Did anyone see the sublime cat moment on the news last night? As the world talked about Nelson Mandela, our Prime Minister came forward to make a statement on behalf of our country. As Lord Snooty stood there mouthing his vacuous speech, the Downing Street cat wandered onto screen behind him; ambled across, paused behind him ( I think to drink from the gutter) and then never re-appeared.
Well done that cat for puncturing the pomposity of politicians. It was lovely to see an unscripted moment in our bland and lifeless public world.
Friday, 6 December 2013
Thursday, 5 December 2013
Southern xxxxs
I just want to say if you ever say "The Great Storm of '87" you are a southern xxxx, and that's official.
Back to Smocks
Yesterday I wandered into a new plan for a change. I am now looking at some writing about Kate W Aimson, the original discoverer of Fleams. I am working in the area of short story - novelet for length. Or maybe just short story. We will see. The vintage horror magazines (see post Badgers, Books and The Curse of Amen-Ra) are an inspirational example of short-story writing, and I am working my way through them.
Back to Kate W Aimson:
Casual visitors to this blog are perhaps unaware of how I came to be interested in the work of Kate W Aimson, the story is this. When we moved into our current house six years ago, one of the first houses ready on a new estate at Ladmanlow, Derbyshire; we found a collection of papers in the loft. Of a new-built house. It's very mysterious. The papers dated back to the years before the First World War, about a hundred years ago. At this time Mrs Aimson was travelling in this area on research expeditions to the woad-vats of the East Midlands. She was distracted from her research by some fascinating discoveries here in North Derbyshire...
Back to Kate W Aimson:
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| Kate W Aimson |
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| Details about Kate W Aimson |
Wednesday, 4 December 2013
Magical Realism and Real Magic
Yesterday I was watching Practical Magic. I love the film, and after watching it, and watching the "Making of ", I read the original book by Alice Hoffman. I found that the film is completely different from the book. The book is an example of magical realism, which I hate. I would never knowingly read a magical realist-style book. For some reason the style is known as magical realism, when the magic in it is not real. I like real magic in my films and books (as in life).
Someone decided when they were turning the book into a film they were going to turn the magical realism to real magic. Good decision, that person.
The film also features gorgeous sets and costumes. The two aunts wear nineteen-teens era clothes, which I think is my favourite era for historical costume. The house, with it's kitchen, conservatory greenhouse, still-room, kitchen garden and flower gardens is quite a witch's dream. (For witches who like big houses, rather than tiny cottages). The botanicals shop is a witch's dream job and very beautifully presented. The family spellbook is an inspiration, and not given nearly enough screen-time. Make sure you catch all those bits!
Real houses, real jobs, real working in (or on the fringes of) the community, real herbs and spells, real magic. A huge improvement on the book and its magical realism.
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| A Real Magic Film |
The film also features gorgeous sets and costumes. The two aunts wear nineteen-teens era clothes, which I think is my favourite era for historical costume. The house, with it's kitchen, conservatory greenhouse, still-room, kitchen garden and flower gardens is quite a witch's dream. (For witches who like big houses, rather than tiny cottages). The botanicals shop is a witch's dream job and very beautifully presented. The family spellbook is an inspiration, and not given nearly enough screen-time. Make sure you catch all those bits!
Real houses, real jobs, real working in (or on the fringes of) the community, real herbs and spells, real magic. A huge improvement on the book and its magical realism.
Monday, 2 December 2013
Unquiet, Flint, Art
Hi everybody you may well have been wondering were I have been - just haven't been very inspired since I was poorly with a cold - but I'm back now. News - I have finished The Lord of The Rings trilogy. Maybe that's what's been wrong with me - I've been suffering from Middle Earth withdrawal. It's a definite possibility.
I've finished LOTR, read a trashy novel and am now started on Unquiet Country. Look at the photo on the front cover:
How cool is it? I just bought it for the picture, then when I started reading it, it turns out to be about Norfolk, so I can carry on finding out about the history of Norwich and the surrounding areas. Here are some more photos from Norwich:
Hope you like flint.
Also talked about Norwich and it's qualities in comparison to Thetford at the school art exhibition preview on Friday:
Where we saw Miss Aimson's "A" level artwork, amongst other things.
Just off to the bank to re-present a bounced cheque from a well-known gallery, which had sold one of my pictures. Do you want to know which gallery? I might tell you if the cheque bounces again, although they have assured me it was a temporary cash flow problem which is now sorted. We'll see.
I've finished LOTR, read a trashy novel and am now started on Unquiet Country. Look at the photo on the front cover:
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| Steptoe? |
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| A Flint Wall |
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| More Flint |
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| Square Flints |
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| More Square Flints |
Also talked about Norwich and it's qualities in comparison to Thetford at the school art exhibition preview on Friday:
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| Catch it while you can! |
Just off to the bank to re-present a bounced cheque from a well-known gallery, which had sold one of my pictures. Do you want to know which gallery? I might tell you if the cheque bounces again, although they have assured me it was a temporary cash flow problem which is now sorted. We'll see.
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