Welcome to my blog, where I take pleasure in words and pictures, be they my own or those of others. I'm a creative individual, and the crafty side I explore on my 'other blog', Picking Up The Threads, which I hope you'll visit too. I'm sure you understand that I have sole copyright of my original work and any of my contributions, so please ask if you want to use them. A polite request is rarely refused. So, as they used to say on the BBC's 'Listen With Mother' radio programme, many years ago: "Are you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin."

Wednesday 4 September 2013

That Sinking Feeling


The picture above is of me c1958. Unfortunately I have no idea where it was taken; it could be anywhere - or the middle of nowhere. I seem to be struggling to control a hand-cranked paddle-boat, probably on a boating lake when we were on holiday somewhere. It was supposed to be fun, but by the look on my face I was hoping they'd call, "Come in Number 3 - your time is up!" before my hands broke out in blisters.

The picture only recently came into my possession, othewise I'd have used it on my post two years ago, when I had a similar picture of my mum with her brother. As you see when you click on the link, she didn't look too happy either. Since then I have found similar craft on the web, as more images are made available through the commons, but it seems a rare sighting.

The image above was the nearest I could get to this week's Sepia Saturday prompt, a lone lady rowing out to sea. Was she trying to escape from something or someone? Did she have a romantic tryst away from prying eyes? Was she the sole survivor of a shipwreck? Was she merely lost?


At first I was reminded of Tennyson's tragic, 'Lady of Shalott', as 'The broad stream bore her far away", or rather the 1888 painting by John William Waterhouse, based on that poem.



It's safe to say that she wasn't too far from dry land or we would not have had this wonderfully atmospheric sepia image. Perhaps she too was hoping that the photo-shoot would soon be over and that someone would call, "Come in. Your time is up'.


This watercolour, of Derwentwater in the English Lake District, was painted many years ago by my Dad and is appropriately sepia-tinted.

Now, before my time runs out, let me remind you to visit Sepia Saturday this week and see what other contributors have made of the prompt. Regular Sepians may like to join us in our Facebook Group where we have almost as much fun.

26 comments:

  1. Love that painting of the Lady of Shalott, and your snap that says it wasn't really a fun activity for you. Hopefully you are happier on the water these days :-)

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  2. There have been several pictures painted of the Lady of Shalott, but the one you posted has always been my favorite. I don't think I've ever seen a hand-cranked paddle-boat. I would think it might very well give one blisters!

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  3. Both photos very appropriate for the theme. I've never seen a hand-cranked boat.

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  4. A fun picture of you and so apt for the prompt. I remember those hand cracked paddle boats on Stanley Park in Blackpool and I never quite got the hang of them. I liked your link with "The Lady of Shalott" - again a poem remembered from childhood.

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  5. Your little hands were working fast, Nell, according to the propeller splash!

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  6. I never experienced a paddle boat. Operating it looks like hard work.

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  7. You Looked To Be A Very Determined Sailor!:)

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  8. When I chose the prompt photo I knew it reminded me of something but I couldnt quite think what. Thank you for jogging me memory, it was, of course, the famous Waterhouse painting. As for you in your paddle boat, I do remember those dreadful things which seemed to defy the laws of mechanics.

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  9. I've been in plenty of foot powered pedal boats but never seen or even heard of a hand powered one. It would be hard on your back too I would think.

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  10. I'm wondering if Health and Safety let children out on the water on their own these days. I have the impression they enjoy taking the fun out of things !

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  11. At one time I could have recited most of the Lady of Shallot imposed on me for misbehaving at school. Despite that I still like it and the Waterhouse painting is superb.

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  12. We still have those foot-powered boats around here, but that hand-powered one makes me fatigued just looking at it! It's a great shot of you, though; you're working hard!!

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  13. Not too much resemblance between you and the Lady of Shalott --- although you might have looked more like that if Waterhouse had painted you on the lake. Actually, I was really excited when I saw the Waterhouse pic, like seeing an old friend. Thanks.

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  14. A wonderful fit to the theme. You do have a look of desperation that resembles the Lady of Shallot. She always reminds me of the phrase, "up a river without a paddle." But perhaps she had a treadle powered propeller too, and is only suffering from fatigue.

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  15. I ordered this particular copy of Waterhouse of the Lady of Shallot. It took a very long time to reach me so I inquired about it. I live in Atlantic Canada, the picture mistakenly got send to West Canada. It was shipped to me and finally it arrived. My son-in-law liked it so much, I gave it to him. I still get to see it whenever I visit.

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  16. Like Jackie I've never heard of the hand-powered paddle-boats before. I have always loved that Waterhouse painting. Such pathos. And I do like a good rug.

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  17. It's a great match to the prompt. What a cute you! I love that Waterhouse painting.

    Hazel

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  18. The lady in the boat does look rather romantic and effortless doesn't she. In reality she was probably more like you in the paddle boat! Her shoulders were killing her and her hands were sore!!

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  19. I thought of the Lady of Shalott too.

    My husband and I rented a pedal-boat at a state park one summer. It was fun pedaling around in the water. BUT then we had to pedal back -- oh our aching legs!

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  20. - Come in, number 9, your time is up!
    - Sir, we don't have a number 9
    - Number 6, are you in trouble?

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  21. Definitely looks as if the boat was running away with you, No. 9!!

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  22. For your sake I'm hoping that little boat was a paddle boat and you weren't stuck rowing by yourself.

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  23. Funny!! The prompt also triggered images of the Lady of Shallot as a first idea.
    As you know, I changed my mind and went with something else.
    So, it runs in the family, that dislike for paddle-boats?!?
    I remember that post about your mom,
    where she looked less than thrilled,
    and now you...
    One needs longer limbs to better appreciate the experience.
    I remember doing it with a cousin of mine,
    and she was older.
    Then as a teen, I did it by myself.
    But looking at this pic,
    if you were busy leaning in to operate it,
    you never got to enjoy the scenery, now, did you!?!
    :D~
    HUGZ

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  24. You had to struggle all alone! No wonder you didn’t like it!

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  25. I sometimes wonder about the older "action" images. Do you suppose the photographer had the lady row out a bit, then pause so he could get a clear shot?

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  26. I remember that picture from 2 years ago. Anti-rowing must be in your genes :-).

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