A rainbow over Paragon Creative, Elvington, York (Not nearly as good as it really looked.)
I am not a naturally superstitious person. Due my Pollyanna syndrome, I have a tendency to believe the good 'signs' and ignore the 'bad' ones. eg: One magpie for sorrow - rubbish superstition, don't believe it. Two magpies for joy - a good superstition, I'll believe it.
At 9am, I walked to the start of a 'new term' at Nestle, chocolate tasting. As I walked through a line of trees, Splat! A pigeon crapped all down my arm. Fortunately, I was able to reach for my ever ready packet of wet wipes. The last time that happened to me, was when I was visiting Scarborough three years ago and all sorts of good and extremely unexpected events have happened concerning that town since then. So, I walk on, wondering.
On that same day in Scarborough, I pulled back the hotel bedroom curtains and saw a rainbow over the sea. As I had just given a talk on my work, called, 'Chasing Rainbows' (available free on Itunes), it rather took me aback. But since then, I've noticed that rainbows have appeared as supportive and reassuring signals at certain times.
But more of that later. Back to the earlier part of the day. Sarina from Water Aid, London rang. We had a long conversation, she really is most supportive and helpful. Apparently, it's better that our fund raising efforts go through her office, rather than the York one. She has taken over trying to get a speaker for our Soroptimist meeting next week and was full of helpful advice and support.
In the afternoon, a ferocious thunderstorm storm built up. I hoped it would go by the time I had to pick up Ann C (Soroptimist) in the city centre and drive out to meet her prop making contact, David, outside York. Fortunately the main storm had finished by 4pm, but the skies were still full of rain, though the horizon looked bright.
The traffic was so slow, not helped by fire engines probably having to clear out flooded buildings. It took ages to get out of the city centre and then ages to find Paragon Creative in Elvington. A small village, but with two business parks and of course, we chose the wrong one to drive around first. Eventually, we found the correct address. Driving up, there was a superb full rainbow right over the building. I felt reassured that everything was going to go well.
David Bloodworth is the Construction Manager of Paragon Creative.(www.paragon-creative.co.uk) A business that makes scenery and props. Ann had been shown around the factory some time ago and David came to her mind, as I had mentioned needing props at t'other Ann's leaving dinner, a couple of weeks ago.
It was a thoroughly productive, creative and a really quite exciting meeting. David is most kindly donating his time and Paragon Creative will donate the materials. We knew the prop we had in mind, it was just case of size, dimensions, design etc: There was much laughter and a photo moment, that will revealed after the event! Life never ceases to throw up moments that you could never have thought would happen - if you let it, that is.
Logistically, it's going to be interesting getting my props to London on the train. As I'm going down next week, I think I will take Silent Night's recycled prop with me and store it at father's flat. At least that will be one out of the way, though I need to paint on it first.
My next job is to go into York tomorrow and attempt to scrounge a few extra items needed for the prop.
As the prop was being designed, so the actual plinth hour revealed itself in my mind. I now know exactly how I'm going to spend that hour.
