They’ve “seen” better days – Pencil and wash in a small Watercolour Moleskine
At the risk of making a complete spectacle of myself I decided to draw this and send it in as a warning to you all. It seems to make an interesting “still life” composition although “still death” might be more appropriate. More puns appreciated as Ziza will, almost certainly, have a field day here.
As I shovelled some snow, last week, my glasses fell off. In a remarkable feat of hand-to-eye coordination I succeeded in bringing the shovel forwards just as the specs reached ground level. I am still amazed that I could do this for it still seems an incredible achievement, one I would be hard pushed to repeat. Of course it should serve as a lesson not shovel snow. I was always taught that snow clearing could be dangerous, especially for those of us getting on a bit. Now I know why. Winston Churchill once said that, “It is not given to us to see into the future”. How right he was! (and how prophetically right it now is).
Feathered Ape 9:05 am on January 18, 2010 | #
Bob, when did Churchill say this? I’d be interested in the details for something my wife is writing. Sorry about your glasses, but at least you got a nice subject to paint. Best Nathan (Feathered Ape).
trebor61 10:12 am on January 18, 2010 | #
Hi Nathan. Almost got this quote correct. Its from a speech, by Churchill, to The US Senate Chamber on 26th December 1941. Churchill had learned the news about Pearl Harbor and immediately went to visit Roosevelt in Washington. The piece I misquoted is right at the end:
“It is not given to us to peer into the mysteries of the future. Still, I avow my hope and faith, sure and inviolate, that in the days to come the British and American peoples will for their own safety and for the good of all walk together side by side in majesty, in justice and in peace.”
You can get the whole speech at:
http://www.churchill-society-london.org.uk/GutTools.html
Nick Powell 11:37 am on January 18, 2010 | #
A very expensive subject for a still life Bob!!
Wearing glasses around you when you have a shovel in your hand could be dangerous.
Why do mangled glasses always look so sad?
Feathered Ape 12:34 pm on January 18, 2010 | #
Thanks Bob. This is actually a much more impressive quote; as usual, a very lyrical and poignant Churchill. I should have known this, as my grandfather gave me a tape of Churchill’s speeches when I was much younger, but I haven’t listened to them for a long time. Why do people not speak like that anymore? Thanks for digging this out, much appreciated.
Nuria 1:39 pm on January 18, 2010 | #
Are you already well?
¿Estás ahora bien?. ¡Vaya susto!
trebor61 1:44 pm on January 18, 2010 | #
Hi Nathan – ‘smee again! Thinking about Churchill’s speeches, this is probably one of the most revered. The link is from the same place:
http://www.churchill-society-london.org.uk/LngHrdWr.html
and the last lines, again, are terrific. Churchill broadcast this to the nation on 27th April 1941. I think he was trying to emulate President Roosevelt’s “fireside chats”. It should be possible to get a recording of this – I’ve heard this many times but cannot lay my hands on it quickly. The poem, one of my favourites, is “Say naught the Struggle Naught Availeth” by Arthur Hugh Clough and is a beacon of hope for the downtrodden. My dad used to say that folks used to stop what they were doing to listen to Churchill’s inspiring talks. You are correct. Language is not spoke this way any more. Try to get a recording and listen to the accent he places on the last few lines:
And not by eastern windows only,
When daylight comes, comes in the light;
ln front the sun climbs slow, how slowly,
But westward, look, the land is bright.
trebor61 1:47 pm on January 18, 2010 | #
Nuria and Nick – Why do mangled glasses always look sad? Its because they cannot see their legs.
trebor61 1:53 pm on January 18, 2010 | #
Found it:
http://ia341324.us.archive.org/0/items/Winston_Churchill/1941-04-27_BBC_Winston_Churchill_Westward_Look_The_Land_Is_Bright.mp3
Feathered Ape 3:22 am on January 19, 2010 | #
Hi Bob, you’ve inspired me to listen again to those speeches. I’ve actually found the tapes my grandfather gave me and even an old tape recorder to play them on (not easy to find in this day and age). They were very emotional, not only because of their content, but because I associated them with my grandfather who has been dead 10 years this June. He met him when he served in the navy and he was his hero. Amazing how something as simple as a pair of broken glasses can eventually elicit such mixed emotions. Thanks again for painting them and finding these quotes. Best wishes Nathan
trebor61 4:23 pm on January 25, 2010 | #
I’ve just noticed this. Thanks again. Glad you are getting some satisfaction from the old tape. I use an old walk man to play tapes through a computer input so I recognise the scenario. My dad served on minesweepers in WW2. Small world. I listen to a tape of him discussing his life up until the end of the war, often.