A very cold start in the shed yesterday morning! Began a large stretched canvas –working freely, thoughts of the landscape around Clydach on my mind.
Went for a family walk to Clydach on Sunday, up the ridge above the village and walked around the top and then down – very steep, bracken covered path, streams covering the path every so often. Once we were down in the woods on the way down, found what I think must be a lime kiln. That’s the third I’ve seen recently. This one, to the side where a stream came out had two flower arrangements, one with lilies and a dried flower wall hanging, with ‘A mother’s love stays in your heart forever’.
Nearer the village we saw a field of what might have been Jacob’s sheep and I was surprised how many people live right up there, up the steeply winding roads on the side of the hill. Must feel really remote on winter nights. Near the ironworks Andrew spotted a load of dumped hexagonal tiles, which I’ve picked up, slugs and all. They are now awaiting cleaning in a wheelbarrow by the back door.
I’ve begun drawing on polystyrene plates in biro, my memory of the landscape, to be printed.
Yesterday I pulled fact 7. On Allison Neal list: “Sir Bartle Frere’s daughter Mary wrote the first English-language book of Indian story tales Old Deccan Days. Her sister, Catherine Frances Frer illustrated and edited the book. Catherine also edited several cookery books, one of which was reviewed by Virginia Woolf. “ I’m curious to read VW’s review of it and to find what Old Deccan Days is about.
