Category: Serendipity

#671 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Bobbing, SerendipityLeave a comment

It was the sort of day to be beside the sea yesterday. Lovely hot weather with a bit of a breeze. Saharan dust in the atmosphere made for a pink sunset, coupled with a favourable tide in the evening I chose to swim in the dark sea of dusk.

Although this looks blissfully peaceful there was an annoying drone flying overhead. The drone operator may have felt irritated by me bobbing about when all they wanted was an empty bay. The sea had been full all day of people making use of our hot September weather and my isolated dip was just good timing. There were plenty of people still in the water 15 minutes before when I walked the dogs. There was also some live music coming from the Tennis Club that overlooks the bay. It is just too bad that we didn’t have good weather when the evenings were longer and we had friends and family to fill them with. Regardless, an evening swim was very relaxing. The water was crystal clear and beautifully black, mind clearing in the best possible way.

#678 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn blogging, Serendipity, Travels2 Comments

Why do you blog?

My  inspiration to blog is not particularly noble. Someone, who had already irritated me had said that I had nothing interesting to say and that any blog I wrote would reflect that. I struggled a little to find my place in blogland. Then a variety of things occurred including a World Pandemic when, if we were lucky, none of us had much of interest to say. My blog evolved into what it currently is, a ponder on some small part of my day or a thought that I have had. Like many of us,my life has a repetitive pattern so I need to find a nugget of interest or something different about things I do every day. The photo above is a case in point. Last night’s dog walk took me just across the water from my home, my home is completely invisible, and would be even if the ferry had sailed away. Behind the ferry is a narrow strip of land occupied by the ferry port, the Ministry of Defence and a Primary School sports field. The tiny strip of land occupied by the Ministry of Defence is on a narrow rocky ridge, partially covered by trees. It is this ridge that obscures my view of the ferry from our side . Although as the trees lose their leaves we can see the bridge of the ferry if there is a high tide. If I were any good at throwing a hard ball I could give the crew on the Bridge a nasty shock as I write this blog. Similarly I could get you some fabulous drone footage of happy holidaymakers on the ferry from the comfort of my bed. However the Ministry of Defence would take a very very dim view of me flying a drone over their strip of land, so that is never going to happen. It never ceases to amaze me that so much is happening maybe 200 yards from my home and yet this is one of the most peaceful places I have ever lived. Just occasionally if the tide is right, there is a sensation of a thrum from the engines, or when the wind is in a favourable direction, we can hear the public announcements as the ferry gets ready to leave. As someone who loves to travel and loves the idea of travel I find there is something quite energising about living so close to a ferry port. My mind can travel vicariously every time the ferry leaves port and be equally gladdened by its safe arrival. And that my friends is why I blog, nattering about insignificant things to an invisible audience. Simple pleasures.

#677 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Architecture, SerendipityLeave a comment

I have been lucky enough to spend the last ten days working in an art gallery in converted military buildings. I love the quiet corners of these buildings. Today the building was humming with creative people and hundreds of visitors. Gentle exploration and determination found the corners I love, empty of people.

This is a no frills building and I love it for not having any softness.

These quiet pictures give not an inkling of the artistic and creative buzz that is resonating off its hard stone walls.

Gentrification has not occurred. The buildings have just been quietly repurposed. Peace where once wars were planned.

https://royalwilliamyard.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwusunBhCYARIsAFBsUP_J66pCGj6Aa-DSgNmaaTD7yTToGynx8FYJtux4YMbm8V0Q7l-UXyMaAvtREALw_wcB

#676 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Bobbing, SerendipityLeave a comment

How are you feeling right now?

How would you feel if you had just been swimming among  shoals of fish with hundreds of sea birds feasting on the fish and a pod of dolphins breaching just yards from your swim zone.

Doing that with the best group of bobbing buddies on a Friday morning is just one of the loveliest moments that life can unexpectedly deliver.

For a couple of days now there have been a lot of fish in our little bay on the edge of Plymouth Sound. Coupled with super high tides and the arrival of a pod of dolphins it has been like living in a wildlife documentary. The cries of the seagulls and the twinkle of fish scales in the water made our morning bob very magical. How am I feeling right now?

Blessed by the serendipity of nature. Swimming with Dolphins…

Somewhere out there there are 8 dolphins…

Millions of fish. Hundreds of Seabirds .Nine bobbers including Coach who couldn’t believe quite how lucky we are to swim in such a fascinating place.

