Albert eventually settled down last night.
He’s very stiff on his back leg and so I’m presuming his old injury is playing up again in the colder weather. I will ring the vet about painkillers.
He won’t want Albert going to the surgery
I haven’t anything planned today.
I’ve just taken the dogs to Colwyn Bay and after walking them , sat on the wooden promenade seating with a coffee.
Further along, a scruffy looking woman was rocking a small dog in her arms as she sang You are my sunshine very gently to it like someone would sing to a baby.
It was so unexpectedly poignant a moment that I had to look away
I walked the dogs all the way around to Rhos On sea, until Roger stopped pulling on his lead before we walked back and I knew the dogs were tired by then as they had stopped sniffing. We got back into Bluebell where they fell asleep and I sneaked another cup of coffee and a bacon sandwich from the Porth Eirias Cafe.
I’ve been reading about Denmark recently mainly The Year Of Living Danishly by Helen Russell but as I was exploring what to see in Denmark on the net I came across a painting called The Drowned Fisherman by Michael Ancher which can be seen in the Danish National Gallery.
It takes your breath away, and I was captivated by its solemn beauty and the sensitivity of its subject matter.
It’s funny how much a single painting can move you and dominate your psychi. Christina’s World by Andrew Wyeth still affects me in some strange guttural way now than it did when I last saw it at New York’s MOMA back in 2014
The beautiful Drowned Fisherman by Ancher
The woman singing You are my Sunshine has given this Sunday a melancholy I wasn’t expecting
John - it's a little weird that you chose that song by Carly Simon to accompany this blogpost as her two older sisters - Lucy and Joanna - both died from cancer this past week and took a lot of her sunshine away.
ReplyDeleteI noted this on Steve’s blog today. Her vibes were in the air, how sad x
DeleteI used to sing that to my children. What a beautiful painting, you can almost touch the grief on the faces. It's a melancholy time of year - damp, grey, overcast. Nature is slowly going to sleep. Roll on spring! xx
ReplyDeleteIt captures a different expression in each of the onlookers. The story is all there
DeleteTotally
Why did you feel you had to describe her scruffiness?
ReplyDeleteJust a description
DeleteI've never seen "The Drowned Fisherman" before. It is indeed a moving work of art. Its solemn grief and sorrow are tangible. And that dramatic single point light source!
ReplyDeleteYes I noticed that reflecting on the yellow coat
DeleteSometimes that right piece of art makes us feel, it is magic, it is the purpose. Sounds like a good afternoon for a nap.
ReplyDeleteI had one David , a long two hour snooze on the couch , covered with a blanket
DeleteYou are my Sunshine flea in the ear planted for tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a lovely little song when you analyse it
DeleteGlad to hear Albert has settled down, might be the weather? We had a right old storm last night and l was up from midnight till 4 a.m. cuddling a little (temporary apparantly??) visitor who didn't like the noise and wouldn't lie down and go to sleep. Animals eh, who would have them?, well us lot clearly. Tess x
ReplyDeleteHe’s always been a bad tempered old boy
DeleteI went to Denmark back in May as part of a multinational uni project working with refugees I participated in. The last of our EU funding finished then and my contract around the same time. Copenhagen is a lovely city - easy to get around and so many pushbikes too! Even their pushbikes look so much more graceful and stylish than ours! You've obviously already been there John. I'd definitely go again, but this time to see the galleries and museums, rather than for work purposes, laudable as it was.
ReplyDeleteYes it’s on my list now after Rome
DeleteI sing this on different occasions - ladies problems when I was younger,singing to my darling dogs and also to chivvy myself along if I'm falling into a hole x 🌤🌞
ReplyDeleteAtta girl
DeleteSundays are often melancholy in my experience. Rarely as much fun as they could be.
ReplyDeleteI can't get that tune out of my head now.
Rent free x
DeleteDamn it John you made me cry ! Probably because I have been supporting a young man who is about to lose his sunshine and is bereft and maybe I needed to shed a tear for them x Bernie
ReplyDeleteWe all have sunshines xxx
DeleteAgree with Jean about Sundays being rather melancholy.
