May 2011

How’s your May going my little custard creams?

Mine’s is doing quite nicely thank you.    The sun is out,  the garden is growing,  I’ve had Pimms in a deckchair (v. posh)  to celebrate the bank holidays and only one downside I can detect,  are  the freckles on my face  giving me that unfortunate, unwashed appearance.  I know we are not supposed to sunbathe anymore but you can’t tell that to a child of the 70’s.  When I was a lass, we’d be in the scalding sun for 26 hours a day, with only a nylon tanktop and some cooking oil for protection.  Nowadays, I will occasionally stick a bit of cream on the fragile bits but I’m very slow to get my head around this whole business of the sun being bad for you.  However, don’t do as I do, kids, and get your factor 9000 on.

Anyway, in my world, I’ve been busy with all kinds.  I recently visited the House of Lords for the first time, to attend an Alzheimer’s Society event hosted by Lord Julian Fellowes.   I could tell you the vital facts of the occasion, a few medical statistics, but I know you would prefer to hear that,  this most eminent of places with all its BIG history,  served us sausages on sticks, brilliant.

While we are talking Alzheimer’s, I’ve started visiting a hydrotherapy pool with my mother.  She loves it….and that is saying something for someone who rarely finds anything to smile about anymore.   Mother used to be a strong swimmer but it was startling to watch her, without warning, launch across the small pool.  This is a lady, who cannot remember me, or any of her family, how to dress herself or even how to sit on a chair without help.  It just shows how deep these basic instincts really are that she was able to propel herself (well, for a short distance anyway) through the water.  I, on the other hand, when in water, am more than happy to move around on a float – like a toad on a water lily, overseeing matters.

I’m still beavering away at my book  and the odd painting  (and I mean odd)  I can’t wait to share those with you one day.

Ludicrously, I’m still in a high court battle with London’s Halcyon Gallery…. how incredibly long winded the civil legal process is!  I could have completed a university degree, or had three children….just.

Hey ho,  it’s amazing what we learn to live with isn’t it?  It remains an unpleasant process but I care less and less with every day that passes.  This case has taught me to understand better who and what are the important things in life and no amount of awful ratbag behaviour (or litigation) can take that away.  My philosophy is now this:

“if the fat lad on the beach wants to kick sand in your face,   just keep moving and wait for him to stand on a jellyfish”

………..I reckon that’s Confucious out of a job.

May your May be filled with Maypoles and Mayonnaise and James May.

Back soon, and maybe I’ll even say, or do something arty for a change.

love, SJ