Let There Be Light

January is a strange month...a gaping chasm between the joy and sparkle of the festive period and the early promise of spring.  

Forget Blue Monday, I have christened my birthday this year as Blue Sunday.  Sunday January 14th was one to forget.  Given the weather that day, I'll take a rain check on celebrations - pardon the pun.  It was quite possibly, the most miserable day I can recall for a long time.  Even nature failed to lift our spirits and after 30 minutes of walking into a bitingly cold wind, gazing at a waterlogged landscape, we cut short our walk.  If you think I'm exaggerating, see for yourselves.

Bleak huh?  The photos above were shot with a stocking covered 35mm lens, a practise run for me to create a more retro aesthetic.  Believe me when I say that even without the stocking, the results were almost as bleak.  And brown.   My fingerless gloves have been working over time - inside and outside of the house!  

But what a difference a day makes!  This Monday morning, officially christened Blue Monday (supposedly the most depressing day of the year), there was light!

We awoke to a dusting of snow, an exquisite blue winter sky with fluffy clouds and shafts of sunlight landing photogenically.  The daily walk was much more pleasant.

So rewinding a little, last week, I took my Mom to Halfpenny Green Vineyards for a coffee and a look at the local delicacies.  But for a cat botherer like me, the draw was actually the local feral feline population.  It was dinner time and I managed to capture a few of them scoffing. 

They're happy, rotundly healthy and almost identical looking, but prefer to keep people at a safe distance.  I can't say I blame them.  There are 17 cats in total and between them, the independent business owners operating from the prefab buildings next to the vineyards, look after them with regular food donations and also try to ensure they are neutered.  

This one was adopted as a kitten by one of the business owners.  Isn't she beautiful?  Who wouldn't love to while away January in a cosy bed like that?

Our week was brightened by a visit from our old trading friend Baz.  Baz is a fireman who lives miles away from us with his wife Issy, in a converted double decker bus in the wilds of Staffordshire, but dropped by as he was in the area.  If you visit us, chances are you're going to be force fed and photographed and Baz was no exception!

Another day, another Baz.  This one's my father-in-law and he loves the smell of creosote.  He literally cannot pass a telegraph pole without having a sniff.  This is possibly one of my stranger portraits but hey, you take your pleasures where you find them!

Since Christmas, I've made a few charity shop purchases...some wardrobe staple Breton tops and a Monsoon duo in the shape of a faux fur gillet and Fairisle style jumper that really keeps the cold out.  It was worth the awkward encounter with a fellow shopper who insisted on loudly and proudly showing me her bargain purchase - a pack of incontinence pads!

I've also made a couple of considered new purchases.  I picked up a pair of jeans in the Zara sale.  I wanted to create a more elegant, flattering and retro silhouette and couldn't be happier with these high waisted, raw hem jeans that just skim and hang elegantly from the thighs and are cropped a little so are great for my pit pony legs.  I love the double front pockets too.

Oh and for the longest time, I've been searching for a pair of classic loafers.  They have evaded me, until now.  I spotted these gorgeous metallic ones in the Boden sale.  Quality and comfort.  

They work well with turned up, slouchy jeans, A line and mini skirts, shorts and certain maxi dresses.  My latest mission is therefore to showcase them to their full potential.  For the purposes of this post however, I thought I'd don the majority of recent purchases all at once! 

Gareth's also carried out a successful and ingenious repair to my sad and neglected vintage necklace, which unfortunately shed one of its "carnelian" stones on its very first outing with me.  The trick?  Epoxy resin combined with smoked paprika.  In case you're wondering, it's the bottom stone he's replaced.  I think it looks better than the original!

I picked up a few books from Enville Church when we were passing through the village.  Am I a terrible sinner, never going to church other than to check out the donated books?  We left our donation in the honesty box and came away with three immaculate hardback books.  I failed to photograph them before loaning two of them, but picked up a copy of Behind Closed Doors, the untold story of the Duchess of Windsor... 

...Phillipa Gregory's The Taming of the Queen and also this beautiful copy of Dawnlands (although I have yet to read Dark Tides, the second of the trilogy).

In TV land, we've been glued to the second season of  The Tourist - this time set in Ireland.  It's arguably weaker than the first series, but I love the humour and Ireland looks so pretty.

Kin has also captivated us.  It's about rival gangland families in Dublin and an event that causes their feud to spiral out of control.  So gripping!

We're also hopelessly addicted to The Traitors.  Having watched and loved the first series, we were sceptical as to how there could be a second.  But the rules are ever changing, there are some clever twists and it's intriguing to see human nature played out so obviously on a TV show where back stabbing and betrayal are the only ways to win.  The Banquishing Table, where players take a stab in the dark to name who they think is a traitor, is a masterclass in herd mentality.

I'm also obsessing over presenter Claudia Winkleman's chic wardrobe, each outfit put together by fashion stylist Sinead McKeefry and just oozing quality.  I am in love with this Vampire's Wife mini dress..

...and her ruffle shirts/quirky knits and tweed coats are to die for.

It has not gone unnoticed that she's taken her cue from me and invested in more than one pair of fingerless gloves which has become part of the signature "Traitors-core" look.  I won't hold it against her though. She still trumps me on shiny hair.  

