REAL ART??

I have posted photos of my art many times on this blog  and two of my favourite pictures are these

 

A few weeks ago I uploaded the above to You - frame to be put on to canvas.

I waited and waited for them to arrive but as I had taken advantage of a special deal the company were inundated with orders.

I eventually received one and was some -what surprised that the canvas was rolled up in a box with the bits and pieces for the frame. I was expecting it to be assembled. How stupid am I?

No, don’t answer that. That is why it is called YOU – Frame Duh !

Putting it together is very simple, according to the instructions – Yeah. Right. Mike and I eventually managed to do it between us, not without a few expletives and threats of violence.

We made some mistakes which are not too obvious but we made a much better job of the second one despite the instructions missing from the parcel.

Anyway, here they are hanging in the hall

I am thrilled to bits with them although they are rather large. Certainly make a statement! As they can be touched and viewed from different angles I now feel that perhaps my digital art will now be considered “real” art.

I can see me having trouble in deciding which other ones to have done. The reproduction is brilliant.

I might try some flower photos next ……………… but which to choose.

Beautiful Bristol

It is many, many years since I last went to Bristol so, when I saw the Premier Inn offering a room at £29 per night – I booked it.

We set off on a rather grey day but as we travelled east, the weather brightened up and the sun poked his head through the clouds.

Our Sat Nav lady took us into Bristol past the Clifton Bridge and we found ourselves down by the docks. We carried on to make sure we knew where the hotel was and then doubled back to the dockside and easily found a FREE parking space right next to a riverside cafe.

We sat outside right next to an elaborate houseboat.

 The rear of the boat had strong railings around and when a toddler appeared, playing footie with his Dad, I knew why. The old warehouses across the river had been transformed into apartments but there were still a few buildings waiting to be modernised. The mix of old and new was interesting.

Whilst enjoying a hot cup of coffee I smiled, watching a pigeon having a swing on the tow rope.

After our coffee we went walkabout and the sun came out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Across the river was a large Amphitheatre – great piece of architecture

Further down the river was the SS Great Britain. We could see it in the distance but ……….

 

 

 

By that time my poor feet were killing me.

Verrucas and cobblestones are NOT compatible

Don’t worry, I am not going to post photos of my verrucas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I fell in love with this row of Georgian houses and wondered who lived there many years ago.

After lunch we crossed the river and found many different bars including a Weatherspoons.

Much busier there than on the other side and there were the remains of a market and a guy playing a fiddle standing on a tightrope!

No, I didn’t photograph him in case he fell off. What some people do for a living eh?

That concludes our walk around the harbour. I then hobbled on the cobbles back to the car. Ouch!

I was intrigued by the many different types of cobbles and the iron kerbs around many of the pavements

 

Needless to say I googled it and here is the answer :

A distinctive iron pavement kerbing was frequently used in Bristol streets, to prevent iron cartwheels damaging the stone paving. Many sections of the old edging still exist - Lower Park Row (below left) and Temple Street (below right) are typical examples. The iron kerb is almost unique to Bristol, Southampton being one of the few other places.

Iron kerbs were still being installed in the early 20th Century, when they were made by the Douglas Company of Kingswood. They used surplus metal left over from manufacture of their famous motorcycles.

Then we went to the hotel, mooched around the shopping mall and ended up seeing a movie. Tinker Taylor, Soldier Spy – very, very complex but we enjoyed it sitting back in the most comfy cinema seats ever. I struggled to keep awake.

JJ

Out To Lunch In Brixham

The boys’ Dad is now working at a new Restaurant in Brixham so we all went over for lunch on Saturday.

Here it is from the back – looking very smart.

It is right on the Quay – a lovely position on a warm summer day.

A  rather swish glass balcony off the main restaurant  looks very inviting.

Rob the Head Chef.

Whilst waiting for our meal Toby and Phoebe went off to explore.

Ready and waiting for her burger and chips.

An arty shot of through the doorway.

JJ

A trip to Dartmoor

Despite being threatened with the tail-end of a hurricane the morning was quite bright even if a little windy. We treated ourselves to bacon sandwiches and, as we would not want lunch (!) we decided to go up on the Moor. A banana  for me and an apple for Mike was thrown in a carrier bag with a bottle of water.

We drove through Newton Abbot to Bovey Tracey and then up to Haytor. Lots of people in the car park and several climbing up the Tor. We used to do it regularly with the dogs and discovered a large pond just behind the Tor where Brandy loved to swim. There is also the remains of an old railway line which carried the granite down to the river Teign to be put on ships and carried far, far away.