ReplyDeleteIt would have made me shed a tear to hear the lady sing to her dog - these pets give so much to us
Alison in Wales x
I think it was the unexpected nature of the song that caught me unawares
DeleteHow sweet and touching: the woman and dog, am the paintings, and the song.
ReplyDeleteGroup hug!
Yes it feels like one would be good
DeleteI've always been moved by Wyeth. While I had never seen the Drowned Fisherman before, the faces of the each figure are so perfectly etched with grief. The same light so bright on the face of the dead man reflects on all their faces. It is the way of it.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason your lady on the bench singing to her little dog brought Eleanor Rigby to mind.
Eleanor Rigby is a song that breaks your heart a little.
DeleteThe more I’m thinking of the girl and the dog the sadder I’m feeling
Do you know about Stendhal Syndrome? From Wikipedia: "Stendhal syndrome, Stendhal's syndrome or Florence syndrome is a psychosomatic condition involving rapid heartbeat, fainting, confusion and even hallucinations, allegedly occurring when individuals become exposed to objects, artworks, or phenomena of great beauty and antiquity."
ReplyDeleteNever seen this painting before.
ReplyDeleteThe old man has seen this happen too many times, the fishermen thinking it could have been them, the boy experiencing grief maybe for the first time. Remarkable.
It’s the yellow coat , highlighted by the natural light from the window that reflects the faces
Delete"You are my sunshine" was written by Louisiana's Jimmie Davis, called the Singing Governor here in LA. That song is one my mother sang to my kids when they were little. My kids sang it at her funeral in 2000 so it's a melancholy song for me.
ReplyDelete“ please dont take my sunshine away”
DeleteIt’s a desperately sad line
The little dog may be all the girl has.
ReplyDeleteWho knows.? It was a sweet moment
DeleteWhat is seen as art, beauty, mystery, love and joy whether it be from a painting, book, experience or a song being softly sung to ones dog, there is much to be still appreciated in this world we live in, despite all the angst.
ReplyDeleteMy father is half Danish and we have attributed much of his bullhead to that culture, for some reason. Seems unlikely when you hear about it being the happiest place in the world to live, doesn't it? Still, I have ordered the book, out of curiosity I suppose. Hope there is some relief for Albert. I have 4 furry felines, one of which looks so much like your little boy, except it is a female. She has a cranky disposition and would be much happier living alone. I admit that when you speak of Albert, you have my attention a bit more than when you speak of your dogs. Not that I don't like dogs, because I do, but grew up with cats and have a very strong affinity towards them. I have had 4 other black cats in my life, Merlin, Shadow, Ebony and Maverick. They were each special, in their own way and there is something extra special about a black cat. Ranee (MN) USA
Renee
DeleteHe seems more himself today. I’ve put Mary and Roger in the kitchen tonight, so he’s stretched out in front of the fire all by himself
Ah, bless him. Glad to hear he is doing a bit better.
DeleteI also cried, as I would sing "You are My Sunshine" to my darling little dog, who has recently died. I feel as though the light has left my life - they are wonderful creatures and I can well imagine that the little dog means the world to that woman
ReplyDeleteI hadn't seen that painting before either, but it is indeed a powerful work. I've also had strong reactions to artwork. The painting reminded me a little of Albert Edelfelt (a Finnish/Swedish painter). I was mesmerised by "On the Sea" when I saw it at the Gothenburg Museum of Art. And then held in a visceral grip by "A Child's Funeral" and "The Burnt Village" when we saw an exhibition of his work at Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde in Stockholm. Such an ability to capture human emotions so vividly.
It's cold, dark, wet and grey here as well. Not too long to the winter solstice, when we can look to the return of the light.
I knew The Childs funeral , as I remember the coffin in the boat. The burnt village I had to look up , I thought that was more/melodramatic
DeleteDid you mean “ At sea” for his other painting.? The beautiful red headed girl?
I am so sorry Marie about your darling little dog - I miss mine each and every day - ( I can cry when I think of him and it's 4 and a half years now ) - You can still keep him close to you in your heart xx
DeleteYour story of the woman singing to her dog brought me to tears..Such a loving moment.
