I was out in the garden before writing this page, and out there today. I did a bit of tidying and weeding. Lots of things need attention-the decking seems to be rotting, the fence needs sealing or the same thing will happen to that, the path is mud and needs to be made into a proper path, and the shed is falling down. It was lovely to be outside though. Cassie and Lily came out with me. It is mild today with an invigorating breeze. I tidied up old pots and moved the fatsia japonica and the bay tree (both in pots) up the steps ready to plant them in the garden. There are a few gaps that need a medium to large shrub, and both of these have been stunted in pots for years.

Words and meanings. Thinking on paper.

Faces

A woman from an article in a book about the 1940s. It showed gas masks for glasses as the caption says. A singer on a late night music programme. I took pictures of the television to capture her earrings which I really liked. They seemed to be laminated pictures of and eighties type digital watch. I am trying to be more observant and true to what I actually see when doing faces, rather than my stock face-though I do like doing my stock face!

Garden Memories

Pogo prints of self-seeded plants this year in the garden.

Too Many Obsessions

I take after my Dad in that I flit from thing to thing, obsessively really, until the next thing comes along. I always have to be doing something-like an addiction-but one I prefer to smoking, which is my former addiction. Like my Dad, I go through phases of doing one thing, then put it aside, then do the next and so on. I come back to all my interests eventually but can't stand to do the same thing forever. I did that thing where you pick a word for the year. I thought about how I am, and thought of a word that would try to correct it (self criticism ruled there!) I picked 'focus'. I picked it, thinking it would help me to become really good at one thing, rather than dabbling all the time. In terms of that it was a failure, but in terms of understanding myself better it was great! I now realise that I definitely need to flit from thing to thing to be happy. I try to do things well, and I like to learn new things. I am happy with that.
For me, anything can start off an obsession. In the summer I bought 'Water for Elephants' from the charity shop. I enjoyed the story, and the film which I watched later. But the best part of the book for me, was the author's notes and interview at the end of the book. This is where I learned about her obsession for the circus, and how she had fed that with two particular books of old photos, both of which I now own too. A fascinating world.

What I really want, is endless time! Don't we all?

These are the few pages that came out of the circus fad.

Weird Face and Two Copies

Weird imaginary face that turned out to look a bit Egyptian. I like the eyes, but that is about it!

Picasso from a painting in a book of Tate exhibits-a lovely second hand book with lots of beautiful art.

From the same book.