tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-185544112024-03-18T03:00:33.231+00:00Sue HepworthDAYS ARE WHERE WE LIVESue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.comBlogger2367125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-72995270949397145762024-03-08T07:33:00.005+00:002024-03-09T06:42:09.849+00:00Taking a break<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">I have been ill since Monday night, and I’m still ill, and so I don’t fret about the blog, I’m going to take a break for a week.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here is a comforting poem I found recently.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisB2h9Zr4VE-4Z41v00ua5_L5Ghxy4F8m_3FxEv3Oz0k3u5JGHXYtJd_LG83FES1jfSRlC6L_h5DsCjWKkMaO7yo4GJRy75th8uWLRbVZ5_pMINjeDyeEqym6fncNk2-43juyE3rQ7mZPKwdIcPTJ73cb-wwWl5UU3aheRD8nnRL4WZxDblC6uWw/s1637/IMG_0270.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1637" data-original-width="1071" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisB2h9Zr4VE-4Z41v00ua5_L5Ghxy4F8m_3FxEv3Oz0k3u5JGHXYtJd_LG83FES1jfSRlC6L_h5DsCjWKkMaO7yo4GJRy75th8uWLRbVZ5_pMINjeDyeEqym6fncNk2-43juyE3rQ7mZPKwdIcPTJ73cb-wwWl5UU3aheRD8nnRL4WZxDblC6uWw/w419-h640/IMG_0270.jpeg" width="419" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And a photo I took in Cornwall</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEdrNa4hVlhSTX6h_2e40XdzDbL-IW6HwGSbZFYwCsgPtkM7Bni1mk7RrtCKfvmKWAZvNUi3XyezbwPcTSbeaGZR8-UIHcVMyTpjIw3zJuMnqbPI2WF6bCJfUK-ZzfgYpm2NMzapxG0gBSOBdsXyI8zhKKegVg4dipJSZo7YgjcZO3BOdUcfRyQ/s4032/IMG_9074.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEdrNa4hVlhSTX6h_2e40XdzDbL-IW6HwGSbZFYwCsgPtkM7Bni1mk7RrtCKfvmKWAZvNUi3XyezbwPcTSbeaGZR8-UIHcVMyTpjIw3zJuMnqbPI2WF6bCJfUK-ZzfgYpm2NMzapxG0gBSOBdsXyI8zhKKegVg4dipJSZo7YgjcZO3BOdUcfRyQ/w480-h640/IMG_9074.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> </span></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-42838661407161949072024-03-04T12:42:00.003+00:002024-03-06T06:01:40.531+00:00Letter from home<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Long time blog readers - I hope you noticed I did not complain about it being February when it was February. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Please give me credit, because this morning I woke up from thick heavy dreams and felt low. I am not sure why. I think it’s about the usual - the state of the country, the state of the world, Gaza. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It also might be to do with feeling old. Sometimes it creeps over me. Or maybe it’s my sinuses? [Later: I became ill that night so obviously the low feelings were physical.]</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But the freezing fog we woke up to soon cleared and I realised that the best medicine was to make myself a flask of coffee and go up to my thinking spot above the village.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzVAdouA_t_EU9XvBARGdPP3_Dbc77s9zh3krop38jmoFXDo8joE-lO0encJw_u-teoyX_H2sTBpGDQLNzTyuHwDpEqLQ-fds94WxMTOgEmqxyi-1Z8vgk9Qp8-HoNjjaVy1tC4-hqTFScSkc5BJDpXEcXXQTqMPSmtUWIRio4-OCATy5Q_OGsw/s4032/IMG_9155.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzVAdouA_t_EU9XvBARGdPP3_Dbc77s9zh3krop38jmoFXDo8joE-lO0encJw_u-teoyX_H2sTBpGDQLNzTyuHwDpEqLQ-fds94WxMTOgEmqxyi-1Z8vgk9Qp8-HoNjjaVy1tC4-hqTFScSkc5BJDpXEcXXQTqMPSmtUWIRio4-OCATy5Q_OGsw/w480-h640/IMG_9155.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5FY35Yr8HNynyhl9jTs82jDq7Jl6HMfDh9biUuiXmQnyiN1Rc79G05REyxJbTVvTYlC44ZiV-mtt7tT5CmF_nw-WP2SGuiq_mQfu61VKY6qj_LpUbB8EzpmQrkxl0kbHtVqlQLwFFsE7nhUJgCmzbu7CAuN2KTUALjsD4815d1wHWn4RUIXxAw/s4032/IMG_9156.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5FY35Yr8HNynyhl9jTs82jDq7Jl6HMfDh9biUuiXmQnyiN1Rc79G05REyxJbTVvTYlC44ZiV-mtt7tT5CmF_nw-WP2SGuiq_mQfu61VKY6qj_LpUbB8EzpmQrkxl0kbHtVqlQLwFFsE7nhUJgCmzbu7CAuN2KTUALjsD4815d1wHWn4RUIXxAw/w640-h480/IMG_9156.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I used to go there with a flask during lockdown, and the habit has stuck. I always feel better for it. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yesterday I got the pots ready to plant my sweet pea seeds, and as some of you have asked me how I grow them I took some photos.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I use a peat-free compost designed specifically to grow seeds in, such as these…</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94Zox5krtmGkGMhwF8_ecGdOgXJiL15o354uSMqmMA7OZJ-IeVEXHXZXTYXq427NQ7v8YUz7m7Iy-xASjSAomnN5KtoHkN2tSjXR_86D0rFAFKqd-1V6fDI2WBdEXOEzFRdlJXNNhVm6pSDYmjs8d9xD1K9YcyMytlQv6DVVJUM5RJ171bERDLQ/s4032/IMG_9153.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94Zox5krtmGkGMhwF8_ecGdOgXJiL15o354uSMqmMA7OZJ-IeVEXHXZXTYXq427NQ7v8YUz7m7Iy-xASjSAomnN5KtoHkN2tSjXR_86D0rFAFKqd-1V6fDI2WBdEXOEzFRdlJXNNhVm6pSDYmjs8d9xD1K9YcyMytlQv6DVVJUM5RJ171bERDLQ/w300-h400/IMG_9153.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXkcFiIz6BRFZuiblpj1N4QR8J_I87bwO5c_DnwQOccD5ZDENJAIvs6tEBgT46MMSfu6KSxVTyX654WACkln9qBJnFp4Xr0KWHbnAnT9N20jndfiJ72q-Pz5Mj8DkogkCnoh20XP_AU-6fUXe2fE4PG2UxWdcqNaa4inXyzSSjoB96YDOQqhjAQ/s4032/IMG_9154.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXkcFiIz6BRFZuiblpj1N4QR8J_I87bwO5c_DnwQOccD5ZDENJAIvs6tEBgT46MMSfu6KSxVTyX654WACkln9qBJnFp4Xr0KWHbnAnT9N20jndfiJ72q-Pz5Mj8DkogkCnoh20XP_AU-6fUXe2fE4PG2UxWdcqNaa4inXyzSSjoB96YDOQqhjAQ/w300-h400/IMG_9154.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I save loo roll insides throughout the winter and use large yoghurt cartons with holes punched in the bottom. Sweet peas need tall pots.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtY73yNI2RLgz0x41Mvu40_ryQRh1HhV-OKWlsMDB21UIzqqe9gotuEkP6LQ_AYPNYcjfBLkziVoAwXVjpTqeaG7-Ef2NskazbTpAasgp-ErWmxKrx0Djp-2Dil3VMmtYbIwRmpBgi-gBnIyZ1-hTNcKF31eghqcOgo210RXQiDZc_7uPwSKLZPQ/s4032/IMG_9152.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtY73yNI2RLgz0x41Mvu40_ryQRh1HhV-OKWlsMDB21UIzqqe9gotuEkP6LQ_AYPNYcjfBLkziVoAwXVjpTqeaG7-Ef2NskazbTpAasgp-ErWmxKrx0Djp-2Dil3VMmtYbIwRmpBgi-gBnIyZ1-hTNcKF31eghqcOgo210RXQiDZc_7uPwSKLZPQ/w300-h400/IMG_9152.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwT5VyrZ9Qe7V_WCkp3L8k-4qI1y3okEgv4EI8Ga6eZl9M8UQzhv2goadZKTMc_AqilffuloFSXAbnVTBmSm_92IZaienzJECwLdaoi6EHdjiSQeB4zumZWAZlRHy9Mew9pHXx9YxhLiEdvkhq_ypgSd6edKPSezLMSiJYrglSmPgYnzx-wiEQ5w/s4032/IMG_9150.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwT5VyrZ9Qe7V_WCkp3L8k-4qI1y3okEgv4EI8Ga6eZl9M8UQzhv2goadZKTMc_AqilffuloFSXAbnVTBmSm_92IZaienzJECwLdaoi6EHdjiSQeB4zumZWAZlRHy9Mew9pHXx9YxhLiEdvkhq_ypgSd6edKPSezLMSiJYrglSmPgYnzx-wiEQ5w/w300-h400/IMG_9150.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rhe4UtRrohjK-KbwGqqliw0i25HR3NqeYJ8WKD6UMBJ8ebQXhN-W6UrMFrBpFTI3kjQV-M9ZBpEXfPEhTqjz7s0NIHJb9TlmkmQ6Bm8mRDbCYjRKpX_kvsne9X9mDaD3z-FStfZ0diMRV0_0SGF5QjTjkF_W32SCsaMEp9zXxBoxvuwjcra-Ig/s4032/IMG_9149.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rhe4UtRrohjK-KbwGqqliw0i25HR3NqeYJ8WKD6UMBJ8ebQXhN-W6UrMFrBpFTI3kjQV-M9ZBpEXfPEhTqjz7s0NIHJb9TlmkmQ6Bm8mRDbCYjRKpX_kvsne9X9mDaD3z-FStfZ0diMRV0_0SGF5QjTjkF_W32SCsaMEp9zXxBoxvuwjcra-Ig/w300-h400/IMG_9149.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">If I have enough loo rolls I put two in each pot, but I usually don’t have enough. It still works well. The loo rolls separate the roots so when you take the seedlings out if the pots to plant them, the roots don’t get damaged.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyEQdhmzYv0onpp9h1nzpWylwGXdMC7YGH9SKKrGCLK5gzjHZ82sHJt3_578CcEXC0FKsrJRVgh0Y_mXffffVtbF4IJPrsgMcfLe0PBeRIg7rBShRyUr7JvUDFP2w_FbsF5U-MqUoErCAs1H7C6h_CHhxJAislvyGXJaNTnVsPLEkrgBnjsNwmQ/s4032/IMG_9159.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyEQdhmzYv0onpp9h1nzpWylwGXdMC7YGH9SKKrGCLK5gzjHZ82sHJt3_578CcEXC0FKsrJRVgh0Y_mXffffVtbF4IJPrsgMcfLe0PBeRIg7rBShRyUr7JvUDFP2w_FbsF5U-MqUoErCAs1H7C6h_CHhxJAislvyGXJaNTnVsPLEkrgBnjsNwmQ/w640-h480/IMG_9159.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today I’ll put in the seeds (no more than 3 to a pot) and move the trays of pots to the bedroom windowsills.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When a seedling has at least 4 leaves on it I nip off the growing shoot which makes the plants bush out. I keep nipping out the growing tips until I plant them out. They need hardening off before planting. I usually plant them out towards the end of May, but it’s cold in the Peak District. If you’re in warmer climes and the seedlings are big enough it might be OK plant them out sooner. In my experience they are not susceptible to frost.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As an envoi, here’s a poem I came across lately that you might like.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Q_3gHrrnw5xARfhdIaP6xbqvV1WHpSl7ArBlvUTCyy-MWo-Q8NWX4GqF3hUNI6cJjXkhy1EsarCJ9aWtWcb_GTcCt8WsWMS0p69d1QDat99UD_c8zTVjXr0vuZZOnBxwBMxV8ceqId5DgVTgR9_wBX9Tg7v1pq02mxXvE-KVjKr9rb-HO_Njug/s821/IMG_0271.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="796" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Q_3gHrrnw5xARfhdIaP6xbqvV1WHpSl7ArBlvUTCyy-MWo-Q8NWX4GqF3hUNI6cJjXkhy1EsarCJ9aWtWcb_GTcCt8WsWMS0p69d1QDat99UD_c8zTVjXr0vuZZOnBxwBMxV8ceqId5DgVTgR9_wBX9Tg7v1pq02mxXvE-KVjKr9rb-HO_Njug/w620-h640/IMG_0271.jpeg" width="620" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Onward and upward, dear friends. Cheeringly the greeting cards I had printed to sell and raise money for <i><a href="https://www.unicef.org.uk/donate/children-in-gaza-crisis-appeal/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA_5WvBhBAEiwAZtCU72ZixKs_d6XMXsGVyEf-TA0w_oKvM_UkBZc74mg1muWY2aWvJTnUmRoCZtoQAvD_BwE">the UNICEF appeal for Gaza</a></i> are selling so well I’ve had to order some more.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">These two have been the most popular </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzvpwTkrJt_yoETbywpF6JFFz6m41xW1WIXarcmrp8qzbBFMhhRfYkDbRmyFhF9AiTaS2ZtT0qEPqf4YynifgpF28BS7A61JYD0c9KnMInO7izUUGw8zwVKZvNUEkIJ03r7gndR6wYwHZvt7bb2OcnubClQoYqboQAh18YyNyihikLbgGIgEJ6Q/s4032/Daisies.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzvpwTkrJt_yoETbywpF6JFFz6m41xW1WIXarcmrp8qzbBFMhhRfYkDbRmyFhF9AiTaS2ZtT0qEPqf4YynifgpF28BS7A61JYD0c9KnMInO7izUUGw8zwVKZvNUEkIJ03r7gndR6wYwHZvt7bb2OcnubClQoYqboQAh18YyNyihikLbgGIgEJ6Q/w480-h640/Daisies.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43Nm10Vtg4mUX78S301HIcqDrubywvCWezbQ9RoHzSsVnTH1Fw0AW-R2hKD10qCgOQKLa1JqZ1FEwBJZozATr-Hka4L2Oyi5jUQZRlCcUUvOz_5YXs4yos8m8I_gp0SVEVNvnf_LxwmYnbuqWKLjhvvSqKr9kE5ZoHmFiou9RVpA-2YOfzIApYQ/s3004/Blue.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2492" data-original-width="3004" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43Nm10Vtg4mUX78S301HIcqDrubywvCWezbQ9RoHzSsVnTH1Fw0AW-R2hKD10qCgOQKLa1JqZ1FEwBJZozATr-Hka4L2Oyi5jUQZRlCcUUvOz_5YXs4yos8m8I_gp0SVEVNvnf_LxwmYnbuqWKLjhvvSqKr9kE5ZoHmFiou9RVpA-2YOfzIApYQ/w640-h530/Blue.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-85284846728057178982024-02-28T11:15:00.002+00:002024-02-28T11:19:29.417+00:00Home<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My last two days with Het in Cornwall were super.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On the Saturday we went to the gallery of Cornwall artist Kurt Jackson and he is now my hero. I was blown away by his collection of paintings of the river Fowey - from source to sea.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I took photos of some of them</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2ke96gc4AvY2gl90kwrsIDEJriSPqdszdqLQfXDQ1jft-ufYNTpfdiZg2CAZRWMmMWJjGY7ag7DBpyfjxyAyxs-bcg7jh94UCFPgL9XXHDfAjgQz5k9_SySVmjxt2bDHskpnKXwbpdm1R0L0bI4NtsU7wDZ4N3_V_vufc-2ldEe-vSXomwTt2A/s1600/3f9a2712-3dae-443d-92f1-a4c9b6d601cb.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2ke96gc4AvY2gl90kwrsIDEJriSPqdszdqLQfXDQ1jft-ufYNTpfdiZg2CAZRWMmMWJjGY7ag7DBpyfjxyAyxs-bcg7jh94UCFPgL9XXHDfAjgQz5k9_SySVmjxt2bDHskpnKXwbpdm1R0L0bI4NtsU7wDZ4N3_V_vufc-2ldEe-vSXomwTt2A/w480-h640/3f9a2712-3dae-443d-92f1-a4c9b6d601cb.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">but unfortunately their stunning beauty does not translate well to photographs.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1mJdssaJeNkE1Zh1v-vylhCJC-p65USXFACaazIyqEi_v6fo_C6VFPRoWrnfFEEqiOT-srwjnyPw7T1YjEbDDNPn8Kl6rwp7Tp3q_876AbegWG73STmXiqFLTz9QJAhdXfYthGXTuWNPIarDRMKanVfqq_aF1-AnkkdFGwRJfaPfgcws3YqM8A/s3545/IMG_9085.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3545" data-original-width="2852" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1mJdssaJeNkE1Zh1v-vylhCJC-p65USXFACaazIyqEi_v6fo_C6VFPRoWrnfFEEqiOT-srwjnyPw7T1YjEbDDNPn8Kl6rwp7Tp3q_876AbegWG73STmXiqFLTz9QJAhdXfYthGXTuWNPIarDRMKanVfqq_aF1-AnkkdFGwRJfaPfgcws3YqM8A/w514-h640/IMG_9085.jpeg" width="514" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On Sunday the weather finally relented</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> and we went for a long walk along the beach and up to the cliffs and back.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PnSZ0Ak5J6cPfHmyBpt6InRIaVVHOuSiUziS-EWZd4_4XpnVYlPVVEAhIBR_Jl2aasNR7nj4OBKLeEebg3_NGfrYdUvcBmHWksub4Wq5cGg7EEHTiiP4KEsbua5ixrXB3rgDZVnNd4o2MPWbVJx5TwTfvqlrYZ_6_s4E66BzQmGZO3e1vXqffg/s3044/IMG_2048.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2283" data-original-width="3044" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PnSZ0Ak5J6cPfHmyBpt6InRIaVVHOuSiUziS-EWZd4_4XpnVYlPVVEAhIBR_Jl2aasNR7nj4OBKLeEebg3_NGfrYdUvcBmHWksub4Wq5cGg7EEHTiiP4KEsbua5ixrXB3rgDZVnNd4o2MPWbVJx5TwTfvqlrYZ_6_s4E66BzQmGZO3e1vXqffg/w640-h480/IMG_2048.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And at one point I even took off my coat. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Plus, I finally got in a paddle!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1Pc43E5fODSBVVKm8Hjb3WWdens_4NJ7pEu1J4MxU-AsuwC7IXD4NZs_u6WtVaOUyU5FB86Z_KFn_BeABkb32smwy90ua9YzBQ_n8nZ4G-Z4PB5y35RInST0NviIAdA3g7ZvmEmlfVmMfijmUmUnvrJQeaU7u0iaEce4YdfkHWO1bIKxuJH4WA/s4032/IMG_2040.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1Pc43E5fODSBVVKm8Hjb3WWdens_4NJ7pEu1J4MxU-AsuwC7IXD4NZs_u6WtVaOUyU5FB86Z_KFn_BeABkb32smwy90ua9YzBQ_n8nZ4G-Z4PB5y35RInST0NviIAdA3g7ZvmEmlfVmMfijmUmUnvrJQeaU7u0iaEce4YdfkHWO1bIKxuJH4WA/w480-h640/IMG_2040.