Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon

In response to:Of QVC and Carrots

2009-10-26T19:07:03+01:00

May your flute holding forever be changed for the better! :)

In response to:Of QVC and Carrots

2009-10-25T20:49:30+01:00

Hi Robert - what a wonderful and thought-provoking post, as always :) Being oneself is essential, yet more and more difficult in a world that appears to want clones of those with an appealing skin. I admired my 16-year old son when he said he wanted to be "inconspicuously different". QVC - have to admit I have never watched it - but I am addicted to Amazon, and my latest purchase was a tiny black, plastic, right thumb-hold for my flute (cost £3.49 + VAT). Totally unnecessary, but the idea of it fascinated me!!!

In response to:Jumping Off, Jumping In

2009-10-22T07:23:37+02:00

replica handbags

In response to:Of QVC and Carrots

2009-10-13T11:24:38+02:00

This is why of course it's so refreshing to meet people who are what they appear to be. Not too easy in this day and age!

I will write more about QVC later. I do love the concept of purple carrots and red bananas. Anything to wake people up!

Hope your day is good. Off to paint now:)x

In response to:Of QVC and Carrots

2009-10-12T19:14:00+02:00

Hmmm - is it better to be oneself and know that those who like you, like the REAL you even if their number is small, or to play a part and be what others would want you to be and have more "friends"?

It is rhetorical - no need to answer.

On a tangent, as part of preparing to write this blog I discovered that Shakepeare's famous "to thine own self be true" line does not mean what we today would think it means. Everything changes - not just the colour of carrots.

Glad you're back butterflying amongst us!

In response to:Of QVC and Carrots

2009-10-12T19:07:09+02:00

There is a lot in that sentence you heard yesterday Janet. Saddest are those who feel OBLIGED to wear a mask (and thereby make things difficult for themselves). Their number is, sadly, legion.

C'mon then - some QVC stories please ;)

...I had red bananas in Sri Lanka once too, although in that case it turned out that only the skin was red, so I'm not sure if that counts.

In response to:Of QVC and Carrots

2009-10-12T19:01:46+02:00

I looked too once you mentioned it. Someone has put what looks like the whole film up there in about a zillion parts. The song ends the film so if you can find Part One Zillion you should have found it:)

In response to:Of QVC and Carrots

2009-10-12T18:05:03+02:00

Purple carrots and QVC, and tomatoes used to be Love Apples!
We move and adapt in the series of changes throughout our life.
However, I have never really been able to be anything but 'mine own self.'
Probably because I have been pulled and pushed from 'pillar to post!' If I sum up the places and countries I would have to count. One moment, please:... I have counted out 26 different places, in various parts of the world, including USA and UK.
So, it is far easier to 'speak it like it's spelt,' and be what I really am.
Perhaps, that is why I have never really been able to make a friend in the Women's World.
They cannot figure me out.
It is not all that pleasant being this way.
But it is all I can do.

In response to:Of QVC and Carrots

2009-10-12T10:37:44+02:00

A really excellent post.

I have to admit that when I returned to the UK in 1993, I was shocked at how 'americanised' people had become. By that I mean how much the Brits had swung towards being a super consumer society and where people were being judged by what they had rather than who they were!

Something I heard yesterday which rings true here, that 'the hiding of ones unique nature is considered to be the source of ill health and ones problems in life'

It's true that we can become whatever the chosen mask is, however, I do believe that by dismissing and disguising our unique nature we suffer greatly.

On the subject of QVC - I don't switch it on because if I do, I am immeditely hooked! Call it a morbid fascination....I don't know, but it gets me:) In fact my son worked for QVC in the States for ten years.....lots of interesting stories there.

As far as carrots are concerned - I had no idea that they were orginally purple, proving that we do learn something new every day:)x

In response to:Of QVC and Carrots

2009-10-11T23:48:08+02:00

A very incisively perceptive post . And yes , of course , the lure of money , and what one can buy and achieve with it , always has the potential to corrupt .

I tried to find the O Lucky Man Alan Price theme song on youtube to post here , but it doesn't seem to be there .

Kindest Regards ,
Martin .

In response to:Of QVC and Carrots

2009-10-11T22:02:14+02:00

Thank you for your response which is very thoughtful in it's own way. In my own life I just managed to pull back at the point at which I might otherwise have been subsumed...and despite the deleterious effect that the decision has had on me from a monetary aspect, I regret it not one jot!

