wrote:

1. Relaxation - in pottery class.

2. Seeing a friends happiness at becoming a grandmother.

3. Enjoyment of interesting books.

4. Seeing my Mother's Day cards when I walk in the room.

5. Satisfaction that I am starting to get the hang of digital photography.

I am going to try this every time I have a 'Down' day!

More Pottery, but sadly not mine!

My next seat neighbour is doing this little beauty. She has been doing pottery for a long time. It was created by placing a balloon in a glass and then dipping strips of ratafia in liquid clay (twice), then draping the strips over the balloon. It is ready for Bisque firing now and it will eventually be a night-light if it survives the process, as it is very delicate. This one is a second attempt. Now this is where my plan for the Clarice Cliff teapot comes in, (see blog entry below) the neighbour lady does art and paints well. We are having a day out shortly and I thought I might ask about the possibility of her painting the design on the teapot. I will pay for our lunches of course!

More Pottery Projects.

These templates above are not very clear as they have been laid on a printed bag, but they are what I have been working on this morning in pottery class. Templates for what you may ask .......


This! A copy of a Clarice Cliff tea pot. This is not my work obviously, but what I am aiming at. I am only at the very begining with mine, but it Should end up like the one above. I am not too confident about the painting of the tea pot when it is further down the line in the process, but I have a plan for that! It is very 'Art Deco', but then, that's Clarice Cliff teaware.

I have borrowed a very good book on Clarice Cliff teaware. It is called 'Taking Tea with Clarice Cliff' by Leonard Griffin. Anyone reading this Blog who may be interested in Clarice Cliff the book is pricey to buy new, but can be bought on Amazon for about £9.

A day of reflection.

I went to meet my cousin in Hereford today. The weather is gorgeous and it is such a spectacular run from Newport. We met just outside Hereford and went to place some flowers on my Aunt's grave, my first visit there since her death just over a year ago. When I was wiping down the headstone I was reminiscing with my cousin about all the times I did the same thing with my aunt for her parents grave; our grandparents.

We took the decision not to go into the city for lunch and went for a coffee locally. Later we lunched at a much favoured place of ours where we both used to take my Aunt. After a super luncheon, we were reflecting on various things, and more reminising about our childhood. All in all it was a very nice day.

One thing I didn't know is that my father and his brother (our uncle) hand-made a dolls house for W. when she was a little girl, complete with lights inside. That must have been a very smart dolls house for it's time. I asked if she still had it and sadly she doesn't. My aunt gave it away many years ago which saddened my cousin. I can understand that, as my own mother gave all my toys away when I left home. I remember feeling outraged at the time. Perhaps that is why my own sons now have burgeoning attics in their own homes!

I wonder why Dad and uncle A. didn't make me a dolls house? Hmmm.

Mothering Monday

A day of mixed emotions. My eldest son and family came for the evening. They couldn't come yesterday, so came tonight. I love to see them and my youngest granddaughter, who looks like her Mum, has all her Dad's mannerisms. She is just like he was at her age - 10 years old. I had a super gift - ginger, vanilla & pink pepper toiletries.

My pottery cat, Clarence, has a new home with youngest granddaughter. Be happy Clarence!

I also had a nice day yesterday, Mrs.H, Miss A and I all went out to lunch, then had a trip down the Wye Valley. Being the nincompoop that I am I didn't take my camera. I have been waiting for an opportunity to take some photos for the Blog and then when it arises and I don't pick up the camera!

I handed my Assignment in at college today. The sense of relief when I handed it over was enormous! I won't know the results for quite a while.

I went and got my hair cut at Toni & Guy, as a model for the trainees, after college. I won't be doing it too often. I was there two hours for a shampoo and cut!!!

I had news tonight that a very good friend of mine has ovarian cancer. I had a little weep. We were such good friends before I came back to Newport. We worked together for the Church and we were always getting into scrapes with the vicar. She has this wonderful ability to laugh, and you know what they say about that. Laugh and the world laughs with you .......... I look back on that time with great fondness.

