Under the water down by the sea

In an Octopus's Garden in the Shade oil and gold laquer on canvas. By George Roberts 2015

A girl with red hair urges her horse backwards in a watery world of seaweed, fish, cephalopods and bubbles.  It's both day and night in this ionic, ironic and damp mermaid's purse. Gee up my little contra-indian! Come on in, the sea is warm and time, tide and buttered eggs wait for no one.

Little Lou

Little Lou and my granddaughter Pixie

On the run up to Christmas, Toot and I had lots of fun making a ventriolquist's dummy for our daughter Alice.  I have to say my late Dad was probably correct when he said I would never make it as a sculptor!  Mind you, he never made a fortune betting on the 'horses' but it never stopped him trying!

Credits: http://www.alstevens.com/ventriloquism/fred.html

The Snowman

The Snowman by the Essex Artist Alice Nielson 2015

A full moon and a night for reindeer.

Already for Santa raring to go!

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; 

Because the cat had eaten it and the neighbours koi carp

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds;

After watching Bruce Willis in Die Hard

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,

That will be the Malt Whiskey then

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Moles

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,

Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,

With a little old driver so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the housetop the coursers they flew

A risk assessment has been filed with the Health and Safety Executive

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too—

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, 

No animals were killed or hurt in the lead up to Christmas

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!

Sir,would you please get out of the sleigh and blow into this bag?

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;

GOVERMENT HEALTH WARNING

Smoking can seriously damage your health

He had a broad face and a little round belly

That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

Poor life-style choices cost the NHS millions of pounds each year.

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, 

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

 Credits: Thursford Magical Christmas and the Poetry Foundation.

A turkey in Turkey Christmas 2016

 A very Merry Christmas to all my readers where ever you are in the world.  Toot and I have just returned from a week long touring holday with our friends in Turkey.  Since getting back we have been 'Christmas crafting', watched one grandson  be a king and another portray a donkey, met Santa and been to the Circus.

Looking forward to watching Bruce Willis once more throw Alan Rickman from the Takahoma Tower. He might be an exceptional thief but he certainly dies hard every Christmas Eve.

 Toot and I are truly blessed in having friends and family to love and cherish. God bless you everyone!