How To Avoid Paying Parking Charges On Your Local High Street

Bet that caught your attention....  well it certainly did mine today.  There I was having my afternoon latte hit after a morning of struggling to decide what shade of fabric I would use in my next project, and how would I dye it, strong tea-bags? or Beetroot?  Oh, but what about avoiding parking charges you say.  Oh yes, that.  So as I settle down to enjoy my latte and sketch and note the thoughts flooding through my brain in relation to said project, something caught my eye.

Across the road outside the butchers a car pulls into a parking space, the driver, gets out, goes round to the passenger side and out comes his son, probably about five-ish, he then opens his boot and leaves it open and crosses the street in my direction and goes into the Post Office.  I thought he forgot to close the boot.  So when he comes walking back past the cafe, I call out to him and mention that he forgot to close his car boot.  He smiles at me, and says thank you; but looks just a little, well - guilty. And he then pops into Barclays and emerges a few minutes later, crosses the road, puts his son in the car, closes the boot, gets into car and drives off.

Clever, eh?

Gifts from Wales

Sian Williams Davies has sent me some seeds, Angharads Sweet Peas, beautifully wrapped and packaged.  I'd love to show you the beautifully written envelope, but that would put my address into cyber space, not sure I want that.

 

Art Journals and Altered Books: Frida Kahlo's Letters

My first altered book, a selection of Frida Kahlo's letters found online. The book, originally a lifestyle book with heavy paper pages.  First I pulled out quite a few of the pages and then covered the book cover with a sheet of Financial Times newspaper, which I painted over with acrylic paint.  Then I pasted a photograph of Frida and some of her letters.



Front Cover

Inside Cover

Tip-in Page

Tip-in page opened

Frida's Garden Party

Frida in the Woods

Frida's Patio

My favourite picture of Frida

Back Cover

The Mouse and the Art Journal

So you look at these pictures and think, - where's the Mouse?  -  well Ms Mouse, (oh yes we know it was female) is the creative genius behind the wonderfully serrated edge on the spotted paper, and you ask how?  Well, I have some rolls of paper that are stored under a wardrobe. (it's the usual thing I do just to tidy them out of the way).

Took them out the other day to find that one roll had been eaten along the edge and had a beautifully serrated edge that could only have been achieved by.... yes a mouse. So just before I cut it level and stored it away again, I thought aaaaaaaaha that would make a good piece for my art journal background. 

Thank you Ms Mouse, for your creative work and I do hope you escaped the attention of our resident feline, Dim Sum.  I have put the rolls of paper back under the wardrobe and wonder if you could have another go at them, that would be wonderful. 


Close-up of Ms Mouse's serration technique
 



Art Journal Page



 

 

Collage on a Sunday - a lesson in overdoing it...

 Am a bit disappointed with this collage page.  Think I overdid it and really should have stopped at picture, "Text Added".  Using matte medium on pan pastels is really not a good idea...

The original background

Text added

First layer of colour added

 

Added stencil raindrop shapes with pan pastel

Closeup of stencil pan pastel

Collage before I matted

Collage after I matted it

 

 

Just been read the riot act by my GP. Not as bad as it may sound.  She is an extremely good and thorough doctor, nothing gets by her. And there is always a wait to see her because of her throughness and the time she gives to her patients. 

So it's a new year and a new project.  Project me; have to reduce my cholesterol, which will involve daily exercise and a complete change in diet.  Goodbye to all my favourites, cheese, chicken skin, white bread, chocolates, sugary drinks, cheese (especially camenbert, did I mention cheese before... yes that's because that will be a big sacrifice), full fat milk, butter..... yep just about anything that I might crave is off the menu.

So say hello to lots of veg, and for that I a now going to scour the internet for suitable recipes that I can use.  That means that my tried and tested menu for the week which I don't even have to think about is now, off the menu, except for fish.

A total rethink of eating habits...... god I feel depressed already.

Ainelivias Autumn Statement: An Open Letter to Chancellor George (The Unloved) Osborn

On Wednesday, or WOEday you delivered your Autumn Statement. Yesterday I bought a newspaper, with the intention to bone up on the analyses of what this means for us, but yesterday being my birthday, I decided instead to have a day of bel far niente (Italian for the sweet art of doing nothing) and gave myself a day off from the harsh realities of the world.

So today I have caught up with the implications of your economic strategy for us ordinary people.

So to reduce all the hot-air and zillions of words, expended on your statement, this is what I think.

You and yours (Tories and Lib Dems) have taken as your oft-repeated  ad nauseum mantra, “We are all in this together”.  But George, we, that is Josephine and Joe Public out here, do not believe you, and really you insult our intelligence.

Here’s a few reasons why; Starbucks, Google, Amazon, oh and Top-Shop (we seem to have forgotten them temporarily) to name the most notable corporations engaged in legal though immoral tax-evasion.

