The final flowering of summer 2022... It seems like an absolute age since I spent any moments musing and ruminating here... Just as it feels it was no time at all ago that we were all happily looking forward to the summer. I was bouyed by the activity of my own creative work and comments. Back in April I was trying to develop a blog and update my web site. Then my diary and work commitments kicked in and my time fled away. I am certainly not about to complain as I have had an extremely busy season with my Bed and Breakfast business. But it has actually been exhausting and the end of September will herald a welcome break. It will be a time to take stock and "rest" over the winter. I must apply as much positivity as I can muster to each day, but I find life now presents overwhelming sadness, of which there is little respite...
In May and June I was drawing and painting every day, and bristling with an energizing sence of inspiration. One Thursday morning I bumped into Mr Iain "Clendie" MacLennan, of Kenneth Street, Stornoway and his dear wife Moira, of course we got talking, and the conversation drifted to my family's association with Newton Street, Stornoway. Hearing one or two of the anecdotes of these colourful characters he invited me to write a history of my father's ancestors, The MacAulay/Burns, for the Stornoway Historical Society Journal, ("SY Gone By"). He said, "...Ah, but there's a catch, Cove, you see we'll need it to be ready for a week on...um! Tuesday". I calmy said that was "ok", went straight back into the house and prepared a seven page article with photographs and detailed information well on time. I love doing things like that, and my life has always been about slotting creative pursuits into tight deadlines. But as I grow older I prefer to respect a more gentle approach to treating our old friend Time.
I had also resolved this summer to submit work to the local group exhibition Grinneas nan Eilean, at An Lanntair Art Centre, in Stornoway. This is a most interesting show that has been around since before there was a designated space for showing art work in the town. Open to ALL is still the inclusive ethos. I did decide to put work that would be for sale, including one which had a very special poignancy in my life. The actual painting was the last one that I started in my former studio in the attic of my old flat in Glasgow. But - that story is for another post.
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