May God bless and keep you N. you are in my prayers - xxx

An Irish win!

Wales lost - but what a match! I have bitten my finger nails down to the quick and as for my recently acquired regular heartbeat, it could well have become irregular again!

Ireland has won The Grand Slam for the first time since 1948. They must be unbelievably proud! Well done Ireland, I think the best team won.

The odds and the sods .......

Sad news. My Doctor aged 47 years has terminal cancer. I get on so well with her, she is a lovely person.

Good News. Miss A is driving her car! She has not driven for twenty years and although she has had a lengthy refresher course with a School of Motoring she has been nervous. Yesterday she just turned up on my doorstep. There will be no stopping her now!

I have just planted up two tubs of pansies (similar to those above - taken last year) re-potted my two Bay trees into bigger pots, weeded and swept the front path and proudly put one pot of pansies out there! Got all last years dross out of pots and tubs, tomorrow I will dig the boarders out the back.

Sorted out and written just a few Easter cards and put money in the ones for grandchildren.

I got my car rinsed, hand washed, hand dried, buffed up and tyres blackened all for £5. Marvellous value for someone like me without an outside tap.

Booked an appointment to get my hair cut with Toni & Guy. They were asking for models, so Miss A and I have put ourselves forward. I go Monday, she goes Wednesday! I couldn't afford to go there normally so this is a bonus. I remember the days in Cambridge when I used to go to Toni & Guy every 6 weeks. How the mighty hath fallen!

Now - off to watch the Wales match on the tele!.

Wales v Ireland

I can fly the Welsh flag on this Blog and I will be flying it tomorrow when Wales play Ireland in Cardiff, but I am not sure about our chances. The winning partnership of Henson and Shanklin is back in play, but is it enough? There is pressure on both teams. Ireland are after the Grand Slam and we are playing for the Championship. Another nail biting afternoon on the sofa tomorrow wearing my Welsh socks!

Real Magic!

Having celebrated yesterday upon finishing my assignment for college, I started on the children's story for next term. This is the nice part, writing it and letting your imagination run wild. This story is about witches, wizards and goblins, all with wonderful sounding names. One name I had in mind and two I have had to research. It's been great fun today, and at this point of course, there are no time pressures.

One of the first rules of writing is to decided if the story is going to be character or plot based and then when that decision is made have and ending in mind. I have struggled with the latter, but when it popped into my head today I had to sit down and write it. So ..... from sudden death this term to witches and wizards next term. The imagination is a wonderful thing!

Eureka!

I am totally incapable of blogging anything sensible today, my brain has not loosened up from two days of preparation for this final assessment for writing class, but IT'S FINISHED! To top it all, in a mad moment I asked the girl coming around tonight for me to look at her work, to stay for supper. Mad or what?

I bought a birthday card on the weekend, well several actually - mostly for children, and one has this charming little 'ditty' on the front that we all know and can never remember!

Monday’s child is fair of face,
Tuesday’s child is full of grace,
Wednesday’s child is full of woe,
Thursday’s child has far to go,
Friday’s child is loving and giving,
Saturday’s child works hard for a living,
But the child that is born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny & blithe & good all day.

This is as much as I can come up with today folks!

Pottery Class - again!

I really do enjoy this pottery class. There is no pressure whatsoever, such a laid back atmosphere and very gentle people. I had to experiment with the 'Agate' method of mixing two colour clays today to give a marble effect. This is not obvious in the photograph above but I was pleased with the mix and the design - so was the tutor, more to the point.

These 'bits' in this photograph are three old fashioned stone hot-water bottles for a dolls house. They will be super when I glaze them. Only the top needs to be painted, as when they are glazed and fired they will be the colour that I want to achieve. The tutor was fine with me doing these and encouraged me to do more for the dolls house. I shall have to have a word with Mrs. H to see what else she wants. These were selling in the Fair on Sunday for £1.75 each!