# 675theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn art, Serendipity1 Comment

What daily habit do you do that improves your quality of life?

©theoldmortuary

A little bit of creativity goes a long way if I can find a space for it every day . Sometimes it is nothing more than some photo manipulation. Other days a whole painting emerges. I also consider blog writing to be both creative and life enhancing. I have spent the last week in the company of 12 other artists at a group event called Open Studios. There is so much to learn from creative people.

The other interesting and fascinating aspect of a shared public space is the chosen soundtrack of the Arts space we are using. I have heard some wonderful, and previously unknown to me, artists who have already transitioned onto my home play list. All of which leads me rather ponderously to my conclusion that learning or experiencing something new every day hugely improves my quality of life.

©theoldmortuary

#674 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Serendipity1 Comment

What do you listen to while you work?

I am in the middle of an exhibition so I have no choice in the soundtrack of my work. In many respects I am so far out of my comfort zone auraly and yet I couldn’t be happier.

The exhibition is in a cool space. 200 year old military buildings that are Grade 1 listed. The cafe/ exhibition space has been beautifully rethought with a huge glass wall.

Each artist has a work space opposite the glass.

And we have areas where absolute bargains are being sold.

But this blog is about what I am listening to while I work and talk to the visiting public. Yesterday’s big discovery was Dope Lemon.

What a voice the lead singer has. So for today I am lost in this fabulous band.

Home

#673 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn pondering, Serendipity1 Comment

What’s your favorite time of day?

Curiously my favourite time of day is around 2am. A time that I usually sleep through, but years of  the madness of 24 hour shifts gave me a huge respect for that hour of quietude when, with luck, the previous days work has been caught up with and the dip of 3am is yet to happen.

Now the only thing that gets my attention at 2 am is a dog or dogs who need to visit the back yard. Even my occasional insomnia never kicks in until 3 am. So favourite time of day, I love you but I really don’t need to be awake to appreciate your merit.

#672 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Art for sale, Serendipity3 Comments

The artist has left the building, temporarily. After three days of setting up, Private views and meeting the public. I have left my patch.

Drawn to the Valley at Ocean Studios in the Royal William Yard, Stonehouse Plymouth has a diverse mix of 12 artists showing their work and demonstrating or talking about their techniques with anyone who comes along.

We had a bit of a tidy up at close of business today. That is just me as an artist. Procrastination disguised as tidyness. Its not been all art and no life. There was a bob yesterday so I slipped out for an hour, great swimming, fabulous conversation and snacks. And maybe something to chuckle about.

#671 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Serendipity1 Comment

A calm evening walk after a day of prepping for 10 days of Art in these buildings. The event is Open Studios which is a chance to clear out my studio and sell bits and pieces of unsold art projects.

I found these two hug doodles from the first Covid lockdown.

Who knows if anyone will choose to buy them . Reminders of a time when we all missed hugs.

My day has been spent hanging art.

Followed by a busy evening welcoming the first guests.

One lovely moment was when the setting sun reflected the name of the venue on some of the artwork.

Tomorrow will be a proper arty blog when I have more time.

#670 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn art, Serendipity2 Comments

What motivates you?

I have a butterfly mind, unusually I can easily harness my butterfly when needed but like a parachute my mind works better when it is open. My motivations are sometimes opposing to one another.

Here is my list.

1. Kindness and care to those around me.

2. Deadlines.

3. Serendipity. Nothing is more inspirational than the unexpected.

4.Procrastination. or creative preparations as I often label it.

5. Concaternation.

6. Lifelong learning from all of the above.

Today I am on the final phase of, 4- Procrastination. I have an exhibition opening tomorrow. And yet there are still 2 solid hours of Studio tidying before I can hit , 2- Deadline.

The butterfly above was, 3- Serendipity when a stencil fell on an old watercolour doodle.

The 2 hours of studio tidying could have started 3 hours ago. I could already be at Deadline, but no, Procrastination was in full active mode.

I checked in with some of those I care about.

I walked the dogs, luxuriously in the sun.

I went back to the sea for a swim.

I wrote this blog.

Every one of those things will make today more productive and motivated. And that is Concaternation at its finest.

And just like that the final tidy is complete, let the artwork commence.