Postcard from my desk

 

Don’t know what to say, feel or think at the moment.  Life has become incredibly difficult, emotional and fraught – for no good reason that I can see. 

Add to that two trips to the High Court and all the ensuing worry and concerns about the outcome, and perhaps dear friends you can understand why I haven’t been around. 

Even though I haven’t much time to be on the internet, I am exploring some colour and creative concepts…

The Weather hasn’t helped, but the knitted “stuff” is doing a lot to comfort me…

Along with watching horses on Exmouth sands on Saturday..

That brought a tear to my eye, remembering when I was free to canter wherever the fancy took me, or perhaps it was just the sharpness of the wind causing my eyes to water…

The “Trundling” Art Studio…

Toby has this beautiful Mercedes which he was lucky enough to obtain through the Motability scheme.  It did take a number of years to get, and we had to jump a number of hurdles but it is perfect for our trundles…

“Trundles” as defined by the Hubbles is out and and about with a flask and a lot of warm blankets, not forgetting cameras and art kit. 

You have heard of the phenomena of Pop Up Art Galleries and Pop Up Shops, making best use of vacant properties?.  With this is the Hubble version – “Pop Along” workshop…

This is us setting up at the weekend at Haytor.  Obviously there is no handy table or warm shelter on Dartmoor (although there was a super mobile caterer called the “Hound of the Basket Meals”) so we take our own. 

We never get bored of the view… it changes just as fast as the weather…

But there is one flaw in this perfect state…

My cold legs… as I sit on the hobbit step… but no matter how much I cover myself with blankets, the wind whips underneath.  So this little conundrum is what I am working on at present. 

Leg Warmers don’t do it… but should – I struggle with them staying up.  A blanket which is circular, should do it – but it doesn’t – I keep tripping over it. 

In the meantime…

We trundled off to Orcombe Point and painted/photographed something else, out of the wind this time…

somehow my cold legs get forgotten, as this view warms our hearts…

Chaos Theory

Not really sure what the actual definition of Chaos Theory is  (and now having looked it up, still don’t !) but every time I hear of it, I am reminded of Jurassic Park and that just about sums up what is going on in my head at the moment.

All very positive and moving forwards – but CHAOS…. 

We are able to spend more time with Toby lately - this is lovely and so much laughter restores my soul. 

We managed to get out on a trundle last weekend to Orcombe Point at Exmouth, and watch the tide come in, horses cantering into the sea, dogs chasing round and people generally taking the bracing air. 

This is my idea of heaven, sat on my little step, painting, drinking brackish tea from a tin mug and listening to, then singing along out of tune to – what was it – Liberty X !!!…………..

Toby has now discovered the Big Reunion.  Not the TV programme, just the opportunity that Tescos have jumped upon to dig out all the old CDs and sell them (cynical – who me !!). 

When I tell Toby that “Sexy” was one of the songs I used to run in the gym to… well the look of disbelief on his fact was incredible.  Yes, I did used to run, I did used to sing, you know I did use to do a lot of things !!! and so did these poor buggers.

Real car crash TV from the stuff I have watched and can only hope that nothing serious gets broken whilst they are out performing, apart from some of the egos I suppose. 

I am sounding a proper grump !! But I am currently inspired by another reality TV that is making an airing in the early hours.

Sissinghurst is a documentary about the National Trust property, featuring and focusing on the woes of the donor family who want to get a project off the ground, which is close to theirs and their ancestors’ hearts and I think the vision is to bring some of the “historic personality” back to the Property along with getting the National Trust to actually DO what it SAYS it is doing.  Sounds simple (and familiar !). You are invited by the producer to eavesdrop on meetings, glimpse bitchy emails, etc. and my sympathies and admiration go out to Sarah Raven who seems to have taken on a herculean task alongside her husband.

She is my heroine..and I love how she just bounces back in each episode.  I am inspired !!

So where was I?

Back at the beach painting, listening to my son chattering away to his Dad, covering myself in layers and layers of thick handspun woollies and watching life being lived, time passing and absorbing the delicious bracing air. Perfick – apart from my cold legs !  

So mind back this week on designing something which will keep my legs warm, without sliding off every time I move.  Sounds suspiciously like either a woolly skirt or leg warmers…

I did remember though to bring my camera this weekend…

There is something about horses, sea and the general sense of freedom which inspires me to put one step in front of each other each day and reminds me that there is something better around the corner.

Chaos can be good.  Such inviting possibilities to embrace…

Life returning to Normal….

I am now going to try to get back to blogging without ranting (for a while that is….!!). 

For those of you who read my blogs and wonder what the blithering heck I am on about – that is fine – I am sorry for the confusion and hopefully there will be posts of interest to you over the next few months.  

I don’t blog to promote or sell myself or my products – or my point of view.  I often blog to communicate my rather subjective take on the world, distorted by all of the issues we are going through. 

Thank you though for all those who do respond to me and offer words of wisdom – that is wonderful and thank you all… you are keeping me on the right track and grounded – even when my sanity is totally in doubt !!

I am very conscious though that I read other peoples blogs and very often don’t comment.  Can I say due to time pressures my ability to read blogs is OK, but my ability to respond via the App on my phone is limited. 

So whilst I am there with you in spirit and wishing you well, onwards and upwards – I am not saying that very much…

I am hoping to change that soon….just want you, in the blogging community, to feel my love and grateful thanks…just as if I could say that to you in person today…

hugs

Shani xxxx