The strangest thing happened last week. I was being kayaked (is that a verb?) along the Cam, feeling a little like the Lady of Shalott, when a cow fell into the water! It was a spot where the bank was built up on concrete, so impossible for her to climb straight back out. I’m not sure I’d ever seen a cow so close up, but as she swam past the little rickety boat her face looked serene and lovely – focused on swimming past the panicking rowers (me included!), intent on finding a safe place to exit.
The people on the riverbank looked terrified too. I don’t know whether anyone had called the fire brigade – or whoever one might call to rescue a drowning cow, but a burly man with a strict-ish voice instructed us to scare the cow across the river to the opposite bank, where escape looked easier. I thought the shock of me scaring her with a kayak oar might finish her off completely. Fortunately, she ignored all the people and a dipped bank about 200 feet along gave her the foothold she needed to waddle out.
Once back in the sunshine and munching a blade of grass, the cow gave an almighty moo – matched swiftly by her mother, who ran towards her, the herd close behind. We watched as they gathered around and nuzzled her – it really was so sweet to see.
As you may have noticed, I’ve done little work for the past couple of weeks while my broken hand has been healing itself. And, it turns out, my broken rib. You see lots of posts popping up on Facebook about healing a broken heart, but very few about broken hands. Or ribs. So this week has been playing catch-up. I’ve created several blogs, PowerPoint presentations and a website for clients, leaving hardly any time to go out for lunch!
Found time to go to the polling station though. It really irritates me when people don’t vote, then complain when the country – or city – isn’t run how they would like. Especially women and, yes, I know that’s sexist in itself. But women gave their lives so that we can vote, and there are still women today in other parts of the world for whom that entitlement is curtailed. So what right do we have to abuse the privilege?
I think I’ve said before that I would have been a suffragette had I been born a century earlier, and not just for the beautiful jewellery: ‘Give Women the Vote’ – GWV – green, white, violet. I’ve seen some gorgeous pieces in antique shops yet never treated myself to a piece, but I might…
One of the PowerPoint presentations I’ve been preparing today is for a social media talk I’m giving at the Shard. It will be the first one I’ve done for a few weeks due to my injuries, so I’m looking forward to sharing some valuable tips on social media marketing for financial businesses. The session kicks off the start of a busy couple of weeks work-wise, with meetings with potential global clients, a gallery visit, fashion networking and an open day at Birkbeck College – can I find the time to do a PhD between meetings and afternoon tea?
I’ve been doing most things using only my left hand and it’s reminded me of an album I played on a constant loop when Ben was a toddler – until he pointed out, ‘That’s a rude word, mummy!’ No rude lines in this one though: “I’m high but I’m grounded, I’m sane but I’m overwhelmed. I’m lost but I’m hopeful, baby. What it all comes down to, is that everything’s gonna be fine fine fine. Cause I’ve got one hand in my pocket and the other one is giving a high five!”
Well my hand is out of my pocket now (or rather, out the splint – most of the time anyway). If you’d like to high five, catch up with some social media marketing tips, email me, message me on Facebook or tweet me here: @WeekendWitch.
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