Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in East & West and London, Essex, Surrey, Kent and Northampton (The NEXT Chapter).
Week 221 Saturday 8th until Friday 14th September 2018.
Last weekend Calamity and i visited “The Weald of Kent Country Craft Show” which we have been to many times over the years (It takes place twice a year in May and September) at Penshurst Place. In a field a large number of different sized marquees were erected some for food and drink, which the local population of wasps enjoyed. While the rest were full of arts and crafts of every description. Of course there were activities to keep the sprogs quiet. And something for everyone was the opportunity to watch Birds of Prey demonstrating skills. When the birds were “performing”, I wondered if the man holding the mic ever got sweaty with panic that they might not return on cue. I can confirm they all returned spectacularly.
Inside the arts and crafts marquees people sold products that they had lovingly made in living rooms, kitchens and workshops. I suffer from terrible customer guilt and can’t look the person on the other side of the table in the eye. If eye contact is made I feel the need to make conversation saying pointless shiz such as “how nice these are”, “that would look lovely in **** (insert location of choice) before walking to the next stall. It cannot be easy on that side of the table after making the objects, travelling to the location, setting up and then hanging around all day doing the crossword hoping that someone will stop and spend money.
“Beautiful plumage”.
We saved the best till last. Cheng Yan is a wildlife photographer and painter (his cat model’s for him) who travels the world taking breathtaking photographs of animals and landscapes. Over the years we have bought many pictures from him and couldn’t help ourselves this time. Even after a couple of years he remembered us giving us a free print each. Here is a link to his site, https://www.chengyan.net
“Wooden mushrooms, and @stephwillisuk entertaining the crowd”.
As a creative person, I admire people who sell what they have made. If only I could buy from everyone. It’s all very well that we (I) buy from the internet because of the convenience but it’s small independent shops and stalls that suffer. Profits need to be shared about more, instead of filling the pockets of a few men who already have more money than some small countries. As always it was a lovely day, look forward to the next visit.
“Didn’t buy but wanted to”.
And Now For Something Completely Different……
“Calamity, loves the cake!”.
Mental health is not the taboo it used to be. People are more aware that a person might look perfectly well on the outside but inside they are in distress. I don’t mind admitting I suffer from mental health issues, at the moment I’m ok (ish) there are good days and horribly dark days when I want to walk to jump in the Thames (being a good swimmer, I’d probably just end up at the Thames Barrier and then need money to catch a tube home). At the end of the day, I am my worst enemy and it’s only me that can sort things out.
“This is why Kent is known as The Garden of England”.
I recently went to a “Frazzled Café”, which was founded by comedian and fellow mental health sufferer and clever woman Ruby Wax. The café’s are dotted around and usually take place in a branch of M&S where the café is partially closed during the event. After being on the mailing list for over a year I thought I would go to a meeting.
“Two phones, and two horrible shoes seen this week”.
The meeting was small with 6 others including the facilitator, everything was very informal. No one is there to give advice, it’s a forum to talk, listen and feel safe. Talking with strangers sometimes can be easier because they are neutral. I’ve booked to attend another session next week.
“Of course i would not want to get political here”.
If you have or know someone with mental health issues, you/they are not alone. Here are a couple of useful links in the UK,
Samaritans www.samaritans.org or telephone on 116 123
Frazzled Café http://www.frazzledcafe.org
“Young love”.
If your outside the UK please search for local help.
And Finally……
“Enjoyed seeing this beauty on the way to work”.
Believe it or not this blog is read all over the world by a small number of lovely people. Last weekend something special happened, I was in bed and noticed that China appeared on the stats list. In the 4 yrs that this blog has existed there has not been a single view from Russia or China. I can now tick China off that list. Come on Russia your next.
Note to all, thank you for reading, please share with everyone.
“Lots of fungi, and my fave country lane”.
“Pointless” Possible Celeb spotting of the week……
“Cockwomble”, as in you “Orinoco! You complete and utter Cockwomble”.
“Writing this shiz, distracted by Vampires”.
My Mid Life Crisis Conts……
This week I have mainly been watching:
“Celebs On The Farm”, (S1, ep 8, TX: 29/08/18)(ep 9, TX: 30/08/18)(ep 10, TX: 31/08/18). “Click”, (TX: 08/09/18). “Fireman Sam”, (S6, ep 16). “Friends”, (S1, ep 19 & ep 20)(S7, ep 11 to ep 25)(S8, ep 1 to ep 4). “Grayson Perry: Rites Of Passage”, (TX: 13/09/18). “Hidden Britain By Drone”, (S2, ep 5, TX: 09/09/18). “Horizon”, (2016: 13, TX: 10/08/16). “Krypton”, (S1, ep 4). “Luke McQueen Comedy Pilot”, (S1, ep 1, TX: 05/09/18). “Quatermass And The Pit (1958)”, (S1, ep1). “Sense8”, (S1, ep 4 to ep 12). “Serial Killer With Piers Morgan”, (S1, ep 3, TX: 13/09/18). “Stacey Dooley Investigates”, (TX: 10/09/18). “Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan”, (1982). “The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice”, (S2 (S5), ep 2, TX: 07/09/18)(ep 3, TX: 14/09/18). “The Great British Bake Off”, (S2 (S9), ep 3, TX: 10/09/18). “The Plague”, (S1, ep 3 & ep 4). “The Sky At Night”, (TX: 09/09/18). “Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures!”, (S22, ep 10). “Travelman: 48hrs in…”, (S7, ep 1, TX: 09/09/18). “Upstart Crow”, (S1, ep 3). “Van Helsing”, (S2, ep 1 to ep 6).
This week I have mainly been listening to:
“Anti Social Show”, (ep 58, 07/09/18). “Chasing Earhart”, (ep 58, 08/09/18). “Griefcast”, (ep 50, 12/09/18). “Iain Lee (Bonus)”, (07/09, 13/09/18). “Iain Lee (Highlights)”, (07/09, 10/09, 11/09, 13/09/18). “LBC Podcast: Mystery Hour”, (13/09/18). “LBC Podcast: Nick Abbot (Whole Show)”, (08/09, 14/09/18). “NASA: Gravity Assist”, (11/09/18). “NASA: Houston We Have A Podcast”, (ep 61, 07/09/18). “Quick Question”, (S2, ep 8 (ep 22),10/09/18). “Skeptiod”, (ep 640, 11/09/18). “Soundtracking With Edith Bowman”, (ep 104, 11/09/18). “Strange Times”, (ep 277, 09/09/18). “The Rabbit Hole”, (ep 62, 13/09/18). “True Crime Finland”, (bonus, 11/09/18). “Morrissey”, “Air”, “Catfish And The Bottlemen”, “The Killers”, “Blur”, “Pulp”, “Lady Gaga”, “Suede”, “L7”, “4 Non Blondes”.
Misfits Mid-Life Crisis........ 