Author: julesprichards

Anchoring in the shire, with family, friends, coffee and cheese… always looking…

It’s in everything

What’s to be done? Estragon on my shoulder again. Nothing? Make biscuits?

It’s a seasonal tradition, along with the meat pies, to make Grannie/Nana’s Cornish ginger biscuits. Thanks Gannie.

It’s here if you’re interested: Gingerbreads

It’s almost become a cliché, the self-helpers are tripping over themselves to share it, ‘stop, and notice, the everyday things’, breathe, slow down and…

But it’s not just a truism, it’s such an important idea to realise.

It’s not easy… As Antony De Mello suggested, to “understand the loveliness and the beauty of this thing that we call human existence. …tragically, [many] never get to see that ‘all is well’ “ Thanks Antony.

I was recently reading that our perception of time can speed up when life becomes routine and repetitive, and slow down when you encounter novel or stimulating experiences. As Ezra Bayda said, “What happens when we slow down and pay attention? Everything! Innumerable delights are right at hand.”

Christmas break is an ideal time to move out of what’s become a habitual fast lane.

Novel or stimulating experiences can be ever-present, some might say omnipresent. Some might say Emmanuel. From the delight to be found in a warm drink on a cold day, to birdsong, music, a ginger biscuit, a brief exchange with a stranger, pride, gratitude, compassion…

So what’s to be learned from another holiday break?

It’s been a good year; we could look back and list the things to smile about. We could also look back and list the things that have been a struggle and still strain our spirits.

But right now, as Eliot reminds us,

‘Time present and time past
Are both perhaps present in time future,
And time future contained in time past.
If all time is eternally present
… a perpetual possibility…’

A distant friend reminded me beautifully this week to “Let the birds sing over you.” Thanks Tim.

And another friend reminded me of the ‘multiple magpie’ days I experience regularly. Thanks Beckie.

My winter commute in and out of Leicester

I am still beaming with last month’s Howard Jones extravaganza… “There was a time when there was nothing at all, just a distant hum…”. Thanks Howard.

As I reflected back in…. Feb 23 It is well…

I looked upwards… diversity.
Three geese soar, whooping in formation,
while mallards scuffle below, with a shabby iridescent majesty.
Two moorhens totter across my path,
and a passel of pigeons mob a scattering of grain.
A rat sat beside the path, cleaning her whiskers, unphased.
Two squirrels spiral a tree trunk, as a brazen buzzard watches from her regular perch.
Coots mending their nest make me smile; flappy feet.
A few swans still sleep, necks curled, dreaming; while others awake with a stretch and a flamboyant flap.
Multiple magpies bounce; joy, secrets, and gold…
New colonist; a little egret… two of them… three!
The old crows crow.
There was a time when there was nothing at all, just a distant hum…

So we wish you hope for the new year.

Hope…
you find it in everything…

I hope you can find it in everything…

Howard on Leicester, DMH 2025

Happy seasonal contemplations!

Tags general, life, writing

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Optimism…

It’s been a while since I posted about graphic repro(duction)…

Back in May – I allowed myself a scintilla of optimism; ‘Be proud’!

I mentioned how the commitment and drive from the people I work with is awesome and infectious.

We’ve recently installed a celebration wall that will feature photos of scholars that have something to celebrate.

As I said back in May, a dose of healthy pride can be a good thing.

A feeling of satisfaction and self-respect derived from one’s endeavours, abilities, or character. Pride can be a motivating emotion that can encourage continued effort. An authentic genuine feeling of worth and dignity that can energize a quiet implicit realistic humble confidence.

I believe that providing a graphic repro service to staff and students helps to visualise and reinforce a culture of teamship and belonging.

I did collate a little visual carousel:

We create and maintain a consistent design identity and style, echoing graphic devices across all materials, and adding value to material created. As well as bulk reproduction, we create department-specific graphics and resources; signage, certificates, posters, cards, worksheets, passes, stickers, etc.

Graphic Repro and ‘belonging’: identity, community and culture.

