Unknown Legends

Ever since my train journey from Bristol to Aberdeen and back again last week I have been fostering a bit of a fascination for industrial water towers. I didn't take any of my own photos this time unfortunately, but I have found that I am not alone in my attraction to their allure....I suspect all of these fine examples are from the States. A well known internet source tells me that Neil Young is a keen Trainspotter and so was Johnny Cash. Phew, feeling a bit better about my geekiness now.

Holding the Aces

I took these snapshots yesterday afternoon on my way to the bus stop after another super day on my Gardening course at Tyntesfield. I feel quite charmed to be in a position to visit this place every Monday and to be able experience the seasons change in such a beautiful location. Hopefully I'll remember to bring my camera each week to capture a speckle of it.

Back in Judy's Jungle

I've been spending plenty of my abounding free time back in my studio space at Jamaica Street Artists recently and it's been inspiring to be around the talented and lovely folks there and, to my surprise, a lot easier to get back into my work. I've had a break of around a year and a half so it's really a great joy to be back. Long may it continue.

Welcome Autumn

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;

To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;

To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

And still more, later flowers for the bees,

Until they think warm days will never cease,

For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells

Roots and Leaves Themselves Alone

My first day on the RHS horticulture theory course at Tyntesfield didn't exactly go to plan. I scrambled my way along perilous roadsides - an ill judged decision to go on foot from Nailsea - with a bag brimming with pens, pencils, a shiny new notebook, a hearty packed lunch and pocket money for the tuck shop only to find the course has been postponed until next week. Nevertheless, I had a brilliant morning investigating the Victorian greenhouses and walled gardens and picked up some delicious yellow squash and white beetroot from the kitchen garden tabletop sale. I highly recommend a visit - it's worth it to see the incredibly intricate scaffolding alone..............did I really just say that??......anyway, three cheers that Kylie didn't get her grubby little paws on Tyntesfield!

Happiness and Atoms

I've just been rummaging around trying to find old board game graphics as inspiration for some new work and stumbled across these little treasures. Oh, I love board games! Personally, I don't think I would need to play the Happiness board game after I had played and won Uranium. Being the first to strike the virtual chemical element sounds like a heady rush to me!

The Big Freeze

Snow has brought the nation to a near standstill today and I have been told I can't go to work and open up my shop at the University. I thought I would use a few moments of this chilly, shiversome morning to gather together these photos I have been collecting over the last couple of years to evoke the warmer times ahead and awaken memories of the more delectable side of the frozen stuff.