11.11.24 Armistice Day.
After all the music, marching and speeches of Remembrance Sunday. We took a quiet morning walk at the Plymouth War Memorials. No crowds and some lovely family flowers just quietly laid among all the vivid redness of the more iconic Poppies.
One statue returned to being the favourite perching place of seaward looking seagulls.
Lets see what the shape of the world will be like in a year’s time. We may well remember but we don’t learn. It’s all a bit shit really.
Our dusk/ dark walks are taking us away from our home streets at the moment. Last night we did a circuit of Sutton Harbour and the Barbican. Just an hour’s walk on the eve of Remembrance Day.
All the bustle of bars opening and cafes and shops closing reflected on still waters.
The Barbican has set its normal illuminations to Red for Remembrance.
Remembrance Day in Britain feels like the last full stop before the run up to Christmas. The beginning of noticeably shortening days, colder weather and rampant consumerism.
At home we are still in a flurry of redecoration and reorganisation. Every trip to a charity shop or scrap store feels like a minor victory against ‘stuff’. I am having to channel my creative energies into tidying and sorting, ignoring the itch to put paint on paper or canvas.
But today our busy domestic schedule will stop for a while to observe and consider the costs of war to the community we currently live in.
It was 2:30 today when I completely realised that today was Wednesday and not Thursday. By then I had achieved most of the things that needed to be achieved by Thursday on Wednesday.
So tomorrow stretches ahead with nothing more taxing than a hair cut. By tomorrow November will be over and December will be on it’s glitzy slightly camp match towards Christmas so today’s miscalculation has inspired me to share some old photos. November is a great time to take photos if the weather is good.
If the weather is not good then November can feel like an endurance. So farewell November see you in 2023.
That’s a weight off my mind.
November has properly arrived. My first use of the word ‘greige’. Greige is my own word for a curious greyness that envelopes this part of the west country in the winter months. Definitely rain is a big part of greige, mist is another. The other aspect is mental. October flirts with our senses. Teases us into believing a little more sunshine might be on the agenda. November arrives and the weather wraps around our souls like a damp, mildewed sock. Luckily Guy Fawkes and his failed Gunpowder plot are celebrated on the 5th November. The night air is filled with crashes and bangs and our skies are lit up with bright flashes of happiness.
Nature also gets in on the act, thanks to a warmer than normal October there are a few dandelion heads still hanging about. Pretending to be fireworks with the help of street lights.
Blowing greige out of the water.
So long, November.
A November like no other slipped quietly into December. Last night five of our informal swimming group ‘ Bobbers’ took to the sea at Firestone Bay to swim for the last time in November. For most of us it was the first time the end of November was marked in such a way. The positive aspects of Covid-19 can be difficult to appreciate but sea swimming and increased fitness is a definite @theoldmortuary.
The tail end of November was bright and beautiful, our exercise outings were either spent in the water or walking beside it. Fistral is a beach in North Cornwall where ‘ Bobbers’ would not get an effective swim.
Surfers though have a wonderful time.
Good morning December 2020 let’s see what surprises you have up your wintery sleeves.
I’m doing a bit of time managing Drawn to the Valley art groups Instagram page. In these ever changing pandemic times it is a quick way, combined with Facebook and Twitter to communicate with both the artist members and people who like to buy original art. November in any year can be a little slow artwise before December explodes into Christmas Fairs and Markets. 2020 takes slow November to a whole new level of slow. This morning I came up with a # inspired by an early morning walk in typically November West Country greyness.
@theoldmortuary November life was certainly brightened up today by two things. Firstly the most gorgeous Orchid arrived clutched by a lovely friend. Definitely something that cuts through Cornish grey #lightupnovember2020
The other thing that twinkled into @theoldmortuary was a tutu . Just a little one for a little person but it certainly fits the brief for #lightupnovember2020
#lightupnovember2020 spreading a little bright in the grey.
theoldmortuary.design 