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsesTbXQzkZxxUxseIPdZ07ahLM6RWz6ALnYyjeiYZDrHgvaH7gzDJV3fFKbtzNe5XgtKkXT3W6kclVseM3ESnRBWwiQmSMk4ydmB2l3zPHh_RoIlm59rHZYZYe2THAmyp9FaptemmStiHTbVop326GTK4Lu2FsdOwptnkj3qMCIv6YdaCivhRNg/s2741/IMG_2045.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2741" data-original-width="2055" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsesTbXQzkZxxUxseIPdZ07ahLM6RWz6ALnYyjeiYZDrHgvaH7gzDJV3fFKbtzNe5XgtKkXT3W6kclVseM3ESnRBWwiQmSMk4ydmB2l3zPHh_RoIlm59rHZYZYe2THAmyp9FaptemmStiHTbVop326GTK4Lu2FsdOwptnkj3qMCIv6YdaCivhRNg/w480-h640/IMG_2045.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now I'm home, </span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LqwYx-vyMBRTt8hCj9hqrIiRX1JfJ66VsFDJLnx8eQMAOVLxZWegQ3lazz5TOuX2itdG52eax6PHNqE6ay4WCuo4W1bzfZHh3nCu4XhCxrIMXwkfsmL7JLrpXzHGlRkqQF1FBLwR2mtvKP7_HoMa6Ls28DP0HFYEGnewKURsZkjYPYoeEALEsQ/s4032/IMG_9120.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LqwYx-vyMBRTt8hCj9hqrIiRX1JfJ66VsFDJLnx8eQMAOVLxZWegQ3lazz5TOuX2itdG52eax6PHNqE6ay4WCuo4W1bzfZHh3nCu4XhCxrIMXwkfsmL7JLrpXzHGlRkqQF1FBLwR2mtvKP7_HoMa6Ls28DP0HFYEGnewKURsZkjYPYoeEALEsQ/w640-h480/IMG_9120.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawn view from the bedroom</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">and there's a letter in the post from <a href="https://www.map.org.uk/">Medical Aid for Palestinians</a> which tells me that </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"there are more than 65,000 Palestinians injured and hundreds of thousands desperately in need of medical help. The majority are suffering blast wounds and severe burns, but supplies of morphine are so low that even children are often left without pain relief."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nowhere is safe.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">No-one is safe.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Please don't forget this horror is still going on. Please do what you can to help.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here is the link to <i><u><a href="https://www.map.org.uk/">Medical Aid for Palestinians</a></u></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here is the link to the <i><a href="https://www.unicef.org.uk/donate/children-in-gaza-crisis-appeal/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA0PuuBhBsEiwAS7fsNZY8HVzVGx3I-XJtPd2SYAyLFNZXcen7fzZrUOEj9MqJzwO7q9VSIhoCXnkQAvD_BwE">UNICEF appeal for the children of Gaza.</a></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And your MP’s address, along with that of Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer is </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">House of Commons</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Houses of Parliament </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">St Margaret’s Street,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">London, SWI 0AA</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thank you.</span></p>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-52306714765465267962024-02-24T08:46:00.003+00:002024-02-24T11:39:05.663+00:00Weather and art<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We’ve had sooooo much wind and rain this week with a few bursts of treacherous sunshine that lure you into going outside and then disappear and you’re buffeted by hail. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But the colours of both sea and sky have been beautiful nevertheless. And this wonderful house allows you to enjoy it all without getting wet.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwe263tzzaqj7gj2STauJI4wdTv_xuCVrfUW0Yv8UQb3JtxZXvM29TvR0C1yhEu6z0j00uQ3vtWKQwhmDKOIVMpHeI5fLaqqDcUxhuhAy2uWlLkwols9BfH4xHXfnCSYVQRlCf6fx4II4Jm33mvIb4v0XFRrDDpN3vK5_rowGv7emynFm5Kd5xA/s3765/IMG_9012.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2417" data-original-width="3765" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwe263tzzaqj7gj2STauJI4wdTv_xuCVrfUW0Yv8UQb3JtxZXvM29TvR0C1yhEu6z0j00uQ3vtWKQwhmDKOIVMpHeI5fLaqqDcUxhuhAy2uWlLkwols9BfH4xHXfnCSYVQRlCf6fx4II4Jm33mvIb4v0XFRrDDpN3vK5_rowGv7emynFm5Kd5xA/w640-h410/IMG_9012.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRBMjf1zlC9PWZyRVihoPaoH8jATet5FPMyMKW0LzSoMYbXL8bWbmrqVwJiqbrxgJo3Ivc5rlscXcwmFuZnR3qt8Wwlw713EDUep_79NHTX-w7TTJyBx_XWes8F_vr3_HxLDllty24Zg9o2l84IZPtO07ftM9lsd-id9nULZJSvuIvSt_qG7hiA/s4032/IMG_9039.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRBMjf1zlC9PWZyRVihoPaoH8jATet5FPMyMKW0LzSoMYbXL8bWbmrqVwJiqbrxgJo3Ivc5rlscXcwmFuZnR3qt8Wwlw713EDUep_79NHTX-w7TTJyBx_XWes8F_vr3_HxLDllty24Zg9o2l84IZPtO07ftM9lsd-id9nULZJSvuIvSt_qG7hiA/w640-h480/IMG_9039.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYwtaRqd_g_k-OPJ09Qj9gaB360j2iYiIaiueFwViTmSk5LlO1ZUiHiY1rtvJaLs2ZuOXaY8FMtZF3hzJUI5QEFsKsqpcOs7AhKhLkMRC4rgPaLNVHDbs8FI2YRX9vrSwMiq6mOeJ8ALS9UgWyTxMoqDsn53KhadF4X7Lck3iXSoEtYKFgccrIQ/s4032/IMG_9040.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYwtaRqd_g_k-OPJ09Qj9gaB360j2iYiIaiueFwViTmSk5LlO1ZUiHiY1rtvJaLs2ZuOXaY8FMtZF3hzJUI5QEFsKsqpcOs7AhKhLkMRC4rgPaLNVHDbs8FI2YRX9vrSwMiq6mOeJ8ALS9UgWyTxMoqDsn53KhadF4X7Lck3iXSoEtYKFgccrIQ/w640-h480/IMG_9040.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Het capturing the sky while finishing off her Cornish pasty.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">We saw Andrew Scott in Vanya at the Newlyn Filmhouse after a delicious dinner in the quirky restaurant there. He performed solo for two hours without a break and was mesmerising. He played the parts of all the characters! Now I need to find a copy of Uncle Vanya and read it.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’ve been really enjoying my new oil pastels, and am already running out of white. I’ve never used oil pastels before and have found that I adore them. I’m going to really let rip once I’m home in my studio and not sitting at Het’s kitchen counter trying to stay clean.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And I now have a use for the giant canvases that Dave encouraged me to buy: </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">I can’t wait to paint some dramatic seas and skies.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuh4iafWR7NnuAGHohyYD8m_u3MVlZbZ8cNQ3aj8rSp_Rsu3Vjr9VWxs1cXFH4SIDjih0MVcW1amymyf9BYvx8XEgrFoMOgzyFNFvVGBijWcnRcTvs5zXIB_plt8UliW7JRJYYIC05saAkRhhASV-lxcI1SlbMzAjqxGunrk47NgZKJMTs1wY5A/s3819/IMG_9044.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2640" data-original-width="3819" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuh4iafWR7NnuAGHohyYD8m_u3MVlZbZ8cNQ3aj8rSp_Rsu3Vjr9VWxs1cXFH4SIDjih0MVcW1amymyf9BYvx8XEgrFoMOgzyFNFvVGBijWcnRcTvs5zXIB_plt8UliW7JRJYYIC05saAkRhhASV-lxcI1SlbMzAjqxGunrk47NgZKJMTs1wY5A/w640-h442/IMG_9044.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oil pastel sketch</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today we’re going to Newlyn Art Gallery for more sustenance. I’m looking forward to it.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here, to finish, is the full moon this morning…</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs582w5rO53CH_cwICz0fDFDkxxy1CUGWzdSlE5NDWe1vGclnqdMmg_nfaB5ofmpEmeWU3eSS1bY-YUxtKZUcaRqzYzREMCELWZzTPzMxsP-mcsQ-BGRVa5UxBrwD5N9El64_i39qCPegwdO0qZs3a3ioTrJb2w5lpk6ZjBbueRC4vy05fPlw2hA/s4032/IMG_9054.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs582w5rO53CH_cwICz0fDFDkxxy1CUGWzdSlE5NDWe1vGclnqdMmg_nfaB5ofmpEmeWU3eSS1bY-YUxtKZUcaRqzYzREMCELWZzTPzMxsP-mcsQ-BGRVa5UxBrwD5N9El64_i39qCPegwdO0qZs3a3ioTrJb2w5lpk6ZjBbueRC4vy05fPlw2hA/w640-h480/IMG_9054.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-74232477259323119132024-02-21T16:51:00.008+00:002024-02-22T00:13:50.347+00:00Sea, sand and art<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">Guess where I am…</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqbxhd2tRt34ZvvlkujC8g6_aJ1fEjMjZ3XRTNjZlSmJEFA_QIDBGoqq5G4Mq0Hv7u-AeCDWAx5Q01u81KWQoTQWPjcD_w_jeYRNJum-8P24mxNXTbx9zfCWJxiQAHgHYeETI-x8BZurl5hrFglbhyphenhyphen7dUP36Ds9FnvBkSXkVgX7ZjitWSUYkLrA/s2048/d4ca8b33-858c-438a-adf2-76144ae0a62a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqbxhd2tRt34ZvvlkujC8g6_aJ1fEjMjZ3XRTNjZlSmJEFA_QIDBGoqq5G4Mq0Hv7u-AeCDWAx5Q01u81KWQoTQWPjcD_w_jeYRNJum-8P24mxNXTbx9zfCWJxiQAHgHYeETI-x8BZurl5hrFglbhyphenhyphen7dUP36Ds9FnvBkSXkVgX7ZjitWSUYkLrA/w400-h300/d4ca8b33-858c-438a-adf2-76144ae0a62a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am staying with Het in Sennen Cove, Cornwall.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the view from the sofa:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbB95Wfne435_IU5BVaVFVDmeZQNNXVp28EdNhIAlG2E-FBW8Rv_KU1hULC7hMASMnDmJFsY5GxK-S2DFVlTeyREXzYaNgopsz3ZFXdc9IY3ipIZqF2LjsUdxx0BhJ6JOiSa_qpmXKr_vr7URxEvx4OfYqDse5fdn5H2R4VS8XZAx06vHW_BcE6Q/s4032/IMG_8957.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbB95Wfne435_IU5BVaVFVDmeZQNNXVp28EdNhIAlG2E-FBW8Rv_KU1hULC7hMASMnDmJFsY5GxK-S2DFVlTeyREXzYaNgopsz3ZFXdc9IY3ipIZqF2LjsUdxx0BhJ6JOiSa_qpmXKr_vr7URxEvx4OfYqDse5fdn5H2R4VS8XZAx06vHW_BcE6Q/w640-h480/IMG_8957.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And this is the view from the kitchen:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-rI498j9k4M3zJq7KeeBSGrtiMxgDXYa40ZOeF94OZOnSotiVp_b7c17ku5u3kSA77izuuv_JYjfsTmPNBMxPVLIoI6MIZKt0JFofoW0sA-0hxF1ti0pm1-fyGmaYpohp2l3R6qwD0KfJI9d5G9RoOfERbd5kn0zJn9mSYVd_KJGxQ8OQ1-jcQ/s4032/IMG_8954.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-rI498j9k4M3zJq7KeeBSGrtiMxgDXYa40ZOeF94OZOnSotiVp_b7c17ku5u3kSA77izuuv_JYjfsTmPNBMxPVLIoI6MIZKt0JFofoW0sA-0hxF1ti0pm1-fyGmaYpohp2l3R6qwD0KfJI9d5G9RoOfERbd5kn0zJn9mSYVd_KJGxQ8OQ1-jcQ/w640-h480/IMG_8954.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Isn’t it stupendous?</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Het and Chris bought a near-derelict house here seven years ago and after many trials and tribulations they finally moved into their fabulous new eco-house in November. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I could sit on the sofa and watch the sea all day. It’s mesmerising, and so relaxing. And I’m loving it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today we went for a swim (indoors!) and then hit St Ives, which was beautifully quiet, because it’s February. We visited the Tate and this time we enjoyed the exhibits. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I particularly liked this Winifred Nicholson painting called Recollect</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQcTO9d8bcljhU_XMlo5M4xhyphenhyphenXGDk1YKOuxV_WIRGmCl06rRegj2evSr-UKR0QuHamASqCcvb2GfCHf6EnMIlb7W5uy8h7b-nXaHBwR1gE8qA9N8hoq5JID37mTjkSAfBQ6qnsL11tYfMX_uB_mu4xa1oa_j7NuN7jAZaRUcITvcPMJNGVsHS6Q/s4032/IMG_8968.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQcTO9d8bcljhU_XMlo5M4xhyphenhyphenXGDk1YKOuxV_WIRGmCl06rRegj2evSr-UKR0QuHamASqCcvb2GfCHf6EnMIlb7W5uy8h7b-nXaHBwR1gE8qA9N8hoq5JID37mTjkSAfBQ6qnsL11tYfMX_uB_mu4xa1oa_j7NuN7jAZaRUcITvcPMJNGVsHS6Q/w640-h480/IMG_8968.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> And this work by Patrick Hughes called St Ives: Reflection</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveFVPbjmDTGNuR5qUKXDu9TCI6PjmgXO20vx8jECmgIhT7iS1lNkF8gqSWp9d5fRY0XrzsDl3e15QxkUnkqkB4MFI8ntdLWt-wMj91FHb5H3z68qK37u1EVQkycN_Mnq2Vy06YqTlYpPmpbgLl8xAMUO184HlWBUWekfr4nD5UvfCiYw1_4Kdvw/s4032/IMG_8961.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveFVPbjmDTGNuR5qUKXDu9TCI6PjmgXO20vx8jECmgIhT7iS1lNkF8gqSWp9d5fRY0XrzsDl3e15QxkUnkqkB4MFI8ntdLWt-wMj91FHb5H3z68qK37u1EVQkycN_Mnq2Vy06YqTlYpPmpbgLl8xAMUO184HlWBUWekfr4nD5UvfCiYw1_4Kdvw/w640-h480/IMG_8961.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Those yachts are real 3 D toy yachts bought from a toy shop.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But as well as the art work I love the view from the gallery:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNwGGCKilnluaGePfUPnIQ2h_5DvKcJpcdlHo8Q3iMmNOR7nhb_qpJRsudN-hySMifDDtUoLqA0H_nvOUZdM0i-xsHPa8qAPEUezub326AXelszp9XkyM7CluR8ugZFDlau6vRVFdepnVBzbNq0aVeKiueyJnC7hvXdJXIMy8kNeCX-XCL8uvjg/s4032/IMG_8969.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNwGGCKilnluaGePfUPnIQ2h_5DvKcJpcdlHo8Q3iMmNOR7nhb_qpJRsudN-hySMifDDtUoLqA0H_nvOUZdM0i-xsHPa8qAPEUezub326AXelszp9XkyM7CluR8ugZFDlau6vRVFdepnVBzbNq0aVeKiueyJnC7hvXdJXIMy8kNeCX-XCL8uvjg/w640-h480/IMG_8969.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtxPC9udssa061cMSHEAV-Lfb8fd7j5mgzZ5jU9iOx5m2w3cOkrubuclUikydkhSf1zr1v-7Ir9fi5Z61r5jftCmV2dGAiqtKbmnGcOeTMcNOD8aZkRIH4_5LyVkYGEYTKihMGbv3bqf8XndCG_8wr2zcoA024O54pWTvhPy34BmVY0P7V6_l-g/s3803/IMG_8977.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2852" data-original-width="3803" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtxPC9udssa061cMSHEAV-Lfb8fd7j5mgzZ5jU9iOx5m2w3cOkrubuclUikydkhSf1zr1v-7Ir9fi5Z61r5jftCmV2dGAiqtKbmnGcOeTMcNOD8aZkRIH4_5LyVkYGEYTKihMGbv3bqf8XndCG_8wr2zcoA024O54pWTvhPy34BmVY0P7V6_l-g/w640-h480/IMG_8977.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">And here’s me, feeling happy, clutching a new sketch pad and some oil pastels to have some fun with:</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqLbRMtVF8I-1PX2i4E1RbZpngQzpJ0k6x4JWuVm7HVRxUhTyj-QjBo9Cplf5trBmlaG6vCVXNsuv6cL4qHIYeeF_9cX_ppYhWg5VYpLDEPLL6-3ieU60hxegw2oLN6YBgPQQU1_lc5bBx9Sd-Z4jVxTFm2RW6EOp4wAKkJK8tZzick-fHwoU-A/s2016/IMG_1959.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqLbRMtVF8I-1PX2i4E1RbZpngQzpJ0k6x4JWuVm7HVRxUhTyj-QjBo9Cplf5trBmlaG6vCVXNsuv6cL4qHIYeeF_9cX_ppYhWg5VYpLDEPLL6-3ieU60hxegw2oLN6YBgPQQU1_lc5bBx9Sd-Z4jVxTFm2RW6EOp4wAKkJK8tZzick-fHwoU-A/w480-h640/IMG_1959.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thank you, Het, for a super day.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitBqiAO5UBsq_PR8IHvLVBEeCUqkcQFUi8gxvswksiC-vZW3a4O2GDh4z9Z37wk7BuzzNyIS6R4S7RLdIxPcdsuDBBCUfYb8Nsy4x6A8gXO0YnKto3F3UX3jBS7KMhJbOggj8atj6zPweQ_bOPetLXi41QZGTY4Np3-CP4SLWE9LdtMquOHNcgg/s4032/IMG_8987.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitBqiAO5UBsq_PR8IHvLVBEeCUqkcQFUi8gxvswksiC-vZW3a4O2GDh4z9Z37wk7BuzzNyIS6R4S7RLdIxPcdsuDBBCUfYb8Nsy4x6A8gXO0YnKto3F3UX3jBS7KMhJbOggj8atj6zPweQ_bOPetLXi41QZGTY4Np3-CP4SLWE9LdtMquOHNcgg/w640-h480/IMG_8987.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkR2wz0-iHVMpgdXmsf32kGGf0pw8pQ9XHnULHOLPgTFhk2m95mvmEw9TdwA7EWrmlTCDC_IoDnzV8nk02aarChyO08zaiKeyKeT8Rtnd5XrRYRsciiCBpGRituOdNReA_uR0fqUCYuK6ntnfIspvRWE51dmsdxwHHjC-Qis6yMkC0w8xhyphenhyphen0M1PQ/s5712/IMG_1975.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4284" data-original-width="5712" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkR2wz0-iHVMpgdXmsf32kGGf0pw8pQ9XHnULHOLPgTFhk2m95mvmEw9TdwA7EWrmlTCDC_IoDnzV8nk02aarChyO08zaiKeyKeT8Rtnd5XrRYRsciiCBpGRituOdNReA_uR0fqUCYuK6ntnfIspvRWE51dmsdxwHHjC-Qis6yMkC0w8xhyphenhyphen0M1PQ/w640-h480/IMG_1975.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p></div>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-4125792709655499712024-02-17T09:42:00.001+00:002024-02-17T09:42:13.925+00:00Today's letter<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Letter to the Prime Minister from the Humanitarian and Human Rights
