Yesterday, I showed you a picture of our Phoebe's precious Monty. Today I am showing you a drawing of Monty that I created just yesterday when Shirley was working at our local Age Concern charity shop. I am pretty happy with this ink and pencil drawing though I know that if I attempted a few more versions I could come up with an even better image. But this one will do.
I am going to get it framed as a fifth birthday gift. Of course I am very conscious that my picture will surely outlive me so that when Phoebe is a woman, she may look at it sometimes and think, "My Grandpa drew that. He loved me and I loved him. He was always kidding and I remember him fondly". That is the only kind of immortality I can hope for...
⦿
In other news...You may recall that on New Year's Eve I ventured out to trial my new camera while also undertaking a familiar three mile circular walk for exercise.
It is my habit on walks like these to unlock the car boot upon my return. Then I take off my walking boots and put my shoes on. At this time the boots are meant to end up in the boot but that did not happen on Wednesday afternoon.
Today (Sunday) I was about to head out for another long walk when I discovered that my faithful boots were not in the car boot space and they were also not in our house. Then the possibility dawned on me that I had not actually put the boots in the back of the car.
That was four days ago and as I drove back to the deadend road that is Shorts Lane, I had a very slim hope that I would find my boots close to where the car had been parked.
But there they were! Some kind fellow human being had carefully placed the boots on the adjacent drystone wall. They were upside down and bathing in winter sunshine. Fortunately, there had been no precipitation during the past four days.
Such moments restore one's faith in humanity. There are a lot of good people out there who do kind and thoughtful things. I wish I could hug the person who put my boots on the wall and thank them profusely.
The Monty drawing is beautiful and I am sure Phoebe will cherish a framed version for many years. I am also VERY glad someone placed your boots where you would see them.
ReplyDeleteThe picture, the boots...Pity the Trumpists bombed Venezuela and kidnapped their president to spoil the good start we had made to 2026.
DeletePhoebe. Monty. Boots. The kindness of strangers.
ReplyDeleteBravo Mr Pudding !
Thanks for calling by once again Lord Haggerty of Gorbals.
DeleteI love that you drew this for her birthday and I bet she will love that you did, too. My daughter crocheted a small blanket for her son's stuffed kitty, TK. It was wrapped with TK's name on it and placed under their Christmas tree. I think it's important that we acknowledge the things that are special to them. I trust you'll let us know what she thinks of it.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as though your daughter is on the same wavelength as me.
DeleteSome moments like that give us tremendous amount of stress. It's good that you found them
ReplyDeleteSuch a relief. Those boots are so darned comfortable.
DeleteThat is a way to be remembered by very young relatives.
ReplyDeleteWhoever found your boots was very kind, and clearly with a different foot size.
Maybe they did not like the smell.
Delete"I wish I could hug the person..." - and that coming from you, a professing Non-Hugger! Yes, there are decent people out there. Your boots story and my Mum's handbag story are recent proof of that for me.
ReplyDeleteMonty looks very much like himself; it is a wonderful drawing and I am sure Phoebe will treasure it all her life.
You are right Meike. Hugging would be very much out of character for me.
DeleteYour drawing is superb. !
ReplyDeleteSo nice of you to say that Frances.
DeleteThat is a fantastic drawing, YP. You have captured Monty well. I am sure Phoebe will love it. How lovely you found your boots waiting for you. With all the horrors we hear about in the news, it is hard to believe there are many good people out there, but there ARE.
ReplyDeleteThey just do not get the news coverage yet they are in the majority.
DeleteThat is a lovely drawing. Phoebe will treasure it, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteIt is fortunate that no passing tramp had taken a fancy to your boots, especially as you have taken such great care of them.
Great care? All I do is knock them together to get the dried mud off them.
DeleteThen left them out in the cold all night ...
DeleteThe drawing captures Monty's spirit beautifully. I have a moneybox made by my grandfather well before I can remember and it is still meaningful.
ReplyDeleteThe good Samaritan tried your boots on and decided to leave them, bit tight 😉
I thought that good Samaritans were more naturally altruistic than that.
DeleteSurely Monty's spirit is entirely a matter of projection - doubtless quite intense, esp on Phoebe's part. All the same the drawing is charming and indeed seems quite expertly executed!
DeleteEven though Monty is a stuffed toy, he has more spirit than any Tory peer.
DeleteThat drawing is precious. What a lovely idea.
ReplyDeleteSo kind of you to say so Elle.
DeleteThat drawing isn’t half bad.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got your boots back - once one has broken in a good pair of walking boots it would be a pain to lose them.
"That drawing isn’t half bad." Such gushing praise Traveller! Thank you.
Delete75 years from now, when she turns 80, and you are long gone, she will have a tangible connection to you, and that is oh so rare.
ReplyDeleteIt will be good to be remembered just for drawing a cuddly sloth. Nothing else.
DeleteWhat a treasure with the drawing you're giving to Phoebe but the bigger treasure is you and all the time you two spend together. And the boots...it's those little things that make a big difference.
ReplyDeleteA very nice comment which I appreciate Diaday.
DeleteI love the drawing of Monty; Phoebe will love it forever!
ReplyDeleteThat is kind of the plan.
DeleteI'm so glad your boots were rescued by a kind soul and that drawing is excellent. I imagine it will be cherished by Phoebe.
ReplyDeleteI hope so.
DeleteYour drawing of Monty is super, I know it will be treasured for a long time. Good news about the boots. Nice to know there are honest hikers in this world.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughtful comment Shammy.
DeleteOff topic but I have been so sick with the flu since 12/27 that I missed your awards! I had no energy to get out of bed and just lay there coughing 24/7 with a bad sore throat and little sleep. Congrats to the winners - I do not know several of them and so will have to check them out when I am better which I hope is pretty soon...
ReplyDeleteVery sorry to hear you have been suffering Ellen and I hope that you really are getting better. Sounds horrible.
DeleteA bit better today, thank you!
DeleteI was glad to read your boots were found where you left them. Hooray for kind strangers!
Your drawing is wonderful, Neil, and Phoebe will surely treasure it. Wishing you many happy adventures with your new camera!
What a lovely keepsake the drawing of Monty is. Phoebe will, I'm sure treasure that throughout her life. Who knows, she may pass it on to the next generation with strict instructions that it's a family heirloom!
ReplyDeleteNice to know that there are some decent folk around and rescued your boots.
That's a fantastic drawing of Monty. Phoebe will treasure it. I hope she keeps the real Monty too so she can display them side by side!
ReplyDeleteAnd what a great story about your shoes. When I see articles of clothing accidentally dropped or left behind and then placed carefully on a wall or fence, I always wonder how often the owners return for them. Now I know it DOES happen!
Thats a brilliant drawing, is there no end to your talents?
ReplyDelete