Linen blazers and vague blogging

Cloudbusting 

Dear Readers, 

I have been plagued by a series of migraines brought on by storm Bram that passed through earlier this week. I am a human pressure gauge. 

But before the storms, I went back out on the Leith Creative Trail last Saturday. I enjoyed visiting the Portland Street Pottery (where I purchased two wee mugs). I also visited Coburg House Open Studios. I really enjoyed the conversations I had with the fine artists and makers I spoke with there. It was another stellar day, highlighting the creative community of Leith. On Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, I was busy doing mysterious art related things before the storm derailed me. 

Pretty in Linen

My week then went something like this: migraine, work, migraine, work, migraine and this is how you find me. I have been taking it easy today. Listening to music, watching comforting shows, and being silly on the internet. I lamented earlier to some of my facebook pals that none of the boys I knew in school wore linen blazers (like they did in the film Pretty in Pink) cut to an image of Andrew McCarthy and James Spader that may "live rent free" in your head if you are of a certain age and most likely from the USA. However, those 80s films did seem to have pretty universal appeal. I have gone ahead and inserted the imagery above in case you don't know who or what I am talking about. I also mentioned the fact that if Die Hard is considered a Christmas film then so is Less than Zero... (don't watch it though).

The news has really been getting me down, so I thought some ridiculousness and frivolity seemed in order. You know, back to the good old days when we just took photos of our food, humble bragged, and vague booked. 

New wee cup from Portland Street Pottery

So, that's where we are (enjoy the photos). I am listening to Nils Frahm's Talisman for extra gravitas as I write to you about nothing much at all.

I'm meeting my pal Julia on Sunday and she's going to help me with "some more mysterious art related things" and then I will have more art news to share soon. I'm vague blogging. 

In other news this week, thanks to the SAU Learning Programme, I learned all about the new Making Tax Digital scheme for sole traders. The online course was presented by writer Heather Parry (Illustrated freelancer's guide). It was a helpful and engaging presentation on what could have been a very dull and somewhat scary subject. I feel a lot more equipped to deal with it when the time comes.

Free educational courses like these are just another great reason to be part of a union. If you are thinking about ways to engage with your union, the learning programme seems like a good way to test the waters, get to know some familiar faces, and learn a thing or two. This is how I initially got involved with the SAU. So if you are wondering how to get involved, sign up for a free course in the new year! And if you aren't yet a member of your union, consider joining. 

I came across this old union cartoon on the internet this week. It was created by politician and cartoonist John Miller Baer and appeared in the December 1953 edition of a labor trade publication The Signalman’s Journal. I will leave you with this bit of  seasonal union cheer. 

union cartoon ©1953 by John Miller Baer

Until next week, take care out there, stay warm, and keep fighting.