Speaking of which, I believe I have found a hair care system that fights the frizz.  Periodically I bang on about my somewhat frizzy hair, for which I can only thank the gene pool from which I emerged.  My mother has poker straight, fine hair.  My Dad had slightly wavy hair, inherited from his mother, who had hair like corrugated iron.   I have a weird fusion; not quite straight but there are sections of hair at the base of my scalp that do take on that crinkly look when wet.  Hairdressers like to tell me:  "You have fine hair, but lots of it."  For ages, I assumed that my hair just wasn't in good condition.  Greys and humidity only worsen the appearance of the surface frizz that plagued me.  I've tried all sorts of shampoos - nourishing, moisturising, natural hair soaps, co-washing (washing in conditioner), brushing, but nothing really made any dramatic impact.  Until now.

My current secret (and I'm only a couple of washes into the new regime) is to oil the hair with Jojoba oil (a natural frizz buster) the night before washing.  I tie it back to go to bed,  wash and condition as usual the following morning and add a few pumps of styling cream when it's damp.  This one seems to help.  Here are my hair heroes.

The difference has been incredible and more importantly, the results have been lasting.  It's held its own against humidity, has retained that moisture, feels softer and hangs better.  It seems to improve with every treatment.  Let's hear it for Jojoba!

For me, January seems to be my creative month.  I've entered the London Camera Exchange Competition.  I don't believe I'm in with a chance, but it's a good exercise, keeps me sharp and I can take inspiration from my fellow entrants.  You have to be in it to win it as the saying goes.  Here's a glimpse of a few of the photos I entered.

I've also been approached by a Brummy photographer/musician/artist to collaborate on something this year and have been pushing myself to create something different, focusing on the four elements.  I'm sure art critics would have a field day, but I do what pleases me and find it very fulfilling.

I hope you're all fine and dandy. What helps you through the winter months?

50 Shades of Grey

Happy New Year!  2023 has started, like all other years, with false promises, fireworks and exuberance, followed by the slow realisation that January seemingly lasts forever.  January is the greyest of months (aside from Blue Monday).  The gloom is real.

OK, I'm exaggerating a little.  Our birthdays fall in January - 5 days apart - so cake and presents provide a welcome boost.

This year is a landmark birthday.  Having been knocking around for half a century, do I feel any wiser?  Perhaps.  Judge for yourselves.  I woke up 2 days before my birthday and decided that what needed to happen that day, was for me to have my hair cut into a "shag" - a follicular return to the decade of my birth.

One impulsive phone call and 2 hours later, ta-da!  Nice and wavy in this photo.  It won't last.  Hopefully not a case of act in haste, repent at leisure.

The hope is that my unruly hair with its tendency to frizz, will respond more positively to this cut with its movement and texture.  My hair has always occupied the awkward middle ground between my Mom's poker straight hair and my Dad's (and paternal grandmother's) naturally wavy hair.  A little insight.  I have a section of hair, hidden from view, that looks just like corrugated iron when first washed.

Anyway, off the top of my head, here are 50 things I've learned (I'm sure there are more, but I'm at that tricky age and the memory isn't what it once was):-

1.  If everyone secretly pocketed a piece of Hadrian's Wall at the age of 5, where would we be?

2.  Camping sorts out problem sleep.

3.  No matter how hard I try, I will never like olives, or Sting.

4.  Work smart.

5.  Be a good listener.

6.  Smiling opens doors.

7.  Respect should be earned, not demanded.

8.  Drink more water.

9.  Don't expect too much from others.  Humans are fundamentally flawed.

10. Don't wash your hair too often.

11.  Walking in fresh air - rain or shine - is a great leveller.

12.  Parenting is hard.

13.  Take care of your spine.  Try not to sit down for longer than 20 minutes.  Ice not heat packs for injury.

14.  Friendships are possible at any stage in life and no less valuable the later they are formed.

15.  People aren't all good or all bad, but they are often surprising.

16.  I often prefer the company of animals to humans.

17.  I am a mass of contradictions.

18.  Dogs love you no matter what.  Cats however, prefer to keep you on your toes with unpredictable behaviour, an obsession with boxes, stealing your body heat and frequently thinking about killing you.  

19.  Time goes faster the older you get.

20.  Ignore fashion rules, but don't ignore your instincts.

21.  We all turn into our parents.

22.  Be curious.

23.  Books are like little worlds we can inhabit for a time.

24.  Sulking is futile and a little dull.  Let it out; air your grievances, but try to be kind.

25.  Don't underestimate a quality pillow.

26.  Our islands are beautiful.  Our leaders are not.

27.  Politics isn't a calling, but a career option.

28.  Our personalities and tastes are always evolving.

29.  Poetry is a wonderful form of creative expression and there really is something for everyone.

30.  Paranormal activity is real.

31.  Graveyards are endlessly fascinating.  

32.  Appreciate and embrace patina.

33.  We never learn from history, but it's important to keep trying.

34.  Take vitamin D from April to October.

35.  Brushing teeth and gums at night, as well as being hygienic, reduces your risk of heart disease.

36.  Always have lemons and garlic in store.

37.  Cherries are good for the pancreas.

38.  I much prefer geeks and weirdos.

39.  Don't discuss or make a god of money.  Don't be a bore!

40.  There is always an element of luck in success.

41.  Be frugal with advice and generous with your time. 

42.  People are generally rubbish at keeping secrets, so if you wear your heart on your sleeve, do so with eyes wide open.