Sector on Rafah<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Alongside other charities and
faith organisations, Quakers in Britain have written to the Prime Minister
calling on him to use the UK's diplomatic pressure to urge Israel to change
course.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdToaQWHdJuyvk5Lrog-h5SUfxawlgsIZc6DATsZHU9qV6qBUFp4t54LNteNMM__12rsBh0jOZymiRqtrRzpuZIvdzY_3sQSlFsMASrnOJxqjouKt_H53HUiKy10j0h-sUWr2N7y4COw2-13XEXpIIRyUoZKrm3gf-f1teFUJkRUAYl8H_lTYhGA/s1107/gaza%20ceasefire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="1107" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdToaQWHdJuyvk5Lrog-h5SUfxawlgsIZc6DATsZHU9qV6qBUFp4t54LNteNMM__12rsBh0jOZymiRqtrRzpuZIvdzY_3sQSlFsMASrnOJxqjouKt_H53HUiKy10j0h-sUWr2N7y4COw2-13XEXpIIRyUoZKrm3gf-f1teFUJkRUAYl8H_lTYhGA/w640-h534/gaza%20ceasefire.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt;">12 February
2024</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.65pt;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Dear Prime
Minister,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.65pt;"><b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Subject:
The UK must demand that Israel immediately stops its offensive into Rafah and
call for a ceasefire now</span></b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.65pt;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We write to
you as international humanitarian, peacebuilding and human rights
organisations. Many of us have worked in the Occupied Palestinian Territory for
decades, with our staff and partners among those currently displaced and
fearing for their lives in the Gaza Strip. Since October 7, the Government has
heard all of us and many, many more – including in real time from Palestinians
themselves in Gaza – give warnings or briefings of the following: 1.7 million
people forcibly displaced only to be bombed again, more than 11,500 children
killed and a catastrophic number of orphans, with a new acronym unique to the
Gaza Strip – WCNSF: wounded child, no surviving family – and evidence of
widespread starvation and infectious disease.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.65pt;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As you
know, following Israel's 'evacuation' orders for areas in northern and central
Gaza, many Palestinians fled to the south, to Rafah, a designated 'safe zone'
by Israel. 1.3 million people are currently trapped in Rafah. It is one of the
very few places where extremely limited humanitarian aid is able to enter the
Gaza Strip.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.65pt;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We are
writing with <b>urgent concern </b>about the overnight attacks on
Rafah following Israel's announcement that it aims to conduct a destructive
military campaign on the most densely populated stretch on Earth. The military
operation intensified last night, with Rafah subjected to the Israeli
military's increasingly intense bombardment with a further 67 people killed by
Israel, mostly civilians, including women and children. This number will
continue to rise. The beleaguered and strained humanitarian system will fully
collapse as need will only rise and access decrease.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.65pt;"><b><u><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We ask you
now to use the UK's full diplomatic pressure to demand Israel halt its military
campaign, which has already resulted in the killing of 28,000 people.</span></u></b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.65pt;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Will the UK
act now, as red lines are being continuously crossed despite warnings from the
UK to Israel on the toll of casualties being <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-67525940"><span style="color: #555555;">"too high"</span></a>? Or will the UK continue
its current path, which each day further is enabling Israel's actions with
impunity? Will the UK risk further moral complicity in the ongoing death from
Israeli attacks?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.65pt;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We are
extremely dismayed and profoundly alarmed after having met with UK senior
officials, including the Foreign Secretary, over the last 128 days, explaining
in clear terms the scale of the catastrophe and the consequences of the current
UK approach towards Israel. We, as agencies united, attempted to work together
with the Government towards leveraging what the UK can do to halt these
atrocities. We are losing confidence in Ministers as the UK appears utterly
incapable of restraining Israel in its current attempts. We write with
immediate demands for the UK:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #555555; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Call
for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, including calling off the Rafah
offensive. This is the only way to prevent further loss of civilian lives,
to secure the release of hostages, and the entry of life-saving
humanitarian aid.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #555555; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Suspend
all arms export licences and any other forms of military support with
immediate effect.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #555555; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The UK
should ensure Israel fully implements the International Court of Justice
orders.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.65pt;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We call on
the UK Government to do all it can to persuade the Government of Israel to
finally change course. Over a million people in Rafah are at grave risk. We
know from history what happens when states stand by and do nothing. <b>We
urge you to act now.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.65pt;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Signatories:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">ActionAid UK<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Action For Humanity<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Caabu (Council for Arab-British
Understanding)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">CAFOD<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Christian Aid<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Elrha<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Embrace the Middle East<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Gender Action for Peace and
Security (GAPS)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Humanity and Inclusion<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Interpal<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Islamic Relief UK<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">13.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Minority Rights Group International<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">14.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Muslim Aid<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">15.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Oxfam<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">16.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Peace Direct<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">17.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Plan International UK<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">18.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Quakers in Britain<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">19.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Saferworld<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">20.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">SCIAF<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">21.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">22.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Trócaire<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">23.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">United Nations Association - UK (UNA-UK)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">24.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">War on Want<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">25.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Welfare Association<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">26.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">WILPF UK<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">27.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Women's Platform - Northern Ireland<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-86620419902853308142024-02-14T07:25:00.002+00:002024-02-14T17:07:39.977+00:00A good day<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I began yesterday in tears while chatting to Dave about the state of the world and Gaza in particular.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After that it got better.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I picked some Lenten roses from the garden for Mary’s bench, as yesterday was nine years since she died. I then drove to Sheffield and collected my thirteen tickets for my trip to Cornwall next Monday. I had to sit on a bench at the station while I checked I had every stage of the journey covered, and as I did, I fell into conversation with a lovely stranger about the benefits of split ticketing. I like talking to strangers. It’s invigorating.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I thought I’d pop in the Millennium Gallery on the way up through town, to see their latest exhibition, but I had to wait outside for it to open and in doing so had a conversation with another stranger. More interest.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then I went to the Fronteer Gallery to see my painting. (Mine is the one of daisies.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CsmaIJsmjhyCVqVzObNfOMj6uQ6N9uqU-YwftXfepkVPCjKeMcrb_EHLvgzvUH4tOpK3DG5A6KCVC7RTsyHscpqO_ZHFTDKskn8hKbqPOlRBzZg1efem5W1BBmNJ7c2onvzS2IMYCop85071ruKpOe2bZrUWFR8cYOYu_bsKKuWtqsD9UbiLIw/s4032/IMG_8930.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CsmaIJsmjhyCVqVzObNfOMj6uQ6N9uqU-YwftXfepkVPCjKeMcrb_EHLvgzvUH4tOpK3DG5A6KCVC7RTsyHscpqO_ZHFTDKskn8hKbqPOlRBzZg1efem5W1BBmNJ7c2onvzS2IMYCop85071ruKpOe2bZrUWFR8cYOYu_bsKKuWtqsD9UbiLIw/w480-h640/IMG_8930.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After that I had one last stop - the bench at the park to leave my flowers. It was bitterly cold with the odd spot of rain as I walked down the hill and I was thinking ‘Do I really want to sit on the bench with a coffee and look at the pond and the ducks and have a little think, like I usually do? It’s horrid! It’s so cold!’</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But when the bench came into view, I saw Mary’s husband John sitting on it, and then I saw his two small and delightful grandsons and Mary’s daughter Jessie. What joy. We exclaimed and hugged and John said ‘I wondered if we’d see you here’ and Jessie went to buy the boys ice creams and coffee for us. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim82K4nwQ5C6rtMXhRTbSdb7Wf3RQ-pTeY3njn8aXbzyehhTqBrC9VDLA211nZMlYITKLxYoVAI6gbhbcUhZP0a07t3fV3zZvzJb1QK-Pd3p82o0UroPuNCB5u0FeepSsAYgoBV0N7AkP1RckuKs1B3oW5n7gqzv-fbSdsSrPyw_3lcKzVuc3bTQ/s1755/b25a1048-a107-46b2-b2af-3d368dd02dbc.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="1755" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim82K4nwQ5C6rtMXhRTbSdb7Wf3RQ-pTeY3njn8aXbzyehhTqBrC9VDLA211nZMlYITKLxYoVAI6gbhbcUhZP0a07t3fV3zZvzJb1QK-Pd3p82o0UroPuNCB5u0FeepSsAYgoBV0N7AkP1RckuKs1B3oW5n7gqzv-fbSdsSrPyw_3lcKzVuc3bTQ/w640-h466/b25a1048-a107-46b2-b2af-3d368dd02dbc.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessie and me</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There’s a page in my comfort/encouragement book Keep Moving that says</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ewn4C8CrYh-QRo5FwW6mM1vjE2EQTgOim7tiFf36LVCXFHBDWVERrWaLpsMYjLQVbQGfHrneDdjHEoH7pHqt0qTLwgtVGZIF2j9o_fPIVE0wY47tndwKZO2uCcQrzvQxa8GA03XNr2pLYUSYIpwIBVU040kWpPcu6CtxU7y6OyVukbXuzQY_Xw/s3304/IMG_8933.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3304" data-original-width="2731" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ewn4C8CrYh-QRo5FwW6mM1vjE2EQTgOim7tiFf36LVCXFHBDWVERrWaLpsMYjLQVbQGfHrneDdjHEoH7pHqt0qTLwgtVGZIF2j9o_fPIVE0wY47tndwKZO2uCcQrzvQxa8GA03XNr2pLYUSYIpwIBVU040kWpPcu6CtxU7y6OyVukbXuzQY_Xw/w530-h640/IMG_8933.jpeg" width="530" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And the day continued with pancakes for lunch at home (dear overseas readers, it was pancake day) and then I continued work on my latest painting which is in its very early stages but is coming along nicely</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSvRAKIXCOd0mPy6PI7WQtV2OTzr3acyTUWRvo-P5HtNkC2aJ56boJCfRCPAhgCsIHVBZyO6cQl-iUWNzpm53MZuyge-U7DJ0FZCptaREPlnUu_G7ufnBXnyERCm45BBSN91zCPKIrLw-f6DYy7JpNoBdoLEGn40HV_iD3FxPxF7a3XvBFa58aQ/s3081/IMG_8935.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3081" data-original-width="3023" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSvRAKIXCOd0mPy6PI7WQtV2OTzr3acyTUWRvo-P5HtNkC2aJ56boJCfRCPAhgCsIHVBZyO6cQl-iUWNzpm53MZuyge-U7DJ0FZCptaREPlnUu_G7ufnBXnyERCm45BBSN91zCPKIrLw-f6DYy7JpNoBdoLEGn40HV_iD3FxPxF7a3XvBFa58aQ/w628-h640/IMG_8935.jpeg" width="628" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And then in the evening it was fish and chips with a catch-up at the pub with Chrissie.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A good day.</span></p>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-74827411159367038162024-02-12T10:09:00.001+00:002024-02-13T07:52:43.349+00:00Haunted<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Look I'm sorry that the blog seems to have morphed into something that doesn't do the biz like it used to do, but I am haunted by what is happening in Gaza.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2R14j0fKZHIB7Ofj-X835lN6_9IgeyPZznHi7yc7pRLuvli-nrE_Rm9CLr7Xt0gC4nDfi84UTGN_9ije51IQ1oU9VGee-ou0RAogv0VbpCeOfq7w3BupIlVpNhfU3QuYYrmvT6AN7dpKHZWvymAzt-qrKY3Dp7zGhOGIWSh0ZRkCXTSgohk2EZA/s3159/gaza.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2343" data-original-width="3159" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2R14j0fKZHIB7Ofj-X835lN6_9IgeyPZznHi7yc7pRLuvli-nrE_Rm9CLr7Xt0gC4nDfi84UTGN_9ije51IQ1oU9VGee-ou0RAogv0VbpCeOfq7w3BupIlVpNhfU3QuYYrmvT6AN7dpKHZWvymAzt-qrKY3Dp7zGhOGIWSh0ZRkCXTSgohk2EZA/w640-h474/gaza.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And I am haunted by the fact that the western world is doing nothing to stop it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As Dave said in his latest missive to our MP:</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI", sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">This
