A blog in two parts

A blog in two parts. 

Part 1

I continue to be horrified and appalled on a daily basis by the headlines. A hatred of war lies deep in my genes. It’s hard to say more online, as although I have not been to visit the family in the USA for eighteen months because I am wary of immigration, there might be an emergency when I need to go. Let me instead quote from Barack Obama’s speech at Jesse Jackson’s funeral:

“We are living in a time when it can be hard to hope,” Obama said. “Each day we wake up to some new assault on our democratic institutions, another setback to the idea of the rule of law, an offense to common decency. Every day you wake up to things you just didn’t think were possible. Each day, we’re told by those in high office to fear each other and to turn on each other, and that some Americans count more than others, and that some don’t even count at all. Everywhere we see greed and bigotry being celebrated and bullying and mockery masquerading as strength, we see science and expertise denigrated while ignorance and dishonesty and cruelty and corruption are reaping untold rewards. Every single day we see that, and it’s hard to hope in those moments. So it may be tempting to get discouraged, to give into cynicism. It may be tempting for some to compromise with power, and grab what you can, or even for good people to maybe just put your head down and wait for the storm to pass.”

But, Obama said, Jackson’s life “inspires us to take a harder path. His voice calls on each of us to be heralds of change, to be messengers of hope…. Wherever we have a chance to make an impact, whether it’s in our school or our workplaces or our neighborhoods or our cities, not for fame, not for glory, or because success is guaranteed, but because it gives our life purpose, because it aligns with what our faith tells us God demands, and because if we don’t step up, no one else will.”

Part 2

It has been a busy week at Hepworth Towers…flinching at the news; playing Dress to Impress with 13 year old Cece (in Colorado) online - that’s me in second place, with the harvest theme; 

bike rides, walks, gardening, attendance at a portrait group, finishing this painting

and yesterday, a visit to a local child-friendly museum with 3 year old MsX and the lovely Jaine. (The week of sunshine had disappeared and it was bitterly cold and grey.)

MsX had been to the museum before and was very excited. The first thing she wanted to do was go to the Egyptian room because there are ancient Egyptian costumes to dress up in. Then - while she still wore her costume, which oh how I wish I was allowed to show you! - we spent ten minutes in the hall outside, still in costume, admiring a life-sized fibre glass cow called Rita, decorated in bright colours with fruits painted on, and jewels stuck all over it. 

Then we went to the animal room. Three minutes was spent looking at the rabbits, mice, moles, worms and badgers hiding underground, but the animal costumes were waiting to be tried on. So she wore a deer costume for two minutes, admired herself in the mirror, and then took it off and spent twenty minutes playing in the corner with three bean bags. “Where is she? I don’t know where she’s gone? Do you know, Jaine? Oh dear, I think she must have gone back to the Egyptian room. I’ll go and look for her…” 

Spot MsX

Her mum tried to lure her over to see the exotic butterflies in the drawers, and that lasted for two minutes, but then the bean bags were dragged over for more hiding.

Next a ride in a toy bus with two other little girls and their dad, then the cafe for rainbow cake and hot chocolate, and last a £1 ride on a fairground horse, with MsX being the ice horse from Frozen 2.

I find museums hard to take. I love art galleries, but not museums. So yesterday was huge fun for me because (at least for the present) it seems that MsX has inherited my disdain for looking at old things in glass boxes.