Spent – Over the Rainbow – Illustration Friday

The topic for Illustration Friday last week was ‘Spent’, I was away so have only just completed the IF. The little figures are cut outs from copies of English ten and twenty pound notes. Don’t worry no money was harmed in the making of this picture. I had in mind the spent athlete at the end of a long run, but also that we as a nation and others seem to be spent at the moment; chasing for the pot of gold at the end of the mythical rainbow has left nothing in our reserves. So like athletes are we exhausted yet exhilarated, or will this be our last marathon?

The picture also links to a Twitter discussion about mnemonics and how people remember the colours of the rainbow. I learnt “Richard of York Gained Battles in Vain” and never questioned that there were other versions. It seems many learned that Richard ‘gave battle’.  Others learnt the ‘I can sing a rainbow song’; this is a worry as it has pink and no indigo.  Top marks go to John Peel via @martincampbell2: who apparently learnt “Virgin in bed get your organ ready”.

Click on the map below to go to the version with detailed tags

And HERE is a Spotify playlist to go with this post, including the dreaded rainbow song, guaranteed to help you unlearn the colours of the rainbow.

 

Stig Bird – Racing, Zoggs Goggles and Sport Count – Aspire Update

 

Sorry, can't divulge who it is, under contract; wait for the biography

 

The topic for Illustration Friday this week is ‘Racing’, I haven’t attempted one for a long time but suddenly had an image of a Stig racing pigeon - admittedly it’s turned out more like a chicken, but that could just be a clever disguise.

Time for an update on the Aspire channel swim. I am about half way now to completing my 22 miles in 12 weeks.  One of the problems I was having early on is that I can’t count. I discovered I am not alone in this, some people are counters and others like me have problems. I really knew I was struggling when I couldn’t remember if I was on lap two or four – pathetic! So I invested in a SportCount length counter, this is worn on the finger and at the start of each lap you click the button to start the next lap count. It has definitely been a worthwhile investment, to be honest the pale blue version that just counts laps would have been fine as I am never going to be worrying about split times.

I have also been really lucky with winning on-line competitions recently. One of my winnings was the Zogg goggles, not due to be released to the public until 2011. These are designed to cause less marking around the eyes than traditional goggles. The rim is very thin and extremely comfortable. On one occasion I had leakage but had rolled the thin edge as I put them on, once repositioned all was well. The only marking I get is on the bump of my nose, although the nose bridge is very comfortable I do end up with a line there. They also don’t steam up and look super cool in their BBC iplayer colours.

So I am plugging away up and down Framlingham College pool; very lucky to have such a fantastic facility close by. I still have a long way to go.  If you feel able to sponsor me, my charity page is HERE.  The swim is for Aspire, a charity which works with people who have spinal cord injuries.

 

Status at 23rd October

 

 

 

Dear Diary – decode required – Illustration Friday

Today I think my inspiration has left me completely.  The prompt was ‘Diary’ for Illustration Friday but…. see what you make of it.

 

G I Ant – Illustration Friday – Giant

The cue for Illustration Friday this week is ‘giant’ – I decided to play with the cue and instead have a giant ant who is a GI ie G.I.Ant.  Perfect cue for a little Ant Music – Spotify playlist here

 

Illustration Friday – Satellite

The small boy attached and set alight to a rocket on her back, she will soon reach our only natural satellite

 

Midsummer Maahes Day 5 – #OKdoogy let’s illustrate

Wow, I am seriously impressed with everybody’s efforts so far.  We survived the night; thanks for the stories and as the power is back on, we have a great day ahead.  The wonderful thing about country house holidays, is that there are some days where you don’t really want to do anything much.  Just mooching around the house is enough.  Luckily I have plenty of paper, pens, pencils, paints, glue and other craft materials available.

My challenge for you all today is:

1)  to enter Illustration Friday, either for real, or if not ready for that, then just create an illustration and take a snap or scan of it.  The topic this week is, ‘satellite’; I wonder what you will create.  Just post a link in the comments section to your entry, post or picture.