43.  Make room in your life for the people who make you laugh.

44.  Be creative...find your thing.  It helps keep you sane.

45.  Be bold and say "yes" more often.

46.  The thrill of discovering am amazing second hand bargain or vintage find, surpasses any other short lived shopping thrill.

47.  The thing I would now prize most above all else is the secret to not worrying.

48.  In my head, I'm still 19.

49.  It is what it is.

50.  Cillian Murphy's eyes really are that blue.

If you're still with me, thanks for reading.  I'll be back with a more substantive post very soon.

January Made Me Shiver

How bin ya? (As they say in these parts). Well I wish I could say that I've partied as much as the UK government or experienced as much adrenalin as Prince Andrew in the week since my last blog, but I can't.  The past seven days have bled into each other; a blur of work, eating, screen time, sleep and repeat.  

My sleep has been troubled this week and I've certainly had no need for an alarm call - a woodpecker has ensured that I've been wide awake by 6.30 every morning.  We sleep with the window open most evenings (Lotte's escape route, plus I like fresh air), so this has eased the sonic flow of woodpecker drilling into my ears.  Did you know that woodpeckers drill not just for insects, but to make their nests - essentially hollows in tree trunks?  Even more impressive, when you consider the impact of drilling wood on a Woodpecker's tiny bird skull, is the fact that many of their nests could easily accommodate a duck!

On the subject of birds, Robin's were always referred to as "red breasts" because the first recorded use of the word orange as a colour name in English was not until 1502 in a description of clothing purchased for Margaret Tudor.

I discover all of these little gems during nocturnal reading sessions.  

Winter has really delivered this week and courtesy of sleep deprivation, icy roads and a pressing deadline, I haven't gone far.  These photos were taken around 10 paces from our front door earlier in the week. 

I have also grappled with a rather weighty issue - my hair.  It probably needs a trim, but the length is giving me more versatility to try out new styles, like this twenties hairstyle (inspired by the forthcoming Peaky Blinders series and my love of the era's fashion), involving Dutch braids, a small plaited bun and multiple hair partings.

There!  Apart from my scruffs and the unglamorous bathroom selfies, I'm all ready for the new roaring twenties.

This week's additional screen time has largely been devoted to completing the script I've been working on.  

Last year I made a promise to myself to submit it to the annual BBC Writer's Room Open Call.  It's really been more of a challenge to myself; a case of "I've started, so I'll finish", rather than being borne out of any expectation of being identified as the next Jed Mercurio.  However, when I realised on the morning of yesterday's midday deadline that our internet was down, I confess to almost having a little cry.  A screenwriter on Twitter attempted to come to my aid, but fortunately, my prayers to the cyber gods were answered and at precisely 11.58 am I hit the SUBMIT button, spotted the acknowledgment drop into our inbox and promptly headed out into the mist of the National Trust managed Kinver Edge.  Talk about flying by the seat of your pants!

Thursday was quite simply magical.  The beguiling partnership of a hoar frost and rolling mist set the scene first thing, but unusually the mist didn't dissipate as the day worn on.  Instead, the sun broke through in spectacular style, sending sun beams from the heavens and shards of light in amongst the trees....

picking out pathways, foliage and spider's webs...

 ...and making it very difficult at times to distinguish tree trunks from shadows.  

We were so in awe of the ever changing landscape, 

that we spent around two hours soaking it all in and chatting with other walkers and photographers, marvelling at the vista,

until sunset.

And so, to this morning, 14th January, the day of my birthday and yet another wintry wonderland awaits...and a Covid positive test result for our son (but let's not dwell on the C word).  Here are a couple of shots from our glistening garden.  

It's also Dave Grohl's Birthday (Happy Birthday Dave!  I know you'll be reading) and  National Dress Up Your Pet Day.  I don't fancy my chances of separating Lotte from her pizza box, do you?

On this day in 1514, Pope Leo X issued a papal bull against slavery  and in 1978, the Sex Pistols performed their final show at Winterland, San Francisco.

And there ends the history lesson.

Hand on heart, I am really loving this season, but that's not to say I'm not looking forward.  Finally and tentatively, I feel like making plans in 2022 and the first date on the calendar so far this year is in May, the day I plan to run away with the circus - Giffords Circus to be precise.  It's an enchanting, nostalgia-steeped village green summer circus with a supermodel and rock star fan base.  We went a number of years ago and I've been desperate to return ever since.  This year, Vix and Jon will be joining us.  

Tickets aren't cheap, but they are worth every penny.  So if you find yourselves in the Cotswolds area from April to September, grab a ticket while you still can.  Here's the link   Giffords Circus | Experience the magic of Giffords Circus and brilliant artwork courtesy of Joseph Avery.

Hope you've had a good week.  See you soon!