Some of the ladies in this class are doing glassware jewellery. It is lovely, vibrant colours and unusual shapes and so professional. I must have a go at that at some point!

St. Patrick, St. Me and other things!

Google are fun! On an event day they use their Logo to reflect whatever the celebration is. This one is for St. Patrick's day.

Shamrock

An Irish friend of mine visited me some weeks ago I call him Irish M. He's kissed the Blarney stone many times, believe me. He told me that St. Patrick was Welsh and I laughed. After he left I looked it up on the Internet and he was! Welsh!

It seems when he was 16 he was captured from his native WALES where he was taken as a slave to Ireland, where he lived for 6 years before escaping and returning home to his family. After entering the Church he later returned to Ireland as a Missionary. Well, well! I shall not be so quick to dismiss Irish M as 'soft in the head' in future! I wonder do the Americans know all this? They must do! Hmm .. I wonder how much of any of these tales are true?

As for me I have spent St. Patrick's day morning cleaning down the kitchen cupboards, wiping the insides of the doors and cleaning the shelves that house many now unused cookery books. I feel Saintly this morning!


While I was vigorously interacting with the kitchen cupboards I was listening to Woman's Hour on Radio 4. They were discussing famous artists who had painted their mother. Whistler being the most famous for this - but most of them did, all the prominent painters, Van Gough, Gauguin, Constable and so on. Something else for me to 'dip into' .... when I have the time!

Dolls House Fair and MUD!

Some years ago I bought a dolls house for my grand daughter and she loved it! She's nearly twenty now and long ago lost interest, her boyfriend is more important (Why ?) Last year I decided to refurbish it for her. I didn't get very far, without her physical presence and putting her 'five penny worth' in, it all seemed pointless. I don't think I have completely lost the bug, but without her around, it's all less exciting somehow.

Today there was a Dolls House Fair locally. I decided to go and have a look, and no, I didn't get all bug eyed again. When I was leaving, I decided to take a short cut to my car, why I don't know because it was almost in front of me anyway. The sun was glorious as I picked my way through some dry leaves, under some budding catkin branches, only the dry leaves were not so dry and I sank deep into several inches of mud! I wouldn't have minded so much normally, but I had gone there straight from Church as was wearing my best shoes! Black suede with thin high heels. Hmmm ..... I have left them to dry and I will just have to hope the dried mud will brush off. That will teach me to try and cut corners!

Wales 20 - Italy 15. A win - JUST!

Some of the Welsh side.

Well we won, but it was a narrow win. Italy played well in front of their home crowd, but they are bottom of the league table and Wales, who are second from the top, were struggling at one point. I don't think that was how it was suppose to be! No doubt the BBC will give us a postmortem which will last all night!

Harrowing Viewing.

Mount Kilimanjaro taken by a friend of mine and who was kind enough to send it to me after reading last night's Blog.

I have just been watching the Red Nose Day programme. It is heartbreaking. The film just shown was of a little boy called Paul, aged 1 year, dying from Malaria. I got so upset I decided to open the Blog and make this entry. His parents wanted the film shown to encourage those of us that can afford to give, to donate money for Mosquito nets. Just £5 is the cost of one net. That's all that is required to save a life in Africa. Anyone reading this tonight please ring and pledge something even if it's just £1.

Tel: 03457 910 910

or at

http://www.rednoseday.com/

Tredegar - A film documentry.

Tredegar 2009

There is a Documentary out on CD this month about three men from Tredegar who changed the course of American history. It seems local filmmakers have made this film which is called 'Go West Young Man'. It explores the story of three young men from the town who went to America at different points in time, and played their part in the shaping of that country.

The first man, Rhys Davies, helped build the Tredegar Ironworks in Richmond, Virginia, a development which changed the course of the civil war after making Richmond the capital of the Confederacy.

