Can’t sleep – and when I do I’m troubled by giant dream parasites. Might be something to do with the fact that I’ve just dosed the family with worming tablets and am working my way through washing all bedlinen, towels, bathmats, nighties. If it’s not that it’s nits I suppose. Or the fleas from the neighbours cat. Kids and pets = yuk.
I’l try to think about happy things instead. My piece for Leeds Light Night is coming along nicely – it’s called ‘Inside Out’. I’ve just written the blurb for the brochure, as follows:
‘Inside Out’ a site specific installation by Rachel Howfield (www.rachelhowfield.net)
For one night only, this new work, made specially for Light Night, offers a playful look at the notion that ‘you are what you wear’.
Satisfy your voyeuristic tendencies, and spend some time loitering on the street to watch video projections or peeking into changing cubicles to see an intriguing installation.
Drop in any time between 5pm and 9pm on 9th October 2009 – Ace Clothing, Boar Lane, Leeds
I am reading n.paradoxa while the fa mily watch rubbish tele. I feel very righteous.
Hurrah – I’ve just burned the dinner again. This is a very good thing, because it means I was totally absorbed in thinking about art, and totally forgot that there was something in the oven.
Totally burned to a cinder, smoke alarm blaring, cooked half an hour ago type of burned. Ace.
Kids are eating cheese sarnies and apple instead, and I’m heading back up to my sketchbook on the bed.
I finally got the photo’s off my phone, so I’ve added them to the blog in the relevant slots.
Even better than this is the news that this phone is now relegated to ‘my old phone’ status, as I have an iphone! It is everything I’d hoped it would be, although I don’t seem to be able to add a post to my blog from my iphone – not sure why yet. There is of course a related tale about how I got the contract sorted, but who cares any more, I’m just happy to have it.
I’ve been looking at holiday pics and thinking about how much fun we had. Then I remembered that I wrote a blog post while we were away, but couldn’t upload it as we were too far from civilisation to have wifi or even mobile phone service.
Here’s what I wrote. It’s not how I remember it at all – we had a fab time, learned a bit about sheep shearing and cow-milking (not the correct technical term I suspect) (a beautiful jersey calf was born while we were there) spectacular walks and lots of fun. Or alternatively, on an off moment…
‘ We’re on holiday in Duddon Valley in Cumbria for two weeks. Is it just coincidence that on the same day that I start thinking about my art ideas I get my first headache of the holiday? It could be the red wine, although I’ve had a couple of glasses every night for a week without ill effect. It could be the change in the weather – it’s been raining lots for two days now. It could be withdrawal symptoms – I get a bit testy after a week of relaxing – give me a sense of purpose any day. It could be lack of personal space. Family holidays sort of imply that you have to enjoy every minute of being in the company of your family. I enjoy each minute when I look at the minutes independently but when you put all the minutes together it seems like a lot to ask. It could be that I experience instant tension when I start thinking about the ‘making art v making money’ conundrum. Or am I just a grumpy sod.’
I think we all know the answer to that one.
