ceramics – Glad About

Day 1

29th Dec 202530th Dec 2025 'A Poetic Potter & A Potting Poet'Leave a comment

Writing 2026

Lydia has not yet fully accepted the Halti collar that I started using with her a few weeks ago, but we’re getting there.

As usual, we work it out between us, even if it takes a while.

There was no yoga or Qigong class today but after doing the woodland walk with Lydia this morning, I got ready to meet up with my friend Judi, who I have known for many years, since she was a friend of my Mum when I was a teenager.

Now 85, Judi’s resilience and zest for life is an inspiration, and we resolved to meet up more often going forward.

On the way back to the car park I called in at B&M Bargains where I had earlier seen a dog bed that looked perfect for Lydia. Pleased with my purchase I returned home and am now in reflective mood.

My confidence levels have been low over the last few weeks which I know is at least in part because I’m tired. Keeping up a combination of resting, meditating and constructive, focused activity will help. As will tickling Lydia’s tummy. Of course, ‘the tickling of the tummy’ is a constructive, focused activity in itself. In fact I don’t think you can get more constructive and focused than that😊.

Day 6

22nd Nov 202522nd Nov 2025 'A Poetic Potter & A Potting Poet'Leave a comment

Writing again

Had a good experience at the Bootham & Southowram Methodist Church Christmas Fayre, and sold enough pots to be able to pay cash for a curry tonight, delivered of course.

Enjoying a bit of telly and a few glasses of Malbec now.

Lydia is quite relaxed. She’s had a dental stick and was eyeing up my wine but I do know where to draw the line.

Just finished watching Celebrity Traitors on demand. Don’t know what to watch next but I expect I’ll find something eventually.

Good to know that I don’t have to get up early tomorrow morning. A few more glasses of wine later . . .

Day 5

21st Nov 202521st Nov 2025 'A Poetic Potter & A Potting Poet'Leave a comment

Writing again

Lydia jumped onto the grooming table as we arrived at our appointment this morning, without any prompting from either me or Vicky, the groomer. Each time we go she is more relaxed about the process, although I still put a muzzle on her and feed her lots of treats through it, reinforcing the positive and managing the risk at the same time.

After grooming we went for a walk and then home. For once she didn’t push her breakfast ball around until it was empty – she was still so full of treats.

This afternoon I drove to the Buddhist Centre, to do a few hours of voluntary work that I’ve offered to do.

It felt good to work in a different environment and also to not feel rushed or pressurised in any way. After being introduced to the work that needed doing, I was left to get on with it and given a few encouraging comments along the way. The work was a simple physical activity although I did need to concentrate and apply sustained effort, which I did for almost three hours before heading for home.

It’s another early start tomorrow as I’m setting up a table at the Bootham & Southowram Methodist Church Christmas Fayre. So, I’ll take Lydia out for a walk just before dawn, pack a few remaining things that I need to take into the car and head off.

Today’s been a good day and we’ll see what tomorrow brings.

Day 3

19th Nov 2025 'A Poetic Potter & A Potting Poet'Leave a comment

Writing again

*Photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels.com*

Waking this morning at around 4.20am, I get up to make a cup of tea. While waiting for the kettle to boil I snack on a few liquorice allsorts and some gummy sweets that were in the cupboard.

Back to bed, I must have dozed off for a few more hours before getting up, making another cup of tea, meditating for a short while and then deciding to take Lydia for a walk.

As I opened my eyes from the meditation, glancing towards the window I saw snow coming down.

I quickly got myself and Lydia ready to go out for a walk, in case the snow started to settle and the roads became impassable.

This morning, I insisted that Lydia had her raincoat on over her harness. She made it clear she wasn’t keen but it was so cold and the raincoat is light, and an easy fit for her. She was fine after being tempted into with a few treats.

The snow didn’t last, turning to icy rain, and it was bitterly cold. Despite her thick fur and hardy nature, I think Lydia may have been glad of her extra layer. I know I was.

Even so, and despite gloves, my hands got so cold that I can still feel them tingling, even now, over eight hours later. Still, we had a decent walk, got home and warmed up.

Later I started to get organised for a craft fair that I’m taking some of my pots to on Saturday: Boothtown & Southowram Methodist Church Christmas Fayre, near Halifax.

It will be an early start but I’ve got it planned out so that I’ll take Lydia out early and, with the car pre-packed, set off in good time to get there in good time to be able to set up my table ready for the 11am start.

Some pot pourri that I’d ordered arrived today so I made up a couple of my bowls with some clear wrap and bows: one to donate to the church raffle and one to display and hopefully sell.

I’ve got a little bit more preparation to do before Saturday, but its mostly sorted and planned now so I can start to relax into this evening, with Trev making tea and then I’m going out to a meeting of the Buddhist group.

The theme is still ‘concentration’. I do think I am starting to be able to concentrate more. I’m hoping that more sleep as well as more meditation will help.

Potfest 2022

15th Nov 202515th Nov 2025 'A Poetic Potter & A Potting Poet'Leave a comment

First published 29 August 2022

Next weekend I’m taking part in an event called Potfest in Melton Mowbray, an event for makers of pots and other things out of clay.

This completes a cycle for me that started many years ago.

There is no way I would have completed that cycle without all the help, inspiration and support I’ve had from family and friends.

And the wheel is going to keep on turning!

Day 17

22nd Oct 202522nd Oct 2025 'A Poetic Potter & A Potting Poet'Leave a comment

Writing into Life, more

After dropping a collection of small pots off at the Dovecot Gallery near Doncaster this afternoon, I began to succumb to the symptoms of a cold. So it’s an early night for me. I’ll miss the Buddhist class but know that I made the right decision not to go.

