Hello Autumn, properly here thank goodness. I like Autumn. I know how to dress for Autumn and Winter. Spring and Summer are very unsettling as unable to make up their minds for longer than two seconds. Lovely if dithery. Like a really irritating acquaintance. Especially this year.
I have had a sudden cold in the head. It appeared last Sunday. It is abating this Sunday. Not entirely gone, reluctantly leaving the party, reappearing to add to the saga every now and then.
There is a marmalade cat snoozing in the window of one of the houses opposite, looking like a Sempe cat. Sort of like this:
I wish I was as totally relaxed as that right now, but not, because of pesky hanger on who won’t go.
Butternut squash soup (the first of the Season) has been made with lots of cumin, black pepper, some chili flakes, lemon juice. And cream swirled in the bowl. Not toast because of sore throat, but bread and butter for dunking purposes. Very soothing. My cousin and “My Friend In France” both said “ginger, you must add ginger”, which I would have done if I’d had any, and the village shop doesn’t supply such exotica. So no ginger. But it is on a list.
In a rash moment “oooh, I might be feeling better” I went to a near-by village hall on the edge of Salisbury Plain to see “Drawn to War” about Eric Ravilious and it has haunted me ever since, Alan Bennett and Grayson Perry, amongst others, spoke so well about his art and life. You must try and see, it is elegiac. Take a hanky if prone to tears. 1
Apart from the film, there were excellent canapes and a glass of wine (or elderflower fizz) and lots of chat and all for £8-00 which I call a superior evening out. And the most amazing full moon over the Plain as we emerged.
He was married to Tirzah Garwood and there is an exhibition of her work at Dulwich Picture Gallery 19th November 2024 - 26th May 2025. Do look her up - hooray for Dulwich Picture Gallery, is what I say! Also thank you to my sister who pointed this out to me.
Here is an example of her marbling - which I think is gorgeous - apparently she did something very clever, from a marbling point of view, in that she used oil paints. Must do more research on oil paint and marbling ….
And here is her autobiography, published by Persephone Books "Long Live Great Barfield" which I have not read. Yet. I know I can order it, but I feel a bus trip to Bath (on the top of bus to admire the views) coming on so I shall be tempted by other things as well.
As you can tell, I am now completely obsessed by this group of artists, and not only that, but what is it that compels people to paint, write, play or compose (or both) music, make films, design wallpaper, decorate themselves and their homes. What actually is it? I know millions of words have been written in an attempt to analyse this and understand it, but …. what? Is it as simple as boredom with hunter gathering? I wonder. Actually that isn’t simple, but it is all I can come up with as I set off to do a bit of hunter gathering …. off to work I go.
I hope all the links work, and do leave a comment if you would like to. I understand that pressing the “heart” below (aged laptop doesn’t do emoji) is helpful for other, new, readers to be drawn inexorably to my posts. All subscriptions are FREE - although if I reduce my hunter gathering pursuits a little, I might think (don’t worry - it takes me ages and ages to make up my mind) about this.
I am notably prone to tears, and get quite cross with myself for being so sentimental. People have suggested I become more resilient, but my attempts to become more squash ball are hopeless. I don’t even like the word “resilient”. I can do “steely” when necessary. But not when being told to be resilient, I just blub.
What a glorious name Tirzah is!