So after 5 days of waiting for our luggage, we were told by AA to call British Airlines, who in turn told us to go to Left Luggage in person at Manchester airport.
After arriving at the information desk, my husband and son-in-law were told to wait in line to contact Global Baggage Solutions on an internal number, the person on the other end of the line told them to call Rapid Air, who had a voicemail message informing them to visit whereismybag.co.uk, which is a website that is currently for sale. FRUSTRATION!
Finally, 6 days after leaving St Louis we received our bags and were able to wear something different.
What a roller coaster of a journey to our daughter’s in Manchester UK.
Late leaving St Louis due to a maintenance issue. We only had a 40 minute layover in Charlotte NC so now we were anxious that we wouldn’t get there in time for our flight to London.
Relief before landing when we find out that the London flight is delayed.
We get to gate in time only to find out the flight had been cancelled due to maintenance issues.
Waited 2 hours in line to rebook flights.
Overnight stay in hotel we arrive at midnight with no luggage as it has been checked to London.
Wake at 5am to book a cab to the airport as they wouldn’t let us book the night before then we were told the cab would be arriving in 5 minutes. Frantic rush to get downstairs in time.
Back at the airport and through TSA for 2nd time.
Catch flight to Boston 7:30am wait in Boston airport for 9 hours.
Taking a nap.
Stroll to the gate ready to board American Airlines flight to London then we realize we have been booked on to the British Airways flight which is leaving at the same time but BA is in a different Terminal. Up to this point I had been quite calm but now I went into panic mode.
Leave Terminal C look for shuttle bus stop, no shuttles so run to taxi rank. First cab driver refuses to take us because it’s not lucrative enough for him. Another taxi driver takes pity on us and takes the fare.
He hurtles around the airport outer road like a race car driver, we tip him well jump out of vehicle, run into the terminal then it dawns on us we have to go through security for the 3rd time.
We ask people to kindly let us through because our flight to London leaves in 10 minutes and they let us through. Why is it that whenever you are in a hurry your flight is leaving from the last gate in the Terminal. Gate 12 of 12.
We run as fast as we can after 9 hours of leisurely hanging around in terminal C. Relief as we see a few people still going through the gate to board. There was one final hiccup before we got on the plane, the scanner will not accept our tickets because we were originally flying with AA so they had to re-enter our info.
We boarded the plane collapsed into our seats and tried to catch our breath and stop our hearts from pounding. It turned out that we had a row of 4 seats to ourselves so we were able to stretch out a little.
It was a great flight, 6 hours passed quickly, watched 2 movies and arrived in London at 7am.
It was a breeze through immigration we arrived in the baggage claim area and then the repercussions of the previous day came down upon us. We waited and watched every piece of luggage from our flight pass by and get claimed until there were no cases left. Empty handed we walked to the service counter and were told that our cases were still in Boston. As we had experienced going through security the day before so had our luggage due to us changing airline, which meant it missed our flight out of the States.
We are assured by the service representative that when our bags arrive in London they will be sent to our destination in Manchester. To be continued …..,,,
After reading the book the Artist Way by Julia Cameron, I really came to love the concept of the artist’s date. “The Artist Date an hour or longer weekly block of time spent on yourself and with yourself, doing something festive, is intended to engender release. Release, in turn, engenders inspiration”. “Aquarium stores, museums, cathedrals, flea markets, or five-and -dimes…..vintage films, lectures on the odd, the improbable, or merely interesting …… musical performances by traveling Tibetan monks, a trip to a quiet, riverside spot – any of these can function as an Artist Date” writes the author Julia Cameron in her companion book ‘The Vein of Gold’
Before Covid 19 hit I was regularly going on artist dates, scheduling time at the weekend to visit an antique mall, an art gallery or a book shop to read art books or magazines. Setting time aside to get inspiration.
Below are some of the places I have visited and intend to visit again now that things are opening up again.
For me visiting places alone is a delight as I am an introvert and I recharge my batteries by being alone. I know for many others this is not the case but in the words of the author, “ you are not after the thoughts and companionship of others. You are after the thoughts and companionship of your soul”.
I would recommend ‘The Artist Way’ to anyone who feels blocked creatively it may help to understand what is causing the blockages and release the river of creativity to flow freely again.