war is terrifyingly unhinged, and almost psychopathic in its unbridled and
feral ferocity. But is also morally wrong and deeply inhumane. That the
government is eager to support it is a stain on us all.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am continuing to read the book<i style="font-size: large;"> </i><a href="This war is terrifyingly unhinged, and almost psychopathic in its unbridled and feral ferocity. But is also morally wrong and deeply inhumane. That the government is eager to support it is a stain on us all.">Active Hope</a> and I do commend it to you, even though its focus is on the environment and not the state of world wide politics. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>But let's skip to the home front...</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The only news is that for the first time in years I am eager to plant my sweet peas. Normally I groan at the thought of all those yoghurt cartons cluttering up the windowsills. This year feels different. I am looking forward to doing something that is positive that I know will bring joy in a few months time: I think watching something grow right in front of me is going to make me feel better. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As Jo Shimwell, a young farmer in our village, said </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;">'Nature is a great source of certainty and comfort.'</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBHE_UD-D_HjFBfvUziM48_-9rgxGtFYykpVDayEgYxFvZTW8rv1DLj7bsRj6WKMllm3ch72Wi7c3Lp_-FX9nUjtRbwCU0pDHyM4dCpLnc-5Eq1xOpb9QD3nSFpLazU7jD8KFBYTMI8Pywg3nZctWstlIdrzyJZ0iEqS2SJIiCqB5slfeKy7StA/s4032/IMG_9215.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBHE_UD-D_HjFBfvUziM48_-9rgxGtFYykpVDayEgYxFvZTW8rv1DLj7bsRj6WKMllm3ch72Wi7c3Lp_-FX9nUjtRbwCU0pDHyM4dCpLnc-5Eq1xOpb9QD3nSFpLazU7jD8KFBYTMI8Pywg3nZctWstlIdrzyJZ0iEqS2SJIiCqB5slfeKy7StA/w640-h480/IMG_9215.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZA-UQGyXFbasV3MyQs7gTAgllcvzWJuFBE2fzOcPBzeqjXKA1jBtI6D_FumRy7i4aAwNRjqd1_nvwVZ34RhxW3Xcm2Hl1-fGvjm4e2t5GNLMl715uGZWcuhvJTz_MdmeIO_C-CHQFJkX33454yxycGreg5ypD80ro__QPaMVq_s45pa79vGLBZA/s1128/IMG_9092.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1128" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZA-UQGyXFbasV3MyQs7gTAgllcvzWJuFBE2fzOcPBzeqjXKA1jBtI6D_FumRy7i4aAwNRjqd1_nvwVZ34RhxW3Xcm2Hl1-fGvjm4e2t5GNLMl715uGZWcuhvJTz_MdmeIO_C-CHQFJkX33454yxycGreg5ypD80ro__QPaMVq_s45pa79vGLBZA/w640-h592/IMG_9092.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><p></p>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-19875335832395557342024-02-08T10:12:00.000+00:002024-02-08T10:12:04.792+00:00Wednesday morning at Hepworth Towers <p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am in bed reading this</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUadQDatV2QaDhkOxI95oWEaa-1BwLGtNoOvzSuwsyNjwhmFlMOwIGl9rAeICRiOcQxXDob8Ud67xKpaTNqKMdx30JNSWkN8-jG8rKdZMbuKOkkcFcLkRy7IjUdGRZ-r-CPyfZlEaoEJkfPng80lGG_Kwr22MVibmG8Nn0cMOf61z030ukngP-1A/s4032/IMG_8912.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUadQDatV2QaDhkOxI95oWEaa-1BwLGtNoOvzSuwsyNjwhmFlMOwIGl9rAeICRiOcQxXDob8Ud67xKpaTNqKMdx30JNSWkN8-jG8rKdZMbuKOkkcFcLkRy7IjUdGRZ-r-CPyfZlEaoEJkfPng80lGG_Kwr22MVibmG8Nn0cMOf61z030ukngP-1A/w480-h640/IMG_8912.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">and I’m finding it constructive. I need to tell you that I rarely read non fiction because I need a story to pull me along but I’m having no trouble sticking with this. It focuses most strongly on the environmental crisis (which is not what is troubling me right now) but it is generally very helpful, so if you’re in need of hope, I recommend it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have a filthy cold </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOUge6NXbl75Lh1AX1yC2GGHYtg8R0rUekb4VV-90rKuI2ZkcISAtFH6Hs_PdV80ZTXf2fz7HHXdcVR961LYglrQciNwvf1M7oArndB7XnFVZYnXgnpHuS3-oTrKGNLat1Vi6IJTFbqjcetjMtW8iAMi0TTA1yXp1ZgW-z8z37l8rFkuD91GVcw/s4032/IMG_8914.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOUge6NXbl75Lh1AX1yC2GGHYtg8R0rUekb4VV-90rKuI2ZkcISAtFH6Hs_PdV80ZTXf2fz7HHXdcVR961LYglrQciNwvf1M7oArndB7XnFVZYnXgnpHuS3-oTrKGNLat1Vi6IJTFbqjcetjMtW8iAMi0TTA1yXp1ZgW-z8z37l8rFkuD91GVcw/w480-h640/IMG_8914.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">and it’s snowing (almost horizontally)</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> and we are forecast 20cms here in the Peak District today. I’m not convinced. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktezJlWlAs6v_blGZGV_cEvULWTHhuZ5FpZ_zIGwDNL8O5sYxxH3RIERdvThybLWxSx6JKEpBeC1aqHc7zsj4Ze8NHCHYlG7urJlY8UejYarIIQjMlJFW4AwFeGZj8oouHfYal1iBeAWxFSepl-uxTTUSjmsGreX3ggFCkGroLiW4SuICQxNf9w/s4032/IMG_8913.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktezJlWlAs6v_blGZGV_cEvULWTHhuZ5FpZ_zIGwDNL8O5sYxxH3RIERdvThybLWxSx6JKEpBeC1aqHc7zsj4Ze8NHCHYlG7urJlY8UejYarIIQjMlJFW4AwFeGZj8oouHfYal1iBeAWxFSepl-uxTTUSjmsGreX3ggFCkGroLiW4SuICQxNf9w/w480-h640/IMG_8913.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dave kindly went out to Aldi early and bought me some lemons so I could have lemon and honey drinks. When he set off he asked me how much they would be and not how many I wanted, and he brought back 25. 🤔 I’m hoping my cold doesn’t last so long I’ll be needing them all, but I do need more lemon curd so it will all work out. Plus - ooh - it’s pancake day next week!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have nothing more interesting to tell you I’m afraid, except that I’ve been searching around for something positive to do about Gaza, and I am ordering greeting cards of some of my paintings and will donate the profit from sales in the next two months to the UNICEF Gaza appeal. The link to the UNICEF appeal is below the photo. (Blogging in bed on the iPad has its drawbacks).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Goodbye, and I love you all.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-1WHp7qnbpjekNF88HgrU9nJtstiFlE_mhyb-trH9mnLaqqsrjyXCskr50tpW03AMdl4UeCCAABVShA4GBymkI9uxqFRPyAF8JylJ_Tck1whodaDVEyhFqQDwXYmWttuwkuqKaCXasunsMOx0tjXcIN8jvp_mk99A90tQPRcLtekR5FMObk4ZQ/s1835/IMG_0251.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1835" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-1WHp7qnbpjekNF88HgrU9nJtstiFlE_mhyb-trH9mnLaqqsrjyXCskr50tpW03AMdl4UeCCAABVShA4GBymkI9uxqFRPyAF8JylJ_Tck1whodaDVEyhFqQDwXYmWttuwkuqKaCXasunsMOx0tjXcIN8jvp_mk99A90tQPRcLtekR5FMObk4ZQ/w536-h640/IMG_0251.jpeg" width="536" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.unicef.org.uk/donate/children-in-gaza-crisis-appeal/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAlJKuBhAdEiwAnZb7lYK0p3q1rdW106HIcmaYkAJMHesNONA0Y3QGp6KHNO1EUjKinFywXhoCeegQAvD_BwE">https://www.unicef.org.uk/donate/children-in-gaza-crisis-appeal/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAlJKuBhAdEiwAnZb7lYK0p3q1rdW106HIcmaYkAJMHesNONA0Y3QGp6KHNO1EUjKinFywXhoCeegQAvD_BwE</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-81477087752509617382024-02-07T11:17:00.001+00:002024-02-07T11:17:53.333+00:00The Israelis who refuse<p><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: verdana;">There are people living in Israel who do not support the war against the Palestinians, and nor do they support the occupation.</span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: verdana;">I have been on the circulation list of the Refuser Solidarity Network for some years now. Here is the latest email I received...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My name is Maya Eshel, I
just joined the Refuser Solidarity Network team as the international solidarity
coordinator. I want to share a few words about myself and also tell you how <strong>you can amplify the voices of
Israelis against the war on Gaza and call for a ceasefire.</strong></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I moved to Israel at the
age of 16 and six months later I was already sent an initial draft order from
the Israeli military. About two years later I was drafted into the Israeli
military where I served in the West Bank for 9 months. During my time there I
witnessed several detained Palestinians being brought to the detention center
on my base. While waiting for the military doctor one day, a young Palestinian
boy was escorted into the clinic. In the middle of winter he had just one long
sleeve shirt on.<strong> He was
blindfolded and handcuffed and could not have been over 11 years old. </strong>This
very moment, sitting just centimeters away from a boy who could not see me, who
was alone and was kidnapped from his community, stayed with me. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Over the years I would
often think of this boy. I would think about the trauma he may have from those
exact moments and my participation in such a brutal system. I looked deeper
into myself, into my environment and at the violent occupation that we as a society
here in Israel have normalized. After educating myself and learning about the
supremacist policies Israel uses to uphold an oppressive military rule over
millions of Palestinians, <strong>I
decided to join the resistance movement against the occupation and apartheid.
You can also support the resistance by following our instagram page, <a href="https://refusersolidarity.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=766e8a32ffe12bdef97341bb9&id=90fa63c591&e=d5d429c541" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">voicesagainstwar</span></a>, and our
other social media pages where we provide a platform to document and publish
anti-war protests and individual testimonies of Israelis against this war.</strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My solidarity work led
me to living in Palestinian villages in the Southern Hebron Hills, located in
area C of the West Bank, documenting demolitions and settler and military
violence against Palestinians. I witnessed settlers violently abuse and threaten
Palestinians, uproot hundreds of olive trees, dance with guns on stolen
Palestinian land while the military was standing by. I also witnessed soldiers
tasked to demolish homes, abuse small farming communities, and arrest men in
the middle of the night. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Since I started visiting
the South Hebron Hills the situation has escalated tenfold. The horrors of
October 7th have shaken the Israeli ethos to its core. And with no time
to grieve, the Israeli government is weaponizing our pain, enacting a revenge
war on Gazans, killing thousands of civilians and displacing over one million
people. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Today, more than ever, we need to resist the war from
the bottom up and we need to do this together.</span></strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Please help us
amplify Israeli voices who resist the government's violent manipulation of our
pain. Please watch and help share our various social media pages, to
spread the voices of Israelis protesting this war. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBZeIetr7tC7huFHnwaV1Wi6pjRbxCNHZe3zyzsd9U_aJV5XTZTerVxYfL_m3Td41hk1Niuh3oTdxwIHPvZxDKaSLGS_btG6TiknuRU6lPS57S6OC9p67n__tv5ZNwY3X74RllzpuK5Xek3pcVAPWSTpGFpsfoGjntAm5pElp6qAl3dDg-vKvzw/s1936/cropped%20gaza%20bracelets%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1046" data-original-width="1936" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBZeIetr7tC7huFHnwaV1Wi6pjRbxCNHZe3zyzsd9U_aJV5XTZTerVxYfL_m3Td41hk1Niuh3oTdxwIHPvZxDKaSLGS_btG6TiknuRU6lPS57S6OC9p67n__tv5ZNwY3X74RllzpuK5Xek3pcVAPWSTpGFpsfoGjntAm5pElp6qAl3dDg-vKvzw/w640-h346/cropped%20gaza%20bracelets%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<!--[endif]--></span>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-61621481524261837082024-02-05T08:18:00.002+00:002024-02-05T08:18:33.441+00:00Statement from Quakers in Britain<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Official statement of Quakers in Britain</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>UK must take urgent action after ICJ genocide ruling</b> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Quakers in Britain welcomes, though with a heavy heart, the historic ruling by the
International Court of Justice. In making their interim ruling in South Africa’s case against
Israel, charging it with the crime of genocide, the court has stated unequivocally that there is
a plausible risk Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and that it must
stop killing Palestinian civilians with immediate effect. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The court also stated that it is gravely concerned about the fate of the Israeli hostages.