The second man, Daniel Gooch, was recruited by Isambard Kingdom Brunel to work on the Great Western Railway. He later moved to America where he was instrumental in laying the first trans-Atlantic cables for messaging by Morse code overseas.

Henry Hughes travelled to America after surviving the Tredegar cholera outbreak. He travelled to Minnesota where he was renowned as an 'Indian Fighter'.

I received a cutting from the local paper via email from a friend containing all this information. It seems that 'Green Valley Film Productions' have made other documentaries in and around Blaenau Gwent. The filmmakers said ' we thought these three stories were worth putting on film, it's part of the rich archive of this area.' Their next project is titled 'Bevan's Tredegar' and they are looking for people with memories, second hand memories, old photographs or archive footage to come forward and contact them. Anyone reading this Blog, if you think you can help please contact the following:

Mr. Morgan Jones

pmarcherlord@aol.com

The hour long DVD is now on sale for £10 from Tredegar Development Trust's 'In The Pink' shop, entirely for the benefit of the voluntary organisation. Well I keep being surprised by Tredegar and it's history, and I would bet money there is still a lot out there I don't know.

The Kilimanjaro 9.

Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

I have just watched the programme on BBC One about the nine celebrities that climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for Red Nose Day tomorrow. It was brilliant. They embarked upon the difficult high altitude assent to raise funds and succeeded. The money from this particular climb is being raised for children who are dying from malaria in Uganda.

Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Well done to all those who made the climb. I wish I was thirty years younger, and all the opportunities that are available to the young these days were on offer - but then don't we all?

A classmate from the Writing Class came around this evening and we spent nearly three hours discussing and advising each other on our Assessments. I think, for me, I have given this my best shot. Let's hope the tutor thinks so on Monday!

M.U (formerly Mothers union).

I went along to my first MU meeting tonight. It was as I thought it would be and you can read into that whatever you wish. I expect that you'll be hearing more about this Christian gathering in due course, but this particular Branch will have to step up a gear to hold my interest. I will try to the best that I can, but will be keeping my eye open for different opportunities to support my local Church.

My friend is staying the night with me and was at home relaxing while I was out, as this is her last night in Wales before beginning her new life in Brighton. But she still has a house to sell here, so she will be back & forth. So all in all a different evening to the usual!

Remarkable Trees.

Davidia Involucrata

After putting my neighbour on her bus yesterday I found myself outside a large second-hand bookshop in the city. I ventured in. I knew I needed two particular books for referencing the bibliography in readiness for my Assessment on 23rd March. One was a book on trees. I needed reference to the Davidia involucarata, (Handkerchief Tree) it was going to be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

I found the section I wanted and picked up a book. I went straight to the index, my enthusiasm waning by the second, then there it was! I quickly looked up the page and there was the most beautiful picture of the 'Handkerchief Tree' that I have ever seen! It had enough text for referencing, so I bought it. (paid more than I should have Hmmm...) I couldn't believe it. The book is called 'Meetings With Remarkable Trees' by Thomas Pakenham. It also contained some information about Yew trees which I also needed, so I was sorted in one fell swoop, all in 7 or 8 minutes. My luck is not normally this good!

Pottery Class - Today

'Sole Male' pottering away this morning

I took this photo (above) of 'Sole Male' in the class this morning. This is to show Blog followers how much more advanced he is than me. He works on a potters wheel while I am still working by hand. I have only had eight lesson and he has been going for over a year, so I have a long way to go! The majority of the ladies in the class have had no success on the wheel, and prefer hand modelling or moulds, but a few of us are going to try when we become more proficient.

Another trial coaster by me - this is an unglazes sample.

Potty Pottery Suppliers!

I went to the pottery suppliers today. This was my fifth attempt to find them open. Success! Fired with enthusiasm, my next seat neighbour from pottery class and myself pulled up outside. It took us a minute or two to read the new sign on the door as to what days they would be closed. They only opened on the 2nd March after a three week shut down! In we went.

