Friday, January 29, 2021

Being annoying

Those of you who have been reading the blog for some time will know that I often complain on here. Sometimes the post is as short as this one:

"Sometimes the only person you want to talk to isn’t there and never will be there. And the violet dawn and the wind-tossed auburn copper beech can’t compensate."  October 29th 2015

I have tried to be upbeat on here lately, for various reasons, but I came across something in a magazine at the weekend that made me wonder if my posts about what I'm doing - patchwork, painting - are annoying.



This was one of the examples they gave:



God forbid you should ever see pictures of my meals on the blog, but I do show you paintings and other stuff I've 'made.'

Is it annoying?

At the moment I am engrossed in my latest painting, and concentrating on something that blocks out everything else is wonderful, but it doesn't mean I am immune from negative feelings the rest of the time. 

When I am not painting, I  can be overwhelmed by this feeling (check out the small print):



Also...Dave and I argue over petty household niggles, and I waste far too much time deciding whether to walk or cycle, which usually depends on which of the local routes will be swamped by mud and/or water.  Plus, of course, the overarching issue: the world is bleak and I cannot bear to read below the headlines.

So... I completely understand and sympathise with those of you who wake up every morning thinking - bleurrgh.  

Here are some quotes for you:



And here's one from my book du jour, Maggie Smith's Keep Moving:





With love from me, the woman who last night watched the last episode of Call My Agent and is wondering if there's another high-class, dramatic, fast-moving, comedic soap that will brighten up her evenings as well as Call My Agent did. 


13 comments:

Christine O said...

No Sue. It’s not annoying.
We’re watching ’Call my agent’ and have just recommended it to family members.

Sue Hepworth said...

Thank you, Chris, xx

Anita said...

Not in the slightest bit annoying - quite the opposite in fact. I think it’s a great achievement to write a regular blog during these trying times.
Full of admiration xx

Anonymous said...

Who could possibly be annoyed to be let in on 'Dave & Me in Lockdown', or 'The Landscape of my Bed'?

Privileged - to hear and see what you're up to.

We're all just trying to keep our spirits up, and reading your blog is part of that.
Always a treat.

Thea xx

Sue Hepworth said...

Thank you Anita and Thea for your kind reassurance.
xx

Sally said...

No you're never annoying! I'm always glad to see a new blog post. I love your honesty & admire how you manage to keep writing during these testing times. Amusing version of Monopoly, though that would be extremely annoying to play! We're hooked on a modern board game called 'Isle of Skye' atm, highly recommended. Sally x

Shafia said...

Hi Sue, I don't find your posts annoying at all, and I enjoy looking at your paintings. Did you paint the one that was on the top of the blog a couple of days ago? It looked like a row of people with a lilac background? It was a lovely painting.

Shafia x

Sue Hepworth said...

Thank you so much, Shafia and Sally. xx
Yes, Shafia, that was one of my paintings. I'm glad you liked it.

Anonymous said...

I think its all in the eye of the beholder - some days I love reading you putting into words, things I have not yet admitted to for myself and other days I am not ready for that level of honesty (with myself) and have to come back to it when I am. Some days your photos are a ray of wonderful and other days make me whistful for being outside. I’m just glad you blog. Its an anchor, something familiar. Takes me “beyond the petty pace that creeps.....”, Jenetta

Kristine said...

Hi Sue, I'm with all your other respondents - keep sharing what you're doing, we enjoy it. Keep sharing your feelings too - we empathize, and it brings us all closer together knowing that we are all feeling the same. Those who are critical of others sharing their activities during lockdown must be feeling stressed that they are not coping as well - and that in itself is sad.
I am glad you blog.
(Would love to know the source of the quote, 'beyond the petty space that creeps....")
Kristine

Sue Hepworth said...

Thank you for writing, Jenetta and Kristine. xx

According to Wikipedia, Kristine, The mis-quote "creeps on this petty pace" is used by the Sopranos character Johnny Sack in the season four finale when complaining to Tony Soprano over Johnny's working relationship with his boss.
The correct quote is from Macbeth and reads:
"— To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;"

Anonymous said...

Ah sorry there everyone I put the quote mark in the wrong place should have been after “beyond” not before.

I love seeing pictures of food that my friends post - I post pictures of my successes and my failures - I find it inspiring. In my opinion, taking special care to make food is no less an endeavour than painting, or sewing except the evidence gets eaten. I would be very happy to see something you and / or Dave cook Sue, particularly if its something you are especially proud of.

I have been making potato cakes and having a ball adding different flavours! Such is the fullness of life at the moment.

And I have finished binding two quilts, they are also photographed and shared.

Should I start sweet peas off now Sue or wait until March? What sort are your favourites and where do you get the seeds from?

Love to all
Jenetta



Sue Hepworth said...

I agree, Jenetta, that "taking special care to make food is no less an endeavour than painting, or sewing" but I although I like to eat good food, I don't like to spend a lot of time preparing it. I too like various flavours of potato cakes, though.
sweet peas - I sow them in large yoghurt cartons and have them on the window sill about this time. But I am not an expert!
This year I am getting the seeds from Sarah Raven. she has a fabulous catalogue. I buy my tulip bulbs from her too.