nyc and listening

One of the things I love about living in New York is you just walk outside your door and encounter languages, costumes, stories, music from the other side of the world--all in the space of one block (mine looks pretty much like this one).

You also get to hear wonderful snippets of conversation. Which makes it even better as a writer since your whole job is really to notice, or as Henry James put it, "be someone on whom nothing is lost".

In fact, one of my all time favorite lines I ever heard anyone say was walking down my street on the Upper West Side. A small boy wearing a monster mask was chasing his father roaring, "I'm going to eat you with my mouth!" It was quite the scariest thing he could think to say (so scary I think that he was scaring himself) and it stuck in my brain and went into my notebook.

A year later I heard it coming out of the mouth of the terrifying Clasp in Handbag Friends. (In case you haven't heard it from Clasp's mouth, you're missing something, don't delay, quick click here immediately!)

what's wrong with the world?

there are loads of theories out there but none I think truer or better said than this.

When The Times invited several eminent authors to write essays on the theme "What's Wrong with the World?" Chesterton's contribution took the form of a letter:

Dear Sirs,
I am.
Sincerely yours,
G. K. Chesterton

hop spot (with fairy cakes)

Sam (the Tiger) from our London Bureau took time out of his very busy schedule discovering and unearthing new Pinklish Words to pen this beautiful portrait of Hop Spot--who, unusually, by lucky chance, was standing still having in turn taken time out of her equally busy schedule eating fairycakes. (Thank you Sam The Tiger for this scoop!)

I think you'll agree Hop Spot is very photogenic. As are her fairy cakes. (Who, sadly, of course are now no longer with us. This is probably the very last portrait of them, in fact. Being just prior to their being gobbled all up.)

On a happier note, to find out more about Hop Spot and to watch her dance and sing with her cakes (and the other Handbag Friends): Click here!

dare to be dreadful

I don't know who said that. But it's really good and it's my latest motto, especially when it comes to writing. To help combat that enemy that is always creeping up on you trying to stop you live your life (or write your story)--the deadly perfectionism.

And here's what some clever people had to say about it:

"Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it's the only way you can do anything really good." William Faulkner (1897-1962)

"Anything worth doing is worth doing badly." G K Chesterton (1874-1936) (seen above looking rather imposing and very much like someone not to be messed with -- so who am I to argue?)

Young children, of course, don't worry about any such nonsense. They just run outside and play.

I guess they know that's their parents' job--to take care of them. So they're free to run and play. Hmm. I guess maybe I don't need to worry, either... "Your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things..."

OK. Forget perfect. Time to go and play...

handbag toast

Here's Ellie (aka The Beautiful Princess Eleanor) with her lovely Handbag Toast she made one morning.

It's certainly quite the most Fashionable Fabulous Famous Toast I've ever seen.

What a shame to eat it. And not walk about with it on your arm being a lady and wondering where to go.

Actually, I don't see why not. When you're at your next Important Meeting to discuss Important Things with Important People, you might well consider taking along your Handbag Toast to keep things unusual and surprising. What could be the harm? It would certainly keep everyone on their toes and off balance which always works to your advantage.

(So long as it doesn't rain because then of course you'd have Handbag Soggy Toast on your hands and that, as everyone knows, never helped anyone.)

angels

"Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly."
G K Chesterton

Here's to going lightly through the day and seeing where the wind will carry us...

(photo: an Angel on a grave at Castle Ashby)

every child is an artist

Been thinking about how young children paint. And how they so naturally do what as a grown up it's so desparately hard to do. I love what Picasso said, "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."

So cool. And yet another reason to become like a child...

Here's another great quote:

“Unlike in music, there are no child prodigies in painting. What people regard as premature genius is the genius of childhood. It gradually disappears as they get older. It is possible for such a child to become a real painter one day, perhaps even a great painter. But he would have to start right from the beginning. So far as I am concerned, I did not have that genius. My first drawings could never have been shown at an exhibition of children’s drawings. I lacked the clumsiness of a child, his naivety. I made academic drawings at the age of seven, the minute precision of which frightened me.” Picasso (1881-1973)

Storybook Bible Challenge!

Dan Cruver (seen above reading to his family from a favorite book) has started a challenge on his blog--how many photos can he collect of parents reading The Jesus Storybook Bible to their children? Can you help? He already has quite a few there, it'd be fun to get some more! If you want to join in the fun click here for his email address and to send along the photo... alternatively send to me and I can forward to him and post them here, too!