When I was at primary school, we used to be given a card with a picture on it and a set of facts relating to it, and then we had to write a 'comprehension' about it. The more you did, the harder they got, and they were colour-coded. I think purple was one of the hardest, but I loved getting to that level as it was also a colour I really loved, and still do. I think you will find elements of that comprehension process creeping into today's long-overdue blog, as I will be looking at pictures taken from four to one weeks ago, and giving you a hopefully witty precis of the facts related to that image. These facts are stored somewhere in my head, and to make matters even more complicated for me, material for my next blog is already in my head too, and jostling for position.
But here goes, lets get those facts lining up in the right order.
I spent three weeks looking after Mum, firstly in her own home, then in my home, and then again back to her own home when she was restored to far better health. Part of the 'recovery process' involved trips out to lunch, and Mum visited The Chequered Skipper in Ashton three times in all, accompanied by all three of her offspring in various combinations. I won, as I was there twice, with Si and Mark coming a joint second with just the one visit.
If you have never been, add it to your 'to do' list, nearish the top, and definitely above cutting the hedge and cleaning the car. http://www.chequeredskipper.co.uk/
And after the first visit, Mum developed an extreme liking for their fig tart, served with pistachio ice cream, and it became a treat she enjoyed all three times. If it is still on the menu, she will be enjoying it a fourth time as we hope to return next Sunday for lunch. Which reminds me, it is down to me to book it.....
I had to break off then to make a call to the Chequered Skipper. All booked for Sunday 3rd, I didn't want to leave it any longer in case I had to tell Mum that there would be no fig tart on Sunday as it was already fully booked!
The pistachio ice cream with it is a delight. If you enjoy a good ice cream, as I do, just order two scoops of their white chocolate ice cream. After that, all you want to do is sit on the green in the sunshine and gaze at any passing peacocks. In fact, sitting and gazing is just about all you feel capable of, in a very pleasant, full-up sort of way. I can also really recommend their mushroom 'burger' served with sweet potato chips and coleslaw......
Whilst we were dining, then gazing, we left Felix in charge at home, where he also did his fair share of gazing. He was enthralled by the sight of many passing farm animals, plus a few cheeky additions.
Felix accompanied me on my last trip, as Si was joining us, and he is Felix's rightful owner. Sadly, not everyone loves Felix as Simon and I do, some people describe him as 'dirty' or 'grubby', and think he should have been left, eyeless, in the charity shop. But Si bought him and restored his sight, and now he lives with me where he is loved and stroked. You have to stroke him from back to front however, because he was made with his fur going the wrong way. Another reason why he needs a safe, loving and understanding environment in his declining years. Some people actually shudder when they spy Felix, but after nearly 30 years of having a son who has caused many people to shudder at times, I am very much on the side of Felix. I have often describe son John as being like Marmite. You will either 'get' him, or not at all.
And for those who do, your life will be a lot richer, and full of flavour.
Here he is, packed and ready to go home, along with Snowy, his travelling companion. You can see from this picture just how successful Si was in restoring his sight. His vision looks to be more powerful now than that of a bird of prey! Perhaps his gaze does unsettle some people slightly, rather like two beams of light from a lighthouse.
When I was making one of the many journeys to Mum's home, this time to deliver a restored female parent, I noticed my car was making a new sound, but not a very desirable one. A long time ago, in an effort to save money, we had pared down the benefits of our AA membership. After experiencing 170 miles of a strange whine, I made a quick call to put back a previously abandoned aspect of it.
I was assured that it would come into effect after 24 hours, and it most certainly did. 28 hours later, on our return home, the whining ceased as it was replaced by a bang, and we limped the last mile to seek solace in The Stratton Arms. If you have to break down, there are far worse places. Chris from the AA came very promptly and found the fault, a broken alternator. As it was Bank Holiday Sunday, he was unable to get the part, although he did try. Instead, he made the journey to West Sussex with my car, after having first taken us to pick up a free hire car for 3 days. Good job I made that call!
The whole event put us back by only 2 hours, and here we are, overtaking Chris pulling my car.
We are in a modern Clio, which was definitely OK, but I am not going to be buying one.
The consequence of the car breaking down was to have a far-reaching effect, as was having had 3 weeks away from paid employment, but more of that to come.......
