Wednesday 7 May 2014

07/05: SOME PROGRESS MADE

The Granite worksurfaces are (almost) done - they have to return Friday to put the granite window sill in but they've fitted the new sinks and tap and cut the channels in the granite which will provide drainage (rather than having a stainless steel draining board).    The water supply is turned back on but the sink isn't usable today.     The new hob is in and working.  The cooker is in but not connected yet.

All the cupboard carcases are in place with doors/drawers to follow and the under-cupbard lighting needs to be installed. 

So things are coming together and I'm assured all will be finished by end of play Friday .....

I had hoped to start work on a new commission today - yes, I've started accepting them again as I'm not going to be working on exhibition pieces for a while.  But, with all the noise and mess I couldn't concentrate.  I'm out most of the day tomorrow but will probably outline the dog and hopefully make a start on him on Friday (a lovely Labrador).    

The coloured pencils will go away for a while now as the commissions will be done in pastel (adding more dust in the house LOL

I finished my little squirrel coloured pencil drawing.    I chose the squirrel as I wanted to use an old mount/frame I came across when tidying up in the shed and he fitted the bill (or the frame to be precise).

Coloured pencil on grey pastelmat





Sunday 4 May 2014

04/05: HAPPY MAYDAY WEEKEND

I'm falling behind with Blog Posts again but our house is in turmoil as the Kitchen Fitters have postponed work for a few days (midway through removing old units and installing new ones).    Clutter and dust everywhere and what should have been completed in a week is now going to be two weeks (so long as there are no further complications).   I hate living in this chaos/mess but there's nothing I can do for the moment.

So we've been out and about a lot avoiding builders at home but just haven't really had the chance to post pictures from all the places we've visited.

Yesterday I went with David (hubby) and friend, Jenni, to the Sweeps Festival at Rochester in nearby Medway for the 3 day May Day Extravangaza!   The Sweeps Festival was inspired by Charles Dickens' description of the annual holiday given to young chimney sweeps - their one chance to escape the soot and hardship of their daily lives

Rochester is a lovely Town in Kent and features in many Charles Dickens Novels, It is located on the River Medway and is overlooked by a beautiful castle and historic buildings.     Since the early 1980s it has hosted this Festival which this year stretches over 3 days and will see more than 60 Morris Dancing 'sides' as well as bands/soloists and other entertainers.    The streets are packed with stalls selling beer/wine/traditional food and toys.   There is a huge fairground for the children ... so something for everybody and (so far) the weather has been very kind to us.   The final day of the festival is tomorrow and will feature a Grand Parade at 2.45pm which we can't get to because we're committed elsewhere, but for anybody living nearby I'd highly recommend a visit - and its all FREE!

British Eccentricity at its best I think!

A selection of photos taken yesterday and I apologise for not showing any Morris Dancing action shots, I tend to focus on the visiting characters at events like this ....

Traditionally Morris Dancers 'black up' hence the painted faces and I think this is believed to stem from the word Moorish stemming back to the early 1800s.

Sweep with Rochester Castle in the background - and a tankard in his hand.    'Real Ale' is a mainstay of any Festival featuring Morris Dancers   ;-)




Lad(y) in Red!



I loved these ladies


and how Bold/Bright are these guys?
When the Climbing Boys’ Act 1868 made it illegal to employ young boys to carry out the trade, the traditional procession gradually began to fade. The final May celebration was held in the early 1900s.  - See more at: http://www.visitkent.co.uk/events/9580/#sthash.suFIBuM6.dpuf
The modern day Sweeps Festival is a colourful mix of music, dancing and entertainment with more than 60 Morris sides and entertainers celebrating throughout the three-day festival. The festival was revived in 1981 by local businessman Gordon Newton, a keen historian. He decided it was time to bring it back and over the years he has helped develop the festival into what it is today – an extravaganza of traditional Britain.
Medway’s annual Sweeps Festival recreates the joy and laughter enjoyed by the chimney sweeps at their traditional holiday on 1 May; the one time of the year the sweeps could leave the soot behind and have some fun. Their fun included the Jack-in-the-Green ceremony, a seven-foot character that they used to waken at dawn on Blue Bell Hill, Chatham. The Jack-in-the-Green would walk with the chimney sweeps in their parade.
When the Climbing Boys’ Act 1868 made it illegal to employ young boys to carry out the trade, the traditional procession gradually began to fade. The final May celebration was held in the early 1900s.
- See more at: http://www.visitkent.co.uk/events/9580/#sthash.W5yeri9H.dpuf



Feather   ... cap .... ???


Spring Greens


must confess to using Elements to add a Vignette to this one .... but just felt he warranted it


Masked



Unmasked


White witches ...



Not sure where she fits into the theme ...



I have lots of photos of this smiley man ... I'm sure he will feature in a drawing sometime soon


and this one probably won't ... but he was great fun!


I interrupted their lunch break so maybe that's why they look so glum!


This was spooky .... he was wearing sunglasses behind the mask and the eyes looked really scary


One for Jo (Canada) ... a Thames Barge (Edith May) moored up by Rochester Castle specially for the occasion.   Sadly these lovely barges don't look very interesting unless under sail do they?