In response to:Of QVC and Carrots

2009-10-11T21:45:14+02:00

I love this post...very thoughtful and insightful...yet extremely sensitive and generous - if I may say so...A very profound sentence encapsulate it all for me..."When one acts a part for a sufficiently long period, one becomes that person"...It reasserts a long held belief of mine....humans are wont to cultivate wearing masks in this life; that may be fine, helpful and most satisfying...BUT...wear the mask long enough and one becomes the mask one wears. Thanks....;)

In response to:Jumping Off, Jumping In

2009-10-10T16:45:45+02:00

Only you !! :)
You are great testament to Janet's advice.
Keep daubing and diving :)

In response to:Jumping Off, Jumping In

2009-10-09T11:44:51+02:00

That's fine with me...I am happily retired and can appreciate the demands of the 'God of Labour' and the imperative of 'Restoration'..;)

In response to:A Barrack Room Ballad

2009-10-09T11:41:51+02:00

Ah! Must be off shore then....Anyway, must be quite beautiful...;)

In response to:Jumping Off, Jumping In

2009-10-09T00:39:03+02:00

You're very kind Val (who knew?! :))

No bravery was involved in actuality; no lives were risked in it's creation and my professional reputation remains unaffected by the critic's reaction to it! (It's a hobby - my profession is less glamorous).

That was partly the point really - as well as not wanting to be precious or coquettish about "my art", I hoped to encourage other "daubers" to dive on in. It's one thing for a professional and very accomplished artist like Janet to say that it is OK, but quite another for one of her readers to provide a testimonial to the truth of her philosophy about painting.

I mean it - jump in! What's the worst that can happen?

Oh, by the way...you're not getting it :)

In response to:Jumping Off, Jumping In

2009-10-09T00:19:08+02:00

Thanks - you are of course welcome to read what I write. Be aware though that I blog inconsistently, - I have the God of Labour to appease during the week and fatigue linked to "Come Dine With Me" drives me sofa-wards most evenings :)

In response to:A Barrack Room Ballad

2009-10-09T00:12:08+02:00

Much, much smaller than that - population 5000!

Thank you for dropping by.

In response to:Jumping Off, Jumping In

2009-10-08T23:21:58+02:00

I agree with all the other comments. Brave to post your work, because it's like putting yourself on trial sometimes isn't it? It has a beautiful quality of light and would look lovely in my house :)

In response to:A Barrack Room Ballad

2009-10-07T15:05:03+02:00

Very interesting post....Lovely memories....So sensitively put...BTW...the 'small island' to which you refer is presumably 'the Emerald Isle'?:)

In response to:Jumping Off, Jumping In

2009-10-07T14:58:13+02:00

Been prompted to access your post by a mutual friend J! Very fascinating post.......Would like not to mis your posts...might send you an invite...:)

In response to:Jumping Off, Jumping In

2009-10-06T21:31:41+02:00

Thank you for your kind remarks. The real candles would light better...

In response to:Jumping Off, Jumping In

2009-10-06T21:17:54+02:00

Of all of the lovely things you have written Charlotte, probably the most true is "overmedicated" :)

In response to:Jumping Off, Jumping In

2009-10-06T21:16:20+02:00

The good news, as I found out following J W-R's advice, is that patience isn't required. 15 minutes here and fifteen minutes there, that's all!

(Most of what I produce is rubbish of course - do you think I'd share anything but the very best?). :)

In response to:Jumping Off, Jumping In

2009-10-06T21:13:41+02:00

You should! I make no claims, just sat down one Saturday tea time to see where it could take me. There is a lot of frog kissing involved, but even that is more fun than they tell you ;)

In response to:Jumping Off, Jumping In

2009-10-06T19:11:42+02:00

This is a lovely picture, Robert. It is ethereal. One can see through the candles, and the light is gently clever.
I had no idea you were so talented.
I am happy too that Janet is pleased.
You could sell it tomorrow!
I may be overmedicated at present, but I see in my mind's eye how Stonehenge must have glowed, when the midnight ceremonies were being held by the ancient ones.
Congratulations, my artistic Robert: Charlotte

In response to:A Barrack Room Ballad

2009-10-06T19:04:36+02:00

It was incredibly incongrous, but my 6'3" son-in-law was stationed in nuclear submarines, 'seven leagues' under the sea, anywhere in the world.
We never knew where he was. He has still not told us to this day!
I could never figure out how he did not suffer a sudden feeling of claustrophobia. Ducking his head like that, and never being able to stretch!
This is a nice post, Robert. Thank you for sharing.
It does, of course, answer my recent question. Charlotte

In response to:Jumping Off, Jumping In

2009-10-06T13:03:18+02:00

Good job!
I used to be quite artistic a couple of years back.
Not saying I was any good, but I liked the feeling of creatiing something.
Today I don't think I would have the patience.

In response to:Jumping Off, Jumping In

2009-10-06T12:13:59+02:00

it is really good. I love the light effects you have on it. Maybe I should try painting

In response to:Jumping Off, Jumping In

2009-10-06T08:28:29+02:00

I've just read Janet's blog and popped over here to see your painting at her recommendation.

You've done a wonderful job;your painting looks so much better than the original objects!