Day Ten - Wine, Wind and Wonderful Creatives

Omaha Beach Photo of the Day - March 2019

Don't panic - this is not Omaha Beach today - it was taken in March 2019! I delved into the archives to see what was going on this time last year. And - from today - there should be no one in the water (there have been, every day so far).

This morning, I had a Zoom catch up booked in for 9am with friends Jill and Peter in London (they were here in NZ for New Year). We chatted for more than 2 hours. This is what people are doing more and more of, now everyone has a bit more time on their hands, and it's great.
It was a little hard to bear that it was 9pm there, and well into wine o'clock. I suggested next time we Zoom that we do it their morning, my night, so I can drink the wine! Peter said he'd join me, bugger time zones! Please do! They'd been half expecting me to have a glass of wine at the ready, just because that's how we banter best and goodness only knows we've had morning wines in many places together - the Paris airport scenario probably the craziest of the lot.
Banter is always better with wine ... but seriously folks, I haven't been reaching for wine in the early hours of the day! 5pm minimum. I even had a WFD (wine-free day) last week. J&P seemed dubious about all this, but Michael vouched for me!!

Mike and I had a chat with Brett around midday - he was intending to do a bit of gardening stuff. Mike managed to get the TV working - till now, only Netflix and we haven't even watched that as yet. Mike's been doing some gaming in his down time. I've been writing or reading or yakking to friends.

During the afternoon I watched racing at Randwick - it was a big race day, with 3 x million-dollar-plus races on the card including the Doncaster. Brett and I attended this day back in 1992, it's a big deal with a great atmosphere. But today, there were no people on course. It was really windy which made it tricky for jockeys and horses. It's highly possible that next weekend will see the end of racing in Oz during Covid. It's such a shame there will be no winter racing; I love watching the jumps racing ... and the hurdlers and steeplechasers will possibly go stir crazy not being able to leap over fences, doing what they love.

Our clocks go back tonight - Michael is lamenting an extra hour of doing nothing.
For many years I've planned drinks or a dinner party etc for "clocks go back night" as you get an extra hour - of either the party, or sleep. Tonight, there's no-go on that one, although I did suggest to Mike again that we could have a party for two ...

A chat to friend Lyn in Dorset after dinner (butter chicken with pappadums) revealed that there will be a virtual Grand National staged overnight. I'll get to watch a jumps race of sorts after all! Apparently they've compiled all the stats and visuals to create a virtual race of all the horses in the real field. Last year they predicted 1st and 2nd with accuracy so it seems it has substance. It will run at 5pm GMT (4am our time). And yes, I will get up at 4am to watch it if I can - but unfortunately I can't find out any way to do so as yet but am working on it!

A windy day finally turned calm and an incredibly bright waxing gibbous moon soared into the sky tonight. Not many stars on account of its bright glow. Folks, the Full Moon is due on Wed 8th April - it will be a Super Moon. Look up into the sky that night. I'm predicting an absolute stunner of a day/night. And am hoping that my Full Moon Theory will come to the fore and not let me down! I'll post more about the glories and quirks of the full moon in that day's post.

Whilst I had an eye on the races, I was also at my computer writing and researching - mostly about racing.

I didn't get to the beach today on account of the wind and racing and research. Every time I went outside with the thought of a beach walk, I went "meh, I'd rather be inside racing and researching". I was very happy doing what I was doing. Hence delving into the archives for today's Omaha Beach photo of the day above.

Here's another pic from the archives - this kinda shouts freedom.

Dog romping

And one of some kids revelling in the water that I took in Oct 2018. Kids can't do this right now - but it makes me smile.

Kids have fun

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:

Sticking with creativity - check out this link to a significant local creative award - the 10 finalists have just been announced. You can view them all on the link below (a blend of creatives who are talented, funny, awe-inspiring, clever, mesmerising, sharp, insightful, authentic, quirky and so much more). Some are earlier in their creative journeys, full of anticipation and innovation; others have the resilience and courage of having been round the world and back, sticking with it thanks to passion and ability. The message throughout is similar and hopefully, from these entries, a sense of what it is to be a creative, independently earning in this vein, can become clearer.
The public can vote for one of these ten amazing people.
Take a look - you will learn lots! I most certainly did.

Entry F: Fifi Colston - she's a longtime WOW entrant and finalist - in fact I'm pretty sure she's the designer with the most entries in the show ever (26 garments?). Some accomplishment. I catch up with her every year at WOW Awards Night and Designer Day. But not this year.
Fifi is talented and inspirational; a wonderful woman who just gets on doing what she does and loving it, pulling rabbits out of hats often. Big shout out Fifi for being a finalist. You've got my vote!

https://hnry.co.nz/awards/top10

I thought, as I'm focussing on creativity, I'd post a photo of one of my artworks each day. This is a mixed media work I did quite a few years ago. Lots of texture, iridescence and a hint of metallic (hard to capture in a photo).

Moody Waters - mixed media