Paula R.C. Readman's Blog

People who don’t sing from the same song sheet as you.

What could you let go of, for the sake of harmony?

It took me a long time to realise that even people who are part of my family don’t sing from the same song sheet as me. I’ve realised that I don’t need them to make my life complete and that I’m not important enough to be part of theirs.

The best people to have in your life are ones who make you laugh, and accept you for who you are.

My studio

After many years of working hard and creating a peaceful home life, I don’t need anyone in my life who creates stress and drama, as it destroys my creativity.

Find peace wherever you can.

Writing and painting have always been my passions and safe spaces, even as a child. I could hide away in my bedroom and draw and read out of everyone’s way.

So walk away from those who cause you stress and find those who bring you joy and happiness.

Cat Bite

Have you ever had surgery? What for?

Two years ago, I spent three days in the hospital after my cat bit me on my wrist. It was my fault. Just before Christmas, I had gone out into the garden to feed my cat Brutus. He was sitting on the garden fence with his back to me. I walked up behind him and scooped him in my arms without acknowledging that it was me. Brutus’ reaction was to bite the wrist that held him.

My husband googled cat bites as my skin was punctured and was bleeding. We went to the hospital thinking I would have an injection but no. I was taken in and stayed for three days. I was shocked to hear the doctor say that they were going to cut me.

Of course, they were trying to make sure I didn’t suffer from infection as cat’s, dog’s and human bites are one of the most dangerous as their mouths are filled with of germs.

The only time I had been in hospital was to have my son over thirty years ago so I was frightened to find myself in hospital especially as it was so close to Christmas. Luckily, I was prepared house cleaned, gifts wrapped, shopping done so nothing concerned me apart from being stuck in the hospital.

Mum what are doing?

When I came out I was worried about Brutus. He made a fuss of me as though he knew he was in the wrong. From now on, I will always address Brutus before picking him up. It’s just a case of respecting him.

Brutus is a rescued cat, who was abused in his early years and came to us after he was kicked out of his home. I found him hiding in my compost heap one cold winter. I built a cover over him and took out food and water. My husband and I were amazed that he survived the winter. I had let his owner know where he was and she told me that she would call round in the afternoon to see him. She never came.

Brutus survived the winter and spent more time with us. Eventually, she and her family moved away taking Brutus with them only to bring him back and dump him in our garden.

Dad, remember to measure twice and cut once.

Now in the winter months, Brutus stays in the house, but in the summer months, he loves being outside. If we are in the garden, he loves to join us and gets plenty of fuss. I make sure Brutus has plenty of fresh clean water around the garden for him and the birds, too.

Have a wonderful day. It’s another hot day in England today

Chat again soon.

A Quick Blog Post

My sixteen-year-old self is jumping with joy. After years of dreaming of becoming an artist over these last couple of years, I have seen the beginning of that dream come true.

My work might not be on the level of Mr Banksy or any other established artist but that’s not the point. I’ve never wanted to compete with anyone else but myself.

My work is about enjoying the process and hoping someone else loves it enough to want to purchase it.

Yesterday, I sold three more wall plaques and had two requests for two new designs. I also found a new home for one of my paintings. This is wonderful.

The problem with creating a vast body of work is the fear that no one will want it. Finding the right balance between creativity and selling is difficult. I want to create work I enjoy painting rather than painting to order.

The thrill of knowing someone loves your work is indescribable but that happened yesterday when a lovely couple came and collected a painting they both loved.

Fungi and Moths.

Happy creating everyone.

Chat again soon.

Strawberry Fair.

So come- make over to me your ware,
In church today at Strawberry Fair.

Strawberry Fair is an English folk song collected by H. Fleetwood Sheppard in Broadstone, Devon, in 1891

 

On Saturday I was invited to take my books and artwork along to one of the local village churches. As Cressing wasn’t that far away from my village I took up the invitation.

Wall plaques, books and paintings

The church was having its first Strawberry Fair and wasn’t sure how successful it would be. They had invited a few people along with me to set up their stalls. There was a beekeeper, an art group, a book group, and someone from a local scout group. I wasn’t expecting much in the way of crowds coming to the fair, but I did some marketing across the internet for the church. I got busy painting as many wall plaques as I could create within the weeks leading up to the day of the fair, as well as finishing off a few paintings I had in my studio.

I sold two wall plaques.

Russell and I arrived early and set up our stall and then helped the church members as much as we could.

It was lovely chatting with people about my writing and painting. Although I felt a bit rusty at first, I soon relaxed and explained how my journey started.

By the end of the day, I had sold eight books and two wall plaques. Even though I didn’t sell any of my larger paintings I received many lovely comments about them.

A lovely lady bought five of my books.

The church didn’t want any donations from us for having a stall, so we felt it was only right for us to help the church members tidy up after everyone had left. The minister said they are hoping to have another strawberry fair next year so I asked them to keep my name on their list.

I hope to do some more events next year so I’d better get writing and painting.

Best wishes,

Paula

Home is where the Heart is…

What countries do you want to visit?

This royal throne of kings, this scepter’d isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England,

William Shakespeare from Richard 11.

If I could I would love to visit Australia, New Zealand and Canada but there are many places around Britain I have yet to see and get to know.

When people tell me they have been to a place and say they stayed in a lovely hotel and visited the sights. I don’t feel they have visited the heart of the country or community.

