Category: Serendipity

#897 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Friends and Family, SerendipityLeave a comment

What topics do you like to discuss?

I love a discussion that takes me somewhere interesting. Either in real life or in an inner monologue journey.  There is a load of stuff that doesn’t interest me, but if someone speaks interestingly about something I have no interest in then it is the style of discussion that becomes the thing of interest.  Sometimes the route I take in discussions is almost inexplicable even to me. But that is a sign that I have not been bored. Boredom in conversation is the worst. Boredom comes in all shapes and sizes, all of them human. Oh, I wish I was better at handling it. I’m never bored in my head so I get no practice. I know it is good manners to listen and I am a very very happy listener but not to boring people. I am in absolute awe of people who can tolerate bores and continue to look and sound interested.

The pictures in this blog come from a frequent family discussion that I was aware of at the age of five and in some ways continues on 60 years later and illustrates the twists of an interesting topic that involves boredom at an early stage. My grandparents had a relation who they kept in good contact with but rarely met. He worked at the Dungeness Power Station and lived somewhere near. He sent post cards of his Kent home. My grandparents who lived in the rolling, beautiful, Essex country side thought his landscape was boring.

In the seventies I loved the work of a punk/ Gothic film maker and Artist Derek Jarman.

In the early 2000’s I moved to South London and my nearest coast was Kent.

Derek Jarman had a home on Dungeness.

Prospect Cottage

I was living a day trip away from somewhere my grandparents thought boring but that fascinated an artist I admired.

*Dungeness* https://g.co/kgs/Nh1bce3

I loved the place instantly and love talking about it.

My dogs love it too

And now some lovely friends are holidaying there and sharing their pictures.

©Marriane Bobber

And so a discussion that I have been part of for 60 years with huge gaps, different people and for a variety of reasons just keeps going and I never know where it is heading.

That is something worthy of discussion.

If only magic realism was a thing. Or Time Travel. I could take my grandparents to Dungeness and show them how fascinating other landscapes are. We could pop in to see Lionel, the relation or Derek the artist or even Marianne and Gill in their campervan.  Or maybe a Dungeness discussion of the future!

#896 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Serendipity, Yardening1 Comment

When is the last time you took a risk? How did it work out?

Don’t we all take risks from time to time? Carefully judged most often but sometimes not thought out at all. Yesterday, I was tired after a few hours of computer work. I decided to sweep the yard, clearing all the moss dropped by nest-building birds. In doing so I knocked some rotting wood from a raised bed, full to the brim with these small rocks. Should I remove all the wood and accept the consequences?

Several hours later and many many shovels full of these rocks I unearthed a perfectly acceptable concrete seating area.

Currently not a thing of beauty but nothing a power washer can’t sort out. I am somewhat perplexed as to why anyone would turn this into a stone-filled raised bed. But my tiny bit of risk  taking paid off. I don’t even want to know what the concrete is hiding. We will sit here in the sun oblivious to the mystery.

The Buddha with the fractured skull seems very happy with the new location.

So now to dispose of many bags of grotty old rocks…

#892 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn SerendipityLeave a comment

How do you unwind after a demanding day?

Sometimes I just let difficult days take their own course. A series of awkwardnesses and challenges during a day is the prompt we all need to rethink things . Demanding days are just that. Facing up to the reality of the challenge,  accepting  it and searching for a resolution, even an imperfect one just moves the whole thing a few steps forward. With just a slightly different perspective and a cup of tea ( or coffee) things look different.

#891 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Serendipity1 Comment

How do you use social media?

Hmm, how do I use Social Media. Or does it use me? The latter is almost certainly true. This advert pops up everywhere I go online.

But as a Social Media content manager for a series of Arts organisations and now a Sports Club, I am unable to boast, loftily, that I have nothing to do with Social Media.   Social Media evolves quickly, using it effectively, rather than the other way around keeps me on my toes. I publish my personal blog on two platforms. I keep up with people and places that interest me. The weather in Kent for instance.