Identity: uniformity in design across materials maintains a professionalism.

Community: consistent, appealing, memorable design fosters trust and credibility.

Culture: visual familiarity can generate a deeper connection and improve teamship.

It’s what I do… ‘Image Creation‘

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Ubuntu

Post author By julesprichards
Post date October 27, 2025

It’s that time of year where our employers treat us to a Professional Learning Day. I don’t see it so much as professional learning, more a day to entertain new perspectives and be invigorated by other people’s experiences of life, the universe and everything.

Thank you TMET.

We’ve had some amazing speakers over the last few years, I’m not going to be specific here, but some of the themes that are common to many of their experiences are echoed.

An idea that I find common in many stories is that ‘we are people because of other people’. What we (people, you and me) do, are, think, and become, is influenced significantly by how other people around us behave.
The African philosophy of ‘Ubuntu’ “I am what I am because of who we all are”, emphasizes interconnectedness and humanity; “I am because we are”. It suggests that our identity and well-being is deeply tied to our community, belonging and a shared humanity.

As well as the excitement of igniting curiosity, an educator’s role is to ensure that children sense belonging, are safe, seen and stretched; that ‘reaching further’ is always a possibility.

Maya Angelou wrote “…people will never forget how you made them feel.”

One speaker shared how “Mr Pickering changed my life”. “Educators changed my life” she emotionally recalled. Given a chance, people will always seek the light. She remembers how while in a dark place, people around her lit embers inside her, created values, created opportunity, suggested an alternative soundtrack for her life.

Another speaker recalled how in moments of adversity “it’s not the event that defines us, it’s the view we take of things”, this is of course coloured and fed by our privilege or indeed lack of privilege, and again, the support and care networks around us.

We are and can become people, because of other people and how they make us feel.

Being people is quite a responsibility.

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Milpreve – Stones

Post author By julesprichards
Post date August 10, 2025

Some people commented on the adder stones that we collected on our recent trip to Kent. So, I thought I’d leave a little info here.

My naturally holed stones found in Kent, UK (Adder Stones)

People have traditionally used the term “adder stone” to describe any stone with a naturally occurring hole through it. Often made of flint, they have also been called hag stones, fairy stones, and snake’s eggs. In Cornwall, where I am from, they were called milpreve.

There’s a lot of folklore (people-knowledge) surrounding adder stones, which, of course, is another story. But what does remain is a curiosity in the discovery of such items.

I guess it’s the form that creates intrigue.

As a creative artist, especially when I studied visual arts as a student, Barbara Hepworth was one artist who piqued my interest. Of course, in her created sculptures, she often featured ‘holes’.

I recall studying: ‘the hole’ as a way back as well as a way forward. Conjuring notions of time, past, future, and a space for potential possibilities…

I recall playing with T.S. Eliot’s Burnt Norton
Time present and time past
are both perhaps present in time future,
And time future contained in time past.
If all time is eternally present
All time is unredeemable.
What might have been is an abstraction
Remaining a perpetual possibility…

Anywho… I digress.

I guess it’s the ‘noticing’ of forms that is the essence of this. Projecting meaning onto them is what we all then do. Hence, the development of our language and cultures. We see the form of a sunset and it conjures feelings or thoughts, perhaps an overwhelming awe, or a speechless moment, a void… to be filled with meaning.

So back to the holed stones. Whether it’s the mystery of days gone by, or the beauty of sculptural ‘gaps or connections’. Holes exist in our world; space, void, potential… make of them what you will.

Tags Art, fiction, history, travel, writing

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Joyce, Emre, and Amy…

Post author By julesprichards
Post date August 10, 2025

I look for hope in stuff around me…

But, for all the natural wonders that we catch glimpses of, I sense there is something much bigger that I struggle to grasp*.

It’s easier said than done, but I think we have chances to embrace humanity daily. If we can only let it breathe – try to meet humanity, if you get a chance…

Let’s call her Joyce: Joyce is from the Netherlands, retired, and she’s touring Britain in her campervan. We met her on top of Stannage Edge in Derbyshire. We discussed stuff like concrete factories, heather, language, and camping. Joyce was full of life, a joy.