To really know a country you have to become part of the community, to understand the history, its people and culture. A week’s holiday and seeing the local tourist attractions doesn’t give you a true insight into what makes that country tick and its values.

Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire.

Too many people coming to England these days have a Hollywood image of what it is to be English. When they arrive they miss what was the beating heart of their culture and country. Suddenly, they want to recreate their country on English shores.

An Ancient English Bluebell Wood

England isn’t English any more, and that makes me sad. My small English home with roses around the door, and sky lark on a bright summer day is fast fading.

To truly know and understand a culture and its people, you have to immerse yourself among them and not expect them to change. If you truly love your culture and identity, stay in your country with your culture and fight for it, as generations of British people have. Britain is made up of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales—four separate countries under one flag.

By all means, come for a visit and enjoy England’s beauty but don’t try to change it.

Wishing you a good day. Keep smiling and stay positive.

Chat again soon.

Honesty

What’s your favorite thing about yourself?

Anyone who doesn’t take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in large ones either.”

— Albert Einstein

I would rather someone to be honest to my face than lie.

I try to be honest with others, to say what is on my mind. I believe in straight talking with an edge of compassion for others. In today’s world, the truth is lost in a cloud of fake news and AI.

Swans pair for life.

I have decided to hide away from the world in an art studio and to bury myself in creating things of beauty and to write stories.

The real world is a painful place, where most people are obsessed with money, fashion and their appearance. Fake happiness seems to be more important than genuine fulfilment.

Life is fleeting. I wonder how many people will look back over their lives and wish they had lived a more fulfilling life.

We all age and no matter how much money you spend on trying to remain young time catches up with you. Stay fit and health by exercising and eating well.

Fresh air and walking is good
for the soul and mind

Stay happy and keep smiling.

Colour my day red

Today was a bit of a red day. I took a walk to post a letter—yes, you can still post letters! On my way, I passed by some old discarded technology, a red telephone box, and a beautiful red rose.

Red Telephone box

Do you remember the days when you stood in the cold, hoping you had enough coins in your pocket to call a friend? I was nineteen, with my boyfriend, and the first time I had left home without my parents. I recall calling my mum from a telephone box on the Isle of Man. It was so thrilling to think I could have a direct line to home. Mum wasn’t too impressed when she answered with, “What do you want?”

“I’m on the Isle of Man. Can you hear the bikes?”

“I’m missing my TV program.”

And just like that, she was gone.

Have a brilliant day, everyone! Remember to find joy in the simplest things; otherwise, life can become too complicated.

Chat again soon

When it’s too painful

How do you know when it’s time to unplug? What do you do to make it happen?

Stop banging your head against the wall because you’re the only one suffering why carry on.

I made the decision because my time is running out as I head ever closer to my seventies so I’m focus on myself after years of working towards my retirement. Stressing out about things, I can’t change wasn’t helping my mental nor my physical health so it was time to move on.

Finally my safe space.

Art has always been my safety zone where I could escape to when life becomes unbearable. The bright, healing light of my art studio helped to lift my spirits and made me stronger. For years, I spent my time trying to please others, worrying about others’ feelings and needs. Yes, I’m being selfish now, but in fact, I’m focusing on people who care about me rather than those who’ve made it quite clearly don’t want me in their life.

I’m busy creating new art ready for a craft fair in a nearby village and this is bringing me joy and happiness as my art skills are improving as I catch up on all the years I have missed out on.

If you want a bit of advice from me. Find something that brings joy into your life is what you should focus on. Whether that’s walking in the countryside or your local park. Reading helps you to escape when life is getting too much. Art and crafts can really help you find yourself again, and give you space to breathe. Remember we only get one life, so live each as though it is your last.

Have a great day and a fantastic weekend.

Chat again soon.

Grave digger in the insect world

Russell found this beetle in the house and knowing my love of the natural world brought it to me wherein the art studio where I was busy painting.

Sexton Beetle.

It seems to be a Sexton Beetle or burying beetle. They are a carrion feeder with a good sense of smell which enables it to detect dead animals. The beetle buries the corpse and removes fur or feathers. After that, it laid its eggs nearby for its grubs to feed on the corpse.
Hence its name, Sexton Beetle. The Sexton’s job is to act as a gravedigger when working in a churchyard.

After looking it up in my books I let it free.

Ha, do I remember 🤭

Do you remember life before the internet?

Oh, yes I do.

Life seemed so innocent back then. A library was the place to find out about things. The television showed us the news from faraway places. If you didn’t watch the news, the world seemed a safer place and much bigger.

Now, the internet shows us things that don’t exist and how dangerous the world is because there is nowhere to hide.

Once upon a time, it was only advertisements that sold us false dreams, now it is influencers. Suddenly the world is full of clones as bright white teeth, long lashes, painted-on eyebrows, large bums and breasts become the norm. People are less well-dressed and are next to naked as they walk the streets. Where has individualism gone?

Al is creating an imperfect, perfect world where humans forget to think for themselves.

Let’s see what the future holds for us. It’s going to be interesting.

Will we go full circle again where morals and high standards are important? Where modest in all things comes into play, and wealth is less important, but being of good character opens far more doors. Will education become king and skills like art and craft become valuable once again?

Well, I hope so. Craftmanship should be valuable.