Facebook keeps me in touch with paintings that I have sold and social events I have enjoyed with memory features.

Sometimes Social Media lets me know the sad things in life like the death or illness of friends, colleagues or celebrities.

Today is the nine year anniversary of a job leaving me, rather than the other way round. The Heart Hospital in Marylebone closed and all the staff either moved to Barts in the City of London or moved to different places of their choice.

I’m not sure me and a job have ever parted company quite so elegantly before or since.

Social Media lets me share jokes with friends.

Note the date, a parody on Covid.

How do I use Social Media. In a way that I feel comfortable with.

#878 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Serendipity1 Comment

Another morning and another empty beach. Lola’s tolerance, was about 10 minutes, Hugo’s infinite.

I’m with Hugo on this one. Sunshine + beach+book, me, or + seaweed, him, is too good an opportunity to miss. Lola didn’t even bother with a swim today.

But blue skies, that is quite the game-changer. Now here is a blog that changes direction. Unexpectedly a second beach 30 minutes away appeared on the daily schedule.

A beach visit with two of their favourite people.

A beach where Lola is fully engaged for over an hour!

And enough rust to keep me happy.

#876 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Serendipity2 Comments

The rain stopped, and the sun came up so we packed up the van and had a night away in Tintagel. It’s not just humans exhausted by our long winter/spring of rainfall. The countryside looks wrecked and any farm animals’  lucky enough to have a dry patch of field are muddy from the boggy areas . Things are going to need a few more days of sunshine and dry weather before Spring can properly assert itself. The South West Coastal path is a treacherous, slippery place to walk right now but just doing a little bit to get a view like this was lovely.

Rainwater pouring down cliffs from the fields above illuminated rocks beautifully. I love this picture because it looks badly photoshopped.

Mosses have had a very good winter.

Soon enough this part of Cornwall will be buzzing with tourists, which is vital to the local economy but yesterday there was a gentler buzz of local(ish) people just getting out into the fresh air unencumbered by wet weather clothing. Everyone wearing smiles in honour of a dry day. My day peaked with some discarded fishing gear.

Texture pleasures.

Beyond nature I found a new Saint. Not one of the big hitters in Saintliness, it seems, but a popular woman locally with a church and a village hall. A quick google fails to find any evidence of her good works, just three churches that venerate her.

Her name,  St Materiana, works well with our contemporary consumerist society perhaps she is ripe for a rebrand.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Materiana

https://www.celticglory.com/spiritual/materiana-church-minster-cornwall

” Materiana, my darling what is it you actually did to become a saint”

” Oh, I understand. You were an influencer. Oh well done “

#874 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Serendipity2 Comments

What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness?

I couldn’t possibly narrow this down to only 5 but anarchic nature always makes me smile. I went to a really popular beach at low tide yesterday.  It was completely  empty so the dogs could be giddy without me paying them too much attention while I rested on the concrete side of the sea pool.

The sea batters this pool twice a day at high tide. The pool is soon to be renovated; tiny holes are appearing in the concrete and nature just jumps right in and fills the holes. The hole, which is about the size of a large coat button is home to Rough Winkles, Periwinkle Hermit Crabs and baby Barnacles. All lurking near the high tide area.

One of my paintings, of urban tarmac, was all about tree roots disrupting the sleek lines of the pedestrian paths in Dulwich Park, London.

And finally, of my 5 every day things that bring me pleasure, are more tree roots. Here in Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong, they are both anarchic and conforming at the same time.

#867 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn art, Serendipity5 Comments

K is for Kathleen the 16th Storm to hit home in the UK in this Storm season.

