9th Feb – the closest possible distance The snow continues this morning. I’ve never seen snow so intent on snowing for so long without bothering to settle. It’s not keen to commit to being here on the ground with us. I don’t blame it. I’m tired today. I feel like a loose boiled courgette, all stringy bits falling into itself into mush. I stare out … Continue reading Not one wild notion :: Journal 6th Feb – 17th Feb
3rd Feb – like a houseplant you overwater I’m holding on to this relic of the former world, this notebook travelled more places in 2019 than I did in 2020. It’s known the crush of busy tube trains and windswept beaches. It’s hard to keep hope. It’s like a houseplant you overwater, eventually it’ll start to falter with too much. It needs to be dry … Continue reading the strange consequences of the present moment :: Journal 3rd Feb – 8th Feb 2021
30th Jan – soft boy This month feels like it should have ended two days ago, at least. Today it has rained a lot and we spent lots of time clearing and faffing around. I baked a wheatsheaf loaf from my Paul Hollywood Bread Book. Husb said it looked a bit like an octopus. Sure it wasn’t a perfect representation of a sheaf of wheat, but … Continue reading quiet instead of panic is a blessing :: Journal 30th Jan – 2nd Feb
26th Jan – not every wave is a tidal wave The roof snow is still melting and the pavements still have their tired cake icing layer. I woke both of us up at around half six this morning by unconsciously kicking my hotwater bottle out of bed, it made a heavy wet rubbery slouchy sort of noise, like a barrel of fish slopping in the … Continue reading Vivacious Gusto :: Journal 26th Jan – 29th Jan
19th Jan – it seems too grand a dream at present I daydream about success as I pop the berocca into my water and move into the bedroom, overhearing husb’s morning meeting as I go. I daydream about a splash of attention when I finish my quilt, comments and likes and who knows, interviews for blogs. I mean, not that I did it all for … Continue reading It seems too grand a dream at present :: Journal 19th Jan – 25th Jan 2021
14th Jan Last night I thought about holidays, train journeys, meeting up for dinner, being close to people you miss. This morning it is raining with a papered over grey-white sky. Every surface is wet but a wet that’s set in, as if it’s been a while since the actual rain, but it’s settled on surfaces like snow does. At night I’m discovering new sleep … Continue reading I collect my thoughts in my mind inexpertly :: Journal 14th Jan – 18th Jan
11th Jan – eight years together Husb just came in to wish me happy eight years together. We’d both forgotten. This isn’t our wedding anniversary, that is a bigger deal for us these days. This is the date of our first date. It’s just lovely to think about us going on our first date eight years ago. I mean we were both different people then, … Continue reading a truly sarcastic level of social distancing :: Journal 11th Jan – 13th Jan 2021
4th Jan – a calm sense of closure I mean, it’s definitely the quietest birthday I’ve ever had, no trips, no visitors. Last year we saw Ian McKellan’s one man show, packed into a tiny theatre seat amongst strangers. Given the limitations of these days I didn’t want to leave the house much anyway. We took a nice walk in the late afternoon. Spent the … Continue reading the rapid collapse of society :: Journal 4th Jan – 9th Jan 2021
1st Jan 2021 – an already cold room Last night we watched the 2019 version of Little Women and the detail of Jo’s inky fingers made me miss having inky fingers from using this pen. The year has begun, an already cold room. A difficult grey place, given the world we’ve had to live in. Enjoy the quiet of the room, the pleasure-pain bite of … Continue reading the dopey sense of universal love :: Journal 1st Jan – 3rd Jan 2021
“When I get stuck with a character I’ll paint them” Joanna Harker Shaw is a novelist, photographer, and artist. In this interview they talk about the stubbornness needed to complete a novel, charity shop finds, and combining visual arts and writing. Their twitter is: https://twitter.com/JoHarkerShaw and their website is: harkershaw.wordpress.com What is your main creative practice? Mainly, it’s writing my novel, but I … Continue reading Creative Folk: Joanna Harker Shaw