I don't know what I was expecting, but listening to the people in pottery class I thought it would be a warehouse type place stacked with implements for pottery, clays, glazes and so on. Well it was, sort of, about the size of my living room and all the clays etc. were kept outside. We asked the guy, who I assumed to be a potter himself, for the clay my neighbour wanted, paper clay. They didn't have it. We tried the paint she wanted, same reply. I then said, picking up a pot, 'Did you make this?' 'No' he replied 'I am not a potter.' Well silly me!

We didn't get anything we wanted and when all attempts at conversation failed (it was like pulling teeth to get this chap to say anything) we left. My next seat neighbour was disappointed, and so was I, but not to the same degree as her. So our afternoon out turned into ten minutes in the pottery 'shop' and we felt cheated!

We soon put things to rights, we treated ourselves to a lunch out before she got the bus back home!

Mothers Union

Mothers Union Logo

I have agreed to join the Mothers Union, yes, that's right, ME! I am not sure how I got into this, but I have and I would like to play an active part. I have not had much time this week to read up thoroughly on this organisation due to college commitments, but I will do.

I know that the founder is Mary Sumner born in 1828 and died in 1921 aged 92 years old, but other than that, which I have picked up somewhere along life's rich path, I know little!

A Christian organisation with more than 3.6 million members in 79 countries must be doing something right mustn't they? So I will go along on Wednesday evening to my Inauguration and see where this membership takes me. If this particular group is not effective then I simply won't stay. If you are going to commit time to voluntary work you have to make an effort to be effectual. I should know this after committing myself to H M Prison Service for 21 years. This is a complete change of direction. Let's see what happens.

Week 8 - Creative Writing.

Today was probably the most difficult of the Writing Course so far. Having handed in my last draft, the next stage is to hand in the final one for submission to the examiners. It has to be accompanied by a 700 word commentary, a bibliography and a selection of past works from this class. This has made all us stop and think. Writing the story was the easy bit (I have heard this before) it's getting it to examination standard is the tricky bit. An intensive two weeks coming up for me I think.

I have been given some more books on the arts, which is great to have, but they will have to take a back seat to the writing for a while I regret to write. Hopefully, it will all be worth it!

A trip to the Cinema.

from 'The Young Victoria'

Another trip to the cinema on my own! I am getting used to this and as there are quite a few other people on their own as well, I don't stick out as a 'saddo'!

I enjoyed the film 'The Young Victoria', it was a bit of a flouncy historical drama and tells the story of a cloistered young girl, who becomes Queen at a very early age and ends after the birth of her first child. There were about 2 dozen people in the cinema. When I went to see 'Slumdog Millionaire' I had to look for a seat. However, 'The Young Victoria' was worth watching and I am glad I saw it.

Sarah Ferguson (her who's HRH no more) helped produce this film and Princess Bee had a cameo role in it. I spotted her straight away without knowing this before hand, so my powers of observation are still on target!

I popped into Newport earlier and thought how sad the town has become. There were hardly any people about and scaffolding everywhere you look; many shops are closed down to make way for the new development and it just looked neglected. Before heading for the cinema I went to the local out of town development to the cash point; what a difference. There were more people there than I have seen in Newport town centre for many years, the place was teeming with life. Parking, or lack of it, is killing Newport and all the £1 shops and charity shops that have flooded the place. What we need is some good department stores and upmarket chain stores if Newport wants to compete with other cities.

Identity Card

My National Identity Card.

I borrowed a booklet from Mrs. H yesterday. It briefly outlines some of the events of the twentieth century and lists the highlights under the year they occurred.

The year that I was born - 1947 the following events took place.

Freezing weather gripped Britain. There were Icebergs off the Norfolk coast; and the sea freezes at Margate. Government calls for more sweat from the workers and Welsh Miners agreed to work on Sundays for the first time. The Archbishop blames Hollywood for the high divorce rate. It was announced that fuel rationing was likely.

