Priceless Paintings from W7

Someone recently commented on the doubled output in new laws per month under the current government, compared to years before. Someone should explain them -the current government, that is- the difference between quality and quantity. I am ready to lecture when ready.

The Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is on a rampage again, this time against pole- and lap-dancing clubs. While she rightly argues that the recently doubled number of openings of new establishments is concerning, her thinking doesn’t go much beyond the same old stupid approach: Let’s make a new law against it, or in this case, apply tougher (but previously existing) laws. When being re-classified as “sexual encounter establishments” (I forgot the exact term), it will be harder to obtain new or renew existing licenses.

Doesn’t change the fact that, apparently, there is demand, and doesn’t help those who might be exploited in the process. Doesn’t help finding illegal immigrants and doesn’t help stop unhealthy practices. Doesn’t even help keeping a neighborhood nice and clean; drugs, knifes and whatever else are traded on the high street and through all kinds of legal facilities. They don’t require a lap-dancing club.

When I went for a haircut this week, I praised my hair dresser for allowing certain people to use his toilet. Some people always linger around the shops and bus stop around his shop, and once in a while, some poor fellow comes to us use his toilet. I think this is mighty nice of my hair dresser.

Oh, he says, not everybody. You must be careful, he explains, as some will deposit drugs or knifes or take drugs or count the money or prepare the shots… (his list went on).

In the interest of public safety and the fight against knife crime and drug use, by Jacqui Smith’s logic, I suggest that all barber shops be closed and made illegal with effect immediately. I can cut my hair with the beard trimmer, null problemo.

Thoughts Jacqui Smith

Over here, November surely is the most depressing month of the year. Things might be different down under, but here, it now is dark shortly after 4pm. It’s cold, it’s wet, it’s windy, and there is not much hope for a change.

During December, one can look ahead at festivities, or one is too busy with Christmas preparations to be depressed. In January, there’s hope. In February, some Almond and Japanese Cherry trees will blossom, but November… Oh dear.

Time for comfort food! Smoked fish, vegetable broths, pies, mash and gravy. Cakes and roasts. Hmm. Yummie! Feeling much better already.

Thoughts Christmas

…mostly seafood, by the looks of it:

Egg Tagliatelle with smoked salmon, langoustines and a creamy mushroom sauce.

Homemade Steak and Ale Pie with green salads.

Salad Lyonaise, Choucroute au Mer with lovely waxy yellow french Charlotte potatoes, tipsy filo pastry tarlets from dried fruit and cognac.

Spiced-up Cous-cous with smoked salmon fillets.

A lovely quick-cook Bouillabaisse (and we’ve got room in the freezer again.

Food and Drink Ale

Where are all the local politicians, I wonder?

You will know how much I enjoy receiving newsletters and similar mailings from the local political party groups and councilors through my letter box. These always provide great entertainment, reason to get engaged in politics by having a rant online, and provide for great compost wrapping.

Where are they, our local politicians?

As far as I can tell, any party other than the Conservatives, which issue a preposterous monthly update on all things Ealing (unfortunately of little entertaining value), have not been alive at all, except in the last few weeks before the last election. How they plan to convince me of their ongoing good work by the time of the next elections is a mystery to me.

Can’t wait to find out.

Thoughts

What a wonderful concept! BBC’s Imagine had a program and reported about El Sistema in Venezuela; a scheme that provides children with free musical instruments and tuition in an attempt to re-socialise and improve the impoverished and disadvantaged. They put the fun back in learning music, too, because they don’t make the kids go through years of learning and practising an instrument prior to joining an orchestra. Instead, the children join the orchestra, and learn there and then.

One of the first pieces performed, they told us, is Tchaikovsky’s 4th. Not because it’s particularly easy, but because it is not particularly easy.

A very stimulating report from Venezuela. Great to see that the Venezuelean scheme has been adopted by Sistema Scotland, also known as The Big Noise. Please support them, if you get a chance.

Thoughts BBC, Scotland;, Venezuela;

It was only a matter of time until another blogging break was coming along. Think of it as the last gathering of energy before the Christmas finale.

I expect regular blogging to recommence on November 24th. Until then, take care of yourselves and enjoy all the nice pictures and recipes here.

Thoughts Christmas, energy

The season has it, and I can’t stand back.

The UK is the world record holder in the number of Christmas cards given and received. He (she) who gives will receive, they say, and we’ve been issuing up to 100 cards every year. In turn, we decorate our lounge with a similar number of cards received in return. It’s good fun, although it required my reaching a certain age to be able to appreciate the childish fun in it.

So anyway, the dilemma is whether to buy nice cards from regular shops, or to buy (often) not quite so nice cards from the charity shops.

This year, I use ArtRage to make my very own cards (depicted here), and pledge -herewidth- to donate the lost revenue, in a very generously rounded-up sum, to a charity of my choice for the benefit of the folk in the Congo.

Anyone to join in the scheme?

Thoughts Christmas, Congo, United Kingdom

The BBC was trying to talk us out of the recession. I guess this won’t be the last attempt. This one goes like so:

How the Pound was so weak now, compared to the Euro or the Dollar, that it made sense for foreigners to come to Britain for their shopping. The proved their case by showing price tags of various items of designer clothing, including T-shirts selling at £57 in Britain, and at the equivalent of £69 on the European continent.