In your statement on Woeday, you used the now standard spin, on how the majority of us feel aggrieved at those on benefits who lie abed, while we set off for work in all weathers. I find it strange that you set out to demonise those who have to live on benefits, and not applying the same standard to large corporations who seek to evade, however legally, their tax responsibilities.

So here’s the thing George, watching last night’s Question Time on BBC1, a young woman spoke of her father, who struggling to make ends meet, had worked out that he and his family would have a better income if they were on benefits.

So what I ask, is the moral difference between large corporations finding legal ways to maximise their profits, and Mr and Mrs Public realising their income would increase if they were on benefits? 

And so, if as you say “We are all in this together”, what is the problem with an individual taking the lead from large corporations on how to maximise income?  In any other circumstances, I’m sure you would say it is the sensible thing to do, wouldn’t you?  But the question remains, is it the moral thing to do?

As the Lib Dem MP Tim Farron said on Question Time last night.  “Tax is the subscription charge for living in a civilised society”.  Perhaps you should stop demonising the individuals who need benefits to live (I’ve never met anyone happy to be living on benefits) and start demonising the large corporations not paying their fair and moral share, which I don’t need to be an accountant to work out, would bring you a darn sight more revenue than any individual’s tax share.

And that George, is my Autumn Statement.  Thank you for listening.

The Road to Hell or Heaven? A Tale of Kindness on the M1

This is the tale of three guys, Chas, Felice, and Ben,  who share a similar passion, cars. In general, cars; in particular Alfa Romeo. Who set off on Thursday night for an overnight stay, and a day out at the NEC, Classic Car Show.  The tickets had been bought, the hotel booked and I waved them goodbye at about 6pm with Chas muttering about rush-hour traffic. And so I settled in for a peaceful and quiet evening, looking forward to having the house, the tv, and the cat, all to myself. 

Don't count your chickens girl......

It was just as I sat down to watch Kirstie's Vintage Home,  that the phone rang. I saw on the display Chas's mobile number and thought, oh they've reached Birmingham already, clicked the button and said, hi darling.  But the voice I heard was full of anxiety as he told me that they had stopped at Toddington for a burger and as they left the service station he realised that he had left his backpack behind, in which were his wallet with money and all his credit cards and the ticket for the show.  So now they were in the Northbound traffic with 50 mile an hour signs everywhere and travelling towards the next junction to double back.  What could I say, I just asked him to be calm and call me again when they managed to double back to the service station.

I forgot all about Kirstie's Vintage Home (luckily I was recording it) and went to make myself a cup of coffee.  In fact do anything that would take my mind off the worst outcomes of losing a wallet full of cash and credit cards.  Standing in my kitchen I did something without thinking, I put my hands together and said, "Hi God, I know we haven't spoken in a while, but I need your help, please let someone find Chas's bag and please let them be honest, oh and Angharad, if your're out there somewhere, watch over Chas's bag".  Angharad is my best friend, still, she died three years ago, and she said she'd haunt me if I didn't wear red to her funeral.  Thank God I didn't wear red.

I took my coffee out to the patio and in the dark tried to still my anxieties, feeling how awful this was for Charlie who'd been planning and looking forward to this trip, and how it was about to be a disaster,  and thinking about the hassle of ringing credit card companies to cancel cards and the possiblity of his bank account being cleaned out.  Breathe I told myself, all you can do is breathe, easier said than done when you are in the grip of fear. And I could only imagine how Chas was feeling at that moment. Minutes felt like hours and hours like days.  There were two phone calls but neither of them Chas, so I explained hurriedly and got off the phone.

Time can pass so slowly.  When Chas finally rang I could tell instantly by his voice that against the odds it was good news, it fact he could hardly speak and he passed the phone over to as I later learned was Pamela.  She told me how she and her husband had found his bag, and were searching through it trying to find contact details, and reluctant to hand it over to anyone in the service station because of the amount of cash. They had phoned the telephone number on the back of one of his credit cards trying to get some contact details or to get the company to contact him.  They did find his business card and sent him an email, but he didn't get that on his phone till later. 

As he arrived back at the service station, in a state of high anxiety, a woman had stepped toward him in the entrance asking, "Are you Mr Chee?", and told him they had found his bag and everything was safe.

How I wanted to hug Pamela and Stephen her husband.  She explained how they had a similar experience not so long ago, and her husband's wallet was returned to him by the driver of a Warburton's truck.  And she said they had passed the kindness on and it's our turn to pass it on again. 

Doesn't it renew your faith in humanity? That these two kind and thoughtful people went to such lengths to return Chas's bag to him.

Have you read........?

If I had a £1 for every time I've been asked in recent months, "Have you read Fifty Shades of Grey?" I'd have loads of money to buy books that are on my wish list.

So I popped into my local WH Smith early one morning when the shop was quiet and my two favourite female shop assistants were there.

Me: Morning, just wanted to ask what's all the talk about "Fifty Shades of Grey?

Trixie and Dixie: (looking at each other and in unison) Oooooooooooh!!  (eyebrows raised) You really want to know?