In this booklet it has an article on National Identity Cards issued after the second world war, and I remembered that I still had mine (pictured above). I wonder if my sister still has hers or if they were not issued in the year she was born (1952). I find all these small facts fascinating especially when trying to relate them to my own life.

The 'inch tape'!

This came in the post yesterday. It is from the British Heart Foundation, whom I have been praising in this Blog. It is quite a good quality tape measure ( 'inch tape' to any Welsh Valley Blog followers). It has European measurements in cm and inches on the one side and on the reverse side it is all in Asian measurements.

Asian people have heart problems, I do not have a problem with that, what I do have a problem with is the cost of producing these things and distributing them to all those thousands of people that have made an inquiry to the British Heart Foundation. I know many people who work hard, myself included in the past, to raise money for this charity. Is this is how they spend it? The best that can be said for it is that a least it wasn't yet another pen!

An 'Arty' time!

Memories - George Henry Broughton - 1896

Having gone to see Mrs. H just after 1pm for a coffee, I found myself still at her house at 8.15pm. By this time Miss A had joined us and we were all sitting around the dining room table discussing politics! It was a great afternoon and evening. We managed a fish and chip supper from the local chippy and there was not much left over for Keecha, Mrs. H's cat!

During the afternoon we discussed art, and some of the artists I have talked about on this Blog. Mrs. H then gave me a set of postcard prints, which she has had for some considerable time, of painters that are members of Royal Acadamy of Art. It was a lovely gift and I have used one of them as today's picture on this Blog. The painter is George Henry Broughton who was born in Norwich and taken to America as an infant. The English American painted this picture in 1896.

When I got home, bathed, put on my bathrobe and the front door bell rang. I tentively went to the front door. There was a girl standing there with a card in her hand explaining to me that she was from 'Livability' and this card, that was coming closer and closer towards me, was official proof that she was a charity worker. I shut the door on her, and went upstairs to watch what was going on from the bedroom window. They were charity workers and they did have a support van with the name emblazoned on the side. They were getting the same response form my neighbours as they did from myself. This was 8.35 in the evening. I am going to find this Charity on-line and complain. Who goes touting for money at this time of the evening?

Pie Week !

Did you know that 1 -7th March is British Pie week? Nor me! I heard it being discusses on one of the obscure channels tonight. At first I thought it was a spoof, but it's not! The one above looks delish, but I mustn't think about pies. I have enough problem with my weight as it is.

Dali - A Voyage of Discovery

The Hallucinogenic Toreador - Dali

Reading the book about Salvador Dali is a real voyage of discovery. In the above picture, which I like enormously, Dali transmits his passion for bullfighting. I have read that the whole scene is contained within a bullfighting ring while alluring tentatively to the colours of the Spanish flag.


In Pottery this morning I was telling 'sole male' about my reading this book (his other subject is art) and he recommended to me a book called 'The Secret Life of Salvador Dali'. It is autobiographical and comes well recommended from 'sole male' who's views I am coming to respect. At first I thought he was a grumpy old 'so and so', but he is actually quite well informed.

I did not think for a moment that I would like Dali's work but I do, some of it, but then this has been the case with those that I have familierised myself with to date. Not all, but some.

The Pottery Process.

I thought I would show Blog followers the process that evolves in my Wednesday morning class. The above is the beginning of a Kitchen wall plaque I am making. This is how it look a couple of hours ago. It has been left in the drying bay until I return next week. Once totally dry the work in then biscuit fired to 1000 degrees centigrade.


After the biscuit firing process, all work is glazed by dipping it into a huge vat of of glaze, this is then allowed to dry, which only takes 5 or 10 minutes. Students can then paint their work. The glazed and painted pots are fired again when dry at a temperature of 1300 degrees centigrade, over a period of four or five hours. This is done during the week when students are not there of course. Finished pots are then stored until the student comes back to class and then they are given the opportunity to buy their work or in goes into a large skip for recycling.