Day 16

21st Oct 202521st Oct 2025 'A Poetic Potter & A Potting Poet'Leave a comment

Writing into Life, more

Up, showered and dressed before 9am, I had a couple of cups of tea before heading out with Lydia.

Seeing a horse and rider coming towards us at one point during our walk, I headed down into a dip, slipping on to my arse and scrambling up the other side, Lydia following on the way down and leading on the way up.

We had cover behind some trees but she was still aware of the horse and rider as they passed. I was so proud of her, as I encouraged her to “sit” – with a treat-reward, of course – and then “wait”, repeating this a few times so that she didn’t have to wait too long between treat-rewards. She didn’t bark or lunge at all, and we waited a few moments before doing the dip and up again back to where we were before – again with me on my bum for the ‘down’ bit.

Later in the morning I did another tip run, clearing stuff out of the garage. There’s more to do but it was a good load off my mind.

After a short rest I changed my, by now, muddy trousers, put on some make-up, made sure my hair was OK, then went out to see my friend M. We went out for coffee and scones, to a Morrisons café which offers great value, lovely scones and refillable mugs of coffee. The company and conversation were the best bit though. M. has a heart of gold.

After doing some shopping on the way home, giving Lydia her tea and putting the dinner in the oven – a chicken with vegetables, all roasted together in a dish – I did the final preparations for taking some pots to a small gallery tomorrow – the Dovecot Gallery in Styrrup near Doncaster. They are to be featured in their Christmas show/sale, so it’s good to be prepared well in advance.

They are small pots, and not perfectly formed by any means, but hopefully that is all part of their appeal. We shall see.

Day 11

16th Oct 202517th Oct 2025 'A Poetic Potter & A Potting Poet'Leave a comment

Writing into Life, more

Had a lovely afternoon at the pottery studio today.

Thanks to Karen, Charlotte, Jenny, Lee and Sarah for their company and friendly conversation. Such a lovely atmosphere. I finished off some pots that I’ve been working on for a few months, spraying on a glaze layer before the final – stoneware – firing. I have some different decorating techniques that I’ve been experimenting with, so looking forward to seeing how they turn out.

Also started on some new work – hand built – trying out different textures and making some use of plaster moulds. I finished one piece and left it on the shelf for a bisque firing. Two others are in progress, wrapped up in plastic and placed in a damp cupboard so that they’ll be still in workable form in a couple of weeks.

Home to my lovely Lydia, she’s had her tea and is now sitting outside – occasionally barking.

Trev’s bringing fish and chips back for our tea, so no need for me to do anything much more than finish this post and enjoy a cold beer – sipped from a champagne glass, of course!

http://www.thepotterman.co.uk/

Day 10

23rd Jul 202523rd Jul 2025 'A Poetic Potter & A Potting Poet'Leave a comment

Continuing the story of Lydia and Me

*All planted up, ready for the Show on Sunday*

I’m steadily getting ready to put some of my ceramic work up for sale at the Aldborough & Boroughbridge Show on Sunday. It’s taking place at Newby Hall near Ripon, so a fabulous venue, and should be a good day.

This morning, I had a lovely time outside, planting up some pots to enhance my display.

I’ve bought a few embellishments – hearts, butterflies, dragonflies – to add further interest.

I enjoy setting up a stand for a day. It’s good to meet different people: talk about pots; talk about the weather. It’s good to get sales too, of course!

After planting up my pots, I did some weeding in the garden. Lydia helped me, just by being there. I told her she was helping me and she went on to prove it even further, by doing some digging. Lydia does her digging and I do my weeding. I’m hoping we’ll have more garden time together over the summer, just doing what we feel like doing.

Day 4

17th Jul 202517th Jul 2025 'A Poetic Potter & A Potting Poet'Leave a comment

Continuing the story of Lydia and Me

*Eight more pots in the making; it’s a slow process but a good one*

I took Lydia for an appointment at the grooming studio this morning. She continues to be more relaxed each time we go. As always, Vicky the groomer gives her lots of reassurance, encouragement and treats. Lydia is quite rightly proud of herself at the end of the session. She is doing so well, and I’m proud of her too.

Later I collected the 28 small pots that I made back in May. These have now been through their first firing which means they are at the ‘bisque’ or ‘biscuit’ stage.

My plan is to give them a second firing in a sawdust kiln.

A sawdust kiln is basically a heatproof container into which pots are placed, with lots of fine sawdust packed around them.

My sawdust kiln is made out of old bricks that I acquired from a neighbour.

I don’t have the space or scope for any other type of kiln at home but I do like to experiment with a sawdust firing now and then.

I’ll be doing the firing soon as these pots will be part of my display at the Aldborough & Boroughbridge Show, on 27 July.

After collecting my bisque-fired pots I had an afternoon at the pottery studio, finishing some work I threw a few weeks ago on the potter’s wheel. I love the process of turning the pots when they are leather hard, trimming away excess clay until I’m satisfied with the shapes.

This evening I am tired and more than a little despondent. I’m sure the latter low mood is at least in part influenced by the former state. Bringing myself back into wellness has been and still is a long haul. I have better support and good things going on in my life than I’ve ever had, but tonight I just feel ‘washed out’.

Lydia helps to lift me though. Just seeing her lovely face looking at me as I feed her, and hearing her make soft gutteral sounds of pleasure and anticipated pleasure is all I need to reboot.