Quakers in Britain joins it in calling for their immediate and unconditional release. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our government, alongside other signatories to the Genocide Convention, is now legally
bound to ensure that the measures ordered by the court are taken immediately. As the
former colonial power in the Holy Land, the UK bears particular responsibility for the
decades-long violence between Israelis and Palestinians. This ruling makes clear that UK
actions since 7 October in support of the Israeli military campaign put the British government
at risk of complicity in genocidal acts. Rishi Sunak must order the immediate suspension of
all UK arms sales and military support to Israel, and put all the pressure at his disposal on
Israel to immediately cease fire and abide by the measures ordered by the court. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The court also found that the withholding of basic services and humanitarian assistance in
Gaza could amount to a serious violation of the Genocide Convention. Quakers in Britain
notes with dismay the UK government’s decision to 'temporarily pause’ all funding to
UNRWA – the UN agency providing urgent humanitarian assistance in Gaza – following the
dismissal of 12 UNRWA staff accused of involvement in the 7 October attacks. We hear the
words of the UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini who said, “Our humanitarian operation, on
which 2 million people depend as a lifeline in Gaza, is collapsing. I am shocked such
decisions are taken based on alleged behaviour of a few individuals and as the war
continues, needs are deepening and famine looms. Palestinians in Gaza did not need this
additional collective punishment. This stains all of us.” Quakers in Britain calls on the UK
government to immediately reverse its decision. Anything less is not enough and could once
again put the UK at serious risk of complicity in genocidal acts. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Over three months have passed since the launch of the Israeli ground invasion of Gaza
following the 7 October attacks by Hamas. Quakers in Britain continues to grieve all the lives
lost and irrevocably shattered. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We hold in the Light the memory of over 26,000 Palestinians, including 11,000 children, and
1,200 Israelis, including 36 children, who have been killed since the horrendous attacks by
Hamas on 7 October. We hold in the Light the thousands more Palestinian men, women and
children buried – some already dead, some dying – under the rubble. We hold in the Light
the 1.7 million Gazans now homeless and suffering forcible displacement. We hold in the
Light the 136 Israelis held hostage far from home. We hold in the Light all Palestinians and
Israelis affected and traumatised. The devastation of human life in Gaza that we are
witnessing live on our TV and phone screens day after day goes against our fundamental
Quaker belief that every life is sacred. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As the scale of events threaten to overwhelm us, Quakers in Britain takes the moment of this
historic ruling to reaffirm our determination to work for an end to the violence. We do this by
accompanying, in our personal relationships and corporately, communities affected by the
violence here at home, in occupied Palestine, and in Israel. And we do it through urgently
advocating for de-escalation, de-militarisation, for nonviolent means of resolving the conflict,
an end to the occupation of Palestine, and a just peace. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Quakers pray we will not need to keep writing statements like this calling on the British and
other governments to act, and calling for the senseless killing and destruction to stop. But
until peace prevails, we are compelled morally and spiritually to speak out and take action.
There is no time to delay, the violence must end now – tomorrow is too late to save the
many precious lives at risk today. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">30 January 2024</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHCTasQz5baUQdsLniLy67xtx-3QZrESDkA0s9R8Yb-f9Iabikzl_IIjs5ETzP90qB5A1xoDRmRhpimZ2BdXy_ZznAtPbAMA1XDLP_hEy3JUJFM7ZzdCniAH-Us5PufniroPvk47DVmRhKoKAHcKE0F4y3l0yiOSey4MdmJK0dO-5FAZmwZcmDA/s1500/IMG_0247.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1247" data-original-width="1500" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHCTasQz5baUQdsLniLy67xtx-3QZrESDkA0s9R8Yb-f9Iabikzl_IIjs5ETzP90qB5A1xoDRmRhpimZ2BdXy_ZznAtPbAMA1XDLP_hEy3JUJFM7ZzdCniAH-Us5PufniroPvk47DVmRhKoKAHcKE0F4y3l0yiOSey4MdmJK0dO-5FAZmwZcmDA/w640-h532/IMG_0247.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-37520169026431362972024-02-03T11:03:00.002+00:002024-02-03T11:03:25.943+00:00On being hopeful…<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">I’m trying…</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLfha8oAbjX6MJS_2YaQgbIPzyTswG_-6_QW-xtm_HCK9JzogFw3d04gV2UIH0pB_r9HD4kbHaAK00EXWxAxiHPOqSrTRyg3KeWYpp3ydYAMe6diy2vJcTfg4UuOWzHW8R7WtOazAQvgCOL5LI8IOj0G3luJRUrIyM0onKJp2KKe1tmK4Ux8-jQ/s1419/IMG_3372.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="979" data-original-width="1419" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLfha8oAbjX6MJS_2YaQgbIPzyTswG_-6_QW-xtm_HCK9JzogFw3d04gV2UIH0pB_r9HD4kbHaAK00EXWxAxiHPOqSrTRyg3KeWYpp3ydYAMe6diy2vJcTfg4UuOWzHW8R7WtOazAQvgCOL5LI8IOj0G3luJRUrIyM0onKJp2KKe1tmK4Ux8-jQ/w640-h442/IMG_3372.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-52081081796957700622024-02-01T09:51:00.001+00:002024-02-01T09:51:49.361+00:00Today's letter to my MP<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Letter to my MP today, flawed as it is...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I am writing to protest at the UK government’s decision to stop
supporting UNWRA.</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It is well documented that the people of Gaza are suffering
from starvation and lack of shelter. They need food and shelter NOW.</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><u>If </u>it is true that 12 people working for UNWRA were involved
in the horrific Hamas attack on October 7<sup>th</sup> that is not an excuse to stop supporting UNWRA. UNWRA employs 30,000
people and 12 of them have been accused. You don’t stop funding the UK police
because of widespread racism and sexism and corruption. </i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The UK especially should be supporting UNWRA because the UK has
a historic responsibility to the people of Palestine because of the forced displacement and dispossession of Palestinians
after WW2.</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The halt in funding for UNWRA compounds the UK’s complicity
in the genocide being carried out by Israel. Your government has explicitly
said they are “on Israel’s side” and have been allowing the sale of weapons to Israel
for years, despite the fact that it is an apartheid state, and despite the fact
that it has been breaking international law for years by demolishing Palestinian
houses and expanding settlements.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>(But then it is also obvious in the government’s treatment
of refugees that Mr Sunak thinks obeying international law is optional.)</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The UK government has also disdained the ruling of the ICJ:
that Israel’s war on the people of Gaza could lead to – or be later labelled as
- genocide.</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Your government is out of step with the majority of ordinary
people in the UK.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Most British people are compassionate, and can clearly see
what is happening in Gaza and want Mr Sunak to call for a ceasefire and to send
aid to the people of Gaza. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I cannot believe that in 2023 I am seeing what is happening in
Gaza. It haunts my days. And I am not alone. It is not just the people who
march week by week in London who are distraught with anger and sadness at the
West’s heartless stance on the plight of Palestinians.</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>In despair<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Sue Hepworth </i></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgYPdslBAvymtafgB1nwhBFvCfcXEl-ey_SUG-eS1rexF2LyDsH_yuoVGxeXT8-qhU74-dH33Z174_pQNdMxEERtN04Z2eVcvuRHol8-kCPEDfv8MZykprANiivxJKfgE-lgKFCO21OUEdyryMg1SbXnViBdZVyz8yB3sKbisrg7odnSNbiWiig/s3072/IMG_7884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="2304" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgYPdslBAvymtafgB1nwhBFvCfcXEl-ey_SUG-eS1rexF2LyDsH_yuoVGxeXT8-qhU74-dH33Z174_pQNdMxEERtN04Z2eVcvuRHol8-kCPEDfv8MZykprANiivxJKfgE-lgKFCO21OUEdyryMg1SbXnViBdZVyz8yB3sKbisrg7odnSNbiWiig/w480-h640/IMG_7884.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></span></div></div>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-54515017961820430352024-01-30T06:51:00.000+00:002024-01-30T06:51:08.689+00:00At home<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The headline that struck me this morning at 6 am was that 1 in 9 UK children are reported to be disabled, and the politicians are worried. Are they worried in the way that they are worried about people starving and having to turn to food banks, and others dying because of mouldy accommodation? (ie not worried at all). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">They are worried because of the implications for the economy. Wouldn’t you know it?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After reading this I went down for my first cuppa and met Dave in the kitchen who said “I’m going to tell you two bits of exciting scientific news, one of which you’ll be interested in and one which you won’t.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Well, don’t tell me the one I won’t be interested in. That’s an Asperger thing.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I’ll tell you anyway because you OUGHT to be interested in it.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Friends, it was about there being signs of past life on Mars. Not dull, after all. And very brief. 👍</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The second was about Alzheimer’s and I’d already read it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I then told Dave about the disabled children statistic and he said, “Well you know what the politicians will do, don’t you?” And before he’d said it I had jumped to the same conclusion. “They’ll do the Rwanda thing-“</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes!” I said, interrupting, “they’ll change the definition of disabled.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes, they’ll do a Humpty Dumpty and say this is true because I say it is true.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">All this before I had had my first restorative swig of Yorkshire Tea.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am back in bed now and he has gone off for </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">the day to help someone with DIY. I shall enjoy the quiet house and paint. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last week was unpleasant. I spent most of the week a tormented combination of angry and sad because of the western world’s insouciance about the genocide in Gaza. I feel the same now but I have my feelings under control so they’re not spilling out and ruining the days.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I got some paintings back from the framer on Friday and was really delighted with one in particular, one I hadn’t been that keen on before…</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA26HO0P7HEZCWM3i72SQgd2g-NgSmwWhNjNHZfpSFdfkNk_yvqPP-rwddeV9OcUBqxC0xhRv9mCjauIf-cpSRruR2aMFD5gjyUXQ1zidL-QC_6CFYdg8vRAAcxatuZoOy0lbHHK5ZokKkft6bjeum9uVABnnDUE_nMQaLh95dOpxYXt_a95JWqw/s3004/IMG_8873.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2503" data-original-width="3004" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA26HO0P7HEZCWM3i72SQgd2g-NgSmwWhNjNHZfpSFdfkNk_yvqPP-rwddeV9OcUBqxC0xhRv9mCjauIf-cpSRruR2aMFD5gjyUXQ1zidL-QC_6CFYdg8vRAAcxatuZoOy0lbHHK5ZokKkft6bjeum9uVABnnDUE_nMQaLh95dOpxYXt_a95JWqw/w640-h534/IMG_8873.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I like it but not enough to keep. Next time I am exhibiting it will be one I offer for sale. I’m currently trying to loosen up and be more impressionistic and am working on a painting without brushes, but using a palette knife, cotton buds, cocktail sticks and my fingers. It’s fun! And fun is what I need in these dark dark times.</span><div><div><br /></div></div>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-62632968680679145482024-01-27T07:36:00.003+00:002024-01-27T07:38:57.508+00:00A spark of hope<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Thank God for the chink of light that came from the International Court of Justice yesterday.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Perhaps it’s the beginning of the end of the lies that Israel tells the world and that the UK and US repeat.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So many dead. So many orphaned, homeless, injured, displaced and starving. Perhaps one day in the future there will be justice. There is a spark of hope. It is something.</span></p><p><br /></p>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-13644570848528925202024-01-26T06:48:00.001+00:002024-01-26T06:48:40.973+00:00A poem translated from the Hebrew<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMiXWUYTGX4ORo5CE_h2Gp6AoBHwmUCGbJ8f5kTTYXKOloI8kwm-1LJsUj-U5J8viAqWvipnQ0m_HtUw_xMlb5u7aHDvC4r0p2R0fN95VuqobGdxosOztzfhrgjikO_TXQ0WWUJWngeCXEaeuihNf8cJGeVZNlDW7jCX6fachQ3nFzH0HjEDn98Q/s3146/IMG_8805.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3146" data-original-width="2249" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMiXWUYTGX4ORo5CE_h2Gp6AoBHwmUCGbJ8f5kTTYXKOloI8kwm-1LJsUj-U5J8viAqWvipnQ0m_HtUw_xMlb5u7aHDvC4r0p2R0fN95VuqobGdxosOztzfhrgjikO_TXQ0WWUJWngeCXEaeuihNf8cJGeVZNlDW7jCX6fachQ3nFzH0HjEDn98Q/w458-h640/IMG_8805.jpeg" width="458" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-2284755886424297852024-01-25T07:03:00.005+00:002024-01-25T07:04:41.163+00:00Poem<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Please will you watch the prize-winning poet Fiona Benson read one of her poems on Youtube?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It's <i><u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QWt1Sk51kg">here</a></u></i></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkGKBUFGw3YxQxJr3uv57iWxOWI7W0Sg2KkGr_vik1FrPFUOAVVas5j1v7fzwQevU34xtoSJN_d4BgYmsG5LWFtc1i7uJmbPQv6A0yUCsvu-5LU9fN0aesdfoF6q1jr0j3_HX2mcUzn0n6UgWWVMoAxqrm1OanQ1imQ68uga8mtsTHjGmhkkO7Q/s1000/Banksy%20love%20not%20war.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkGKBUFGw3YxQxJr3uv57iWxOWI7W0Sg2KkGr_vik1FrPFUOAVVas5j1v7fzwQevU34xtoSJN_d4BgYmsG5LWFtc1i7uJmbPQv6A0yUCsvu-5LU9fN0aesdfoF6q1jr0j3_HX2mcUzn0n6UgWWVMoAxqrm1OanQ1imQ68uga8mtsTHjGmhkkO7Q/w480-h640/Banksy%20love%20not%20war.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><i><br /></i></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-81843394291442387602024-01-23T07:42:00.003+00:002024-02-04T20:00:52.235+00:00Obscenity<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I expect you would prefer to arrive at my blog and find a cheery post about everyday life at Hepworth Towers and the harmless humorous skirmishes between the odd couple who live there. I much prefer writing such posts.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Today I can’t. All I can think about are the children, women and men in Gaza. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Israeli army continues to kill innocent civilians, to destroy their homes and to target hospitals. Yesterday I read in the news that they even arrested medics in one hospital and another hospital is under siege. Because of shortages of medical supplies, children are having limbs amputated without anaesthetics.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The majority of people in Gaza are starving, thousands upon thousands are wounded, and 1.9 million (the majority of the population) are displaced. Meanwhile western countries stand by and watch. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In four days it will be International Holocaust Memorial Day. In years to come will there be a similar day for the obscenity that is happening in Gaza? No, because the western world does not care about Palestinians. If they did, they wouldn’t have supported Israel for years and years while they broke international law and created an apartheid state.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Please stand up for Palestine.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Please follow this link and donate to Medical Aid for Palestinians.</span></p><p><a href="https://www.map.org.uk/">https://www.map.org.uk/</a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6N_LN2sOQ7z2qNc6Y9wkF1rZa0WA4GFaYecjPvJQeMRFUQb8iXK6zsoQ0R0x26jhSqYKpxBtHKFEVuDSti-LVUG4UT1ayL4MJBt4Zlkf52hcDRuFZbUDXnF3CwYqaFKOVbk16j7mTZhtfIePqUeQZwrf_1lD_RrFJECgn3Ee1X3aSKb2YlauEg/s1305/IMG_0019.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1305" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6N_LN2sOQ7z2qNc6Y9wkF1rZa0WA4GFaYecjPvJQeMRFUQb8iXK6zsoQ0R0x26jhSqYKpxBtHKFEVuDSti-LVUG4UT1ayL4MJBt4Zlkf52hcDRuFZbUDXnF3CwYqaFKOVbk16j7mTZhtfIePqUeQZwrf_1lD_RrFJECgn3Ee1X3aSKb2YlauEg/w640-h442/IMG_0019.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-66790999807177965602024-01-18T08:11:00.004+00:002024-01-18T08:11:51.853+00:00Losing it<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last year I was given a five year diary/journal with a difference. On each day you are asked a question. Yesterday’s was ‘Do you prefer the sea or the mountains and why?’ The day before, I was asked ‘What do you want more than anything else?’ </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today the question is ‘What is special about today?’ And my answer is:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">‘There is nothing in my diary - which means I can paint. Also I can stay in bed and read as long as I like.’ </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have had some good things in my diary lately - such as trying out a class of QiGong yesterday, run by a friend, and having breakfast with Liz at Hassop Station last week. There have also been quite a few errands and appointments and duties, not hardships, but not fun either. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dave’s brain is wired differently from mine. I relish the idea of an ‘empty’ day when I don’t have to schedule, and I can please myself. He likes to have the day buttoned up, parcelled out, ordered. Certainly he likes it when no one comes and when he can please himself, but he likes to have a <i>plan. </i>And he wants to know what my plan is - phrased as <i>the shape of the day -</i> and at 6.30 in the morning when I have stumbled downstairs for my first mug of Yorkshire Tea, I am in no fit state to be thinking of plans or shapes even if I wanted to.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I know this is a rambling post but there we are. I have an empty day, and possibly an empty mind as well. All that is on my mind right now is that the turquoise in the painting I am working on is far too intense. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dave has just come in the bedroom and said I left the (sliding) back door open on the car last night. On Monday he left his wallet in full view in the car when he parked in a hospital car park. On Tuesday I left the hot tap running by mistake. Last week I left the kitchen light on all night, two nights in a row, although I was sure I had switched it off.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We are both losing it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After two weeks of scattered, ill ordered and desultory hunting for it, accompanied by the wailing and gnashing of teeth, Dave has now completed rigorous crime scene searches of two of our sheds to find the bazooka he uses for splitting logs. The first shed - where he does all his woodwork - is so full and cluttered, it took two days to search. I wish he would let me show you what the inside of this shed looks like. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">What I <i>can </i>show you is the new bazooka he just bought from Chesterfield while I have been cosy in bed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirtnKpGIIEzMTJGlo5GT8YNEjG2XmtDaBlk2tQo2U2bJ7Xd2SQayMGqLxz_5WWrQSaKEUvoxXiPMkYzb57-MiGzjn7MVeo0MF2l_0we2R6XWJ5hyphenhyphenuxy4nlI2skzxtaZPtwBG9-O0UKyD5liBmIHI4ybjLsu3szaT8S-a5KlkmcVfYRzwQb9oF14w/s4032/IMG_8829.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirtnKpGIIEzMTJGlo5GT8YNEjG2XmtDaBlk2tQo2U2bJ7Xd2SQayMGqLxz_5WWrQSaKEUvoxXiPMkYzb57-MiGzjn7MVeo0MF2l_0we2R6XWJ5hyphenhyphenuxy4nlI2skzxtaZPtwBG9-O0UKyD5liBmIHI4ybjLsu3szaT8S-a5KlkmcVfYRzwQb9oF14w/w480-h640/IMG_8829.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>A bazooka. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not an Oscar.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-12007239228032149432024-01-13T08:39:00.001+00:002024-01-13T08:39:21.243+00:00Confessions<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">What should I write on this blog?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That I am glad that there is at least one country - South Africa - that will not only condemn Israel for its genocide but will follow through and take the matter to court?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That I don’t have a steady hand when I am painting? I watch videos of people painting and see their hand half way up the long handle of a brush and marvel at their incredible control. I don’t have that control. I have been working and reworking the kitchen shelves and their contents on my latest painting for a week now. Finally it is getting near to where I want it and I can move on to the next section of the painting. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5s77T6lEnkNwx3A6ZPreG-UXNtvoXn2tKjD9oGfE9dXb-P5ORtE6COH-5QE-p5n5dN129uZZS9fdhJCB8BioMdb8uhw2At1bYFW7pA-0W1EBScI2Iy1lATv7O2BWna9oxs6cRJV6IVJJMIZrDSHWcBy61mZvnDJYr_s4ulUqWOgGS2rU_3sNIQ/s4032/IMG_6139.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5s77T6lEnkNwx3A6ZPreG-UXNtvoXn2tKjD9oGfE9dXb-P5ORtE6COH-5QE-p5n5dN129uZZS9fdhJCB8BioMdb8uhw2At1bYFW7pA-0W1EBScI2Iy1lATv7O2BWna9oxs6cRJV6IVJJMIZrDSHWcBy61mZvnDJYr_s4ulUqWOgGS2rU_3sNIQ/w480-h640/IMG_6139.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That I have just broken off from reading <i><a href="https://www.virago.co.uk/titles/mary-mccarthy/the-group/9780349018058/">The Group</a></i> by Mary McCarthy to read the last two thirds of <i><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Plotting-Grown-ups-Sue-Hepworth/dp/095684572X">Plotting for Grownups</a></i> because it makes me laugh* in these dark days of January when evil is everywhere in the news? Whereas I find <i>The Group</i> heavy going and I am only continuing with it because I am trying to read more fiction outside my usual zone of choice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That the reindeer Dave made are still here</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSMoMj0I_DYqzpJ4X4DGlMprj89zXm2Z-arKJMNJjR4ZziSKYtXgumQHXz4Xj0yOE6FOJkwcUW-SBA5xTdZ_ITcUkHQh0udvIuG2bzNPH-ISzyGy92C25UC6qp-wx7ZtuZTAD1l5K2a28H1CiGEOe9Xtbmqrg5le_iHcPXn5z_ajhG9AD5TBF_A/s4032/IMG_8774.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSMoMj0I_DYqzpJ4X4DGlMprj89zXm2Z-arKJMNJjR4ZziSKYtXgumQHXz4Xj0yOE6FOJkwcUW-SBA5xTdZ_ITcUkHQh0udvIuG2bzNPH-ISzyGy92C25UC6qp-wx7ZtuZTAD1l5K2a28H1CiGEOe9Xtbmqrg5le_iHcPXn5z_ajhG9AD5TBF_A/w640-h480/IMG_8774.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That this week I have been worrying about the deterioration of my brain because I have had such immense difficulty in understanding how split ticketing works on rail fares, and the websites were no help and hard to use. It was driving me bonkers and making me think I was completely past it. I want to visit Het in Cornwall and the ordinary return ticket price was £230. Now, finally, I have found a website (Split my Fare) that was straightforward to use, and I have got a journey that suits me and with as little stress as possible for £136. Phew. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That I have been reading <i><a href="https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/maggie-smith/keep-moving/9781472155986?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=19553275652&cq_con=&cq_med=pla_with_promotion&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAhomtBhDgARIsABcaYylQup4KXA5hf4I7R7UGrpdFWV7diyoqpMRZ0mmJcyZtputE_5qjub0aAj_qEALw_wcB#GOR010878272">Keep Moving</a></i> again because I needed help.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxtn5JfVl7AH5YFRyOyANUxKsY2PWNTh-SjpMoGuiOf1Pg2kw_rdUA2xM9HxmiA0ciVxu9hz5r2KVtHXd2QePijr0OOJfpOTNF2jBoGvqR0zkRytC3-Ivq7a0sWqsJkULxrQ5ivFDFtKRCSeF_dNF3G4MZFpfJfRagz8pe3HJBatk8Plmk_YUTw/s4032/IMG_8782.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxtn5JfVl7AH5YFRyOyANUxKsY2PWNTh-SjpMoGuiOf1Pg2kw_rdUA2xM9HxmiA0ciVxu9hz5r2KVtHXd2QePijr0OOJfpOTNF2jBoGvqR0zkRytC3-Ivq7a0sWqsJkULxrQ5ivFDFtKRCSeF_dNF3G4MZFpfJfRagz8pe3HJBatk8Plmk_YUTw/w300-h400/IMG_8782.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That I went with two friends to see <i>One Life</i>, a new film about Nicholas Winton, one man behind the Czech kindertransport, and it made me weep. Despite saving over 600 children, he carried guilt and regret for years and years because of the children he <i>didn’t </i>save. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And the next day we received a letter from Lux (13), who was thanking us for giving her money to buy things for refugees on the <i><a href="https://chooselove.org/">Choose Love</a></i> site.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">She said this</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">“…I love doing Choose Love because I read a book about a refugee and how even a little bit of money can make a difference.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">What a lesson. Do what you can, and do not fret about what you cannot do.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I will add it to the advice that Het gave me when I was in pieces over the plight of people in Gaza: “They want us to care, not to suffer.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Onward and upward.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">*it may be shocking and/or infra dig to admit that I read my <i>Plotting </i>books to cheer myself up, but then if I thought it was funny enough to write it in the first place, why wouldn’t it make me laugh now? After all, I watch repeats of screen comedies because they still make me laugh e.g. Ross in <i>Friends </i>having difficulty with his leather trousers, Meg Ryan in <i>Sleepless in Seattle</i> saying “Thank God my life is in place” and Barbara in <i>The Good Life</i> pouring gravy down her chest saying “Because this is what Barbaras </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">do.”</span></p>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-61200535128734879102024-01-09T11:30:00.003+00:002024-01-10T06:39:17.766+00:00Letter from home<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I like Meryl Streep.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I liked her in <i>Out of Africa </i></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5A3ioj2YSbG1XydaSqr5cU7uriRXVUXXb6Bnw89AuUWNFncIm9nA4ojAh6PgwjG6FoZs3wn47julk_yohOcTWSj1l4RbE9C1WBjM8f5u5R9gD77HBccG_Q9s_rBXYyyhf_3yxBR2fsnXa7de3z99YuSAQl8oIdLN-3Ty610njy0CxEcQP5tsYA/s907/IMG_0210.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="907" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5A3ioj2YSbG1XydaSqr5cU7uriRXVUXXb6Bnw89AuUWNFncIm9nA4ojAh6PgwjG6FoZs3wn47julk_yohOcTWSj1l4RbE9C1WBjM8f5u5R9gD77HBccG_Q9s_rBXYyyhf_3yxBR2fsnXa7de3z99YuSAQl8oIdLN-3Ty610njy0CxEcQP5tsYA/w640-h350/IMG_0210.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">and I liked her in <i>Little Women.</i></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmZZBhXv0P2CaFB-suXLQd_m6QrG7VvPft4bdzaIJa__xLiHojc2tGVwB-WupybwQGdAOVKGFQEVYwiDkDO6BflV3lfEXnPVYy9_5YwzIujUi3z48iXGojrjA5N-Tar8-ZZxjBKGlYyLo-9c0_PgTOaDn6Mx6vlxG_bSIvUgIlSUEFD-OhA_8OA/s1468/IMG_0211.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="1468" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmZZBhXv0P2CaFB-suXLQd_m6QrG7VvPft4bdzaIJa__xLiHojc2tGVwB-WupybwQGdAOVKGFQEVYwiDkDO6BflV3lfEXnPVYy9_5YwzIujUi3z48iXGojrjA5N-Tar8-ZZxjBKGlYyLo-9c0_PgTOaDn6Mx6vlxG_bSIvUgIlSUEFD-OhA_8OA/w640-h428/IMG_0211.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So I hope it’s clear - I like Meryl Streep.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And I love Nora Ephron - you know that.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But I do <i>not</i> like Meryl Streep reading Nora Ephron. I bought the audiobook of <i>Heartburn </i>and the narrator is Ms Streep and I cannot stand her narration! It is so mannered. Maybe she knew Nora, and Nora <i>was </i>mannered when she read her stuff out loud, but I cannot imagine it. I have always imagined the narrator/main character of <i>Heartburn</i> to be casual, offhand, deadpan. But Meryl Streep reading <i>Heartburn</i> is like those actors who read poetry and put so much of themselves into the reading that the poem and the poet’s voice get lost. It is incredibly annoying. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, I have given up on that audiobook with some harrumphing, and have returned to listening to series after series of <i>Ed Reardon’s Week</i> while I paint. I LOVE Ed Reardon, he is outrageous in his mockery of modern culture and successful writers and he is wonderfully grumpy. I love it when he’s writing and someone comes to the door or calls on the phone and he groans. He expresses my inner grumpiness. (If Dave were reading this he’d say what do you mean “inner” grumpiness?)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But Dave has his own problems.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We needed a new cooker and after flirting with the idea of buying one for months and not being able to find what we wanted (a freestanding double electric that was white or cream and had an induction hob, and with a specific height) we bought one in a hurry last week. It is stainless steel with a black hob. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJW_fErARlBztT6_mq_XAICkUUF5dZE2wtcAGTmejo1sc6tkwRNgLHst_wUyiYyNw-uWGr9g4GpvUqRZo1lbYQw8KQORCXJqSaLZxkvnz_yJaHbcPmaWV8QDJ_QyTt0LRgc6W4Y9EKqIo-MgIqr8MisY0D_hLu9Fb9k0kLmhS0NqYwopdouj6o1g/s3840/3F9866FC-9168-4A4B-9235-501D565F459C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJW_fErARlBztT6_mq_XAICkUUF5dZE2wtcAGTmejo1sc6tkwRNgLHst_wUyiYyNw-uWGr9g4GpvUqRZo1lbYQw8KQORCXJqSaLZxkvnz_yJaHbcPmaWV8QDJ_QyTt0LRgc6W4Y9EKqIo-MgIqr8MisY0D_hLu9Fb9k0kLmhS0NqYwopdouj6o1g/w360-h640/3F9866FC-9168-4A4B-9235-501D565F459C.jpeg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And one of Dave’s Aspergery quirks is a hatred of black. Is drives him nuts. The first time he was sold a desktop screen with a black frame he hated it so much he made a white cardboard frame to slot over the top to obscure it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yesterday he bought an aluminium offcut to fit on top of the hob when it’s not in use, and it’s pretty effective in hiding the black. Thank goodness. An Aspie in full complaint mode is not someone you’d enjoy meeting, let alone live with.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So what else has been happening?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yesterday I saw <i><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/07/mouse-secretly-filmed-tidying-mans-shed-every-night">a wonderful video of a mouse tidying someone’s shed.</a></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I must find this mouse and set him loose on Dave's shed. Then his study.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And last week we had hundreds of twitchers surrounding Hassop Station and clogging up the Monsal Trail with cameras the size of vacuum cleaners (said twitchers oblivious to the fact that the Trail is a thoroughfare for walkers and cyclists) because a flock of waxwings had decided to visit. It was very exciting…for the birdwatchers. As you know, I am not a birdwatcher. <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFsPu3Sv2aM">Here is a link to the video in case you are.</a></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Something more exciting for me personally has been entering two of my paintings into the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2024. I shall have to wait a couple of months to find out if they want them. As my only remaining painting ambition is to be exhibited in the RA, my virtual fingers are crossed, and crossed again</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the meantime I am working on one of our kitchen (without the offending hob) and after that I am going to attempt a painting of the view from the bedroom window on a January morning.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5V5H14lIazzskYmQ2KkZmJKBFQGBB89-Z5ckP44PWJ4qEIfrQ4xZ-Dx-wYOyPx87xz49HHXObpA_hpdsB41svz7npSRGN8I8wEOXnjTMH-yoEK-AI8eO4NiF0sUsU5sUjV7UxRxlDnziUWzC4V6Fu683R02ahfW7DV96xZB-jJTTYKnh8MLiQEw/s3934/IMG_8769.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2872" data-original-width="3934" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5V5H14lIazzskYmQ2KkZmJKBFQGBB89-Z5ckP44PWJ4qEIfrQ4xZ-Dx-wYOyPx87xz49HHXObpA_hpdsB41svz7npSRGN8I8wEOXnjTMH-yoEK-AI8eO4NiF0sUsU5sUjV7UxRxlDnziUWzC4V6Fu683R02ahfW7DV96xZB-jJTTYKnh8MLiQEw/w640-h468/IMG_8769.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-19091670477991759552024-01-03T09:12:00.000+00:002024-01-03T09:12:49.210+00:00Edits<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You know I said I'd been reading the beginnings of my novels?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well...I got sucked into <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zuzus-Petals-Sue-Hepworth-ebook/dp/B0067O1Y3A/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2U4288VIKFCTT&keywords=Zuzu%27s+Petals&qid=1704272582&s=digital-text&sprefix=zuzu%27s+petals%2Cdigital-text%2C79&sr=1-1"><i>Zuzu's Petal</i>s</a> and I have just finished reading it this morning. I haven't read it for 15 years and I enjoyed it. There is some good writing in there, some important themes, some terrific dialogue and unfortunately there's some imagery that makes me cringe a little and that I would now delete.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Have you ever read it? The paperback cover was so awful that when the publisher emailed it to me, I cried, and immediately emailed back, begging her not to use it. She insisted. Who knows if that is why it did no sell?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was the hardback cover, which is not dreadful, but neither is it </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">enticing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZwQOa_Pyqn_yJcVoqZVm2B5opzj2aOnGAIhSDt5s4e8VYzRu5J7hj-jfXXDiDda25O0Svi1NYWRKCKCrGtDPWfaz866FccbbV4tHGLN9NW3KUhfGSoF3cHQq3Q15gB_LYfk9yGzhaTSkC0rhp6EHDbH4Jgrklq9kkj88oNzYOS-ccTgs8QT7CQ/s2340/zuzu%20hardback.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1525" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZwQOa_Pyqn_yJcVoqZVm2B5opzj2aOnGAIhSDt5s4e8VYzRu5J7hj-jfXXDiDda25O0Svi1NYWRKCKCrGtDPWfaz866FccbbV4tHGLN9NW3KUhfGSoF3cHQq3Q15gB_LYfk9yGzhaTSkC0rhp6EHDbH4Jgrklq9kkj88oNzYOS-ccTgs8QT7CQ/w418-h640/zuzu%20hardback.JPG" width="418" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anyway, in case you never read it, I thought I'd share a scene from it that really amused me this morning.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Corinne, the narrator, is visiting her friend, an old lady called Mrs Galway. Mrs Galway insists on calling Corinne Caroline, because she likes the name better and thinks it is more "stately."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">On the way back
from Broomhill the next day I called in to see Mrs Galway. She
looked fantastic. She had the heating cranked up and a fire lit and she was
wearing a scarlet silk blouse with short sleeves, and a flowery skirt in black,
yellow and red, and a fancy leather belt. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“You’re all
dressed up – you look fab,” I said. “And the room smells lovely. Or is it you?