The above is some work I have on-going. This is a coaster and a Christmas tree to hang on my tree at Christmas. This photograph is taken after the biscuit firing stage and is ready for me to glaze and paint next week. If you don't mind get dirty this is a relaxing hobby. I have wanted to do it for some years, but a lot of Pottery classes are being discontinued due to to funding issues. I was lucky to fine this one.

Salvador Dali

Dali - The Last Supper - 1955

When Miss L arrived yesterday she brought me a book on Salvador Dali. I have previously received books from her by other artists, which I have enjoyed immensely. I just leafed through the book when she was here but could see even from that brief glance this was going to be a different experience.


The book states that Dali probably created his best works in the decade 1929 - 1939. He is famous for painting images which change according to the views perception of them. Again, as I have said many times before, I like what I like and to my surprise I like some of his work.


I particularly like the picture above which is one of his more traditional works. This to me, is probably what the Last Supper would have looked like. The brightness of the evening sky outside, simple fare on the table and Christ with the disciples, their heads bowed, kneel round a large stone table. Their solid forms seem to contrast somehow with the transparency of Christ. The two pieces of bread and the half-full glass of wine represent the sacramental meal and the figure outside the window represents the Holy Spirit I think, but I don't know that. Some of the more famous paintings of 'The last Supper' portrays this group in a dark opulent room, with the table laden with food and wine, and always away from natural light. I don't think it could have been like that at all, but it is just my view.


I am reading that Dali was a colourful character who had an affinity for partaking in unusual and grandiose behavior while continuing to work hard and remaining prolific as an artist, designer and writer. I hope this book tells me something of his writing. I will be really interested in that.

Not so bright me!

My friend called in for a cuppa after taking a Seminar in the City today. It's always good to see Miss L. We had a long chat putting the world to rights and then I had a 'quickie' computer lesson, which wasn't very fair of me as she must have been tired after teaching all day. Well I followed this particular instruction to the letter and succeeded first time!

I decided to mail her an example after she left so that she would get it this evening and be pleased with me. Huh, do you think I could do it? I persevered for three hours before ringing her confessing my defeat! Bless her, she was filling her 'hottie' to go to bed early, but still found time to talk me through it again. I got it this time and the proof will be there to greet her when she gets up in the morning!

As for me I am as pleased as punch I've cracked it!

Story Shredding or not?

Another lovely morning, bright Spring sunshine and a light frost! The presenter on one of these Magazine programmes said that the programme were considering it to be officially Spring and asking people to try not to wear black for six months in an attempt to raise people’s spirits. Huh, if I had so stop wearing black, I would have to walk around naked as most of what I own is black or has black in it. Just as well I have never been a follower of fashion!


Writing class was interesting this morning. We all had to take each other's work home last week and this was the bit when you spoke about your classmates work. I was so relieved to find that the young man sitting next to me, a tutor himself in another subject, opened up with my exact thoughts - that this was not exactly what we should be doing. It is the Tutors job to correct grammatical and punctuation errors, as for the content, it's not fair for such a small group to be criticising other people’s work when we are only beginners ourselves. The point was received fairly well by the tutor.


So now we have the bones of our stories. That's the good news; the bad news is all the hard work lays ahead - but not quite yet. Researches on the facts I have incorporated into the story have to be carried out for my commentary. I am fairly comfortable with that - I think!


We spoke briefly about the next module which is children's writing. I had hoped it was going to be traditional, but it's not. It is going to be contemporary writing for children which is a subject I know little about, however, I have to put that to the back of my mind at the moment and concentrate on this current piece. I had no idea that this course was going to be so all encompassing - but it's enjoyable. It certainly challenges you!

Old Birds!

Someone sent this to my friend Ms. L - she in turn, sent it on to me. She suggesd that this might be us in ten years time! Huh....some friend!