Inspired by Jacqueline Saphra and 100 Lockdown Sonnets 11-01-2022 Booze cruise Email shows Boris Johnson aide invited No 10 staff to lockdown ‘BYOB’ party – The Guardian In the dark disturbing, gloop-thick of it, as we sank in rule-infested watersthe socially distanced, so sick of itonly one, please choose between your daughters Shouts from yacht: “We’re all…
Author: pj
Scanner?
I’m something of a jack of all trades. Of course it’s difficult not to automatically finish the sentence – ‘and master of none’. It’s not a positive character trait is it? I have way too many interests and rarely stick to anything. Just focus, why don’t you? Recently I’ve discovered there are other names for…
Family Ties
Continuing with the tangled roots of my family. Firstly, my Dad, the posthumous baby wasn’t the son of the man he had believed was his father. As I mentioned in my last post DNA revealed that Derek, my Dad, was the result of a liaison between Amy Sanders, my grandmother and Reginald Currall. Suddenly I…
Broken branches
Misattributed paternity. A phrase that makes a genealogist’s blood run cold. Although, traditionally it has been the practice of family historians to study the male line, the all important ‘family name’ that is passed down to descendants, this may not be as reliable as we imagine. A study of blood type testing revealed that around…
Posting the Ugly
Sometimes it’s good to do the scary thing. I don’t mean leaping out of a plane or partaking in a spot of free running, although I’m sure they have their merits. I’m talking about doing something relatively ordinary that frightens you. Speaking in public has never been my thing, in fact I’ve avoided…
I’ve got no talent!
I’m sure I’ve written this blog post a hundred times. There may be unfinished paragraphs skulking in Scrivener and I may have touched on it a couple of years ago in another blog post, but in reality, I have composed it over and over in my head. Sometimes it feels too scary to actually type…
Bubble trouble
This is face 7 for 29 Faces using Spectrum Noir markers and another attempt at emulating the lovely Helen’s technique with markers. Finally using the full set of markers that Graham bought me several Christmases ago and that have mostly lain untouched, so I’m thrilled to be actually using them!
And it’s back..
I’m struggling with trying to get too much done this week. 29 Faces, blogging, my own deadline of 45,000 words for my book by Thursday (just passed 43k today – I think I’m going to make it!), I want to outline some ideas for a novel, I haven’t been to the cinema for AGES..no time,…
Digital dalliances
This is my last drawing of Diana for 29 Faces! Onwards and upwards. I’ve been experimenting with digital painting during the last couple of days. Digital art is confusing, not least because of the terminology. You can take a photo of someone, throw a couple of filters on it and call it digital art. You…
Forensic Faces
29 Faces. Another ‘almost Diana’. There is something about her face that I find just out of reach and the sketch inevitably turns into a forensic examination of all her features ending up with ‘Spot the Difference’ challenge to anyone who happens to be nearby. I keep reminding myself that this is not a photograph…