Planet Ruby Starrs

I cant believe what a faff it is to get passports for children... doesn't help if one small child aged just 3 decides not to cooperate so its almost impossible to get a decent image.. We did finally succeed but now I'm worried that little legs thinks we are going on a helicopter that Nana is piloting - thing is, shes got a memory like nothing I've seen that age, and may well kick off when we finally rock up at the airport and its only a boring plane with bog standard pilot not super Nana!!! The real faff was that we took our own pictures and then tried to get them printed as passport friendly photographs... Boots don't do it, not on site anyway.. Tescos franchise was either closed for lunch (great timing for those with only a lunch hour) or broken!!! We had to pay a kings ransom in the end and have them done at one of those lingering, only managing because some people cant use internet, or need immediacy - like me - high street photo shops.  Any way its done now and f

Its been a quiet week with its up and downs - just an update as I know some people who read this will want to know and this is the easiest way of passing the info on... We finally had the coroners inquest into the death of my son in law Jay.  There were no surprises, the verdict was sudden death from cardiac arrest - allegedly uncommon but sadly this has now happened to two young men we knew and loved very much in the last three years so for us it doesn't feel very uncommon more like very unfair! My daughter was to be called as a witness, a nerve wracking experience but dealt with with ease and dignity.  Mostly the inquest was just a formality,  a legal documentation of facts leading to Jays untimely death and the where, when, why and how.  We - as a family - are glad this is behind us.  It doesn't really make any difference - nothing changes but we do at least have an official cause of death and a formal death certificate. always ready for kitchen duty.. We move toward

Dr Fred, two friends and myself have just had an excellent adventure out in the Yorkshire Dales today.  We were very privileged to have a private explore of Bolton Castle set in the most amazingly beautiful Wensleydale and surrounded by Yorkshires finest countryside.  That said the weather was at its worst atmospheric.. i.e. foggy - so little views to be had - but at its best it was snowing and its rather fine to be the lone occupants on the battlements of any castle in the snow!!! Bolton Castle and although you cant tell here its snowing!!! Dr Fred and a fellow star geek are doing a Go Stargazing event  gostargazing.co.uk   at the castle in a few weeks time so the two esteemed astronomers and two telescope Sherpas went along for a venue reckie... and were very happy when after an initial meeting with the staff involved in presenting the event we were invited to go and explore the castle. Battlements Its a 13th Century pile of stunning stones which has stood the ravages of

I have completed my first Northern School of Art Module.  Its plastered all over my bay and has been signed off - the studios are locked and there is no access until the work is marked. I have really enjoyed this module, returning to creative learning and everything it has offered me.  I would have done it all completely different if I was to start again... but I am still pleased with what I have achieved.  The reason I would do things differently is mainly down to eventually finding my feet and consequently a confidence which was somewhat lacking and also the inspirational influences of being in a creative environment again. Some of the work displayed my my peers is stunning, amazing and incredibly awesome. I feel lucky to be part of these wonderful collection of textile students. However my work is what it is and I am happy to have produced some interesting work that fulfills the brief and also that I can see how much further or differently I could do it all again.  All the

I didn't post my Christmas present from Dr Fred he seriously excelled himself this year... In Gateshead there are a couple who make the most amazing mirrors using reclaimed china, mirrors, and wood.  We have seen them at the market Quayside in Newcastle and now they have a Gallery in Gateshead  - really worth a visit.. http://cotfieldmirrors.co.uk/ We saw them at the Festival of Thrift at Redcar where they had some stunning designs, so many different ideas and wonderful ways of recycling. Its a ship on the high seas with treasure down below.  Its very beautiful made from cut pieces of mirror and cut up pewter treasure.  Its difficult to get a good photograph as it reflects everything really magnificently - its very sparkly, and bright and wonderful - looks lovely in our room. There a wee secret little box with a scene from Amble (well I think its Amble) hidden away in it and and a fully working pocket watch as part of the treasure! I feel very spoiled💖