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/press-office/news/weather-and-climate/2024/storm-kathleen-named-and-weather-warnings-issued

Kathleen arrives in these parts tomorrow. Only the second time since naming began that Britain has achieved a 16th-named storm. I only became fully engaged with storms when I took up regular sea swimming or ‘ bobbing’ as it is known in these parts. Living on a small peninsular has made me ‘tuned in’ to the weather in a way that I have never quite been before. I have recently, in the last couple of years taken to painting the sensation of the storm. This year I have been concentrating on printing so have missed out on all the storms since Agnes, in early October.

Storm Agnes- Private Collection

Until a storm arrives I never really know if it will take human form or be an abstract force.

But whichever sort of storm it is, my grubby ‘weather’ tin of colours is available.

Which brings me to today’s random question.

What job would you do for free?

Maybe I could be a storm P.R/ Artist. Give them some character before they arrive, elevate their good points and downplay their obnoxious behaviours. In  fantasy land I could be flown  to meet them when they first hit British land. Do a quick sketch in the way that notorious criminals are sketched in court*

Then rather than only being identified only by their trail of destruction, a storm could also present a more benign face to the world. People might be more motivated to forgive a storm that empties their dustbin in the street if the storm could be considered elegant or well-dressed. Quirky even.

* In British courts no photography is permitted. Special Court artists are employed by news agencies to depict the main characters in a trial for illustrating the events in court in print, television or digital media.There are four professional courtroom sketch artists in total: Priscilla Coleman, Siân Frances, Julia Quenzler and Elizabeth Cook. All four artists are self-taught.

A marvelous art blog exists called Making a Mark. Below is their article about Court Artists.

https://makingamark.blogspot.com/2022/05/how-court-artist-works.html?m=1

Isn’t it deliciously mad that such a career exists. Being a storm artist seems almost normal in comparison. But how long would I do it for free?

Maybe a nanosecond or forever, art is like that. There is nothing like the moment when somebody buys a piece or original art. In my head I flip and cartwheel like an Olympic gymnast. It is not the reason I create but goodness me it is a wonderful feeling when it happens.Storm artist, free until someone pays me!

I realise my * is in the wrong place, my blog my rules.

For anyone who loves great art writing, this Facebook page is the Make a Mark resource I discovered today.

https://www.facebook.com/makingamark2

Written by a Katherine not a Kathleen, wouldn’t that have been a delicious closed circle.

P.s it’s not just me.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/84CeQTPLTH3QmU4a/

#865 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn pondering, Serendipity1 Comment

How would you improve your community?

Which of my communities should I improve? Or are they all better off without my tinkering?

All communities are improved with positive engagement. That is what I try to bring to any community I am part of. Sometimes I feel guilt that I am not doing enough but guilt is just fine in manageable doses. Resentment is the worm that destroys things. Now I am semi-retired I give resentment very little time, it is a sign I should step away. Not always possible when you are in the clutches of paid employment. When employed I used resentment as a rocket fuel to move me on, sometimes that move was more of a slow burn but at least I felt in control.

During a WhatsApp exchange this morning I called myself a nonfluencer. The exact opposite of the trendier, more sassy, flashy influencer that is the goal of so many people and communication technology currently.

Sometimes all a community needs is more nonfluencers, who turn up and do. Until they can’t. Joining and leaving can both be good for any community. Staying too long is the problem.

So how would I improve any community I was part of? Stay while I was able to be useful and recognise when the time is right to leave.

#864 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Easter, Serendipity3 Comments

The four days of the Easter Break, have slipped away. So much texture in four days. Most of it  weather-related. Unlike Christmas there is not a big build-up nor enough left over food to sustain us for a few weeks. We were a small family gathering this year. Only four adults to indulge. Only four humans to dodge snow, torrential rain, and traffic to find the occasional sunbeam.

Sometimes the sunbeams were metaphorical. Dodging into a pub to avoid the rain and playing card games, or finding an unintentional embellished egg.

Family favourite food.

And the last Hot Cross Bun.

And for once, April Fools Day without getting caught by clever, witty friends.

Onward into April…