This afternoon I was sent an email message by a family member, to which was attached a video interview with a scientist, speaking about the current corona-virus pandemic. He introduced himself as a qualified virologist and epidemiologist, and proceeded to take apart the government’s strategy for dealing with the pandemic. I am not in a … Read more
After a week of painful hesitation as to whether it is going to be possible for me to put on my Malta and Beyond exhibition, finally we have decided that it is possible for us to go ahead. I will be going up to South Square tomorrow to hang it, with the expert help of … Read more
It is hard these days to form any sense of what might be meant by “normal”. The restrictions on movement and meeting in the UK have just been increased again, after a period during which we were coming to believe that life could become more open and more easy. This morning, however, we had a … Read more
The communications media in the UK have been having a field-day in relation to the mayhem at our south coast seaside resorts over the last week. Also the police in several major cities have been having a hard time attempting to regulate informal street parties that have been getting rather out of hand. Both of … Read more
This week the British media have gone to town with the information that the death toll from the corona virus in this country has now passed that of Italy. The conclusion that is drawn from this is that the figure implies some kind of disgraceful failing. Aside from the fact that it conveys a kind … Read more
I have tended to say little about the current pandemic in this blog, partly because I’m sure that you have heard it all anyway, and partly because my primary aim on these occasions is to think about the link between my art and the rest of life. Tonight, however, I am making an exception. An … Read more
…. but I’m beginning to feel profoundly sceptical about the current “crisis” over the Covid-19 virus. I was reflecting on the evident over-reaction of our government while gardening this morning, and after lunch had the opportunity to check some statistics on the internet. The death rates from this disease are trivial in comparison with a … Read more
Several days ago I reported on the somewhat puzzling British response to the current virus crisis of buying up extra supplies of toilet paper. This afternoon I came across a report that in the USA there have been queues to buy guns! Given the choice between living in a country that is mildly eccentric and … Read more
For the first time since I began to make painting my main activity I have received an invitation to apply for an exhibition from the organisers, instead of my having to initiate the approach. I like to think that this could be significant. Another “first” of a different kind turned up in my facebook page … Read more
Isn’t it interesting how, listening to the news, we tend to think of the events recounted there as invariably taking place far away? They might be of interest, but never seem to have much to do with us. Then, all of a sudden, those events taking place at the other side of the globe arrive … Read more