VISUAL ARTS, ADOBE AND THE SCIENTIST

What ho!

Many apologies for the massive gap in stacks. The first reason was an absence from the beloved game and the second is the fact that I have signed up for Visual Arts at college and I’m drowning in Australian Artists, colour wheels and my poor attempts at painting in different mediums. Of course there is also all the online study that goes with the lessons. It’s been years since I was a sit-in-class student. I have a lovely lecturer who is taking me for all units and I’m studying for a year to do a 6 month course, i.e. part-time so I can still write. However, it’s tough using one part of the brain to use another easily. My friend C said that and I didn't really understand until I immersed myself in art.

As a student I have got access to Adobe’s complete suite of applications and I’m loving getting back to computer work. It has been a long time since I was Head of Department (IT) in London.

But having said all that, I’m having a blast. As for the poetry book which was due in November, I will have to take that slowly…I’m still refining the choices. I have decided to rewrite the majority of the Vietnam book. As soon as I finished the first draft, I realised how much better it could be. No idea how long that will take me now. But some books take people years. I am missing writing short stories but I anticipate a broader vocabulary to come with my study.

Mahjong? Well I’m back to the routine of my Wednesday mornings with my pensioners. I know. I have grown quite fond of many of them and they have moved up from being THE pensioners to MY pensioners. I only won one game this week, I forget which one it was. Perhaps it was Crazy Chows. I did play Dragonfly (that old favourite) as well as a new one for me, The Scientist. I played with my delightful friend Elizabeth as well as two other jolly folk. Elizabeth is studying politics this semester (yes, she’s in her 80’s). I don’t envy her essays and research but it is a fascinating time to look at the players on the international stage. We laughed a lot until I remembered I had forgotten to do something important at home. I had to abandon the session. I’m hoping for better luck this week.

Trump is astounding me (I don’t know why I am astounded) and I find myself tuning in to his unreasonable and unbelievable attempts to rule USA. I promised myself to take Garrison Keillor’s advice to do something else but I can’t help myself.

Well that’s all for now. I won’t post any pics of the art work yet, but know I’m practicing painting or drawing every day.

GAMES

CRAZY CHOWS - all suits in mixed chows with a mixed pair.

DRAGONFLY - All dragons, a pung in each suit and a pair from any suit

THE SCIENTIST - sorry forgotten and Elizabeth has my book. I’ll add it next time.

Pic is of new notebook cover.

Pip pip

Jane