A sultry June

Maybe this post should be called ‘Cow Parsley, Stone Walls and Canal Boats’.

There are a lot of pictures - mostly because it’s been half term, and partly because I’ve just started a new job. I go out, take photos and then more and more (I’m also getting to grips with the big scary Canon camera), and end up with hundreds of them. But with Joe at home and then my being at work I don’t get around to sorting and editing, let alone uploading them to Squarespace and writing content. Blog posts take a long time, so maybe it’ll be more of a fortnightly thing going forward.

Speaking of photography: I’m still awaiting some fine art prints I ordered a few weeks ago. Might need to send a reminder email…

I like editing and usually my style is fairly washed-out with an emphasis on reds and oranges (the greens, blues and yellows being less saturated). But it’s been so hot and hazy and bright, I changed things up a bit to reflect that. There are some black and white pictures here too, just to add a bit of variety. Because like I said: cow parsley, stone walls and canal boats. Rinse and repeat.

I still prefer to take photos on a cloudy day though. But that’s just me - high contrast and harsh shadows aren’t my thing.

I recently took a lone walk around the villages close by - Midgley and Booth. You’ll be familiar with them from previous posts but it’s nice to see places change with the seasons and right now it’s lush and verdant and flower-filled and fragrant.

There were deer bounding through the long grass and birds singing everywhere, insects buzzing and just general English springtime dreaminess.

I could do this because Joe was staying with his grandparents for a long weekend. It’s nice to be alone with your thoughts sometimes. To decompress and let your mind wander aimlessly.

It’s been extremely hot for much of the past few weeks - too hot to be outdoors at all on some days. When Joe returned, we took a trip to Leeds and had a look around the museum. I did a few shops (yes, I did actually queue around the block to get into Zara) but it wasn’t fun to be in the city in the burning sun. We had a bit of a mooch then gave up and came home again.

Here at the homestead we’re still watching reruns of Detectorists which is, to me, TV perfection: nothing much really happens but it’s cleverly written and quietly funny, the characters are well observed, and the countryside plays as prominent a role as anyone else. Joe watches it with us as a before-bed treat. There’s a bit of adult humour which goes straight over his head anyway, fortunately.

Although they started sex education at school yesterday. I felt sad that he’s at that stage already (he still thinks animals get married to one another before having babies) - in one sense I want him to keep his childish innocence for as long as possible. But I didn’t want to be the only parent not consenting to him taking part. And better he learns from his teacher in an appropriate way.

But still.

Sigh…

I watched The Pursuit of Love too. Not with Joe, in case you’re wondering. I enjoyed it - no doubt it got a drubbing from the critics but I don’t read reviews that much anyway.

The ever-growing reading pile has two new additions: The Midnight Library (Matt Haig) and The Thursday Murder Club (Richard Osman). I’m reading the latter first and it’s good so far. Plus, I’m still bathing in the residual feel-good vibes from my most recent read To the Land of Long Lost Friends, by Alexander McCall Smith. I love the Precious Ramotswe books for a bit of bedtime escapism.

I mentioned earlier that I have a new job.

It’s in a gallery in Hebden Bridge, which is just perfect for me as I’m surrounded by beautiful things and creative people. It came about in a serendipitous kind of way, as the owner doesn’t advertise for staff. I was in there with my friend, and one of the ladies working there recognised her from Instagram and got in touch and they were discussing that I was looking for a position. So one thing led to another and here I am.

I get to work alongside a group of ladies who make things and run small businesses alongside working in the gallery. It means I don’t feel isolated like I did on Skye, and that we can swap ideas and enjoy the social aspect of being here. I meet new people and learn new things.

And there’s a lot to learn. About artists and jewellers and makers, about display and ordering and commissions. But I’ll get there.

And so far, the walk to and from work has taken me through the park in the sunshine, past the canal boats and flowers. I have a ‘Hello sky, Hello trees’ moment bookending each working day.

Also: you get to dress up.

Jay and I took a walk into Hebden when Joe was staying with his grandparents. We went in early, so it was quiet and there was a haze over everything. The walk by the houseboats always reminds me of Chocolat, and the river gypsies.

Other good things of late: trying my first chai latte (and looking up how to make my own; the spices and loose leaf tea are now in the cupboard ready to be turned into something delicious)… Eating Indian street food and discovering the best onion bhajis and potato dumplings (which also happen to be gluten free)… baby apples growing on the trees in the garden… Joe’s sunflowers now being taller than he is… The overgrown vegetable patch being overrun with ripening strawberries… Joe finally relenting to nightly showers rather than baths (although he’s taken a liking to my expensive Korres shower gel)…

Also, the first roses and peonies.

I’m not generally a fan of yellow flowers (with the odd exception) but last night I did literally stop and smell the roses. Just two of them, in a jam jar by the bed. They smell amazing.

Plans for the next week or two:

• Visiting a friend on Saturday afternoon so the kids can play and we can talk shop

• Making paella with Joe

• Baking a coffee and walnut cake (nobody else in the house likes it, which is fine by me)

• Constructing a slug pub to protect the strawberries (the blackbirds are welcome to the redcurrants though)

• More photography

• Monotype printing because I’m annoyed with the etching press so am avoiding relief printing

• Collecting some more pieces of Hornsea pottery from a charity shop (I phoned them and they’re putting it aside for me - now I know I have a habit)

• Getting familiar with my new iPhone, which actually likes Instagram and this is a Very Good Thing

PS: Joe just arrived home from school and informed me he’s running an imaginary museum - eight of his classmates are working for him and he pays them in buttercups. So he’s not growing up too fast just yet.

Happy almost weekend - hope the weather’s nice wherever you are!