2) I met a man as I went walking; what were my first names, where did I end up and what did I do there?

As before, every comment will be entered into a money can’t buy, prize draw.  You can still go back and comment on previous maahes posts.  Also for the Spotifiers amongst you, keep adding to the playlist HERE the party ends when the music stops.

 

The Paisley Stoater

Over at Illustration Friday the topic of the week it ‘Paisley’.  Regular readers will know I am fond of poetry and Paisley being in the heartland of the great Scottish bairds I thought I would find some worthy ancient verse to share. However, in my travels I found a gorgeous poem called ‘She’s Just a Stoater’ by Peter Thomson.

I have clad her in a tartan skirt; if only it was longer it might prevent her from getting erythema ab igne, a condition I used to see a lot years ago.  I picture her sitting one side of the fire while her old man sits the other side. She has developed erythema ab igne (Granny’s tartan) on her right leg, the smoking won’t have helped her circulation.  He probably has a tartan leg on the left.  I presume she pawned the ring, but she wouldn’t have received much cash for it as it was not pure enough gold, hence turning her finger green.  Still, she probably bought some coal and fags with the proceeds.  I have to admit I have no idea what a “HAWN’-N-CAN” is, in the poem; I’ve assumed it is a handle-less bucket that she is off outside to fill with more coal.

One thing I do know, he loves her; after all she’s a stoater.  I think this calls for music – Link to Spotify playlist here

 

Ripple – Illustration Friday – Our relationship with the planet and its inhabitants

The subject for Illustration Friday this week is ‘ripple’. I have gone against the brief somewhat as the introductory e-mail says “It’s not about the politics or the corporation. It’s about the animals. It’s about not feeling helpless in the face of an overwhelming disaster.”

I am not necessarily feeling helpless but certainly feeling reflective about our relationship with the planet and its inhabitants. Perhaps the only way to turn  my thought processes around is to think that perhaps we can create ripples for good as well as for ill. I also try to remember that as well as the ripples we create, our planet throws us some of its own too, like Eyjafjallajokull, the Icelandic volcano, throwing its ash into the sky as if to defy our attempts to act like Daedalus and Icarus and fly.

One of my earliest memories of taking an interest in environmental issues was learning the poem To See the Rabbit by Alan Brownjohn.  Goodness knows what the final impact on wildlife will be of the current oil spill, as a planet inhabitants we are still learning, years after the Torrey Canyon disaster, about how we handle oil and how our planet reacts, responds and heals (or not) as a result.

Can we create ripples for good?  If so – how?

UPDATE:

I entered the picture above at the Ripple Sketches website.  The idea is that for each picture posted people can put in a request, if they can prove they have donated $10 to one of the selected charities.  Bless her cotton socks (for I now know who it was) someone put in an offer for my little picture and it is now flying its way to Arizona.  Follow the link to the Ripple Sketches website and see other people’s ideas based on the theme.

 

Trail – Illustration Friday – Pole-vaulting snails

The topic for Illustration Friday is – Trail.  I have long held the belief that the snails in my garden can pole-vault, this one is making a quick getaway but this time it has left a trail.

 

Slither – Illustration Friday – What Lurks Beneath the Surface?

Try this Spotify Playlist to go with the theme.

Swimming in open water is an acquired taste. Some people are fearful of not being able to see or touch the bottom. Others are afraid of what might be lurking beneath and within the water. Fritton lake is not crystal clear it has a peaty, sandy quality to it, everything is tinted a murky yellow; when you come out from the water your skin may sparkle in the sunlight from the particles trapped in the hair on your arms. There will always be a doubt in your mind about anything that touches your skin, was that an eel, a pike, or bit of weed or just a ‘fig box of your homogination’?

Only two weeks now to the Great East Swim – my charity page is HERE - raising funds for Water Aid.  Huge thanks to those who have already contributed.