photo: tiny sketchbook from 2014
Rain, tremendous rain at silly-o’clock in the morning. I am in that between dream state, then I am woken by a flash of lightning. It feels like waking up in a gothic novel; I wait for the ghoulish housekeeper to come and light the fire and lanterns. It’s only when I get out of bed and look in the mirror that I realise, of course, that I am the main scary feature of the story - for my hair is an incredible sight, a purely natural phenomena of dark silver, a shock of ageing, and yet I am still a child at heart! I smooth it quickly and laugh at myself. I sit on my bed and slip my right foot into the rigid shoe that I am still wearing for my healing foot….. Ah yes, a gothic novel must have a character with a slight limp….
I need to find humour where I can, you understand (sorry but the above is my best attempt at humour) - It’s tough luck that I am more or less house bound, but really I like my own company and keep myself busy. But I do miss, really miss, being able to just go out and walk, because I feel like a walk.
Walking is a primary tool in helping myself mentally and physically. I miss my favourite mossy trees in the woods. As soon as I can, I shall go to them, seek them out and give them a pat. I can of course imagine the woods right now: wet and swirling leaves, broken acorns littering paths, many colours, shadows, a friendly robin, shrunken blackberries, squirrels jumping over streams. All the little streams that dried up this summer will be flowing now, the scent of them as they collect falling leaves reminds me of my childhood and muddy walks, climbing fallen trees.
photo: sketchbook from last autumn, Oct 21
I miss, too, getting on the bus and overhearing conversations. I miss familiar faces and even the sad windows of boarded up shop windows. But these things will return to me, and I am grateful that soon enough I should be back out there, walking my anonymous walks. I crave a visit to London and the galleries. But more than anything just a stroll in the rain, saying good morning to the magpies.
And soon it will be winter and yes Christmas…. and I was going to tell you all about my new Christmas card design. But goodness me, I put a modest stock of cards in my shop this past Wednesday and now they are all sold. Thank you! I have re-ordered these and hope to be able to offer more soon. I painted the books and window view especially. It took me some time to put together a stack of books that I felt was a good mix of wintry and interesting titles. But with this composition the focus is the outside winter neighbourhood.
Meanwhile, I am looking forward to offering a new idea - and I hope this might interest you. Starting from my first November update (Wednesday 2nd November) I will be offering ‘lucky dip’ tiny winter landscapes. Here are some tiny winter paintings I made back in January this year:
It seems that my tiny paintings can be quite popular. I also have a love of surprises and hope you do too. I like the idea of painting tiny works and then offering them via a lucky dip or blind process. I will be offering the lucky dip paintings in special little packages. The tiny works will come with the usual little extras - all wrapped up so that this could also make a lovely gift for a friend.
Of course, as you won’t be choosing exactly, I will be offering the lucky dips at a fixed special price (I have yet to confirm this with my business adviser (daughter) but consider the current price of a tiny landscape is £36-£38 - so it will be slightly less than that).
I will hope to always have these ‘in stock’ in my shop during the winter months ahead. Just as much care and attention to detail will be given to these lucky dip works. I will always strive to make and offer my best. There is no possibility that I will get tired of painting them because quite simply I love the possibilities. I might also offer the option of different seasons - but to begin with it will just be winter. You can of course purchase multiple lucky dips, if you so wish. I will keep an ever changing stock of surprise postcards to go with the paintings.
And for those people who prefer to choose and decide on a painting carefully before purchasing - I understand this. If you are putting together a collection this is what you might wish to do. So I will continue to offer a small selection of tiny paintings you can choose between, as often as I can.
**
I was hoping to be offering a twin-set of zines. Unfortunately, I have had to put this idea on hold. Various factors - funds + having to purchase new kitchen appliances unexpectedly + % postal strikes - &% broken foot = not a good idea right now. I am sorry and hope to return to a bookish project or two in the new year.
Re: postal strikes. More strike days are planned in the weeks ahead. Please allow extra time for your order to arrive. So sorry, I wish things were different and I hope the Royal Mail workers are offered a fair deal soon.
photo: scene on my desk - recently
**
A few small thoughts from this week
A LOSS
But I see now this is meant to be,
the end of an era, as a reader.
No chapter will have quite the same end,
full stop, reflective sigh.
No book will look quite as it should.
I am in grief, using an old bus ticket
as a kind of penance;
yet it serves me poorly.
For I have mistakenly given up
my favourite bookmark
to the library service.
(a poem I wrote a few months ago)
*
I am grateful to my son who has been given custody of my library card at this time. He is very conscientious, going into the library on my behalf to collect reserved books and return books. I am also grateful that my local library is now part of a wider network - I can, in theory, borrow a title that is available anywhere in Surrey and parts of London. Meaning, of course, there’s more chance of getting the book a reader wants. I sincerely hope this continues and that our libraries are saved from any future cutbacks. Wherever you are in the world, please support your local library (if you have one)
*
Thanks always for reading here. Your comments, likes and support means a great deal. I appreciate you subscribing to these mostly weekly newsletters and hope you find them interesting. I am especially grateful to all those kind people who have bought me a coffee recently - you can do so here. Thanks!
Very much enjoy and feel in sync with your charming quirky humor, Cathy. Just this morning a strand of gray fell across my face and surprised me (even though I've been almost all gray for a decade!). A devoted library fan here, too. That I'm able to walk away with stacks of books feels like Christmas every time. Lucky dips sound very swell and looking forward to your new zines. To a recent workshop, I took along a few favorite picture books and a couple of your zines. The first hour of class was spent pouring through them, being filled with lovely inspiration, thank you!
Just loved your vividly descriptive gothic story with lightening and a limp..but Hoping yours will be gone soon and you can go back out to your beautiful forests and parks and streams and trees to wander blissfully again:)