Strong Stuff……Gifts.....Gifts - Part Two…..
by Bernie Bell - 09:05 on 13 December 2023
Strong Stuff….
I’ve previously mentioned Vernon Bradley’s plans to hold an exhibition in Westray before Christmas, and encouraged folk to follow the development of his work on his Facebook page.
He’s now arranging for private viewings…….
https://www.facebook.com/vernon.bradley.397
As travelling off-island would be difficult for me these days, I’ll not be going - but I encourage others to do so, to encounter some strong stuff.
That’s the best way I can think of to describe his work – strong stuff – stirs you up - makes you sit up and take notice.
Rage – caged rage – uncaged rage – often including a blood-red sun-spot.
If you do go – be prepared to be shaken.
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Gifts....
A Fountain Pen is a classy gift
though it'll remain in its wooden box.
No one writes with pens anymore
and if they do it's cheap plastic
ones pocketed from a hotel whose name
you'll find on the shaft.
Artisanal paper is thoughtful and beautiful
but ultimately intimidating. It'll go unused
because writers rarely think their words
are worth the copier paper they stole
from the office much less that textured
shit embedded with rose petals.
Just get the writer in your life
a bottle of wine, maybe dinner,
do something embarrassing
or confess some dank secret.
The best gift for a writer
is inspiration.
The best things in life…are not things.
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Gifts - Part Two…..
On the Facebook page of someone that I respect, I read…..
“I’m hoping that Father Christmas will bring me the newest iPhone so that I can get better long-distance photos than my old phone allows!”
Which was followed by a lot of comments from folk saying that they want a new ‘phone too. My response was…
“But at what cost to the earth? Think about what's involved in their production. More and more new ones just aren't needed.”
With influence comes responsibility, and this person has a lot of influence over a lot of people who also respect him - which is a good thing as he mostly uses that influence to guide folk to find their way - to find themselves – and not to mindlessly follow the herd.
I say again – with influence comes responsibility which needs to be used wisely.
I advised readers of his FB page to 'Google' ...... How mobile phone manufacture damages the planet.
And…THINK!!!!
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Here’s one I made earlier……. https://theorkneynews.scot/2022/05/02/shepherds-pie-meat-free/
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