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Seals and Rainbows

27/1/2013

seal with tasy fish supper

We had a very special day today. This morning we set off on a walk along the Thames, setting off from the Cutty Sark, and heading past Morden Wharf towards the Thames Barrier. There is a section of pathway which is closed and overgrown, and we slipped through the fence to explore this disused pathway. It was high tide, so no chance of mudlarking. Instead we searched for driftwood near the wharf where there is a lot of it washed up. In amongst the driftwood, we found a note in a bottle, about a much loved girl called Clare, who was to sail around the world, but who sadly died before she set off on her adventure. We spent a quiet moment thinking about her and her family, and how the River running through London is full of stories and history, both sad and happy. We were happy to find such a lovely note. Then, as we continued our walk, all of a sudden, there it was; A cheeky little seal popped it's head up and swam closer to take a good look at us. We were delighted, and it is the first time we have seen a seal this far upstream. At one point, she came up to show us a fish she had caught. It is always amazing to see a beautiful creature such as this so close, and especially so close to Greenwich! The seal splashed around, showing off for a while, before going off on it's way. We were then treated to a beautiful rainbow which is always a special sign for me; a reassuring promise of a bright future. "Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to dream, really do come true!" Bon Voyage Clare! Happy onward journey.

Grace & Nicola and the rainbow

our friend the Thames Seal

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Guitar lessons and cats in guitar cases

27/1/2013

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Rosa

Last week, I started guitar lessons again. I thought that I would try one more time before I put the guitar on top of the wardrobe and forget about it. I have played around with the guitar for years, but seemingly get stuck at the F chord, and then give up in frustration. I don't know if it will be any different this time, but, I really enjoyed the lesson, and set about practicing some scales on my return home. In the time it took for me to run through my homework, both my cats, Richie and Rosa, had taken up residence in the warm and fluffy guitar case! Im feeling hopeful about the lessons, and my aim is to simply be good enough to sing a song - preferably a Paul McCartney song. (however, when I looked up the chords, they were indescribably complicated.... ok back to practicing!!).

Richie

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mudlaRKING IN THE SNOW AND SOME NEW FISH

20/1/2013

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Today we woke up, opened the curtains, and it was Narnia outside! How exciting! we decided to go for a snowy Thames river walk. On arriving at our usual pier, the temptation was too great to resist and so some snowy mudlarking took place. And, we had a good day - with 3 old coins, a lovely old cufflink, some bullets, and some great coloured glass for the new shoal of fish which I'm making - this time on perspex instead of wood. When our toes were too cold, we went home to put the roast on and take some photos of the new fish. (see below)

Here's hoping you enjoyed the snow today as much as we did :) Bye for now! Nicola

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Thames Bottle fish

7/1/2013

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Here are some new thames bottle fish in the making. I got home from work this evening, and had an urge to create some more fish, so here they are. I'm quite pleased with them:) Looking forward to seeing them tomorrow when the glue has set. We got some great bits of glass from under the pier this weekend, so I feel a good shoal coming on :)

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mudlarking in silvertown

6/1/2013

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So this weekend, we had a very indulgent time mudlarking along the Thames foreshore. On Sunday, we went to Silvertown (pictured), where we picked up lots and lots of world war II bullets. We walked for at least a mile along the shoreline, and I always feel a bit sad when the tide starts to come in....knowing we will have to turn back before we get cut off. As well as bullets we picked up lots of great pottery, sea worn glass and brass eyelets. I also found a lovely little lead soldier, minus his head. Along this part of the Thames, there are lots of little offerings to Gods which are thrown into the river, and we did pick up a lovely bronze snake, one of such offerings. I also picked up a little pouch which contained a folded up piece of paper with verses of the koran written on it. I plan to see if I can have it translated. And now the weekend being over, it's getting ready to go back to work...... Thanks for such a great weekend. I'm looking forward to a positive week back at work :) x

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New Year's Day Terrapin Rescue

1/1/2013

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Today, New Year's Day 2013, with the worst of the flu behind us, we went on a walk along the River Thames near Greenwich, to one of our regular destinations, an old disused industrial area, which seems to collect all manner of pieces of wood, plastic bottles, tennis balls, and other floatable objects. To be honest, it is a bit of a testament as to how disgustingly untidy and uncaring we are about our environment judging by the number of old plastic that sits there, swept in by the tide. However, sometimes you get some good pieces of wood, glass or pottery nestled in amongst the rubbish. Today though, we made an exciting discovery - an adult terrapin, wedged in amongst the stones. Now, we had a dilemma. Either leave it there or take it somewhere more suited to a terrapin. At least, that is what we thought. Clearly an abandoned terrapin, we didn't think he would survive long being bashed around in the swells and tides of the Thames, and so we decided to take him, at great speed - before it got dark, to a calmer and more appropriate environment. So we put him in a plastic basket (taken from the piles of plastic) and drove down the A2 to Cliffe, where we put him in a small fresh water river. He seemed happy with his new home despite the tangle of weed, and once we'd established that he was at home, we left and came home to google our new friend (now named Cliff), on the internet. Oh dear, we had not realised that Cliff would probably now devour everything in his path, including chicks and fish, and that these invasive species are in fact a menace to our own wildlife. Apparently, quite a few of these terrapins are abandoned in Britain, and they can end up terrorising the local wildlife. Well, luckily, Cliffe is a big place and Cliff the Terrapin is relatively small. I hope that he will respect his new home and live peaceably amongst the weeds, not causing too much devastation. Despite his fearsome reputation, I prefer to think of him there than in the almighty Thames at the mercy of the Thames Clippers, and floating plastic detritus. And so, this is our first good deed of the New Year, and now as we look forward to the year ahead, I wish everyone much love and happiness and good things to come in 2013. My daughter and I made our vision boards this evening, and we've now let all our hopes and aspirations go, in the knowledge that they will eventually come to fruition! Happy New Year!

Cliffe the Thames Terrapin, in his new home at Cliffe. New Year's Day 2013.

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My name is Nicola White.
I have been making art from glass, pottery and driftwood for the past twenty years. I am as passionate about mudlarking as I am about my art. I'm very lucky to be able to combine the two.

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Seals and Rainbows

Guitar lessons and cats in guitar cases

mudlaRKING IN THE SNOW AND SOME NEW FISH

Thames Bottle fish

mudlarking in silvertown

New Year's Day Terrapin Rescue

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