I propose a new law.

Just like health warnings are printed on tobacco products, price tags for designer-wear should warn about the mental health implications of such purchase.

£59 for a T-shirt, it would read, and possibly even consider it a bargain, are you completely insane, bonkers, nuts?

Thoughts BBC, Britain

…mostly low-meat content food. Not by conscious choice, only by coincidence.

Spaghetti Carbonara w/ Spanish Curizo instead of pancetta – nice.

Two Chinese-esque noodle soups, one with chicken and ginger, one with roasted pork (OK ok there’s some meat here, but chicken doesn’t really count as meat and the pork came out of the “clear the freezer from debris” program, so it’s for a good cause).

Ginger-steamed black halibut with green salad and white bread.

Crepes “Super Chevre”

Pizza in the city, followed by Aida at the ENO (with stem ginger ice cream in the interval)

Food and Drink

You may have seen the ArtRage sketch a few days ago. There’s not much more to say about this, except that you can now come and see the real thing, in oil on canvas.

Click here, or the thumbnail, for a larger version.

When the Milk Goes Off

Oil on canvas, 12×16″
November 2008
Medium: Daler-Rowney’s Alkyd Flow medium, linseed oil, turpentine

I hope you like it.

Painting oil

This new painting's story is a little long and windy. Allow me to explain:

Only 6 miles or so off the cost of Monterey, California, a great deal of whales travels past more or less all year. Grey Whales and Humpback Whales travel to Baja Mexico for mating. Orcas travel along for hunting, while some Orcas even became resident in Monterey bay, feeding on seals and the occasional whale calf.

Oh, and there are Blue Whales, too. A great number of them. They weren't known to be traveling through that stretch or water until not long ago, or they changed their routes in the early eighties, but they now come along every mid summer. I haven't had luck with spotting a Blue Whale myself yet, but I have been out watching for whales a couple of times. The Whale Watching company of choice has marine biologists on board, and they tell me how elusive those big animals are:

Scientists have tried tagging Blue Whales will all kinds of high-tech and low-tech gizmos and contraptions, yet have still to find out where the whales go, and where they mate.

I can't help feeling smug about this. I don't understand why we cannot accept not to understand something. Some things should just be left in peace and on their own devices.

Take, for example, the finding of an ancient tomb. Scientists will be hugely disappointed and frustrated to find that it has been opened and raided two centuries ago, and will be delighted if not – only then to proceed raiding the previously untouched tomb. All in the name of science of course.

So anyway, those biologists tell me that one could try to renegotiate international shipping routes, for example, if those were found crossing the Blue Whales' routes or mating grounds. I don't know. Since hunting stopped, the animals are recovering. I am sure they'd be most happy to be left in peace.

Not through scientific instruments, but by sheer contemplation, however, I have now successfully determined the location of the Blue Whale's mating grounds: They go to that other place that we have so far failed to find.

Atlantis.

Oil on canvas, 20×30", November 2008.

I hope you like it. You can click here, or the thumbnail, for a larger version.

Painting california, Monterey bay;, Monterey;

I couldn’t just leave it at that, could I?

So, here are four suggestions to chose from, but again, I am happy to learn about your wildest boar thoughts.

So, here we have a cool Sau on holidays (Mallorca Sau?), a Swiss Sau (in the Animal Farm production of Wilhem Tell), a victorious Sau, and a cocktail Sau.

The swiss and the victorious ones are my favorites, with the swiss being ahead in the race for sympathy ever so slightly.

It’s your say now.

(Click the thumbnail for a larger version)

Painting Ideas Animal Farm

Today’s post is for everyone to see and comment of course, but it is dedicated to The Sister. Rather obvious, I find. Will phone later.

Here’s another one of those ArtRage sketches. While I try to figure out what to do with die Sau, one of you might be able to tell me how to spell Halali! correctly. Suggestions regarding the Sau are also most welcome.

It could just stand there as far as I am concerned; I like the greenish fur. I am not opposed to more radical ideas though. The Sau could be part of piece of party finger food (Wildschweinspiesschen) – I think I like that, too. Cherry on top and all that. Or it could be in an Animal Farm production of Wilhelm Tell (apple on top). Or it could be a price-winning Sau, with a collar and crown from laurel and oak.

The more I think about it, the more I like it, my versatile Sau.

Painting Ideas Animal Farm, Wilhelm Tell;

…leftovers. Always nice to see the back wall of fridge and freezer every now and then.

Pizza “a casa” with toppings from the top shelf

Chicken liver salad, aromatic chicken thigh wraps with mushrooms and home made tagliatelle, panna cotta with marc of peaches and almonds, cranberry and pistachio biscotti

More chicken liver salad (from the left-over livers, obviously), this time with an added creamy port-wine ding-dong

Pancakes with hot and spicy lamb mince filling, with a chilling fresh green salad on the side

Fish ‘n’ Chips

Food and Drink

Here’s another one of those sketches made with ArtRage. I shall let you know when I have turned it into a real oil painting. The 12×16″ canvas is already right next to me, and much of the painting is well under way.

When the Milk Goes Off is, I think, the right title.

Painting Ideas