This morning I decided to take a foray into the world of technology to see what was possible in the world of animation with just an iPhone and a little jiggery-pokery. This rather wobbly effort was my first and I think if I were to write a report on myself it would be 'should try harder'. However, my ambition to master new items may be outstripping my ability but it kept me out of trouble whilst waiting for my computer to update and start behaving itself.
Tuesday 22 September 2015
Ambition vs Ability
This morning I decided to take a foray into the world of technology to see what was possible in the world of animation with just an iPhone and a little jiggery-pokery. This rather wobbly effort was my first and I think if I were to write a report on myself it would be 'should try harder'. However, my ambition to master new items may be outstripping my ability but it kept me out of trouble whilst waiting for my computer to update and start behaving itself.
Wednesday 16 September 2015
Strange Haiku Phenomenon
I've had a break from blogs for about a week I've had a little holiday and been welcoming lots of new members to the Open University course Facebook page.... time consuming stuff! I'd better reveal now that I'm a most dire geek as far as bridges and steam engines are concerned so a bit of time was taken up in indulging in sitting on a steam train in Devon with a hideously geek-fueled smile on my face. Sigh! There's just no hope for me is there?
While I was away - Devon again and staying at Strete Barton again as it was such restful place last time. This didn't mean that I wasn't keeping an interested eye on what was happening with the newbies on the Facebook page - far from it. I was watching with interest the various postings of the new students regarding poetry and how daunted they felt having to contemplate creating their own poetic submissions for various assignments.
Very quickly this gave way to a number of tentative postings of.... Haikus! Yes, my favourite waste of time has got its dread hold on a growing band of happy students who are creating them, posting them, and getting positive feedback from their peers. How cool is that? Pretty damn cool in my humble opinion! What do you think I was being inspired by while all this artistic endeavour was going on? Well you probably won't be able to guess so I'll just tell you shall I? Pants - in a tree, in the middle of nowhere, a massive mushroom in a field, standing on cliffs, bridges and steam trains (of course) how literature enriches life. On the latter theme I was pleased to walk past a house called Bunbury on four occasions and although it was just a name it made me smile each time as little snippets of The Importance of Being Earnest came floating back to me from the literary recesses of my mind.
And what of my haiku-a-day self imposed challenge? It has ebbed and flowed in response to the various limitations of my week but mainly due to taking on places on not one but three Open University committee roles and gearing up for these. One is a disabled students steering committee, another is debating the future role of the student support services and the last but probably the most demanding (well, debatably) is a seat on the OU Senate - ooer Mrs! All good stuff but along with my own writing and being away with my better half and taking on an extra course external to the OU yes... I've not been as creative as I'd like and work in general has taken a back seat. Bah humbug!
So, here is my little haiku about a rather pretty little plant that was growing simply everywhere in Devon's wooded areas. I think this is a winter flowering heliotrope and it smells of vanilla all winter and is originally an African import that has gone a little wayward. However, it is frost delicate and therefore not often seen in Wiltshire so I love it on many levels - its rare in Wiltshire, has nectar in the winter when most plants are hibernating of dead if they're annuals, it has lovely heart shaped leaves which appeals to the romantic in me, it is colourful and scented in the winter so you feel like you're walking through a perfumery.
Winter Flowering Heliotrope
What is my solution to all this work? To buy a suitably bizarre purple note pad - it matches the iPad protector designed for children and my favourite bra - start to write a short story that is growing beyond the title of 'short' and make piecrust promises to diarise (hideous word!) and prioritise - but not necessarily in that order.
I hope to be able to share some of the literary responses to my various images at some point as I feel the blog needs to be a little window into my mind for those who aren't put off by the steam train obsession and various purple that may not find its way in to my prose ;-)
While I was away - Devon again and staying at Strete Barton again as it was such restful place last time. This didn't mean that I wasn't keeping an interested eye on what was happening with the newbies on the Facebook page - far from it. I was watching with interest the various postings of the new students regarding poetry and how daunted they felt having to contemplate creating their own poetic submissions for various assignments.
Who do they belong to?
What were the original colours?
Why are they in a tree - obviously!
Why are they in tatters?
What did the owner go home in?
I think in deference to the wonders of these pants that obviously have a great history if only they could divulge it them I should be writing a Haiku about them. Well, it might be a novel idea.... no pun intended as I don't think the pants and haiku would necessarily morph into a novel but never say 'never'.
And what of my haiku-a-day self imposed challenge? It has ebbed and flowed in response to the various limitations of my week but mainly due to taking on places on not one but three Open University committee roles and gearing up for these. One is a disabled students steering committee, another is debating the future role of the student support services and the last but probably the most demanding (well, debatably) is a seat on the OU Senate - ooer Mrs! All good stuff but along with my own writing and being away with my better half and taking on an extra course external to the OU yes... I've not been as creative as I'd like and work in general has taken a back seat. Bah humbug!
So, here is my little haiku about a rather pretty little plant that was growing simply everywhere in Devon's wooded areas. I think this is a winter flowering heliotrope and it smells of vanilla all winter and is originally an African import that has gone a little wayward. However, it is frost delicate and therefore not often seen in Wiltshire so I love it on many levels - its rare in Wiltshire, has nectar in the winter when most plants are hibernating of dead if they're annuals, it has lovely heart shaped leaves which appeals to the romantic in me, it is colourful and scented in the winter so you feel like you're walking through a perfumery.
Winter Flowering Heliotrope
From spring to autumn
you’re all heart. Winter yields your
scented floral grace.
I hope to be able to share some of the literary responses to my various images at some point as I feel the blog needs to be a little window into my mind for those who aren't put off by the steam train obsession and various purple that may not find its way in to my prose ;-)
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