Spring has come to St Louis. Last weekend it was in the low 20’s Fahrenheit and today it was in the high 70’s. So I decided to buy an annual membership to the St Louis Botanical Garden. It’s something I have wanted to do for a long time.
Now I can visit whenever I have some spare time, even if I only have a couple of hours, because the admission fee won’t be an issue. I am excited about seeing the spring flowers blooming and relaxing by the lake.
It does attract a lot of visitors and some may think that it is not that peaceful but if I am going on my own, I feel more safe knowing that there are other people around. I have always lived in cities so walking in the woods alone would not be relaxing for me. I know I would be looking over my shoulder at every little noise I heard.
Strolling in the gardens is also a great opportunity to take some photos to use for inspiration in my paintings at a later date. I love the architectural details as well as the trees and plants and the emotions I feel being so close to nature can be revived again as I scroll through the images.
I hope to capture some peace and tranquility in my art. Like the painting below called “The Enchanted Forest” which also has a sense of mystery around the shapes of the undergrowth found on the forest floor.
If you are interested in buying a print, tote bag or other decor items please click on the link below the picture which will take you to my website where you will find other paintings and photographs.
It was my first visit and I was really impressed. There were paved paths and there were trails through the woods, interspersed with sculptures of all shapes and sizes.
It’s great to see artist’s works surrounded by the natural world. They interact with the light and the shadows become an extension of the overall effect of the sculptures.
“The deer” is one of my favorite and it’s cool to walk under the large red sculpture called ‘The Way’. This will be a great place to bring my grandkids because there are no “keep off the grass” signs although they won’t be able to climb on the sculptures they will be able to run around to their hearts content.
I find the artistic community a favorable environment to flourish in. They know what it is to feel insecure about their gifts but have an innate urge to create and to share the fruits of their labor.
Consequently they are usually wonderful at encouraging others to step out and share their work too. They are also generous with tips and support along the way.
Art is subjective, so if you don’t like a particular piece whatever it may be, there is no need to comment. Just find what you do appreciate and give praise.
Being vulnerable is part and parcel of being an artist, so let’s continue to be kind and supportive of one another.
Psalm 23 : 1-3 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
The first few verses of this Psalm fill me with a sense of peace as I imagine myself lying in the grass beside a stream, in the sunlight.
Another word for pasture here is also Meadow. My idea of a meadow is a grassy field full of spring flowers. In the above painting I used a palette knife to give the impression of colorful wild flowers against a background of mountains, which for me is another place in which I sense the peace of God and am awe inspired by creation.
Colorado – Steamboat Springs
On a recent visit to Colorado with my son we happened upon this stream and rested here a while after a long hike. In this shady spot we were refreshed and restored, physically, mentally and spiritually.
In the busyness of our lives it’s important for us all to have time to think and be reinvigorated. In the words of Jesus to his disciples “Let’s go to a place where we can be alone and get some rest” Mark 6: 31 CEV.
I am so excited that Spring is here. A time of new beginnings and nature bursting back to life.
It is a great time to get out and walk again, to see the leaves budding on the tree branches and the daffodils showing all their glory.
Nature is one of the main influences for my art so I like to take photos at every opportunity, I don’t use them as subject matter for my paintings but inspiration. They conjure up the emotions I was feeling or the thoughts that were going through my mind at that moment.
Nature also causes me to think about the Creator and elicits thanksgiving and joy for how awesome it all is. From the sunrises and sunsets to the mountains and valleys and everything in between.
When chaos is all around, to create something that has never been seen before gives me hope and fixes my eyes on God.
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life” Pablo Picasso
“Art is about changing what we see in our everyday lives and representing it in such a way that it gives us hope.” Kehinde Wiley
“Art is the highest form of hope” Gerrard Richter
I am a spiritual person with a strong interior life and art is my way of revealing that. Diving deep into the well of my soul and bringing up to the surface hope and joy, inspiration from the heart.
I have no idea what I am going to paint before I put the brush or palette knife onto the canvas, but I have a color that speaks to me and I begin with that. The inspiration flows, the image grows and the Spirit whispers to my spirit and the viewers spirit the things we need to hear and receive to lift us and encourage us and fill us with hope for the future.
Ann Pimblott Art 