Fantasy, Wolves and Art

I love books but I also love the whole tactile and visual book experience, so a local exhibition of the book cover artist Geoff Taylor's work was of interest. This was a display covering 30 years of his work and also cases of the books, a considerable number of which had the original, acrylic paintings on display. He specialises in fantasy and science fiction and has designed for some of the big names in this genre. It was interesting compare the two mediums and to appreciate how the artist works within the restrictions. The huge paintings and the small covers. Taylor trained as a graphic designer but midway through his degree course realised that he might have preferred fine art but by that time it was too late to change. (By such decisions sometimes the courses of lives are made).

The amount of detail in the original paintings was phenomenal, but he also has the imagination to create and bring the author's other worlds into reality. Fantasy art can all too easily be cliched and flat but Taylor's seem to really live and have texture and movement. To see examples of his work go to his website here

Browsing the books I realised that I had one of his first commissions which he was given in 1976 which was Philip K Dick's 'Counter-Clock World'

As was the case in those days the cover was uncredited. Its years since I read this book but basically it is about a society experiencing something called the Hobart Phase where people age backwards (the old born) gradually getting younger and entering the womb. A dead religious leader about to be reborn, hence the cover design, and throw in an evil Library and away goes the plot. That's all I can hazily remember.

Coming out of the exhibition, apart from the prints, they also had some signed bookmarks for sale, and I do like a bookmark. While I was trying to decide which to get I noticed there were also postcards. Geoff Taylor also paints animals, and it would appear from the exhibition these are generally of those types beloved by myth makers as symbols - the deer, wolves and owls. One of the cards was 'The Last Wolf'.

This is the local legend that the last wolf in England was killed in the Middle Ages on Humphrey Head, a promontory on the north shores of Morecambe Bay. My grandmother's family farmed in the area, so maybe this is why she owned the book I inherited called 'The Last Wolf', published, and written, in the Victorian times by Mrs Jerome Mercier. It has some nice black and white plates and sketches of the area.

It is written as a medieval romance with a poem at the back which describes the legend in verse form. The chase of the wolf, which must have had superhuman, or should I say, super wolf, stamina, covers a huge area, but it all ends badly for the wolf, however true love is found by the human protagonists. For a description of the full story, and other wolves go here

So now my Grandmother's book has a picture it was lacking, a wolf against the backdrop of Morecambe Bay.

Thusslow they strain o'er Humphrey's Height,
When low! a chasm appears,
That dips in darkness to the sight,
And fills the heart with fears.

Begirt with rock on every side,
It slopes in shade away:
But at its base may be espied
Against the light of day

To this black hole the quarry draws,
Now racked with sore distress,
While hard behind, with out-stretched jaws
The yelling bloodhounds press

ABC Wednesday - D

D is for Daisies, Devils, Downs and Damsons

Oh, I Don't think I have anything for D, was the first thought that came into my mind. So I dashed out into the rain and take a picture of Daises. An exuberant plant, difficult to keep in check, but requires no looking after whatsoever. I always associate these with high summer. Ha, summer, did that happen some time in June this year? Perhaps if I head south and over the channel it is happening there. I hope so for in a few weeks that's where I'm going and there will be lots of Dolmens. (Possibly D is sorted for the next round). Nil desperandum . This gives me my next D which is,

slightly further south and east a bit, on the top of the Le Grand Ballon is a monument to the Diables Bleus (blue devils), mountain troops active in World War 1.
The Devil has a lot of things named after him all over the world, he is a busy person. There are numerous Devil's Bridges although I have only come across one Devil's Ladder (in Ireland). My local one is the Devil's Chair, a rocky outcrop. What is the one called near where you live?
Here is the Devil's Kneading Trough (foreground)

which is part of the North Downs in Kent.

Postline

Where Dun coloured cows roam

Tolsford Hill

and it is known as the Garden of England. (I was there in August last year and there was some the wonderfully tasty fruit being sold from the front gates of houses).

There used to be Damson orchards all over England but like the apple orchards they have greatly declined in number. These were just growing by the field margins in Kent.
We have orchards nearby in the Lyth Valley but the Westmorland Damson is smaller and sharper than their southern cousins. Damson Day is celebrated there in April when the pretty white blossom appears. Anything you can make with damsons is on sale - jam, wine, tarts, cakes... and perhaps some of the Mason's Arms, Strawberry Bank Damson beer. Which is a very nice Drink.