As I cannot walk up hills anymore we drove on but stopped in a lay-by to view the view.

Looking back towards the coast there were blue skies with fluffy cotton wool clouds and despite the wind it was quite warm.

Looking North – East even less cloud and the promise of a lovely afternoon.

Perhaps not, clouds were getting bigger and darker to the North. There appeared to be caravans and other vehicles parked on the ridge in the distance. Sadly, too far to identify.

Some more beautiful skies.

We drove on to Widecombe In The Moor, very famous and attracts loads of visitors but nothing much there. A larger than average Church, a couple of pubs and a large village green.( This is not my photo).

 

Of course there is Widecombe Fair this coming Tuesday - £10 to park a car in a field. Small price to pay I suppose to see –:

Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney Peter Day, Daniel Whiddon, Harry Hawk Old uncle Tom Cobley and all………………

We drove past the pub in the village and took a left turn onto a narrow lane and ended up at The Rugglrstone Inn. One of the prettiest inns I have ever seen.

http://www.rugglestoneinn.co.uk/

It really is that pretty and a very good menu too.

Chickens and geese roam around free and some of the chickens are very unusual.

You may remember we were not going to eat lunch. Umm, we ordered two halves of shandy and just needed a little something to soak it up.

A hot pork  bap with stuffing and apple sauce called out to us and it seemed rude to refuse.

It was fabulous; the pork , slow roasted, melted in the mouth, The sage and onion stuffing was delicious and the bap was toasted. a very nice touch. Real Ales are served too which pleases Mike and his friend Barry. They love to sample different ones.

Dinner will be delayed by at least two hours.

We then decided to cross the Moor to Badgers Holt  and intended to walk beside the river.

There is a very large car park and recent additions of many small animals. However, I headed straight to the river where it tumbles at quite a speed over the stones and boulders creating it’s own tune.

 

 

See how clear the water is despite the fact it is coloured brown. Harmless as far as I know.

Signs of Autumn already showing in the yellowing leaves on the trees on the opposite bank.

 

Also along the bank were several clumps of bamboo – 15 to 20 feet high. A relatively new addition to the English flora. Moe like an invader I’m afraid.

As we walked up the valley there were numerous animal pens containing goats, pot belly pigs, geese, turkeys, rabbits and several different types of chickens.

Really does not go with the surroundings but I suppose some see it as an attraction to families.

I took a few photos but as there was netting etc. over the pens they don’t look too good. Best left out I think.

 

These are the animal you come to see on the moor – ponies.

This one was very tame and he enjoyed Mike’s apple

As the weather closed in we headed for home

Past the newly grown heather and gorse

Stopping every few minutes to allow other cars through

Slowly descending down from the Moor to the lush tree lined roads below

And home for dinner.

JJ

Bloody Depression

Over the last few weeks I have been feeling more and more unwell and this is mainly due to the Whooping Cough I think, it has made us both very rundown and we are still coughing

Add to that the family problems which have dominated our lives over the last three months; My painful feet and the inability to now wear ANY shoes and my breathing is very laboured as I cannot take my inhaler. Energy levels are in the minus region and tears are always there ready to fall.

I wrote this poem this morning & thought I would share it with anyone who looks in.

 

Even in sleep I cannot find peace.

My mind is full of images I don’t want to see.

Also full of sounds I don’t want to hear.

Just let me sleep, sink into the soft blackness; be enveloped in the swirling liquid waters of tranquillity.

I don’t want to be awake. It is too painful.

Jumbled thoughts and worries going round and round.

Always growing, getting bigger. Like pebbles rolling, growing

Into boulders. Boulders which block the way.

Boulders which block the light.

There’s no escape. I’m trapped.

All I can do is repeat my mantra-

It will pass. It will pass.

Eventually it will pass.

It always does. You know it does.

What’s that? That voice deep in my head?

What are you saying?

Yes, I know – it just may not pass this time.

And then what?

Strangely, I have done a few drawings recently, three for a competition I enter every month. It does help to release the tension and dispels some of the blacker thoughts.

The subject this month was – “Eye Spy with my Little Eye” A scene through a window.

Here they are :-

                        THE PRISONER

 

OUR DECK

CALPE BACONY

In addition, school starts again tomorrow and Toby will be off to St, Cuthbert Mayne’s in Torquay. This means that we will not see him anywhere near so frequently, he will not be sleeping over and having his breakfast of Beans and scrambled eggs with Mike each morning. He will not be coming after school to enjoy his cup of tea and umpteen biscuits whilst he watches some American teen rubbish on TV. We are going to miss him so much.

Cheers Toby, wishing you lots of joy and happiness in your new school.