Let’s call him Emre: Emre was born in Turkey but was brought up in Tower Hamlets and has worked as a legal support for the Social Services all his life. We met him in Whitstable at the table next to us on the harbour side. He was eating mussels with his wife. We discussed seafood, dogs, politics, Turkey, and teenagers. Emre and his wife were full of friendly smiles.

Let’s call her Amy: Amy loves doing her job. Amy’s in her early twenties and is maître d’ at a cafe bar in Glossop. We met her as she made us feel at home in her delightful cafe. With dynamic enthusiasm, we discussed steak, dogs, her boyfriend, her cafe, and beer. Amy loves life.

For those contemplatives amongst us, the enchanting natural world often leaves us in awe.

The majesty of the sky. The vastness of the sea. The intricacies of seeds, the depths of the forest, the might of mountains, the energy of rivers. All of this causes us to reflect and share delight.

I often do this: I reflect and try to share little joys we see around us. Perhaps I seek natural highs because our culture so often disappoints.

But what stirs me more than any natural phenomenon is our humanity, in such as those everyday saints mentioned above.

Aspects of our humanity can leave nature in the shade. Indeed, our wonder at nature is a human perception. The world just is, but we often think Wow! It just is. But wow?

The human element is the wonder. It’s hard to replicate and manufacture the joy of genuine humanity. And I find it hard to put into words.

Human wonders happen less frequently because the noise and clutter of culture and tradition confuse our perceptions. Our unique asset, our language, constructs towers that are easily toppled. But at the base of every interaction is our humanity. As an art student, I studied the abstract meaning between words… Humanity is the shared energy beneath the words, between strangers…

Yes, humanity has its failings, sometimes I think the failings are far greater than its virtues, but behind the nasty one-upmanship that our culture celebrates is some amazing potential energy…

It’s hard to tap into because the ugly side of society is so loud. But underneath it all is something…

Whether good or bad, people are people because of other people.

*As mentioned, I sometimes totally struggle to grasp humanity.

Years ago, my Creative Arts degree studies opened my eyes to so much energy, but also deconstructed everything definite.

I am just being naively honest, and perhaps highlighting a failing of mine, but some of us struggle to find belonging in this world. I am trying, but even after 50+ years of age, I struggle to find reliable words.

I recently met up with old friends from my degree studies three decades ago. I guess we briefly revived a tangible belonging.

Although 30 years had passed, we fondly recalled a formative time that gave us quite a buzz. It was phenomenally delightful. Although we’d deconstructed everything definite. Thankfully, our common trusted humanity has not expired. Breathe.

Tags Creativity, energy, humanity, nature, perception, visual-art

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Abstract Unfamiliar

This week has been a holiday. Not ‘holi’ particularly but dedicated, a time out of the usual habitual routine. A week trying to avoid the bedlam and madness that our culture seems to breed. The brash commerciality everywhere you look… Other people seem to thrive on it, but sorry, it drives me crazy…
And,.. beathe…

A week away on the north coast of the garden of England. Quiet energy, possibility, wonder…
My mind has had time away from the familiar structures that make up daily life. Minimal internet use, no TV, and the limited radio use has been tuned to Radio 3. The structures and semiotics that infer meaning have been stripped back, or at least changed to the unfamiliar and more abstract.

Until the unfamiliar starts to become familiar, we’ve been staying in an ‘artist cabin by the sea’. Abstract creations on the walls have helped steer my mind away from the familiar rigidity of our usual language and the comfort of assumed motives. (I AM: images, assumptions, motives.)

Horizon, seascapes, stone, birds, history, nature, sky, the dog, a book set in medieval England, and of course coffee, bread and poached eggs..
‘Nothing to be done’ to quote Estragon.
We try to create meaning from all we encounter. It’s not necessary. But we do. The young shall see visions, the old have dreams, but beneath it all, if you can try to forget everything you think you know… a silence, or a different noise, might be something to be treasured.

