Backwards In High Heels

If You Can't Say Anything Nice....

If you speak to me and think I sound like a girly version of Jamie Oliver, that'll be because of my fat tongue, which is engorged due to severe biting of said tongue.

The last few weeks I seem to be permanently in a state of biting my tongue as opposed to letting leash with my opinions as (a) they haven't been asked for and (b) they may result in me being struck off Christmas card lists right, left and centre.

I am in no position to tell others what to do, in fact the idea of me giving career/relationship/life advice is laughable. I am a master of the muddle through. However, in recent weeks I've developed a nervous twitch as I've wanted to start so many sentences with "What you should do..." or "What's wrong with that is..." and the old classic "Your a f*cking idiot, now listen to me..."

I don't think it is any coincidence that this sudden burst of interfering comes with the discovery of, *gasp* a hag hair on my chin. I think I may be going through one of those rites of passage.

Peace in Our Time

I think I've told the story of Suzy Greaves on here before. She is a life coach I 'won' in a competition and she truly changed my life. I still look to hers words and friendship for inspiration, and support. And recently her 'Big Peace' project has really taken flight. The leaps in life are frightening but so much more achievable when you band together and support each other.

For that reason be sure to pop by Suzy's Big Peace blog here

An Offer You Can't Refuse From My Godfather

I am extremely proud of my Godfather, the sculptor Stuart Williamson. I recommend you all tootle over to his website and take a look at his amazing portrait sculptures and other works. I'd also like to let the artistic amongst you know he has a new instructional double DVD set on portrait sculpture available (details on the website).

I'm rather in awe of such talents. The nearest I get to sculpture is making bits of blu-tak into cubes, or if I'm feeling very creative, into snails.

Stu was the head sculpture at Madame Tussuad's for many years but now lives with his beautiful family in Ecuador, a far cry from our native Yorkshire. I can only assume the UK arty elite a bit dim as he's never been as lauded at home as elsewhere in the world. This is intensely annoying - his work should be all over this land so I could go around and indulge in bragging rights 'oh yes, my Godfather sculptured that and yes it is brilliant'. Thank Gawd for the internet however so I can at least see in 2-d the wonderful pieces he is creating.

Recently he has finished a bust of Harry Patch, the last British WWI veteran who passed away this month.

And very exciting and moving news for my part is that my Great-Grandad Tatty Thompson will be getting the same treatment in the future. Stu knew him (and he was a character you'd never forget!) though I dread to think what word's Tatty would exclaim on knowing he was to be captured for prosperity - I suspect he'd be all bluff and then go and shed a tear!

There are too many wonderful portraits, it feels unfair to single any out but I particularly love William Shakespeare

I expect him to start talking to me (and if he did it would probably be 'give my work another chance you heathen bitch' - only it would rhyme and then someone's identity would be mistaken...and well you get I'm not a huge Shakespeare fan)

And in Stu's other work, I adore Earth Angel, carved from stone:

So do go check out his site and if you are interested in portrait sculptor - you'd be pressed to find a finer teacher.