Photo diary: Project 365, May'22

 After a very long pause in my Photo Diary posts, here is a loadsa photos for May. 

It's easy to sprout slogans for Mental Health Awareness on social media and share images of self-love and universal acceptance. In real life, people with mental health problems keep struggling, and so do their carers. Who cares for the mental health of carers?

Since Sash turned 18 and moved to adult social care services, we've had zero support. In the past he used to stay two nights per month in a nursing home, specialising in caring for children with special needs. Sash loved going there, they treated him wonderfully there, taking him on outings, preparing his favourite foods etc. And it gave me a break from the stressful routine, time to recharge the batteries and also do something with Eddie without the additional pressure. We knew our boy was well looked-after and we could relax. 

Then he became technically a grown-up, but mentally still a very very young child. Covid happened, that was the somewhat understandable excuse for doing nothing on the social care part. This year we had a few Zoom meetings to discuss any possible provision for respite. And then, boom, we're closing him to our team, said the social worker. Apparently we're coping well. I don't know what was I supposed to do, to dissolve in a muddled heap of sobbing to convince them that I am exhausted, and actually, yes, I do need help. I don't sleep well, so many worries. Even the metal gets fatigue, as for the humans, they can fracture under stress.

For that and many other reasons, I am trying to escape from the sad reality of my life and outside world. Books and art community are my sanity savers. 

The beginning of May was a highlight of my recent art endeavours. I have been asked to lead one of the weeks of Pen and Ink challenge on Instagram with my prompts. I have chosen Folklore as the Theme of the week. I rejoiced at the chance of showing my sketches, and seeing all the inspirational work by the other participants. The response was overwhelming, there were so many brilliant entries.

Here are some of my sketches. For the Traditions prompt I have chosen a legend of Kokopelli, a fertility deity of the Native American cultures. He is a trickster god, and represents the spirit of music. He is usually portrayed as a hunchbacked flute player. 

Kokopelli is a symbol of good luck, and goodness me, I need that.

For Folk Costumes day I painted a traditional Kazakh bridal costume, with a high headdress called a saukele. It is richly decorated, and has to be ordered in advance of the wedding, a year or a year and a half prior, after the engagement is announced. My girl is holding a plate of baursaki, a Kazakh version of doughnuts.

One of the books I read in May was The Guest Book by C.L. Pattison. I spotted it in the library. It's set in Cornwall, so how could I resist it. It's a dark thriller, with the elements of supernatural. I took the photo before returning the book to the library, thinking I might write a review some time later.

Folk Crafts: this is a sketch of the glazed pharmacy jar (albarelli). The original Renaissance maiolica from Deruta could be seen in the Wallace Collection in London. I've never visited it, but hoping one day to discover its treasures in real life, not just via books and online images.

When Sasha's photo popped up among Facebook Memories, I asked Eddie if he would let me take his photo for comparison. Here are my boys, at exactly the same age. Sasha's hair is darker, and the eyes are hazel brown to Eddie's blue ones, but they do look quite similar. Different but also similar. Not sure why I was surprised, after all, they are brothers.

I can't wait to see Cornwall again. I painted the Cornish pasties for the Traditional Foods prompt.

St Mary's Church is beautiful in any weather.

I love May flowers and blooms, with the tulips, and irises, lilac and rhododendron.

Eddie is a big Marvel fan. Of course, we had to go to the cinema to watch Dr Strange 2.

He enjoyed it, I didn't like it that much. It might as well have been called WandaVision II (and I utterly disliked the TV series, for me that was the worst Marvel TV series ever).

The pleasures of living not far from Brize Norton is seeing the planes flying very low over our town all the time.

Blue blossom of Ceanothus thyrsiflorus is so striking to look at, but it always makes me sneeze

To coincide with Mental Health Awareness week I took part in the Readalong/Cookalong event with Tandem Collective and Breadsong book, written by Kitty and Al Tait. You can find more about the book Breadsong from my review.

I confess I haven't heard of their bakery until I read the book. Kitty's story is an inspiration.

Breadsong is part-memoir, part-cook book.

I tested three recipes from the book, including the choc chip cookies with mini fudge.

More cookies from that week, this time, it was choc chip gluten free cookies, made with peanut butter, honey and oats. 

I was watering the tomato plants in the greenhouse, and saw my child sitting in the window of his bedroom.

We had pretty flowers this month in town. The flower arrangements are changed regularly in big planters around the town centre.

Marie Saba is the social media sensation, who is known for her creative food puns. She recently published a book called Don't Worry, Be Ha-PEA. 

I tried to do my own food pun photo, dedicated to one of my favourite detectives. 

Toys and Games prompt for the Pen and Ink Challenge - I painted two of the Lewis Chessmen, a group of 12C chess pieces, carved from walrus ivory.

Today, 82 pieces are displayed at the British Museum, while the remaining eleven are in Scotland.

I hope Eddie and I could visit the British Museum some time soon. Maybe even this summer?

For Music prompt I painted a loose copy of a manuscript illustration by Testard Robinet. The original artwork is in Bibliotheque Nationale de France in Paris.

All my current artwork is painted with Diamine inks.

The pink rhododenron always gladdens my heart, blooming in May, just outside kitchen windows. Whenever I wash my dishes, I see the planter. The bees love it too.

Legacy by Chris Coppel is a chilling Gothic story. It's a combination of sci fi, horror and fantasy, with elements of time travel. If you're sensitive, don't read the book at bedtime.

The Book of Kells was my inspiration for the Travel week. Ireland was one of our virtual destinations. The illuminated manuscript is kept in Trinity College, Dublin, another place which I would love to visit one day. 

Nature is the most magnificent artist of all. Just look at that glorious sky, with all the shades of blue, grey and white. A true masterpiece.

From Ireland to Indonesia, I travel with my inks. 

Wayang Kulit is an ancient art of theatre with shadow puppets. The puppets are carved with intricate designs, and are manipulated with the rods.

A Scottish Highland Surprise by Julie Shackman is a modern feel-good romance, set in a little Scottish town of Briar Glen. 

The main character opens a china shop, where she sells vintage and modern pottery. I loved all the talk about teapots, cups and saucers. 

Don't care much about the romance, just tell me about porcelain!

The white champagne rose is at its most marvellous in May. I should really trim it, as its branches go very high over the plum tree, over four metres high, and the cascade of white roses is a sight to behold.

To celebrate Her Majesty's Jubilee, Witney is decorated with the Royal-themed displays. Teddy Bears of Witney didn't disappoint with their teddies' show. 

Are you celebrating this weekend, or ignoring any celebrations and just chilling out?

Our lovely neighbours decided to do the major construction works in the garden, starting early in the morning. It's been four days and counting. By the amount of cement and flagstones outside their house, the works will be going on for a long time.

So much for a much-hoped for lie-in during the midterm break.

In the last month we've been watching The Walking Dead, as recommened by Kim from Life as Kim, and also Stranger Things. 

Are you watching Stranger Season 4? What do you think?

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