Language secretly pushes and prods every one of us in hundreds of directions we don’t see, until the only way to be careful with our words is to not speak…

In the past I would feel the strong need to create structure from the things I found. To be honest I still do. But I have recently felt a yield to just delight in things…
As I said last week “After energy, possibility, & wonder, comes delight… to be treasured.“

And the unfamiliar started to become more familiar…

Amongst this week’s traumatic dreams, this…

“The most significant finds were abstract.”

I’m not sure what it means.
Back to what other people seem to thrive on, but tends to drive me crazy.
And,.. breathe…

Reculver, Herne Bay, Kent

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MS Publisher NOT still great for bespoke items :-(

Post author By julesprichards
Post date July 12, 2025

UPDATE JULY 2025: The article below the stars, written a few years back, will soon be redundant, as Microsoft announced the end of its Publisher trinket. But this leaves us without Publisher’s unique hyper-useful asset!

Yes, graphics are not a problem and better on many other softwares but … here’s a challenge…

The big big loss, that no other software does in the same hyper-easy useful way is print multiple pages per sheet. Publisher allows you to create bespoke page sizes and print multiple pages (mail merged and or double-sided) sheets. This is so so useful for tickets, cards, passes, slips etc.

To date there’s NO other software that offers print bespoke page sizes multiple pages per sheet!

Challenge find an alternative! ?

**************************

Match-cards, revision-cards, flashcards… Yes, it’s easy to use the default Microsoft Word†, add boxed text etc and trim-out cards. But it’s not very tidy or economical and to be honest there’s an easier, tidier and more economical way.

Our old friend Microsoft Publisher*. If you have MS Office then it’s there. Often underused it’s a great tool of creating multiple odd sized cards, tags, stickers etc.

It’s easy to make the bespoke page size to fit on A4.

I given examples of this before, ‘Save Paper, Time & Money’ here.

So, we set one Publisher page at the desired size. You could have any size card, as long as it multiples into an A4 page.

Duplicate a master, and create your different pages (or mail-merge your data/text into a master). With Publisher we can then print this on A4 as a set (multiple pages per sheet) or as a stack of sets (multiple copies per sheet). These can be easily electronically guillotined and banded.

It’s versatile, can look great, and it saves time and paper**.

*Horror, Yes, Publisher! When I first was prompted to use publisher, because the situation didn’t warrant the cost of the more professional options, I was horrified. My preconceptions about Microsoft turned out to be a tad misplaced. It initially looks like you’re using a child’s toy. But get over it! It’s a very versatile tool for simple multiple-page publishing needs – you can create print-impositions for press that InDesign can’t do! Projects can even look qood, if you use design elements created in Photoshop and Illustrator etc.

Uneconomical unproductivity can be easily sorted – saving money, with zero paper wastage, more print per sheet, and easy guillotining and set sorting – and we can make it look good! In the long-term, planning economically and productively can save an institution £1000s

†Word is a word processing program. PowerPoint is for creating screen presentations.

‘Save Paper, Time & Money’ here.

Tags print, publishing, reprographics

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Delightful energy…

And breathe …
I remember this feeling, decades ago, in a coffee shop in Leicester Square in London. Bright lights, exciting music, aromatic coffee, multicultural metropolitan energy. I am not sure why I was there… I think I was waiting for a friend at an audition… energy, possibility, wonder… To be honest, now I am not sure if it was a dream.

Another time I was sitting alone at a rural bus stop in Cheshire. A time before mobile phones and digital timetables. I was waiting for the next bus. A sunny day, green fields, a bucolic horizon. Energy, possibility, wonder…

As a child, my parents took me on a trip to a family friend in Surbiton London (from Cornwall). I recall ‘real butter’. It was the first time I encountered doorstep toast, real butter, and unforgettable marmalade. Extravagance, delightful opulence, energy, possibility, wonder.

There have been many times since that have been full of this energy. My wife, my kids, friends, foreign lands, colleagues, the sea… always the sea…

I think these things are glimpses outside of our routine habitual safe everyday. To be treasured. Exciting scintillations of entrancing intoxicating energy.

