Stygian
By Jayne Ross ‘Stygian’ “The sinister river Styx, where the ferryman waits to transport the souls of the dead to the underworld”
Tag: stories
Goddesses
Wanting to do some creative thinking during lockdown, the idea of woodland in summer, goddesses protecting us and other, perhaps fanciful, but needed stories and inspirations, produced these goddesses. In the Steiner style with no faces (so you can project your own thoughts and expressions) …
Church Garden Sculpture
Natalia Shlyapina is a floral designer from Tyumen, Western Siberia. Natalia was visiting her partner when the lockdown came into force and her flights were cancelled.
Natalia started to miss her work and expressed a desire to do some work when she saw big piles of branches at the rugby ground in Wisbech. Her partner made an enquiry to Wisbech in Bloom, the result is this fabulous display.
The Clarkson Memorial
From Wikipedia: The Clarkson Memorial commemorates Thomas Clarkson (1760 – 1846), a central figure in the campaign against the slave trade in the British empire, and a former native of Wisbech. It dates from 1880 – 1881 and is a Grade II* listed building.[1] The …
Where is Freedom Born – Pete Cox
Is freedom born in a fire burning a palace?
Or is it born in advancing radical change?
(That many, fearing their place, would ignore, alas)
Or is it just in the suggestion of a fair exchange?
It was born in Wisbech to a dissenting clan
And William Godwin was the citizen’s name
Grew through education to a rational man
For his eloquent writing and vision gained fame
Railed against both all governments and god above
Believed in encouraging young enquiring minds
With the free spirit Mary Wollstonecraft found love
Boldly wrote that laws should never a person bind
Personal creativity brought to flower
Thus we can exorcise the spectre of power
In the Wash – Diane Calton Smith
Local writer Diane tells us a little about what she did during Lockdown – a productive time for many.
Writing Fenland Histories and Mysteries has been part of my life for the last six years, but lockdown really gave my writing a boost. There was time at last to concentrate on finishing my latest book and to make sure it really was ready for the publisher.
‘In The Wash’ is a Fenland History set in the time of King John. The loss of his baggage train in the Wash in 1216 has become interwoven with local legend and we have no way of knowing any more what really happened. There are too many theories and there is too little evidence.
I had to choose one theory for the medieval plotline and keep to it, running alongside it a modern day sequence of events to give it structure.
I love writing about the medieval era and this book has been such fun to write. It was hard work, certainly. There was a lot of research needed, as well as the solving of quite a few conundrums, but it was a happy project and one which I hope makes happy reading.
(It is available online through Amazon and Waterstones.)
Better Days Ahead
By C J Mawganson – see also Poetry
“I wanted to create a piece of work that reflected the easing of lockdown. A reminder of what had been, and how we are now moving into a new ‘normal’. “
Mike Stallard
Mike tells us: “The building is the centre of a tiny village in Hungary – I forget the name – which I did for my next door neighbour in return for a couple of jars of delicious pickles. It was her hometown. She moved …
Alice – Emma Evans
acrylic on canvas with a mixed media clock. Emma tells us: I was inspired due to the way the world had changed during the start of coronavirus, everything was nearly the same but not quite right so I wanted to create a piece of work …
Fen Blow – C J Mawganson
Feel the Fen Blow bey,
It rattles the bones
Through graves long forgotten,
In church yards of stone
Lazy old Easterly
Howls like a dog,
Then covers the dykes
In a blanket of fog
Reddens the hands
Travelled from foreign parts
Who harvest the land,
Picking artichoke hearts.
Gets up the tails
Of the long-legged hares,
That run for their lives
From the Gamekeeper’s glares
Swirls round the bench
And kisses the face
Of dear Molly Watkins,
At peace in her place
Brucks up the fruit trays
Stacked high the markets.
Makes pots goo a gutzer,
Snaps flowers in baskets
Snatches the bread
From the men eating dockey
Whilst sat on memorials,
Saddened with poppies
The sky’s blue as Woad dye
So stretch out your hand
And feel the Fen Blow, bey
For this is Fen Land
***
Clive Bilcliff
“One is a portrait in acrylics of my niece who is a nurse in the Intensive Care Unit in Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary. I painted it in tribute to her and all her NHS colleagues who have been helping in the fight against the coronavirus. …
Luke Gillings
Here’s just a couple of pieces of Luke’s, check out his instagram for more! Luke tells us: I’m working on new stuff all the time and hopefully getting better. Ive been sketching mainly during the lock down working on gesture drawing trying to put more …
Rebecca Shaw Engraving
From Rebecca:
“During lockdown I started making engraved personalised items. I started this for mostly friends and family however am trying to spread the word to others so they can enjoy hand made keep sakes too. I have made a little Facebook group called Nic Nak Engraving”
Natalia Shlyapina
With thanks to Andrew Bottley and Alan Wheeldon for introducing Natalia to us!
“Natalia Shlyapina is a floral designer from Tyumen, Western Siberia. She first studied her craft at the International School of floral design in Moscow called “Nicole,” which just happens to be the most famous in the vast country of Russia.
Since then she has perfected her skills, having studied with several international masters, Peter Hess and Gregor Lersh to name but two.
In her day job, Natalia is the head of floral design at “Zelen,” which means “Green” in Russian, this is the biggest and best floral and garden center in the region. So, why is she here? Natalia was visiting her partner when the lockdown came into force and her flights were cancelled.
Natalia started to miss her work and expressed a desire to do some work when she saw big piles of branches at the rugby ground in Wisbech. Her partner made an enquiry to Wisbech in Bloom, the result is the fabulous display we now have in St Peter’s church yard.
