Simon Hewitt

I think that's a US foible.

Generations of Britons have been raised under the false impression that the 'old money' was fiendishly complicated, but even the briefest perusal of the facts knocks that debate into touch The pre-decimalised currency was based on the 'Troy System' wherein a pennyweight of silver was equivalent to one old penny. A pound thus weighed 240 pennyweight and was equivalent to 'one pound', with two farthings being a ha'penny. With twenty four ha'pennies in a shilling and twenty shillings in a pound that meant that two shillings and six pence were equivalent to one half crown, the crown itself being worth (of course) five shillings of which there were four in a single pound. If anyone has ever come up with a simpler way of devising a currency I would be very glad to see it.

Am reminded of this bit of satire (which I cowrote) 15 or so years ago.

Snow-covered woodland with small drifts gathered around the bases of bare trees. Long blue shadows stretch across the smooth snow in warm late-afternoon light, and a short fallen branch rests partly buried in the foreground.

When that sun hits just right
#photography
#nikon
#wintermorning
#snowdrifts

VdGG

Two children out in the snow, feeding the birds with seed. The boy is wearing shorts and boots, but the girl is wearing trousers

The Ladybird look.
Duffle coat (over shorts)
Artist: Clive Uptton, 1964

Traffic today.

Illustration of a young child concentrating hard as he trims the cress that is growing like hair from the top of a paper cup that has been decorated with a face

All ready for another week full of meaningful activity

Artist: Harry Wingfield

Monday

A Canary painted onto a Sunblaze Bitter Lemon drinks mat from the 1950s. Beermat painting. Watercolour.

darrenhaymanart.com

31 books laid out in a grid to show their front covers, ranging from Alfred the Great to Henry the eighth

The Ladybird Adventures in History books by Lawrence Du Garde Peach. For many of us they sparked a love of history

The locked attic room in Ashcourt from where science fiction writer Olag Gandle disappeared on February 15th, 1936. The disappearance remains unsolved and a matter of much speculation. It has entered the folklore of the county as faith, as ritual. #LightACandleForOlagGandle

You know I love your ham sandwiches.

5.

Snowdrops and crocuses appear through light snow on rocky ground

“Snow has fallen again, as it will sometimes do in February”

What to Look for in Winter, 1959
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
Writer: EL Grant Watson

Good morning. Grey again here after a sunny Saturday.

On a rather dull & wet #SundayMorning, here's a view from 1929 where the sun is always shining! This is "Sunday Morning, Farringdon Road" by Cecil Osborne: it was the view that he woke up to every day. It is in the collection at Brighton & Hove Museums, where it is currently on display.

A Wheatear painted onto a Hull Brewery beer mat from 1970. Beermat painting. Watercolour.

darrenhaymanart.com

Anyone fancy an art? That would perk me right up. And maybe you!

Monet rarely mixed colors on his palette.

Instead, he set pure hues side by side, allowing the viewer’s eyes to do the mixing.

An old trading card showing a drawing of the syphilitic, tubercular racist Captain James Cook about to be righteously killed by the people of the island of Hawai'i

Back of trading card, text reads: Death of Capt. Cook Among England's syphilitic, tubercular scumbags wasCapt. James Cook. He voyaged all over the Pacific from tropical islands to the icy shores of Bering Strait spreading death & disease and racist colonialism to the mighty continent of Australia. On Feb. 14, 1779, he visited Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii. There, on the shore, he was killed while trying to kidnap Kalani'õpu'u. MAN'S PAST is stained with BLOOD; His FUTURE can be bright with PROMISE - if in the PRESENT he will wage PEACE. 1950 Bowman Gum, Inc., Phila., Pa., U.S.A. 47- in the Second Series of 36 Wild Man Picture Cards There's also a logo with stars that says Picture Card Collectors Club

Happy Death of Captain Cook day! May all would-be kidnappers be handed their arses! Strength and solidarity to all indigenous peoples standing in their sovereignty against agents of oppressive racist colonialist states!

Amazing!

YouTube video by BBC Trailers Small Prophets | Official Trailer - BBC

It is rare for something shot in Manchester to feel absolutely Hooklandian, but Small Prophets is a rare thing - an esoteric TV comedy that grows the heart. Mackenzie Crook is a genius. Small Prophets is television treasure.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=wLKL...

A white fairytale castle with glittering turrets stands in the background. In the foreground are two rose bushes in flower, one covered with red roses and the other with white roses

Happy Valentines Day

Artist: Eric Winter
(Snow White and Rose Red, 1969)

I'm British and the pestle and mortar formulation is new to me. Never heard them in that order before today.

You may laugh, but the Macbeths are a much better role model for a marriage than Romeo and Juliet. They discuss their problems (killing the king of Scotland), share their hobbies (killing the king of Scotland), and resolve their conflicts (by killing the king of Scotland).

A Stone Chat painted onto a Mitchell’s and Butler Pale Ale beer mat from 1958. Beermat painting. Watercolour.

darrenhaymanart.com

Morning Andrew

Houses of Parliament, Sunlight Effect (Le Parlement, effet de soleil) - 1903
https://botfrens.com/collections/41/contents/1316300

Lots of Hippies & Layabouts in Ryde. Why not join us?

Queen and Moodies.