One of the fairground rides


As I said earlier, I like to see watch the visitors rather than the main events and this guy intrigued me as he was drinking ale from a traditional horn - but obviously posed on the castle walls, overlooking the River Medway





Caption time I think !!





OK that's it for now.       David also took lots of photos at the Festival but we haven't downloaded/viewed them yet.


The modern day Sweeps Festival is a colourful mix of music, dancing and entertainment with more than 60 Morris sides and entertainers celebrating throughout the three-day festival. The festival was revived in 1981 by local businessman Gordon Newton, a keen historian. He decided it was time to bring it back and over the years he has helped develop the festival into what it is today – an extravaganza of traditional Britain.
Medway’s annual Sweeps Festival recreates the joy and laughter enjoyed by the chimney sweeps at their traditional holiday on 1 May; the one time of the year the sweeps could leave the soot behind and have some fun. Their fun included the Jack-in-the-Green ceremony, a seven-foot character that they used to waken at dawn on Blue Bell Hill, Chatham. The Jack-in-the-Green would walk with the chimney sweeps in their parade.
When the Climbing Boys’ Act 1868 made it illegal to employ young boys to carry out the trade, the traditional procession gradually began to fade. The final May celebration was held in the early 1900s.
- See more at: http://www.visitkent.co.uk/events/9580/#sthash.W5yeri9H.dpuf
Medway’s annual Sweeps Festival recreates the joy and laughter enjoyed by the chimney sweeps at their traditional holiday on 1 May; the one time of the year the sweeps could leave the soot behind and have some fun. Their fun included the Jack-in-the-Green ceremony, a seven-foot character that they used to waken at dawn on Blue Bell Hill, Chatham. The Jack-in-the-Green would walk with the chimney sweeps in their parade.
When the Climbing Boys’ Act 1868 made it illegal to employ young boys to carry out the trade, the traditional procession gradually began to fade. The final May celebration was held in the early 1900s.
- See more at: http://www.visitkent.co.uk/events/9580/#sthash.m4hnWMAK.dpuf
The festival was revived in 1981 by local businessman Gordon Newton, a keen historian. He decided it was time to bring it back and over the years he has helped develop the festival into what it is today – an extravaganza of traditional Britain.
Medway’s annual Sweeps Festival recreates the joy and laughter enjoyed by the chimney sweeps at their traditional holiday on 1 May; the one time of the year the sweeps could leave the soot behind and have some fun. Their fun included the Jack-in-the-Green ceremony, a seven-foot character that they used to waken at dawn on Blue Bell Hill, Chatham. The Jack-in-the-Green would walk with the chimney sweeps in their parade.
When the Climbing Boys’ Act 1868 made it illegal to employ young boys to carry out the trade, the traditional procession gradually began to fade. The final May celebration was held in the early 1900s.
- See more at: http://www.visitkent.co.uk/events/9580/#sthash.m4hnWMAK.dpuf
The festival was revived in 1981 by local businessman Gordon Newton, a keen historian. He decided it was time to bring it back and over the years he has helped develop the festival into what it is today – an extravaganza of traditional Britain.
Medway’s annual Sweeps Festival recreates the joy and laughter enjoyed by the chimney sweeps at their traditional holiday on 1 May; the one time of the year the sweeps could leave the soot behind and have some fun. Their fun included the Jack-in-the-Green ceremony, a seven-foot character that they used to waken at dawn on Blue Bell Hill, Chatham. The Jack-in-the-Green would walk with the chimney sweeps in their parade.
When the Climbing Boys’ Act 1868 made it illegal to employ young boys to carry out the trade, the traditional procession gradually began to fade. The final May celebration was held in the early 1900s.
- See more at: http://www.visitkent.co.uk/events/9580/#sthash.m4hnWMAK.dpuf
The festival was revived in 1981 by local businessman Gordon Newton, a keen historian. He decided it was time to bring it back and over the years he has helped develop the festival into what it is today – an extravaganza of traditional Britain.
Medway’s annual Sweeps Festival recreates the joy and laughter enjoyed by the chimney sweeps at their traditional holiday on 1 May; the one time of the year the sweeps could leave the soot behind and have some fun. Their fun included the Jack-in-the-Green ceremony, a seven-foot character that they used to waken at dawn on Blue Bell Hill, Chatham. The Jack-in-the-Green would walk with the chimney sweeps in their parade.
When the Climbing Boys’ Act 1868 made it illegal to employ young boys to carry out the trade, the traditional procession gradually began to fade. The final May celebration was held in the early 1900s.
- See more at: http://www.visitkent.co.uk/events/9580/#sthash.m4hnWMAK.dpuf
recreates the joy and laughter enjoyed by the chimney sweeps at their traditional holiday on 1 May; the one time of the year the sweeps could leave the soot behind and have some fun. Their fun included the Jack-in-the-Green ceremony, a seven-foot character that they used to waken at dawn on Blue Bell Hill, Chatham. The Jack-in-the-Green would walk with the chimney sweeps in their parade.
When the Climbing Boys’ Act 1868 made it illegal to employ young boys to carry out the trade, the traditional procession gradually began to fade. The final May celebration was held in the early 1900s.
- See more at: http://www.visitkent.co.uk/events/9580/#sthash.ZQDb1Lzz.dpuf