Back to college work.. the module hand in looms and I'm down to doing the last minute frills, or at least I should be - but it seems I've just found my mojo with this project and I can see endless possibilities that were not evident a month ago and while I am very happy with what I have produced I want to do more!!! I want to simplify some of the work and embellish it with gold thread!  foil more of it - put tassles on. develop the motifs into fashion statements other then scarves, get a little funkier - take more inspiration from the Gucci collections... I spent quite a few days over the holiday period getting the paperwork up to scratch and I've nearly finished annotating everything - I've got one scarf to hand hem - a job for in front of the tv tonight... I guess its always a bit like this as a project nears the end - this has been quite an exhausting process - getting back into college and work mode but I generally like the work I have done - I think I

While Christmas this year was very immediate family centred I managed to see a great number of friends and family I have sadly ( for good reasons) neglected over the last months and it was a joy to catch up and reconnect - sharing stories of the last year and plans for the new year to come. I know January the 1st is only a date but I like the fact that it sort of gives permission to draw a line under the past and encourages a new beginning - fresh start and ideas... our last year has reminded us how important wonderful friends and family are and how the support between them and us can never be underestimated. So I gave myself a kick up the bottom and made a real effort to catch up with people I have missed in my life, I made a seriously long over due visit to my brother and his family and had a lovely day with another scrummy christmas dinner - I called into see my niece and her family - normally they come and see us so it was nice to go there instead - I hasten to add I am alwa

Having had to travel west to help a family member move house we decided to carry on and spend the night and following day in Liverpool. I don't think I've been since my friend was at uni there so that's probably about 40 years ago!! yes i have discovered the panoramic setting on my phone!!! Albert dock We had some mispent times in Liverpool - ooohh those crazy days of youth - arrested for hitchhiking on the motorway - my - we were wild!!! I remember going to the newly opened Tate Liverpool and being very underwhelmed by some of the 'modern' art in there - there was a passing craze for very minimalist white canvases and it just didn't cut it for me.  I felt 40 years on it was probably worth another look! So after the fiesta fulfilled its duty as a pantechnicon we headed to the docklands of Merseyside .. booked a cheap no frills hotel for the night and had a little explore. We hit lucky on a funky bar  'The Baltic Social'  quiet as it

Christmas has been and gone for this year... Its was celebrated in true style but we couldn't help but notice gaps and missing persons.... my 3 yr old grand daughters family portrait, daddy, mummy herself and her sister - with eyes mouth, hair and christmas hats  Back in May my beautiful daughter lost her soul mate - the father of her two children and her best friend.   It was sudden death and while classed as natural, there was nothing natural to those left behind.  Aged only 30 Jay died unexpectedly and his death left a hole beyond belief in his family and friends.  Yes as a son in law we didn't always see eye to eye but it made for an interesting relationship and I can never fault how much he loved those girls in his life.  So this year, Christmas for us, has been different.  Its not been bad, we couldn't allow that - Jay wouldn't want that, we have made it as fun as we could for everyone - especially the girls.  But it has had expected tearful moments and

I'm sat here enjoying doing nothing... Christmas will happen - I have presents for the girls who are the most important people this year.. ( probably every year to be honest) and almost have food - Dr Fred has gone to his mums and its peaceful - a lull before I hit the madness of Leeds and a very noisy house with excited children. I've made, posted, or delivered a large number of Christmas cards - quite a feat given I hadn't even got paper organised let alone an idea 2 weeks ago - the traditional cake - which we always forget about and so lasts us well into july - is iced and technically it is all systems go!   So yes a quiet blob in front of seasonal tv - fire lit and tree lights flickering - i'll probably be asleep in half an hour! Presents wrapped, bags packed, all that is left is a christmas food shop and that just requires a deep breath and nerves of steel to battle the supermarket - keep calm and spend spend spend... I have even done home made chocolat