#1344 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Colour, Serendipity1 Comment

Soft Summer

30 years ago I had a colour analysis and was prescribed a Soft Summer colour palate to wear. I don’t remember what motivated me to do this at the time, but the experience was fascinating.

I think one reason stems from childhood summers. Spent visiting little known relations in Wales and Glasgow. Relations who barely know children struggle to find appropriate topics of conversation. My appearance, curly haired, glasses and bookish was remarked upon. Possibly not completely kindly. My grandmother’s generation in Wales would suggest that more pink in my wardrobe would be advantageous. Then the familial road show would rumble on to Glasgow where the pink fashion advice would be repeated but in the far harsher tones of the city dwelling, Glaswegian Older Generation. Delivered one word at a time.

” That.Child.Needs.More.Pink”

“She.Is.Such.A.Pink.Person”

To discover I was Soft Summer, 30 years later was somewhat of a bittersweet moment. Some pink was involved. Because of or despite the older womens colour advice I have always felt timorous around pink only really embracing it recently since going full on grey.

I have long since lost the precious colour chart but all the other advice sticks with me.  I just did an online analysis and discovered I have slipped into Autumn. Oh goodness not much pink in autumn, I may have almost  missed the pink boat that I was destined to board at the age of 5. Autumn shades? How very age appropriate.

Autumn

Thank the goddess of Colour Analysis that I did not plunge myself into the colours of Deep Winter today. If my lifespan is measured by my colour analysis, I have two whole seasons to go . That is rather fabulous. I shall wear pink though as an act of rebellion and then,of course, it will be purple. I am certain purple will feature in a deep winter colour chart.

Warning

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people’s gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practise a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

Jenny Joseph

from Warning:When I am an Old Woman I shall wear purple (Profile 2021)
© Jenny Joseph, reproduced with permission of Johnson & Alcock Ltd

For now though the yard will have to wear both red and the purple.

Deep winter colours in our yard.

#1343 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Serendipity, Words1 Comment
Morning mist and sticky heat. The Tidal Pool at Devils Point.

The sea mist was genuinely as dense as this first thing this morning, the borrowed light simply a reflection of the early morning sun, obscured, by mist, behind me. But the heat of the morning was uncomfortably sticky under the naturally occurring parasol. I have pondered a bit about the mystical, mythological stories linked to this area. Mostly because of my what3words discovery of yesterday.

My most regular spot for getting into the sea has this as it’s what3words location.

Allows.Wizard.Rival

I am quite charmed to think that there is a benign Sea Wizard allowing me to dump my troubles(rivals) into the sea each time I dip.

For no particular reason I checked the what3words location where I was standing to take this mornings pool picture.

Lush. Wonderfully. String. Not particularly relevant at first glance, but the drone shot clearly shows the wonderfully lush lawns of a local tennis club, and then for me there is a string. I am lucky enough to often work inside that club and also be there for entirely enjoyable reasons.

I love the simple pleasure of finding a what3words location that resonates personally

#1342 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Devils Point, SerendipityLeave a comment

The Hamoaze from The Royal William Yard.

Looking out to Cornwall from the Royal William Yard last night we could see the tides and currents that give Devils Point its name. 7 currents converge here.They are really easy to see with the naked eye. All but invisible with a simple phone camera, but by just adding a bit of extra colour I can show the complexity of these waters.

Sir Francis Drake made Devils Point famous by making a pact with the witches and demons of the area to create a storm that would incapacitate the Spanish Armada. Other versions are available.

There must be something about the waters around here. I tend to take my demons with me when I swim nearby and then cast them off as I enter the chilly waters. It works every time.

Demon Casting at the tidal pool.

What3words even allows me a small mantra to call up my own wizard for dealing with rivals/demons at my most regular swimming spot.

Something rather devilish about these parts

#1341 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn art, SerendipityLeave a comment

What bothers you and why?

It has been a blisteringly hot week. I have always been a lover of hot weather but as I have aged my tolerance is reducing. I have a new understanding of seeking out shade, a light breeze, avoiding the hottest parts of the day and sun hats. Sleeping at home daily has become like the giddy first nights of a holiday trying to adjust to flimsy bed coverings.

Abroad I love the abstract shapes that sheets form after a night of fitful sleep in a foreign climate.

This week I have had abstraction at home.

Which I agree does not look all that exciting, but by reducing the detail and adding some colour my bed looks like a sculpture.

Something I might never had discovered if my tolerance for heat had not diminished. So maybe I am not so bothered after all.

Is that why the Italians in particular are so brilliant at creating folds of fabric from marble. Bright Sunlight and folds of bed linen every morning  before they even get up.

#1340 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Firestone Bay, SerendipityLeave a comment
Sunset swim with techno

Sunday and the heatwave continued. After a sweaty day in the countryside we returned home for a late evening swim  in a bay filled with the beats of the last DJ set at the Drakes Island festival. This morning the sunrise and dawn chorus are in the exact same spot with a cool breeze and cooler water.

All the same colours, just spread out differently

#1359 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Serendipity, Stonehouse1 Comment
Hot paving slabs.

It has been a giddy weekend of live music.

Off to our local theatre to see The Tina Turner Musical. We also have tickets for Hamilton.

Then a very hot day in our yard listening to, and feeling through our bones a Drum and Bass festival which was being held on Drakes Island.

