Heavenly Beverley : Thank God You're Here (Jan George)!

A few years ago, there was a highly original programme on the telly called "Thank God You're Here". Based on the improvisation of theatresports, a hapless guest would be arbitrarily dressed in a relevant costume and entered a scene with no clue as to the scenario. The initial dialogue spoken to our hero or heroine was always "thank God you're here...". Following this opening statement, the protagonist would attempt to muddle through the increasingly chaotic segment without appearing to be a complete nincompoop.

Reorganising the East End Gallery is a cross between "Thank God You're Here" and deconstructing a carefully laid-out series of dominoes. Each time we begin that foolhardy task of "we'll just change the position of a few artworks", the project always turns out to be Bigger than Ben Hur. Adding to the mix are our artists arriving to take away some well seen pieces and replace them with fresh ones. Or artists adding more artworks to their ones already in the Gallery, which inevitably heralds a major reshuffle. Rather like Mr Trumble's front bench.

With Spring approaching, we could sense the dread of another upheaval. Usually, Michael is in charge of driving the good ship "East End Gallery" as I flounder in his wake.

Two of my shortcomings within the Gallery are - I have issues being up a ladder and I have great difficulty in hanging paintings straight.

My ladder climbing or more precisely, ladder falling started back in 2012. Whilst clearing jars of bolts off a high shelf and standing on tippy toes on top of a forty-five year old wooden ladder, I ended up crashing a metre onto the concrete floor and breaking my ankle. The glue holding the dowels gave way - what a surprise - the ladder performed the splits and I went down like a sack of potatoes. Worse still was that the initial point of contact was between my bum and a single Primus cooker. The bruise which developed on my arse was almost as impressive as the damage I caused to the ankle. Since then, Michael has more or less banned me from being higher than a milk crate height off the ground.

The second problem is all to do with having a dominant left eye whilst being right-handed. I have an inkling that I was left-handed as a child and this situation was helpfully altered without any forethought of my dominant eye. Hence, the only team game I actually enjoy is lawn bowls because one usually rolls the bowl on the curved bias.

Last Friday, with the official arrival of Spring, we had to begin. Michael was not looking forward to the task at hand. I was about as much physical help as a teetotalling publican. Then a miracle. With her partner Greg in Perth until the following day and herself at a loose end, the phenomenal Jan George strode through our front doors and immediately offered her assistance. What a woman!

Jan is a great friend for a number of reasons. She is tall, far more practical than I am, "thinks like a bloke" (according to Michael), can follow instructions and offers logical suggestions. Between the two of them, the Gallery was renewed and rejuvenated in just over a day's work.

My job, organising the new catalogue and individual art piece tags, has taken far longer. I have finished the tedious printing, laminating and cutting and am ready to stick the tags to the walls. That is tomorrow evening's job. I am determined that by 11 o'clock on Thursday morning, the East End Gallery will be geared up for the next four months until we close on Christmas Eve for our summer break.

Nearly three years since we opened the doors of the East End Gallery, I am thrilled and raring to go. The Gallery space looks as beautiful as we can make her and we have a myriad of different disciplines represented - from CDs to sculptures, ceramics and narratives, photographs, watercolour and acrylic and oil paintings, jewellery and woodwork, textiles and cards. journals and dream catchers, pastels and mixed media. Our artists, writers, poets and singers (currently standing at fifty-one) continue to be supported by us.

But don't just take my word for this. Come and join us for a minute, an hour, an afternoon or an evening. Another of our famous Sundowners will feature again this month on Saturday 23 September from 4 pm - 9 pm. Drinks and nibbles will be on offer as well as a chance to sit, chat, browse and enjoy.

And "thank God you were here", Jan George.

Sundowner - March 2017