Annie alongside another of Ann's fabulous paintings of her
I've been shielding at home since March, not seeing anyone and not wanting to leave the house or be around other people, only leaving home to attend hospital appointments. I know that I am vulnerable to the virus as I am only part way through my weekly chemo treatments and it's true to say I've been very wary about going into town and rightly so after today's ghastly experience which I'll tell you about.
After leaving the framing shop I went to the newsagents shop to buy myself a magazine.There was a group if three men outside the shop approaching people on the street supposedly raising awareness for mental health but had pink wristbands which I assume they were selling. One man came right up to me and I politely asked him to socially distance himself as I was a cancer sufferer. He took a few steps away from me and then turned and came back and rudely asked me if had I just called him an a++++++e. I'd said no such thing and I think he was just trying to intimidate me. The staff in the newsagents told me the men were upsetting a lot of people, many complaints had been made about them and they'd previously been there collecting money for a totally different cause. I decided to call in at the police station and the officer said he'd send a police community officer to speak to them. I was so glad to return home and that'll be my last venture into town for the foreseeable future I can tell you. I've done what I'd been longing to do and that's have Ann's wonderful paintings framed.
Today my daughter has flown to Berlin for a ten day holiday. She had to go via Frankfurt as there are no direct flights due to Covid. She reported to us that at check in instead of thousands of passengers queuing across multiple lanes there was just her and the staff. I wish our town centre had been like that! Anyway, if you're reading this from your hotel in Berlin Carol, have a wonderful holiday and please take care and stay safe.
The paintings look great now they've been framed and I like the two of Annie together. What a shame you had a horrible experience outside the newsagent's. If those men had been previously collecting for a different charity it makes me wonder if they were actually genuine, especially as that one was so rude and intimidating - I hope it didn't upset you too much.
ReplyDeleteThat man upset me greatly today. It's taken me courage to go into town after months of self isolating at home. Tomorrow I'm going to report these street collectors to the town council as they shouldn't be harassing people in the street with no regard to social distancing not to mention accusing me of something I had not said. I'm really pleased with the framed paintings and I too love the paintings of Annie together.
DeleteThe paintings look fabulous and how lovely of the framer not to charge you for the campervan one, I can't see anything wrong with the frame. Your little corner of artwork looks lovely. I'm sorry you had such an awful experience with the street collectors, I'd wonder if they are collecting for the charity they say they are. Do you know which charity it was? If so, you could always ring them and report them.
ReplyDeleteThe photo framer pointed out it was the frame being made of plaster that was the problem but I am very happy with it. The frames weren't expensive anyway and I certainly didn't expect to be given my money back.
DeleteI've sent an email to the council this morning asking which charity the men in the street are working for. I assume they will have licenses but that will not allow them to accost people in the street. If I get a reply I will make a formal complaint about their behaviour to their charity. They certainly affected my mental health yesterday!
The paintings look lovely & glad you've braved town, though I'm not sure about your "men" & glad we don't have anything like them here in our area. They'd be elsewhere closer to Melbourne though. I don't seem to be able to go anywhere near other people & brave a walk very locally & that is about it. Our weather is "appalling" too & a blog post is about to follow this with a photo or two. Take care, stay safe & huggles.
ReplyDeleteI was being so careful to keep my distance from other people and I'm annoyed that these men are allowed to accost people in the street like they were doing. I'm not really getting any exercise but I won't be going into town again anytime soon, too many people and social distancing doesn't seem to apply anymore! We had a day of very rough weather yesterday, the kind of day when I'm glad I can stay safely indoors. Take care x
DeleteFrom Ann via Bloglovin'
ReplyDeleteThe paintings look great in these frames - so pleased you finally got them framed I know you were anxious to 🙂
They were top of my to do list once the "end of shielding" date arrived. I'm really happy with the paintings and frames. Thank you so much Ann x
DeleteThose paintings are beautiful and the frames set them off perfectly.
ReplyDeleteYour experience in town must have been unsettling. I can't stand being approached by anyone like this at the best of times, let alone in the current climate. A good way of avoiding this is to pretend to be talking on your phone, not that you should have to but it usually prevents being approached. X
Ann is so talented, I'm proud to call her my friend. I'm delighted to own her paintings.
DeleteI was really upset in town, these men need reigning in if they are genuine charity collectors. That's a good idea to pretend to be on the phone and I certainly didn't make eye contact with them, they just zoom in on people which genuine collectors shouldn't do. They were all wearing black which made them seem even more intimidating.