Sunday 10 December 2023

Christmas @ The East End Gallery!

 I really think that 2023 has flown past in rather unseemly haste. Having said that, there are quite a few of us who will be happy to see the back of this year, looking forward to better times. 

I am currently waiting to see a cardiologist next week. So far, I have had a chest X-ray which showed fluid at the base of my lung. I was diagnosed with some sort of lung inflammation with possibly an overriding condition like asthma or bronchitis. Then, a CT showed I had a weird malformation of my right subclavian artery. Then the echocardiogram suggested I have two leaky valves. The exercise stress test was truly awful. I ran for ten years and entered three City-to-Surf fun runs. To be gasping on a treadmill at four kilometres an hour was not fun. Then I mentioned my legs were also burning. Poor circulation was immediately mentioned. Oh goody!

In the meantime, I continue to wait, increasingly breathless and very anxious. I know our medical system is the envy of many other countries, but being a knowledge-is-power girl, the void of information and thus understanding is doing my head in...

The other issue fermenting inside my brain regards how my latest specialist will wish to be addressed. We have discovered that those medicos who wish to be called Doctor Grand Pooh-bah may not be up to scratch. Michael was nearly killed by one egomaniac back in 2014 and the other geezer (who used hi-viz tape to separate himself from his patients) probably missed my leaky valve during Covid in 2020. I have no time for Titles or those who insist on being worshipped by their patients.

In order to distract myself from this Approaching Appointment, here is a complete wrap of last Saturday's Sundowner and an expose of all the fabulous pieces available for your Christmas gift giving.

Yesterday morning, we welcomed another artist, Sarah Mitchell, to the East End Gallery. Sarah is a glass artist whose exquisite works will add yet another dimension of originality to the main Gallery and Giftshop. And don't just take my word for this. Come and view all our artists, artisans, craftspeople and their never-ending creativity. We are open until five o'clock on Christmas Eve afternoon. Don't miss the chance to support our artists and their works.

Our final Sundowner of 2023 morphed into a delightedly noisy and casual affair on the pavement outside the Gallery. The late afternoon and evening remained too warm and stuffy to be indoors, so we just moved the party lock, stock and barrel outside. Amongst memorable guests was Rab our local copper, who enjoyed the drumming very much, our growing band of musicians and singers, visitors and locals and the spectacle of myself in a deluxe Santa suit, which I endured until the heat became a bit much. We welcomed new friends and repeat offenders, rocking on into the night. 

I pulled the pin at just after eleven o'clock, but I understand that the stalwarts finally ran out of puff between two and three in the wee small hours of the morning. A heartfelt thank-you to all who stayed to pack away and to my beloved Michael and our travelling minstrel Lawrence for their admirable cleaning job later on Sunday morning.

We are currently fifteen sleeps until Christmas Day. Stuck for a gift for that special somebody? Need a unique present on a budget? Want to support local artists? Hankering for a browse and a chat in the beautiful setting of the East End Gallery and Giftshop?  Curious to view an artist's workshop/studio? Interested in Beverley's diverse history and attractions? We offer all this and more, right in the main street of Heavenly Beverley.

 
Late afternoon - glass and 3D artist Michelle with artist and musician Jan...

 
Michael and Michelle,,,

 
David - "Red Sax Guy"...

 
Patrick...

 
Seanne...

 
Looking east...

 
Looking west...

 
Christine and our local fabulous Canon Philip...

 
Kelvin, Marci and Ron...

 
Teagan...

 
Guy in drumming paradise...

 
Deb, Jess and Wayne...

 
Seanne and Ron, with "Deception" eavesdropping!

 
Michael and Kelvin...

 
Loving my Santa beard on my head!

 
Meanwhile in the East End Gallery - a Kimberley stone sink...

 
Painting and pottery...

 
Jennifer Hill - November Artist-in-Residence at the Station -

 

 
 Giftshop table

 
Featuring Jess Spring from Merredin -

 

 

 
Lindy Kay and Ingrid Holm...

 
Sarah Mitchell's glass "Patchwork"...

 
Mosaic birdbath by Carole Patch (with fairy)...

 
Photograph, glass and pottery...

 
Pottery, wood, cards and glass...

 
Sarah Mitchell and David Lillico...

 
Between the Gallery and the Giftshop.


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