Dash over to Mrs Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday for a diversity of Ds

The Prince Run In the Points

Sunday's local celebration of cricket that is the Jimmy Hull Trophy knock out. A short form of cricket which is 7 players a team and limited runs per player. The teams, as in the best of traditions, are from the local pubs. Here is my local the Prince of Wales, having reached the semi finals, fielding and the Old Kings Head trying to make a decent score. Black Combe, cloud coming in, is in the background.
The latest recruit to play for the Prince getting the score running in the right direction.
The score board ticking nicely away, while the crowd took full advantage of the bar and barbecue. The Prince win but the team to be met in the final is the favorite to win - The Blacksmiths Arms. Some good bowling and the Prince had 77 to beat, a gettable target.
4 runs to go and 5 wickets down. End result 81 for 5. Hurray. Much celebration, and the trophy won. Linda will enjoy polishing it to gleam in the trophy cupboard. It does however have a cricket ball shaped dent in it which it gained on this day. Everyone agreed this adds a touch of authenticity to the trophy.

ABC Wednesday - C

LLanfoist

C is for Canal Boats

Today C is in Wales on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. Built between 1797 and 1812 to provide a link to the Bristol Channel and carried coal, iron, lime and agricultural products. After its decline and fall into disuse it was restored and reopened in the 1970s as a recreational waterway.
What is nicer than messing about in boats and chugging along a canal
or laying up by the towpath to take advantage of the local pubs. The canal boats are all different colours and some are individual

such as this mining mole. I wonder if this is owned by an ex coal miner.

Of course you can also glide along in a Canoe, on the Brecon and Abergaveny Canal but take care not to capsize
as the water is a rather cloudy, murky brown. A mouthful would perhaps not be refreshing. Although
mother mallard and her offspring probably find all sorts of delicious things to eat.

Curious to see more? Come on over to Mrs Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday to see everyones interpretations of the letter C

Boats That Have Seen Better Days

Roa Island

Gently rotting away. I think it needs rather a lot of TLC.

Upside down on the channel at the bottom of the Slag Bank

A lost little boat. Reminds me of the one Emily Dickinson wrote about:

Twas such a little - little boat
That toddled down the bay!
Twas such a gallant - gallant sea
That beckoned it away!

Twas such a greedy, greedy wave
That licked it from the coast -
Nor ever guessed the stately sails
My little craft was lost

ABC Wednesday - B

B is for Black Combe

My local mountain, or possibly hill as it is only 1,969 ft. Here is the view from Kirkby Moor with a piece of farm machinery, not sure what its original use was for. I am a generation away from my farming roots.
I can't resist a rusting building so here we are moving closer on a beautifully sunny day.
And here closer still from Skelly Crag on the Duddon estuary. This was a very breezy day so the washing at the end house would not take long to dry.

It is a popular walk to the top of Black Combe and can be approached from many directions. You are sure to meet at least one person on the way up, down, or on the top. They are usually walking but depending on the time of day there will usually be someone running. The local fell running club could only be called one thing the Black Combe Runners and there is usually a race at some time of the year here.
Popular also with cyclists, although they are fewer in number. Here is one going up from the north west side which has a lot less distinct path than the wide path from Whicham church. He is heading for the top.
Now I have, somewhere, pictures of the view from the top taken with my old film camera. They are hiding from me. On a clear day it is a fabulous view, out to sea to the Isle of Man and mountains to the north and the Coniston range to the east. I can't find one on the net so this is one taken by stridingedge.net of the trig point on the flat top. This is a good place to shelter from the wind and is a popular place to eat sandwiches and chat to whoever else is passing.
Being near the Irish Sea Black Combe does tend to attract the clouds and there is a saying "If you can see Black Combe it is going to rain, if you cannot see it, its already raining".
It appears and disappears depending on the air quality. This is a hazy view taken yesterday with the north end spit of Walney Island just visible under the hill and the Duddon Sands beyond. It was not visible at all today because, torrential rain, and more forecast tomorrow.

Now a hill like this, that stands alone on a flat plain, does not have only one saying about it, but two, but this one is of an older origin and is "nothing good ever comes round Black Combe". Which could mean our West Cumbrian neighbours, no just kidding, it probably refers to the Scottish raiding parties down from the borders commonly known as the Border Reivers.

For bags more Bs take a trip to ABC Wednesday

Balloon Malfunction

The Raiderettes were entrusted to launch the balloon raffle at half time but I don't know if anyone had given them instructions. They were collection raffle money near me and one said "that's it we will have to get on quick or else we will not have time to dance". Haste would not be an issue. Separating balloons with a quick pull was. Time ticking away before the teams were due out and desperately trying to separate the balloons they eventually gave up and launched, a few separating, but the rest still in their bundles.
Too late to dance, they disconsolately walked off as the cheery balloons floated away. The balloons will travel further together, maybe they will end up near you.

The match was entertaining as well with our new half back,signed from Oldham, James Coyle running in four trys, the two wingers taking five between them. End result Barrow Raiders 74 - Leigh Centurions 6. A good start for the new coach, Steve Deakin. Our optimism returns after the recent loosing streak.