Me: Yes (hesitantly because now I'm wondering, why that response)

Trixie: Well, my dear, (comes out from behind counter and ushers me with one arm raised showing the amazing art work that are her nails) come with me....

I follow her to a cardboard stand where lies in wait, many copies of "Fifty Shades of Grey"

Trixie: Open the book at page 184.  (I think thats the page, not sure now.)

So I do and read.  And I go     "....  hmm ..... ok..... well.... right....  " finish reading and put book back on shelf.  And look up at Trixie.

Me:  well.....  thanks for your help. 

And we both burst out laughing.

So I exit shop and go straight to cafe for my latte.  Sitting sipping my latte and reading the newspaper, along comes my friend whom I will call Mrs G.  We chat for a while and then she turns to me with those big baby blues of hers and says "Have you read "Fifty Shades of Grey?"  "No", I reply.  "Well.... no.... that's not exactly true, I have read page 184".  And I go on to explain the little scene earlier. 

(Now Mrs G is a retired lady, in her seventies, elegant who puts some of us younger ones to shame.)  So she pops her shopping bag on her chair and gets up... I assume she is going to the Ladies...  but no....  "... just going to pop into Smiths for a min", she mumbles and I, jokingly say...  ".. remember it's page 184".  Mrs G smiles and strides off.

Five minutes later she is back, Smiths plastic bag in hand, and puts bag in shopping bag.  "I bought it", she whispers conspiratorally and I nearly choke on my mouthful of coffee.  "And you can read it when I'm finished".

Amish Style Quilt

The first Amish Style quilt I made.

Recycling a Planner into an Art Journal

Last year I was given a Journey to Wings - Kelly Rae Roberts Planner.  Now the year is up and it's sitting on the shelf.  I was about to throw it out and thought, maybe I can use this as an art journal.  So using some of the ideas I've garnered over the years and in particular from Caatje's Blog, I decided to have a go.

I've used scraps of paper from my scrap box and tissue to cover the original lines so I can still write on those pages.  When I've finished preparing the pages, then maybe I'll use Gesso or Acrylic Paint to block out some of the images or write and draw.  I am inspired by Caatje's Work to have a go and see what happens.  Later I will post some of my finished pages.

The cover

Original Pages

Original Month dividers, not sure what I'll do here

Prepared page

Prepared page

Prepared page

Prepared page

Prepared page

Original lined pages covered with tissue so I can still write on the lines

Prepared page, I really like this one

Prepared page, another one I really like

Be Yourself.............

How many times have you heard it said; or said it yourself?  Put this way, it is, self-explanatory.....  you don't need to stop and wonder how to be yourself, there is only one you...............

New Kid on the Blog - Sophie Megan Davies

Sophie Megan Davies has just posted her first post on her first blog.  To Find her click here.

One of Sophies sculptural pieces

Merry Christmas To All

St Patricks Cathedral Dublin  - Ciaran McGahon

Journal Lost.............. Journal Found

My journal goes everywhere with me...  and each one gets a new cover so they are quite different and I can't miss them...  but oh gawd, as I've just discovered...  I can lose them..

Got up yesterday, going for a long walk, to walk off the birthday excessess, first check my bag, phone, money, bus pass, and journal...  not in my bag, What!!!! Not on my desk... not in the living-room, not nowhere....  picture a panic. 

Well it's good way to get myself going, I was out and sitting outside local cafe having a coffee by 8.50 am.  Just ran into M and S to check I hadn't left it there, no, nothing in their lost and found. So armed with caffeine and a moment for pause, but feeling bereft without my trusty journal to scribble in, I sat.......  was it the caffeine?  or just the pause? It came to me, yesterday I had popped into Smiths for something and I have a visual image of me, journal in hand, trying to manage my purchases with one hand, and bag in other and journal, and I had put it down whilst I paid.

Just finished my coffee as the shutters in Smiths were being raised. So I ran in and immediately the guy who had served me yesterday raised his hand and said, "I think I have something that belongs to you", and with his free hand he reached under the counter and produced my Journal.  I wanted to hug him, so overjoyed was I.

...... and no am not even going to reflect on "what if" the contents of my journal have been read or some of my less than generous observations ( I have made generous ones too)  of my fellow Millhillians have been posted to YouTube....  my journal is now back with me....

My Brother the Actor

In September,  Dunshaughlin held a Festival.  Here are some photos of my brother in his role as judge in a reenactment of 18th centrury court proceedings.  And the last two not sure what role he was in there.

Ralph Centre

Ralph the presiding judge

Ralph in court

Ralph on the left

Ralph on the left

Fabric Cover for Sketch Book

Two Brothers

It is not often that my cats sit still long enough for me to photograph them.  Dim Sum in particular is camera shy.  So this week end when I was reading they came into the room and perched on the windowsill and luckily my camera was to hand.

Dim Sum finally faces the camera.

Two Brothers survey the world.