Roundness

A good day out on a camera club outing to Weston Hall near Otley. It was well attended and convivial, though inevitably having ten folks all jostling for photos made it a little tight in some areas. The hall and church were interesting but what I most enjoyed were the varied and somewhat eccentric objects and collections scattered around the buildings and gardens. I’m not even sure what this is, just leaning against a wall, but I really like it. Why? The colours and tones; the mottling and shading of the pan; the smooth roundness contrasting with the rough stone and tufty grass; that little fern providing a counterweight; the stick, puddled water and that jade mark somehow providing an artistic focal point. It comes together as a harmonious whole and yet there’s something rather unexpected about it too. For me, it’s a little bit of visual poetry. Very satisfying. 

Thoughts...

This print by Jack Vettriano was hanging in the bedroom of the accommodation that I stayed in for a recent family wedding celebration in Berkshire. Although the wedding itself was delightful, the print was really the best bit about the accommodation! It was all a bit eccentric... cobwebs seemed to be used almost as a design feature. I'm not a huge fan of Jack Vettriano but I do like this picture. Entitled 'In thoughts of you', it is enough of an enigma to suggest a story to your own liking. I asked M (7) what she thought of it. She has been something of an art expert from an early age. She was spotted - aged about two - reading 'Art and Sexual Politics' (albeit upside down) and, even before she could talk, she communicated in sign language to tell us that she thought a modern art painting of random coloured splodges and spots was 'stars'. Her thoughts on this one were that 'the lady has just moved in to a new house. She is having a cup of tea and wondering what to do next'. Anyone who moves house wearing killer heels like those probably has staff to do the 'what next' stuff but, nevertheless, I though it a charming interpretation of the picture. 

Roots and Wings

Saw this canal boat today on my walk. It reminded me of the saying that I've loved for a long time: 'There are only two lasting bequests we can give our children: one is roots; the other, wings.'  I've been thinking quite a lot about that as I celebrate my 70th birthday and my daughter, shortly, will be 40. I hope I've given her both.

I had a thoughtful walk today, the first for several days as it's been so (record-breakingly) hot. I really needed it too, as my back and hips have been rather painful, which is partly the result of tripping and jarring my muscles a few days ago and partly the penalty of inactivity over several days. I kept noticing people's very loud voices. Was that just me being sensitive or were people shouting or was it a freak of the overcast, warm, humid day? There was a man behind me having a very loud, ongoing conversation with his dog! And when I was on the river bank I could hear folk chatting on the canal bank some way above. The other abiding sense was the scent of petrichor - damp earth, after a slight rain shower, the first for many days (weeks). Not enough rain to make any difference though. Everywhere is really dry and looks dusty and parched. Even the sluggish river had seeds or something all over it, little white spots that, from a distance, gave the impression of a mist rising. The rain had brought out some tiny frogs. It was hard not to step on them on the river path. The herons, on the other hand, looked really miserable - one perched in a tree and the other on the dry part of the weir in the park. I wonder if the low water level means slim pickings of fish for them? 

All these ramblings I set down because I've been thinking for a while that my main blog, 'Salt and Light', has become more of a travelogue, a record of my expeditions, and to some extent written for other people's consumption. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but I would like to find a more personal journalling space if I can, something perhaps a little more creative. Such thoughts have been swirling around my brain for a few days and today I came across a book: 'Little Stories of Your Life' by Laura Pashby - Find your voice, share your world and tell your story. So I've downloaded it on my iPad Kindle app and will read it and attempt to broaden out my creativity a little, as well as seeking to capture some of the sweet, smaller moments in the larger swell of my life and expeditions.   

Instructions for living:

Pay attention.

Be astonished.

Tell about it.

(Mary Oliver - Sometimes)