The following day, me and Mr Cooper, as we are 'well old', thought that the best thing to do on a sunny Bank Holiday Monday would be to go for a long walk, to start and finish in Selbourne. As I am not only 'well old' but probably boring too, the walk we chose was one I have walked many times before, and is one of my very favourites. I have walked it with Mr Cooper, and also alone. That's totes boring and sad, isn't it?
And when it came to stopping for a chocolate break, me and Mr Cooper had very little trouble deciding who should eat which bar. The only thing I would say is that one of them should have been Kingsize, with the would 'very' added to it!
I am becoming aware that although I have featured animals, birds and events, there has been no sighting of an actual person. To rectify this, I decided to take a photo of Mr Cooper, when we reached the top of Noar Hill. Each time I go there I am always hopeful of running into Bill Bryson, as it is one of his most favourite places. This time I was conscious that I couldn't share any homemade flapjack with him, and that he would have to settle to sharing the remaining 'grouchy' bar with Mr Cooper, probably whilst I tucked into the one that says 'beautiful and intelligent'.
One can always dream......
But this is not a dream, this actually is Mr Cooper, looking as if he has just eaten one called 'In My Sixties But Still Intrepid!'. Perhaps I should contact whoever manufactures Snickers, and offer to work in their ideas department for one day a week. That might actually solve a lot of problems!
It was a beautiful day for a beautiful walk, and we saw just masses of wild garlic. For those of you who can't even begin to imagine what masses of wild garlic actually looks like, here is a big clue.
The next week saw me able to return to work again, in both a voluntary capacity, and for money.
Very sadly, one of the outcomes of the previous events had forced me to hand in my resignation to both Andover Mind, and Trinity in Winchester. I could have coped with not working for 3 weeks, or having my car fixed and MOTd, but the two together put me into a very precarious financial position, and it was with extreme sadness that I had to tell Mind, and Ali, of my decision.
Previously, Trinity had been working with Winchester School of Art, to make art that would be included in their boat sculpture, that was to be exhibited at The Tate.
Here is my contribution, the four cardboard cubes featuring an autobiographical piece about me and son John entitled 'Almost Naked And Surrounded By Life' and some writing I did at the time when parts of my life were very much out of my control. These are the boxes just prior to them being handed over, before their journey to The Tate.
Sadly, I was unable to join in with the trip to see them there, which was really the event of a lifetime. But at least I can say 'When I was exhibiting at The Tate....' There was no choice but that I had to be working, Mr Cooper had just paid for a full structural survey on our intended new property, and we were both properly stuffed on the financial front. However, Ali took loads of photos and I will ask him for some, to show both you and me what it looked like in situ!
Happily, some of my work is really enjoyable at the moment, which is good as I am having to do a lot more of it! Painting Dilly comes under the 'really enjoyable' heading. She is a vintage caravan, and I am giving her a wild flower frieze. This is the first quarter of it, having just received its undercoat. There will be lots more photos to follow, as colour is added. In fact I am off to paint again this Monday. If it is sunny, it will be a lovely way to spend the Bank Holiday, especially if Mr Cooper provides a delicious festive feast for when I return.
Dilly can be seen at many events this summer, with her proud owners Rose and Paul. Rose is a wonderful herbalist, and you can discover more by exploring the link below.
https://www.facebook.com/herbsmagickpath
Just before I go, I thought I would show you the whole image 'Almost Naked And Surrounded By Life', parts of which were exhibited at The Tate. I won't add the written work, as it is too personal, and involves details of lives other than my own.
Strangely enough, it wasn't accepted for the Jerwood Drawing Prize competition. This year is the first one for ages that I haven't completed an autobiographical drawing to enter for it, but I now have the idea for one, so it will be not one but two years in the making.
Here is the progress that has been made so far, so you can see there is still a little way to go!
Let's continue to look to the future now and not the past. A future where skies are blue, the sun is shining, and fields of dandelions positively glow.
These are the things you see when walking in the right places.
What you don't tend to see, however, is Bill Bryson, and I really would like to.
Are you reading this, Bill?
I hope you have a week ahead when you are able to do some walking in the right places, places of your own choosing. Sometimes part of our journey is against our actual wishes and inclinations, but the journey will become a lot easier when we sometimes stop struggling against things, and look around to appreciate what is actually there, and not what we would wish to be there.
Have a happy Bank Holiday Weekend, and enjoy what it brings, requested or otherwise.
Looking forward to seeing you all soon.