ReplyDeleteTake Care,
Kaye
Park City, UT
I was moved by it too.I felt as though I was intruding
DeleteWhat a story about the woman singing to her dog. Poignant.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen that fisherman painting but it's quite remarkable. "Christina's World" is one of my favorite paintings.
Interesting, that book title a direct take from The Year of Living Dangerously by Christopher Koch and set in Indonesia in 1965.
ReplyDeleteI never read that book but I remember the film with sigourney Weaver
DeleteHave you thought about an electric heat pad for Albert? My Arthur loved it for his arthritic back. They aren't on constantly, ours was activated when he lay on it, and would switch itself off regularly to prevent overheating. Promise Albert would soon be smiling :)
ReplyDeleteRegards
Pauline B x
We brought ours from Amazon, came with an extra cover, and unbitable cable, so safe with Roger
DeletePauline B x
Denmark is on my next bucket list after Roma
ReplyDeleteYes I love Wyeth
ReplyDeleteWe have always wanted to visit the Farnsworth in Maine
The painting of his ex wife Betsy is delightful
DeleteAlbert is having a hard time; first Nigel disrupted the order in the house and now the dampness impacts his injury. The warmth of the fire should help. AW is in a league of his own and his art is exceptional. The woman singing to her dog speaks to the fact that there are many lonely people today.
ReplyDeleteOh he wasn’t bothered by nige
DeleteRoger is a minor irritation but he’s coped with more
The dogs are put in their place with a swift boxing of ears
That second painting is very moving! It explains why people
ReplyDeletewho make their living on the sea rush to their boats when their brethren are in trouble. There but for the grace of God.
Well, shit, John ....ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ lying here beside my husband as he fights another Stage 4 cancer, having me a big snotty blubber ...I think you just broke me
ReplyDeleteOh dear ….keep going deArheart x
DeleteI saw a programme about Anna Christina Olson and was impressed by her strength of character in how she lived her life with her physical problems.
ReplyDeleteDrowned Fisherman is so beautiful and sad.
How moving that moment you witnessed on the beach of pure love!
All very moving. Still, I can’t hear You Are My Sunshine without remembering Frances, our neighbor, who regularly hosted parties and led everyone in singalongs. Her living room wall abutted my sister’s bedroom wall and we could hear it all. Frances screeching in her screeching voice and heavy Yiddish accent, “Everbody sing!!!” Her husband, Eddie, turned off his hearing aid,
ReplyDeleteSounds wonderfully overwhelming lol
DeleteThat woman singing to her dog sounds a bit sad. This is what the world is coming to.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful rendition of You Are My Sunshine. Brings back funny memories. A few years ago my daughter 28 at the time) and I went to China for a hiking trip. We had a night out, she was elsewhere, and I put my name down for karaoke in a bar, the only English song I could find was this one. My daughter walked in while I was in full voice, she killed her self laughing, the Chinese of which there were 99.99% couldn’t be less interested. Funny times. Marie, Melbourne, Australia
ReplyDeleteYou are my Sunshine always reminds me of a memory my Mum recalled from when she was very young..... her father, my Pop, was a fireman during the blitz. He worked 2weeks on, 2 weeks off, in the East End in some very difficult and dangerous conditions, returning to their family smallholding in Essex when off duty. My Mum tells how they used to wait to hear him coming along the lane when he was expected home. As you can imagine, it must have been a trying time for the whole family. On this particular occasion, she heard him singing as he walked home. As he got nearer she could make out the song, it was “You are my Sunshine”. As he got nearer, Mum could see he was caked soot and dust and was cradling something in the folds of his brass-buttoned, wool uniform jacket. She remembered how clearly the whites of his eyes stood out as he looked up as he approached and said, “Hello love”, at which point she could make out a very small bundle of puppy. Winnie, as she was christened, joined them at the smallholding and provided a much loved distraction and link for all the times that they were separated after that point. My Mum glowed with happiness at the recollection. She loved hearing the song and would sing it to us when we were ill or unsettled as children. I miss wonderful Mum and my lovely Pop very much and although I type this with tears on my cheeks, they are tears with a smile.
ReplyDeleteI’ve never commented on your blog before but am a grateful reader of many years. Thank you, John.
Ruth W