Is it lavender?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Thank you for
the imprimatur, Caroline.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“<i>Alpha-Omega</i>?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“How did you
guess?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Is it a special
day? Blimey, it’s hot in here.” I took off my jacket and then my cardigan and
sat down in the corner, away from the fire.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Mrs Galway
picked up a duster from the sideboard and started polishing the brass drawer
handles. “I am expecting a gentleman caller,” she said. “Someone I know from
years ago. I was chatting to the young blood who delivered my computer from Finch
Electronics, and-” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“What, Derek Finch?
He’s the same age as me!”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Don’t
interrupt. I was chatting to him while he was fannying around with all the
plugs and sockets, and I asked him how his father was. I know his father from
years ago. Years and years. I used to go dancing with his sister. And Derek
said his father’s wife - second wife as was – she’d died, and his dad was
lonely. So I said <span class="00italics">You tell your dad that I’m lonely too</span>.
So he-”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“<span class="00italics">Are</span> you lonely?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“No, but…anyway,
he rang me up and I invited him round to tea. And now I’m wishing I hadn’t.”
She moved over to the fireplace and started lifting up ornaments and dusting
underneath them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“But why?” I
said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“I’m perfectly
happy as I am. Why would I want a man in my life?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“For a bit of
company?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“But that’s not
what he’ll be wanting. There’ll be a lot more on <span class="00italics">his</span>
shopping list, you can be sure.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Do you mean
sex?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“I was already
including that in the company equation.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“What then?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“He’ll want to
move in. I can’t be doing with that. A fancy man is all very well, but I’m not
wanting another husband.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“I thought you and
Mr Galway had a happy marriage.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“We did. And
there you have it,” she said, turning round to face me. “I don’t want another
man in my life mucking up my memories of him. Muddying the clear water of my
happy past. And quite apart from that…I can’t be bothered with sharing my house
with someone else. I have my friends. And now I’m wired up and on the internet,
I’m connected to the world. Why do I want a sad old man in my life?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Poor Mr Finch,
is all I can say. You’ve raised his hopes, and now you’ll be dashing them again.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">There was a
knock at the door.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Oh my God, he’s
here already.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Shall I go and
answer it for you?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Thank you.” She
hobbled over to the sideboard and shoved the duster in the top drawer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">It was Viv.
Between the front door and Mrs G’s sitting room I filled her in on what was
going on.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Oh, Vivien.
Hello.” Mrs G took the duster out again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“What are you
going to do with this man, then?” said Viv.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“I’ll show him
my computer. I know. I can show him some on-line dating sites. That’ll keep him
quiet. Talking of sites, did I tell you I found one all about graves? It’s this
man, and he goes about taking photographs of graves. There’s a nice churchyard
in <st1:place w:st="on">Cornwall</st1:place> – right
on the cliffs, it is. I’m thinking of being buried there when I die.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“What about your
children?” said Viv. “It will be hard for them to visit, if it’s all the way
down in the West Country.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“They never come
home from <st1:place w:st="on">Australia</st1:place>
as it is. When I’m dead, they definitely won’t come home, so what’s the
difference?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“What about us?”
said Viv. “What about me? I thought I was your adopted daughter. Don’t you
think I’d like to come and visit your grave?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Don’t be silly,”
said Mrs G. She was still pottering round the room with her duster,
re-arranging ornaments and tweaking anti-macassars.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“I wasn’t joking
about you being my mum,” said Viv. “I told you my childhood was rubbish. No
room to play, no space to be boisterous. It was full of old people in various
stages of gangrenous decay.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Viv!” I said,
shocked, but unable to stop myself from laughing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“A constant
stream of ancient relatives came to stay and then died – Auntie Edith, Auntie
Kitty, Great Grandma, Auntie Jessie,” she said. “They weren’t like you, Mrs G –
hale and hearty. If a relative arrived at the door with a suitcase, you knew
that death was just round the corner. If an auntie came and just brought a
sponge cake, you had a fighting chance she might leave again. Auntie Kathleen
always brought a cake, and she always got out safely. Sometimes she brought a
salad in a green plastic box.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Stop telling us
stories, Vivien. Here, just straighten that curtain, will you? It’s caught on
the radiator.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Viv smoothed the
folds of the curtain. “But it’s true,” she said. “It was like a stacking system
for the crematorium. Great Grandma used to whittle on about what would happen
at the resurrection. She had several missing digits and a wooden leg. She was
worried about how she would manage.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“I take it she
hadn’t read her Bible,” said Mrs Galway. “At the resurrection we’re all going
to get a new body. Personally, I’d like a new nose. I’ve never liked my nose.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Oh she knew
about the new body thing, but she saw it as a straight trade rather than new
for old.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> Mrs Galway seemed to have the room to her
liking, now. She was sitting in an arm chair next to the fire. “Talking of
trade-ins,” she said, “to keep costs down for my funeral, I searched for
second-hand coffins on the internet - but I couldn’t find any.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Did you Google
for them – sorry – you know – use a search engine to-”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Don’t be so
patronising, Caroline – I know perfectly well what Googling is. Yes, I Googled
for them, but they’re as rare as… I don’t know what. The only place you can get
second-hand ones is in Muslim countries, and that’s because they use the
coffins just to carry the body to the grave. Then they take it out to bury it.
So the second-hand idea is out of the window. But then I had another idea. If I
pay for my funeral now, and I do it with the <span class="00italics">Co-op</span>,
I’ll be able to collect the divi on it and spend it before I go. How about <span class="00italics">that</span>?"</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-52407595394571454592024-01-01T08:02:00.009+00:002024-01-01T10:30:03.630+00:00Beginnings and endings - musings <p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’ve just listened to a fascinating edition of Open Book on BBC iPlayer about the beginnings and endings in fiction. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Three writers were choosing and discussing their favourites. It made me go and find my own novels and read the beginnings again to check them out. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I decided that (strangely) my favourite beginning was that in <i>Zuzu’s Petals, </i>the least popular of my novels. And the weakest beginning, I decided, was the one in <i>Even When They Know You.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hBYWuFb7Gr8ub90N9d0zqv4g46C5ACbduRWwjrBcKYfzJOPjlwBSS5Oobh6X4z07pWNX68GEneBdl8YhlrrPGQ8E7BRM4ifb5483uVAwJBKNRxgph0vzDhRI0MLrNbhDnu3yu8NpJoiwHqcioCV3EbBW9xUsR6VjiGutbcTqK5s-pWCS-jgeJQ/s3334/IMG_8698.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2379" data-original-width="3334" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hBYWuFb7Gr8ub90N9d0zqv4g46C5ACbduRWwjrBcKYfzJOPjlwBSS5Oobh6X4z07pWNX68GEneBdl8YhlrrPGQ8E7BRM4ifb5483uVAwJBKNRxgph0vzDhRI0MLrNbhDnu3yu8NpJoiwHqcioCV3EbBW9xUsR6VjiGutbcTqK5s-pWCS-jgeJQ/w640-h456/IMG_8698.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><i><br /></i></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I used to find the beginning of a novel the hardest part to write, and if I were writing now I think I’d start part way in and write the beginning later. The writers on the programme agreed that they don’t know what the beginning is until they have written the ending. This was because the beginning must contain the equivalent of the DNA of the novel. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of Kurt Vonnegut’s rules of writing was to “Start as close to the end as possible.” I wish I had taken his advice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yesterday after Quaker meeting when we were drinking coffee, someone I don’t know well took <i>But I Told You Last Year That I Loved You </i>from the library shelf and said to me “Are you <i>this </i>Sue Hepworth? I didn’t know you were a writer.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes, it’s me,” I said, “but I’m a painter now.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Friend standing next to me said generously “She’s a very good writer. You should read it.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the afternoon I had some work to do on my laptop and it was chilly in the bedroom so I carried it down to what used to be my study, now my studio, because the log burning stove was lit in there. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EY5i6lpwrjcNHd_zN8u1OVOAgBKAVAJx4Ihc4bXJA4poEEB2OKBbIn_mCq4D_0IbYrbjR3nzqeWfF7W3oY9F9B30O15VV82H4jIS_YGkrK76Y8C7AxM6UM2dgrwJmawTcW52a-5vJKGeI_hLUHmKNOxWRanuaZUn5BronDCbpFpWOaScPSau5w/s4032/IMG_5879.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EY5i6lpwrjcNHd_zN8u1OVOAgBKAVAJx4Ihc4bXJA4poEEB2OKBbIn_mCq4D_0IbYrbjR3nzqeWfF7W3oY9F9B30O15VV82H4jIS_YGkrK76Y8C7AxM6UM2dgrwJmawTcW52a-5vJKGeI_hLUHmKNOxWRanuaZUn5BronDCbpFpWOaScPSau5w/w640-h480/IMG_5879.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkWD4n4s1HdrqQgdALP1GzkewVNFZ5zvSChfliTEk_bV2xBAMXsgGv-ZDhSdJkFz2Zkd3GTqT9dRLnEbXOlsxAIPYLIfSGLk3iP8xm7ZrdixbDG8N6y0RtwB3scloOD9yaCcpS_OIndPC9jAJdxmsAxWzrDw8u_E-xpG5WM7_mokE62xmKkHGGg/s4032/IMG_6139.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkWD4n4s1HdrqQgdALP1GzkewVNFZ5zvSChfliTEk_bV2xBAMXsgGv-ZDhSdJkFz2Zkd3GTqT9dRLnEbXOlsxAIPYLIfSGLk3iP8xm7ZrdixbDG8N6y0RtwB3scloOD9yaCcpS_OIndPC9jAJdxmsAxWzrDw8u_E-xpG5WM7_mokE62xmKkHGGg/w480-h640/IMG_6139.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I cleared the paints to the back of the desk and began to write, and a wave of comfort swept over me. I remembered how much I used to enjoy sitting there in that room, at the desk, facing the wall, writing. And I wished I had been sitting there writing another novel. It was very strange. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think perhaps I should write again. Not for public consumption - because this enterprise is so demanding and because there are so many strands to being a novelist which are nothing but hassle. But I could write for personal pleasure, and also for my mental health. I really should write in my journal more often than once a season.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When I first joined Instagram, in order to post my paintings on there, the only thing I had on my profile was ‘A writer becoming a painter.’ Last week I changed it to ‘Painter, based in the UK.’</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dave and I ignore New Year celebrations. We see it as an arbitrary marker. And anyway, when you look at the world, what is there to celebrate?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But I do have a list of things I want to achieve in 2024, and some of them are concerned with our endings…inspired by the bit in the Quaker <i>Advices and Queries </i>that says </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Approach old age with courage and hope. As far as possible make arrangements for your care in good time so that an undue burden does not fall on others…”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Other aims this coming year are to catch up with old friends, to read more challenging fiction, and to become a better painter.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When I’ve posted this, I’m going to put a new battery in my Courage sign for the darkest days to come - January.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Aw-Z_GqaA7gu7kPFj_BVTBfGey2Xh006Ao2jMDdSs4vGcUiRlb-JxFkBbm3iFRcVpXwyVrzZLb8tjcPZAAEZKX8g-ZY0Is9a2binD5cu5OTZEAQeJ-xtB3acBTkTGpZ5cHfTTr0uh0RrUz6NY2COU3Ma7lwMFiCyrx588XdrKdhHPX39EpDkoQ/s4032/IMG_6006.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Aw-Z_GqaA7gu7kPFj_BVTBfGey2Xh006Ao2jMDdSs4vGcUiRlb-JxFkBbm3iFRcVpXwyVrzZLb8tjcPZAAEZKX8g-ZY0Is9a2binD5cu5OTZEAQeJ-xtB3acBTkTGpZ5cHfTTr0uh0RrUz6NY2COU3Ma7lwMFiCyrx588XdrKdhHPX39EpDkoQ/w480-h640/IMG_6006.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thank you for sticking with me during this last unhappy period since October 7th. I wish you all contentment and courage for the coming year.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I am signing off, 13 year old Lux in Colorado just exploded onto my iPad screen with “Happy New Year!” And I responded as required - of course! And we went on exchanging love and ❤️❤️❤️. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">She has put such a big </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">smile on my face. Oh, young people are our hope and our consolation. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-26789533990097102442023-12-29T08:34:00.019+00:002023-12-30T07:29:00.308+00:00Letter from home<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dave said yesterday that he hates the week between Christmas and New Year because it feels like a week of Sundays. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I love it because it’s the only time in the year when I’m at home when I don’t put pressure on myself to “achieve” something. I don’t feel guilty for staying in bed till 11 am reading. I don’t feel guilty sitting by the log burning stove for an hour just thinking. And spending an hour trying to work out an attractive still life arrangement, and failing, doesn’t feel like a waste of time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I always thought I hated still life paintings, and then I realised that my very favourite painting is a still life.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPuVcIE0k_B2kXd_qoqtdJYSCDhzAEEnlQbz4AuHjdv_Cwq7UWqIlSCxg4FfGznGuH874MKqeT-xSw-4XL6HEKJgfTSH755ZyAxzckl9lWiUQaepCRNa-e5_t7akWis1U0cQNsUZIR62CFKNmU8vQ1v-lebPSeoxJwSEpcqVDUViMNgTzw7ckVA/s1033/IMG_9877.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="1033" height="610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPuVcIE0k_B2kXd_qoqtdJYSCDhzAEEnlQbz4AuHjdv_Cwq7UWqIlSCxg4FfGznGuH874MKqeT-xSw-4XL6HEKJgfTSH755ZyAxzckl9lWiUQaepCRNa-e5_t7akWis1U0cQNsUZIR62CFKNmU8vQ1v-lebPSeoxJwSEpcqVDUViMNgTzw7ckVA/w640-h610/IMG_9877.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And the family’s favourite painting of mine is my bedside table, February 2015. This was a ‘found’ still life, not an arranged one.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClXRJjMl-wOil3rLYVquVLCzqKF4hvO3NF9dpJuHtkxY12alcxVdzm1wzz3h1fZacSI1pA3w290sze1jZoR8CnfaXVQRllL9UbU13zwh61bLTORMBWK5HMeII2rowpKaQzPoRp6BeUHgdKvRJBwZ09I25w8SKeeBHUqdZe7IfzbxB4SyRKp5pRg/s3057/IMG_4354.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3057" data-original-width="2197" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClXRJjMl-wOil3rLYVquVLCzqKF4hvO3NF9dpJuHtkxY12alcxVdzm1wzz3h1fZacSI1pA3w290sze1jZoR8CnfaXVQRllL9UbU13zwh61bLTORMBWK5HMeII2rowpKaQzPoRp6BeUHgdKvRJBwZ09I25w8SKeeBHUqdZe7IfzbxB4SyRKp5pRg/w460-h640/IMG_4354.jpeg" width="460" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So anyway, I’ve been on the lookout for collections of objects at home that would make a good ‘unposed’ still life and so far I’ve failed. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Did you have a good Christmas Day? I hope so.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had a lovely one despite the fact that the top oven was on the blink and I had too many things to cook adequately in the bottom oven. But Z kept me steady, and three glasses of champagne certainly helped, </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZi6uwoxEzf4Mrj-0JipB7sCkt5VTHPbBR7PC3scl-WeeWpz3RDc4kxZfdTGfA4HFwW6wOBZjbAyVhVdtqBRUGol_2YyB4O2pOSGPKixQzmImJRxUwruhv8VKTpZg2d04Jf4HzsrebgsU9cWavoeQQZtPzq5vGxoAITBKe4LTVEkZEne6YsDtAQA/s2048/28be9a72-5ac7-457d-8c29-f01c449631cf.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZi6uwoxEzf4Mrj-0JipB7sCkt5VTHPbBR7PC3scl-WeeWpz3RDc4kxZfdTGfA4HFwW6wOBZjbAyVhVdtqBRUGol_2YyB4O2pOSGPKixQzmImJRxUwruhv8VKTpZg2d04Jf4HzsrebgsU9cWavoeQQZtPzq5vGxoAITBKe4LTVEkZEne6YsDtAQA/w480-h640/28be9a72-5ac7-457d-8c29-f01c449631cf.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Z</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">and the dinner seemed to be a success. We have meat eaters and vegetarians, which includes two lapsed vegans, and there’s one grandchild with very individual eating habits (he is very like Dave in other ways, too) who asked for a veggie toad in the hole, so the dinner this year </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">was my biggest ever challenge. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dave and Tate assembled the magic table again</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmIVz1zCtTjHWCj-H8Yu_7nlIIiNzu0TO9pj4Xgus8rt2vU6wIU7bzaiiFoySa_yDKcTGmbdEhAbApxCiGe0Kk9q1AHxzJ9q2jHPWPjKI4GOy42VrhZGOPbFfsXwM_65eDIru28VGQW11sAbpUqZ-QNDdqec_UQx9dU3UBwSbfDbzeu39B-J5aA/s2048/3533f8be-edc3-4b37-924e-42533dcb3a4d.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmIVz1zCtTjHWCj-H8Yu_7nlIIiNzu0TO9pj4Xgus8rt2vU6wIU7bzaiiFoySa_yDKcTGmbdEhAbApxCiGe0Kk9q1AHxzJ9q2jHPWPjKI4GOy42VrhZGOPbFfsXwM_65eDIru28VGQW11sAbpUqZ-QNDdqec_UQx9dU3UBwSbfDbzeu39B-J5aA/w480-h640/3533f8be-edc3-4b37-924e-42533dcb3a4d.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Z</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">and then Dave sloped off to the shed to work on a project that our younger grandson had brought along.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRLnYUwRq6bGYOeYawrihXvdq2DSN7iocF0jHnVWXrBF7EIVH1yxIK09yH5uveptRVN0R-GIGaCtUU7pcGP7_L2W558wcdggmPnMrSOuKhrXl-EV7i5J3lTQ_PO4qNCeGuTOe6BdFS7TDU2etUgjLmYm-Fyyem7EuHSx1D637BjcqEVafqGY4DQ/s2048/315a6967-2750-4c40-a833-63727d2e56f8.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRLnYUwRq6bGYOeYawrihXvdq2DSN7iocF0jHnVWXrBF7EIVH1yxIK09yH5uveptRVN0R-GIGaCtUU7pcGP7_L2W558wcdggmPnMrSOuKhrXl-EV7i5J3lTQ_PO4qNCeGuTOe6BdFS7TDU2etUgjLmYm-Fyyem7EuHSx1D637BjcqEVafqGY4DQ/w480-h640/315a6967-2750-4c40-a833-63727d2e56f8.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Z</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The best thing about the day for me - apart from just <i>being with family - </i>was conversations I had with my grandchildren, and that includes a 5.30 am texting chat on Boxing Day with Lux (11.30pm her time). She taught me something new to do with my iPad, too, so that was a bonus.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dave has been busy making reindeer this Christmas. He began with one for me for my “Christmas card” and then he made another and then they began to breed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1iB_bdqQtYMm3RSrJHW_5skF1PIBRu3AK90ku_qS6RXss7BuwjqhneuuAwuIa57UN5TSiWZOAmwTn0tuzdy2lKFqAadYs_tVATn9kFRAN6h1Rpu5sYXqAoaxOXho65hVBSxbPTGr2SE8gK_LDb3BO2lEYobzr9Ahkd7D1kQujhnf3TkYLWMUPA/s4032/IMG_8622.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1iB_bdqQtYMm3RSrJHW_5skF1PIBRu3AK90ku_qS6RXss7BuwjqhneuuAwuIa57UN5TSiWZOAmwTn0tuzdy2lKFqAadYs_tVATn9kFRAN6h1Rpu5sYXqAoaxOXho65hVBSxbPTGr2SE8gK_LDb3BO2lEYobzr9Ahkd7D1kQujhnf3TkYLWMUPA/w640-h480/IMG_8622.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today he is out doing DIY with someone, and it has stopped raining, and for once the wind is a reasonable 16mph and not a gale, so I shall go out for some exercise and fresh air, then cook, then paint.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I hope you’re enjoying yourselves, whatever you’re up to.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18554411.post-29623568787950847172023-12-23T07:29:00.007+00:002023-12-23T15:41:48.194+00:00Hope and magic <p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well friends, I finished the painting. It’s not perfect, and there may be some tweaking, but it’s 95% done.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaBZp2QVWBH7HwnbPamWAdsN1JT20lzGSUup5DsgwUCBd50VzVeS3Kv3YbMygi0QKNA7fV7Eu1brPSrG8WsqM6zKSS1hhj4QjW3R3OpTUmPTlMH2g-kOFQ5l9B53qeOTqqgvrMXvOQpJkYB0RFMaHJf_zFo27HlFkzqbfA-1XvwevweZipUysNA/s3397/IMG_8569.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3397" data-original-width="2393" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaBZp2QVWBH7HwnbPamWAdsN1JT20lzGSUup5DsgwUCBd50VzVeS3Kv3YbMygi0QKNA7fV7Eu1brPSrG8WsqM6zKSS1hhj4QjW3R3OpTUmPTlMH2g-kOFQ5l9B53qeOTqqgvrMXvOQpJkYB0RFMaHJf_zFo27HlFkzqbfA-1XvwevweZipUysNA/w450-h640/IMG_8569.jpeg" width="450" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>How are <i>you</i> doing this week? This morning?</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Are you managing to keep your spirits up despite the gloom? I hope so.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It’s been a tough gig since October 7th for me, but I’m OK as I begin to write this at 6.19 am. I have just read <u><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/22/jonathan-freedland-hope-2024">Jonathan Freedland’s piece in the Guardian</a></u> - the only piece besides the headlines - and I think I’m going to leave it at that, because it left me with hope.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dave and I had a discussion the other night about Christmas. What was it about? he asked, baffled. Why did I like it? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I like: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">the magic</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">the tree coming in, in the middle of a dark season. I like decorating it and remembering where each decoration came from - my sister Jen gave me the Angel</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKAtL2BgcKELrB0XMXbfs0mkDcvs0awzs4eDfbnGDZJMvL_WLXJyiyx9qB-Tj_NLrM7rth_QIQQ9v5kUS8Bm8QslqW6UhoQSk5SYBJkPA7f2b5jA5dEUadbcMAukgDezxrDheqi8RC31hclKcfdrEl3CXayKPP1GEDXZTTAiDqDE1B3c4-fDbIA/s4032/IMG_8543.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKAtL2BgcKELrB0XMXbfs0mkDcvs0awzs4eDfbnGDZJMvL_WLXJyiyx9qB-Tj_NLrM7rth_QIQQ9v5kUS8Bm8QslqW6UhoQSk5SYBJkPA7f2b5jA5dEUadbcMAukgDezxrDheqi8RC31hclKcfdrEl3CXayKPP1GEDXZTTAiDqDE1B3c4-fDbIA/w480-h640/IMG_8543.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Zoë gave me the joy star, and the peace star, Mary gave me the sun, Liz gave me the dove, Het gave me the heart, Wendy gave me the purple beaded star.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuehUqBafeYflVbXOEo-dWeMm-fe-OmBHj6ajQCWkTInW89ZTJh5rH6_DdTeXqPjnNS74ceHj4L5lKexMZNKHVBWNqdjOenP5Tiq_DXWVo6b3NpNljNVjS7x7LGt3YGBNsd7u96ZMyZw54o8eB0OehQjY_u6DRKDwkyr8bmLCsybK4y5XTAMykVA/s3138/IMG_4114.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3023" data-original-width="3138" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuehUqBafeYflVbXOEo-dWeMm-fe-OmBHj6ajQCWkTInW89ZTJh5rH6_DdTeXqPjnNS74ceHj4L5lKexMZNKHVBWNqdjOenP5Tiq_DXWVo6b3NpNljNVjS7x7LGt3YGBNsd7u96ZMyZw54o8eB0OehQjY_u6DRKDwkyr8bmLCsybK4y5XTAMykVA/s320/IMG_4114.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I like:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">every evening seeing the tree in the corner of the room, sparkling </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">the memories of Christmases when I was a child. I like thinking about my mother and father, and all the sibs being at home for Christmas</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">wrapping presents</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">cooking on my own in the kitchen on Christmas Eve while listening to the Carols from Kings College on the radio</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">the T S Eliot poem <i><u><a href="https://poetryarchive.org/poem/journey-magi/">The Journey of the Magi</a></u></i>, the first verse of which is</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZ7FMG9d90t3quKTtvJtBtactD3xn4pRsJMe97vBFcQiFqbCpiZmP-67Sj485HSflDNHhYvFgaSLCSA6Oht0pqqWZLIQh08CVUmORUBPo5ajqzMKg3fo57_Wttwfe1XYTtytOaEAhFsi9DSvRsdplL-uw6Pue92NJt5GyE4TNPymcApV1KA-pgg/s744/IMG_0182.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="744" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZ7FMG9d90t3quKTtvJtBtactD3xn4pRsJMe97vBFcQiFqbCpiZmP-67Sj485HSflDNHhYvFgaSLCSA6Oht0pqqWZLIQh08CVUmORUBPo5ajqzMKg3fo57_Wttwfe1XYTtytOaEAhFsi9DSvRsdplL-uw6Pue92NJt5GyE4TNPymcApV1KA-pgg/w400-h185/IMG_0182.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">and the Wendy Cope poem <a href="https://poetryarchive.org/poem/christmas-life/"><i>The Christmas Life</i></a> with its lines </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Bring in your memories of Christmas past</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bring in your tears for all that you have lost”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">and</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Bring in the hope, of birth and love and light.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bring the Christmas life into this house.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I like the Christmas story itself, not because I think it’s true but because it’s full of magic,</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> and I like the central message of hope. What brings more joy than a new baby, full of promise? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And this year I thought about the angels. Wouldn’t it be amazing to go out at night and see angels in the sky, singing? Can you imagine it? Yes, it sounds bonkers, and I don’t believe it happened but wouldn’t it be <i>amazing</i> to see it? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It’s an ON Christmas at Hepworth Towers this year, so our children and grandchildren who live in Sheffield are coming over for the day, which means everyone will be here except the Colorado family.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And there’ll be a high chair at the end of the table with MsX in it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My Christmas message this year is an old one I am returning to. Oddly (or perhaps not) one of the times I quoted it on the blog was in January 2010, during another cruel onslaught on Gaza.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here it is…</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">“It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Happy Christmas, dear friends.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjneGSoBxOkHM_AYFWSQJfpFzoz9VrwIZ2xE5KkmespUHj2Qgc8d-3lb2Y3tz6BAuEbiNR-PolfMCMQNMN3icxuZjLqKiMXj1cBHUGR9n-hjgps-G_Bg2WKexJVpCMYN22FdsRTMc26szvmnKEmyESmACW2fHSmbcnV0OWo19a9sbQFgQgi5lkgQw/s790/IMG_0184.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="790" data-original-width="525" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjneGSoBxOkHM_AYFWSQJfpFzoz9VrwIZ2xE5KkmespUHj2Qgc8d-3lb2Y3tz6BAuEbiNR-PolfMCMQNMN3icxuZjLqKiMXj1cBHUGR9n-hjgps-G_Bg2WKexJVpCMYN22FdsRTMc26szvmnKEmyESmACW2fHSmbcnV0OWo19a9sbQFgQgi5lkgQw/w426-h640/IMG_0184.jpeg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Sue Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15371516958537364663noreply@blogger.com10