Last week I had a driving lesson with my fella’s Pa, Mick. I actually got my licence when I was 18, back home in New Zealand, but made the monumentally stupid, inconvenient, and very expensive mistake of not getting it changed to a Manx licence within the first year of moving here, so I have to sit it again. Before my fella came along, I wandered the streets with my trusty, old-lady shopping trolley, and thought I’d shuffle around like that till I eventually shuffled off. But taking up with my fella altered the trajectory of my life (which looked set to include said trolley and several cats) and inspired me to big-pant-up and get my licence.
Before having lessons with Mick, my fella would take me driving. It soon became apparent however, that he was unable to iron out my bad habits, one of which was not listening to him, and the second, gesticulating at errant drivers. There was only one thing for it, he’d have to bring in the big gun, his Pa. So it was, I set off with Mick for the big smoke, under strict instructions to do what I was told, and keep my hands on the steering wheel when other drivers failed to abide by the road rules (which of course are fresh in my mind having recently passed my theory test), or, if I really couldn’t help myself, I could wave.
Mick and I had a great time. He kept me entertained with plant-hire and traffic-management stories, and I managed not to kill us. Most of the lesson went well, except for the tricks (i.e., reverse parking and emergency stop, both of which I messed up), and we were nearing the end of proceedings, when suddenly, the steering wheel seized as we were going around a roundabout. Technically the power-steering switched off, but it was such a marked difference I thought it had seized. Anyway, long story short, the car broke down and we had to be towed back to Ramsey. It was great fun riding in the big tow truck, and all in all it turned out to be the best driving lesson I have ever had.
The week in the studio was productive as usual, with lots of cats (including some naughty ones), which I am now thoroughly sick of drawing. I am going to be winding up my drawing school over the next few weeks, ready for my return to painting and resumption of my course in October. It’s been invaluable to take this time out of my usual studio activities, and I am excited to see what improving my drawing skills will bring to my painting.
Another thing I worked on was a collage. It is based on one I did some time ago called Ellan Vannin. I had the presence of mind at the time to scan the individual sections, which I was able to print, recut, and reassemble. This has allowed me not only to make it bigger, but also make it in such a way that it can be suspended away from the wall. I am really pleased with the results so far, and will continue to tweak it over the coming weeks.
I have more photos of the the results, but my internet is so painfully slow, one will have to do.
bexODESSA 