Drakes Island from Stonehouse Lawn Tennis Club. ©theoldmortuary

Then to finish off, live music from the Barracks. Who wouldn’t want to listen to a tribute band playing The Killers and Kings of Leon and any other band of that genre and era until 1:30 am. It was too hot to sleep, so roll with it in a comfy chair with a cup of tea. I have had worse experiences at actual festivals.

All punctuated with swimming in the sea. Very cool.

#1358 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Serendipity1 Comment

When your back yard feels like this at 9 am and the sea is just 5 minutes away it would be silly not to swap.

Of course even at 9 am the swim zone is busy, but the steps to this aquatic spot are a little bit concealed.

I can’t say we had this to ourselves, maybe 20 or so people found their way here in the hour or so it took for two separate swims and dog care in the shade.  Seeking shade at 10am is the behaviour of holidays, not quite normal for our tiny part of Devon. Long may it last.

#1357 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Bobbing1 Comment

Early morning and our bobbing zone was like the M25. The motorway that circles London. Pre-work swimmers were getting their laps in while we walked our dogs. Then just like the tide they ebbed away and by 9:30 our little bay was down to about 25 less driven swimmers/bobbers.

©Corrinne Bobber

The 9:30 bobbers were driven by cake and chatter but we stayed in the water a very long time in order to deserve the cake.

©Debs Bobber

Naval personnel provided additional waves, making three rapid passes just beyond the swimming zone. Helicopters were also very busy buzzing about. The curious thing is how much love the bobbers have for our tiny, busy bay. I can’t even remember why we chose this place as our habitual swim zone. The other beach, by the pool, is easier and more popular. But for the bobbers, Tranquility Bay is home.

And the bay that all others are judged against. Other bays may be warmer or more exotic but this little bay is where our bobbers gather and that is what makes it special. In other news an effective waterproof camera has been bought. The Bobbers as you have never seen them before.

©Kim Bobber

Have a great weekend.

Never seen before on this blog the steps and the tarmac promenade that overlooks our bay.

For book lovers the Tarmac Promenade leads off The Salt Path. Unlike The Salt Path the Tarmac Path and the stories that unfold from it are genuine, only moderately embellished and none of  the bobbers have taken more than the odd biro from their previous employers.

Although once there was a voyeur on the Tarmac Promenade. Someone should write a book!

#1356 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Serendipity1 Comment
Thinking ©theoldmortuary

I was never sure where today’s blog was going and even now, with one sentence done, I am not fully certain. This is a talking and painting sketch. If the hair were grey and the face less youthful it could be me in a pondering moment. I deliberately chose the colour palate of the Studio floor.

Because I was planning to superimpose a photograph of the floor onto the sketch.

But plans, as we all know,are sometimes upended. While painting my peaceful woman I learned that the studio space I was painting in will close in six weeks time. After painting in and around these buildings in the Royal William Yard for 30 years my odd little sketch might be my last painting in these buildings. Suddenly I thought I had better make this sketch a little more significant. I have always wanted to paint an enigmatic woman in the style of Vladimir Tretchikoff

Chinese Girl ©Vladimir Tretchikoff

So I did some digital tweaking and added some blue to her face and legs.

Knees not boobs.

But that was all a bit flimsy so I traced over my quick sketch and then did some mark making in response to the actual sketch and with some reference to Tretchikoff ‘s fabulously ornate collar. Tricksy on someone who is naked. I also wanted just a scintilla of sadness. The loss of creative spaces is a somewhat sad and mournful moment.

Digital Tweakery ©theoldmortuary

Digital tweakery gives so much choice. But I think I am going with the darkest one. Do you agree?

Portrait in the style of Tretchikoff ©theoldmortuary

Then an afternoon of more painting. Maybe she is finished now and less gloomy.

#1355 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Serendipity1 Comment

Quite a giddy day today. An early trip out in a city that has free parking for three hours in some places. I registered my car number plate. Logged that my parking was up at 11:55 and went about my trivial business. Only to find this ‘Have a nice Day’ tucked under my windscreen. Who knows what has gone wrong but that is for me to sort out but, the very obvious ‘Please Recycle’ that amused me. Should I find some other hapless parker to receive my fine?

The bag itself had not been sealed so I have a small snack sized bag to refill with biscuits or a small piece of fruit. The possibilities seem endless. If only the recycle sign on food wrappers was quite so obvious.

Giddy has been the word of my last 24 hours. Yesterday I broke my own rule of not drinking caffeinated drinks beyond 12 noon. Gloriously tasty coffee fueled my natterings with someone I met recently who grew up in the same small market town that I did. We went to the same Primary and Secondary Schools. She is a little older than me but we know so many people in common and used the same book shops, coffee bars and clothes shops. Buying our first Levi’s in the same shop in Sandpit Lane. Two hours of nostalgia and the swapping of names familiar to both of us. I checked a map on my return and felt happy that Faggot Yard, a location on my bus route home still existed, we had mentioned that. How funny that two women  so deeply embedded in the Essex countryside for 20 years should have floated off from the place of their genetic history and laid anchor after our working lives are over in the port city of Plymouth. We were both aware that our choices of careers would probably not allow us to stay in Essex for ever but also that parts of us will always regret that. What a joy to have met so far from home.

The insomnia caused by my coffee intake, entirely deserved, was full of a lovingly recalled nostalgia.

And now to appeal against that parking fine and find something really jazzy for that recycled bag to do.