Pottering

 

These are two pots by the potter Ann Marie Sheal.  We have many round the house - all works of art and all useful. She was such a good friend on Planet Expat, and I would have loved to have been able to share the excitement of my books being published with her.

I still miss her a lot. As I am sure everyone who knew her does.

She along with my brother-in-law, the potter and artist Ken Reah, opened my eyes to the world of pottery.

Peter, her husband, just put up a post in memory of her on facebook, with some photos, which is what made me want to post this.

My health does not improve. I paid for my walk up the stairs after I picked my little red car up from its hospital trip (to the garage) with a very very painful right knee on Wednesday.  I had Zoom sessions with friends both morning and afternoon which helped to take my mind off things.  The sun was out again, as it was on Tuesday, and I managed to catch about fifteen minutes worth of rays on the balcony on Wednesday before it disappeared.

The third in Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall trilogy has just started, on Sunday nights.  Judging by the first episode it is going to be as compelling as the rest.

Though apparently - well according to a tabloid headline - some people were shocked by the way it started with the execution of Anne Boleyn.  Now, given that they did not (thank God) make a Hollywood style gore fest of it, I am wondering why.  The actress playing her - must go and find her name  - Claire Foy, apparently - brilliantly conveyed the fear the poor girl must have felt, along with her desperate and futile hope for a last minute reprieve.  So for sure it was powerful and upsetting, as it should have been.

But could it be that some people did not realise she was indeed executed, and were expecting Superman to come flying to the rescue at the last moment?

Actually, as executions in Tudor days go, her death was probably more merciful than most. The executioner, brought from France, was good at his work, and did not linger over it.

But... poor girl... so young... does she have a wonderful awakening ahead of her once the whole earth is at peace under the loving rule of the Kingdom of God?  I hope so. I hope they all do really. But Jehovah is the judge of that, as he alone can read the heart and judge rightly - and also mercifully.

And every one of us damaged children of Adam need undeserved kindness from our Creator if we are to have back the life in the paradise earth that our first parents lost.

If I am there, I certainly hope I will see Ann Marie again then!  And what a lovely and useful and satisfying thing it will be, to make beautiful pots in the paradise earth.

Will I want to tell her about my books?  I doubt it,  they will no longer seem in the least bit important then.