Travels

Snookery Travels in February

In the course of my travels, there are times when I just so happen to come upon a surprise, which is what happened a couple of years ago.  We had travelled to N. Ireland with the drama that my husband and I do full time.  During some free time, we happened to be walking along the sea front by the beach just above Belfast in a little town called Carrickfurgus.  I so wanted to go back to this place while we were nearby in February, and so with husband in tow we endeavoured to do so.

We came across a little Courtyard, set back from the sea front where inside there were a few shops selling yarns and crafts etc., a wonderful cafe, but also a very tiny studio where a man was painting and selling his paintings.  It was here I discovered Thomas Joseph who paints so many of the whimsical designs of sheep and other farm characters with funny captions, set again the Scottish highlands, many of which have also been printed on cards.  He is known world wide for these lovely novelty pictures.  But not only does he do these, he has some amazing serious paintings of  the countryside and seascapes.  The last time I visited we didn't have a lot of money, and to get him to sign a print, you had to spend more than we had at that time.  This time I was determined to get a signed print while I had the opportunity and so decided on the print below entitled, "Family Album".

Thomas Joseph was hard at work when we arrived, and it was so lovely to talk with him and look through what he had been doing.  It is certainly an experience I shall always remember.

 

It was a beautiful day as we walked by the sea and seeing the recently painted railings, reminded me of a poem that Adrian Plass once wrote.  It's so true too, the railings are often painted blue.  Maybe in hope of blue skies and seas in the summer ahead.

Does winter end in seaside towns when      

   councils paint anew

The railings on the promenade in hopeful  

   shades of blue

And if the tide loved Brighton beach, would   

   God come down and say

With gentle hands upon the surf, 'you need 

   not turn today'

Will massive Church of England Bells have  

   faith enough to ring

And overcome their weariness, when they believe in spring

Are there machines for measuring the power of our prayers

And anyway, and anyway, and anyway who cares?

I think you care, but gently, I think because you do

The colour of my sadness is a hopeful shade of blue

                                                       "Wish Ewe Were Here"