But 'mad' in a crazy, busy, hyper, fun-filled time. So far, we are clinging onto what could be sanity, and have eluded the asylum. In this time of summer madness, Mr Cooper has worn 'even madder than usual' shirts, and I have also worn some crazy clothes. But, I said a little sadly to him after a day out, even if I stood next to you in my brightest dress, considerably more luminous than your shirt, wearing a hat with sparklers blazing from it, and constantly sounding air horns, people will say, 'Wow, amazing shirt that, John' and I will always be the peahen standing next to my peacock.
But away from comments on dress conventions or otherwise, and back to madness.
Each year Midhurst has its own carnival, a glorious festival for music, arts and drama.
This year I was invited to exhibit my work in 'Comestibles', a really lovely delicatessen and cafe in Midhurst. http://www.picnic-park.co.uk/deli.htm
What better place to showcase my 'food art?'
And what better place to indulge yourselves too, over lunch or coffee.
Go there at the very least for a slice of their homemade (of course) honeycomb tiffin,
pausing only as you go in to see my work featured in the left hand window.....
And also the right hand window.
What has really made the sun come out for us over the last few days is that Sarah has come to stay with us, travelling from the Falkland Islands where she lives, with her fiance Ali. It is always lovely to see Sarah, and have her to stay, and me and Mr Cooper can both say wholeheartedly that it has also been lovely to meet Ali, and have him to stay too.
They are getting married next year (you may remember their Facebook announcement to the world, which I also featured in in my blog, many months ago....here it is again)
Here they are, on a crazy day out in Portsmouth, where Ali had to meet even more new people.
He has been subjected to an experience a bit like speed dating, called 'speed meeting', and he has done really well!
Next February, they will be the ones to say to us, 'And here are twenty more people for you to get to know in the next half hour, and to remember their names, interests and occupations. As me and Mr Cooper are sadly now no longer young, I am sure things will become a little blurry round the edges.....or it might be that we will be sitting in a pub when these introductions are made!
During these ultra-exciting times, some of life goes on as normal. And what could be more normal for me and son John than a trip to a steam fair? Strangely enough, Mr Cooper and Sam opted to stay away, as did Sarah and Ali.
Good job John and I were happy to join the ranks of the other 'normal' people there!
Very early into our visit, I found out what 'Galloping Dobbies' are *. Well, I did know what they were, but had never heard them called that before.
And it was the owner of this Showmans engine that very kindly enlightened me. He also said that the youngsters in his family weren't keen to take up the reins when it came to steam.
I told John this, who said 'Well he could give it to me then.'
Lots of fun was had looking at the steam cars whizz round at an alarming rate. That would indeed be a madly thrilling ride, perched on the passenger seat of one of those. As I am an artist, I didn't take an informative photo of them, but here is a highlight from a steam car, which was built in 1903, in America.
It is quite tiring, being a steam enthusiast, and John and I had to keep our strength up, during the few hours we were there.
We had the most amazing freshly-cooked flatbread with green olive tapenade, lemon and beetroot hummus, and dukka. So delicious, the flatbread was warm and crisp, but with a soft and yielding interior. It was also only the third time I had been offered dukka, which I love. The first time was when I made it, and offered it to myself, and the second time was in Woodfire,where Sam made it.
I think it is still on the menu there. http://woodfirestockbridge.co.uk/
In fact it is such a delicious dippy treat that I will add the recipe for it, at the end of the blog.**
Over the past few days I have missed out on some of the festive treats, as I have also been hard at work. But never-the-less, I have managed to
a) Visit a bridal shop with Sarah and her mum, to sort of assist in choosing a beautiful dress.
b) Eat too much, including takeaway food. (Memories of India, Bosham. Delish.)
c) Go to Fratton Park to see Pompey play. Well, they were on the pitch at the same time as the
other team, Colchester. Pompey actually managed to score 2 goals!
d) Have a very hot and sunny day out with many people in Gunwharf, most of whom I knew.
e) Cook meals of the 'extra special' variety.
f) Entertain other visitors.
g) Wash up after cooking and entertaining.
h) Eat too much at the Beijing Palace. Conveniently, just over the road. I nearly had to ask
Mr Cooper to fetch the wheelbarrow as I was just too stuffed to walk home.i) Get up stupidly early to start to complete the 'Figures in the Sea' for Diane.
j) Complete an 'out of the blue' painting, in 3 days. More about that in my next blog. The painting will be in The Falklands by then.
Lots more happened, of course, and lots more is still to come.
Rachael, Ben and Henry came over too.....
Here they all are, looking happy and beautiful.
Well, you can just see Henry's leg, looking happy, beautiful and asleep. I failed to capture him when awake, on camera. It is not just steam cars that I fail to capture!
I also failed to capture the stripy suit I had knitted for him, which had taken 3 months!
Better luck next time, when I have completed the mad bootees.
Of late, I have been wondering whether to buy a camper van and have a sort of 'last hurrah' before becoming really old and generally just growling, and biting people.
But after the frantic pace of the last week or so, the thoughts of an even much slower pace of life than that offered by an elderly camper van appeal greatly.
What about a living-wagon, pulled along by something even more inconvenient than a couple of feathered horses? Yes, a traction engine!
In the brief free moments when not socialising, working, painting or cooking, I have managed to read a book or two. This one by Caitlin Moran I enjoyed quite a lot, and at times an awful lot.
I did feel that there were very distinct parallels to 'How To Be A Woman', but I was greatly taken by the description of the difference given between the rich and the poor.
So much so that I include the description below.
Read it, and see what you think. If you have the book, it is on pages 167-168.
Staying with a literary theme, the last 3 weeks have gone by so quickly that I was shocked to realise that it is Book Group next Wednesday. Thank goodness for next-day-delivery I thought, as I pressed 'proceed the checkout'.
But there is so much art work I need to do, that it might be the first time I fail to complete the book.
As well as the 3 art works already in the queue, I am now also helping to design a tattoo. I am turning someone's really interesting ideas into a working drawing. There won't be another tattoo like this one.
And yes, I did for a little while think 'Why not be a tattooist?' But then I thought of all the reasons why not. Mainly, you do not have an eraser! I suppose I could offer a reasonable rate for a reasonably good job!
I hope you are all still enjoying the summer, and making few, if any, errors in life.
And if made, hopefully the sort of errors that can be rectified, rather than the errors I might make if let loose with a tattoo gun!
Perhaps best to stick to pastry, as the results are either edible, or compostable.
See you all soon for glimpses of knitted bootees, sudden paintings and amazing oak fairs.
Till then, may your errors be only of the culinary nature.....unless you are cooking to impress, that is.
* 'Galloping Dobbies'. A child-size set of gallopers, turned by hand and not by steam.
**Dukka. Taken from 'River Cottage Everyday' by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingtall.
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