The Tale of Clive the Lonely Llama (or what I did during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic)

Who knew that when 2020 started that I would find myself creating a story in pictures about a llama? I think we have all found ourselves surprised this year (also horrified, scared, anxious, uncertain, and yet brave, inspired, and compassionate, and amazed that we, as a planet, are suddenly aware of our global community all in this together. Life. Go figure)

But back in the distant days of February I was working on some small 5" x 7" abstract paintings, as exercises for possible larger versions. Sort of like this:

One of them was looking rather bland and going nowhere after I put some tiny rectangles of colour across the top. So, on a whim I painted a green rectangle and it became an odd little house, which needed a stone wall, which suddenly needed a llama. A llama specifically named Clive (perhaps his owner was an Anglophile, or had a long ago love affair with a British gent of the same name). It was just a one off amusement. But Clive was alone in his landscape.

                                             I couldn't just leave him there so: Hello!

And so a story begins. Paloma and Gustavo want to take Clive on an adventure.

Night falls and it's time for a rest but Clive isn't sleepy yet and the world is big. It's a long way but where are they going? (At this point even I didn't know. I just let them lead me on).

Up in the mountains a village comes into view.

  

They are being watched.

Clive tries out the local produce.

The three friends make it to the top of the world.

Fernando and Esther watch them depart back down the mountain.

Another night camping out. Look who came along.

Back over the bridge. Still just as high. This time they are watched by Monty (Montague III)

Almost home. Atahualpa's rock nap has been disturbed by all the foot traffic.

And finally, there are a few surprises in store all around. Here comes Senora Paola with Brigitte.

(but wait, we have seen Brigitte before ;-))

The End

The full set.

And Clive's Facebook portrait.

I hope you have enjoyed this story.

Some fun research topics.

1) Peru and the Andes

2) Who is Atahualpa?

3) Monty Python and llamas

4) Fernando Lamas and Esther Williams 

5) Llamas in costumes

6) Abstract Expressionism

7) the books of Tomie de Paola

Now Where Was I?

Well, I meant to have already completed my blogs about our trip to England and Scotland (back in May/June) but life rudely interrupted and then suddenly summer was over. I hate leaving things unfinished (apart from dozens of art projects), so......
After our pleasant and bonny time in Edinburgh Glenn and I boarded the train for Durham to visit more family members.

Matt and Sapna have visited us in Lubbock, here seen in 2015, and so it was time to come to them.

Durham is a lovely university town on the River Wear in northeast England, with its' own castle and cathedral, where Matt teaches philosophy. (Matt is the third son of my cousin, Gay Salmon, and half brother to Stephen and Chris Salmon). We had already visited with Stephen and family in Chester so now Chris and his family were driving in to visit us here. Having just been part of our lone U.S. family branch for so long it was nice to suddenly have an extended family of relatives to keep up with.

We stayed at a quaint little inn, the Kingslodge Inn, which was comfy and well maintained, with a nice pub and dining area.

The lovely and peaceful river:

A few views on walkabout:

We all met up to visit the outdoor museum village of Beamish, which recreates past times in England, from the bucolic views of farms to a 1930's street scene fit for a BBC production.

Here are Izzy, Holly, Nicola, Chris, and Matt as we prepare for our tour.

And here's Sapna with little Priya.

Lots of walking and bus riding to get around.

 Of course we all needed to sample some massive helpings of fish and chips.

Glenn, Matt, and I had a walk through Durham Cathedral (built 1093-1133, and the shrine of St. Cuthbert), actually one of my favorites in terms of feeling light, open, and welcoming. I especially loved the geometric designs on the columns.

All in all a lovely visit.

And Matt knows where to find the best scones.

The All in One Edinburgh Tour.

Ahoy mateys! More of Edinburgh! We got a great package bus tour deal: three big sites in two days, from the top of Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Place to the Royal yacht Brittania at the Firth of Forth docks. All aboard.

 

                  Captain Glenn Hill at your service. (there are also stuffed corgis all over the ship)

 The official yacht of the British royal family from 1953 until it was decommissioned in the late Nineties. It sailed the royal family all over the world in its heyday, and even Charles and Diana spent their honeymoon on it in the Eighties, although all the beds were tiny doubles with chenille bedspreads, and given the height of both of them I'm willing to bet their feet hung over the end of the bed.

All in all a very basic, functional ship and just a smaller version of the ocean liners I sailed on as a child, not like the monster water hotels that are the current cruise ships.

   

                                         Suggestion:  Don't serve soup on the high seas.

A don't miss visit to the Holyrood Palace. Home of Scottish royalty, including Mary Queen of Scots.
Photos were not allowed inside many of the interiors. Lots of Stuart history inside, (Bonny Prince Charlie, you tried), and the British royal family still holds official functions here. Also: secret panels in walls!

                                                     The ruined abbey on the grounds

And the grounds were beautiful

 I really wanted to climb Arthur's Seat in the background for the full view of Edinburgh but our legs were so tired from all the walking that we couldn't quite muster.

And of course, Edinburgh Castle stands over the city at the top of the Royal Mile. More uphill walking. Thighs of steel.

                                        It was a beautiful day, and a busy day for tourists.

Here is one of the notes I made in my little travel diary while at Edinburgh Castle: "Spending half the trip waiting in long lines for the loo. Men are in and out in a flash. Grrrrrr...."

                           Once again, Glenn was on duty, proudly wearing his tartan wool scarf.

                                                                         The cannon.

                                       The lookout, with the Firth of Forth in the distance.

We ate a lot of fish on our travels. This one a sole baked in parchment, with a nice beaujolais, at a lovely place called The Wee Restaurant.

            And so farewell, Edinburgh, and on to Durham to see the next batch of relatives.