Art, poetry, flowers, and a trip to the dentist
For a long time my daughter has been asking me to turn our attic into an art studio for her, and while I can’t recreate the bohemian art space of her dreams myself (there’s no space for a staircase on my landing) I hoped that a visit to artist Sophie Cook’s flower and light-filled attic studio in Rusthall Park would be an inspiring alternative. Sophie showed my daughter how she lays out all the colours she sees in the flowers on her palette before starting work and chatted to her about dogs and painting. I fell a little in love with a beautiful little seascape of Inch Beach in Ireland, but contented myself with buying some cards. There’s still time to visit as part of the South East Open Studios - this Sunday 20th June is the last day.
Bluebell Woods, Dahlias Series II and Inch Beach County Kerry all Sophie M Cook.
The afternoon was spent at the Toad Rock Retreat drinking pint glasses of orange and lemonade and taking part in a free workshop to make decorations for the Dressing of the Toad event on 3rd July. We made found poetry - a great idea for using old, falling apart books creatively. Take a page that appeals to you, highlight the words that strike a chord, and decoratively block out the rest. There is another workshop this weekend for decorative lei and anklet making from 12pm-2pm at the Toad Rock Retreat.
Found poetry workshop with Karen Gardner at the Toad Rock Retreat
During the week my child-free six hours (never will I take an open school for granted again) flew by as I worked on this website, finished off some bits for the July issue of Rusthall Life magazine, felt my book (do*not*ask)begin to take shape and feel urgent in my mind if not on paper, started to make a little progress on a project I’m working on for my children’s school PTA, tried to tidy the house …
It was nice to photograph and chat to some of the independent businesses on the high street. Sallie, owner of the launderette, told me that she missed Linda, who ran the drycleaners until she passed away last year. “I’ve been here for thirty-two years and Linda had been there for about twenty-five years. It’s sad and I still miss her. We had a camaraderie.”
On Wednesday I had my first trip back to my NHS dentist in Southborough since before the first lockdown. I got there on the bus (281 followed by the 7 to Maidstone), and took the opportunity to check out the library at the new Southborough Civic Centre. I sometimes worked at the old one on the corner of Yew Tree Road and feel a little bit of a pang for the 1960s interior, but the new one is certainly impressive and worth a trip. I’m looking forward to the reopening of Rusthall Library which should be soon. I walked back to town and browsed the pop-up charity shop raising money for Refugease at 9 Grosvenor Road. They have their main shop and warehouse on Tonbridge High Street.
Lots of people have been telling me about the wonders of their morning walks, the deer they spot on the common and the still cool calm before the day has begun. It’s not an option for parents who are the only adult in their household like me (and anyway I’m not really a morning person) but taking my daughter on an evening stroll past a wildflower meadow, Victorian churchyard, and along the ridge of the stunning Happy Valley after dinner and before bedtime was lovely. I must do it more often.
My final highlights of the week were the gloriously decadent and romantic pink roses growing all over a window in Denny Bottom (before they were drenched in rain - the weather this week!) and the free chairs on offer outside Daily Bread (always a fan of their sourdough loaves to take home, and their poached eggs and avocado with harissa). I think they are still there if anyone fancies them. I’m tempted but my house is small and I have enough chairs.
That’s all for this week - thank you for reading, enjoy your weekend and I will be back with another Village diary entry next Friday. If you enjoyed the pictures you can follow me for more of this kind of thing on Instagram.
Jayne