30 years ago I spent 3 formative years with a bunch of creative students. This weekend I took a train from Leicester to new old places… 30 creative people from my university days met up and danced…

Thank you all! A remarkably awesome bunch of humans. After energy, possibility, wonder comes delight. Simply a delightful bunch of humans. To be treasured.

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Be proud.

Post author By julesprichards
Post date May 25, 2025

Contrary to the above, and unlike me, I recently saw a tree:

Like a tree in June
Full to bursting with pride
I see you
Be proud

The tree is not seeking merit, but just fulfilling, being healthy and alive…

At work this week a scholar finished a discussion with me by saying “Have a great day sir”…

Walking in the school recently I allowed myself a scintilla of optimism; ‘Be proud’!

The people I work with do an admirable job, I am often in awe of their commitment and drive. They should indeed be allowed a small glow of pride!.

A dose of healthy pride is a good thing. A feeling of satisfaction and self-respect derived from one’s endeavours, abilities, or character. Pride can be a motivating emotion that can encourage continued effort. An authentic genuine feeling of worth and dignity that can energize a quiet implicit realistic humble confidence.

I was recently nominated for recognition of my contribution towards our school’s ‘Community’; “Building a sense of belonging in a reflective and stimulating environment. Celebrating care, kindness and difference, allowing positive relationships to flourish and ensuring communication is excellent.”

I guess what I do helps to reinforce something of the above. Of course, we all daily add to our sense of community and belonging in the many small things we do.

graphic repro

GraphicRepro.

I believe that providing a graphic repro service to staff and students helps to visualise and reinforce a culture of teamship and belonging.

Part of my Design & Reprographics role is to create and maintain a strong visual identity that relays the tones and qualities of our community, while promoting our cultural ambitions and expectations. We create and maintain a consistent design identity and style, echoing graphic devices across all materials, and adding value to material created. As well as bulk reproduction, we create department-specific graphics and resources; signage, certificates, posters, cards, worksheets, passes, stickers, etc.

Graphic Repro and ‘belonging’: identity, community and culture.

Identity: uniformity in design across materials maintains a professionalism.

Community: consistent, appealing, memorable design fosters trust and credibility.

Culture: visual familiarity can generate a deeper connection and improve teamship.

Like a tree in June
Full to bursting with pride
I see you
Be proud

*‘Pride comes before a fall’, it’s one of those tenets that tends to colour my worldview. It tends to produce an underestimating fear, a paralysing worry, a hindering reluctance, and perhaps many missed opportunities. I try to be proud, but I’m aware that an autumnal fall is part of the cycle.

Tags Art, brand-identity, culture, graphic-design, pride

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Community Choir

Post author By julesprichards
Post date May 4, 2025

For 10 years I was part of a great bunch of folk from Melton Mowbray. Global Harmony community choir are a delightfully unique bunch!

Personally, I had a few ‘years out’ doing other things, but I returned to Global Harmony in January ’25. It’s great to be back singing.

We recently had a little musical soiree at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Melton. There’s a four minute mash-up below.

It’s such a joy to be singing again!

Things have changed a tad at Global Harmony, and my previous posts on this blog are out of date – but I’m happy to say it’s still the same good feeling!

Global Harmony are a mixed a cappella community choir based in the heart of Melton Mowbray. They sing a dynamic variety of world music in a fun, friendly and informal environment, celebrating diverse cultures and the joy of singing.

The Choir’s Musical Director, Jane Bursnall has extensive experience of leading mixed a capella choirs. Jane is a great believer in the benefit of singing for good mental health and well-being. Jane brings a friendly, light-hearted approach, and a sense of fun to our Monday evening sessions.

The choir have a session every Monday evening, see more at: https://www.globalharmony.org.uk/

Here’s the full concert from St John the Baptist Catholic Church Melton, 2nd May 2025.

The choir’s open to everyone! All songs are taught by ear so no experience necessary, no auditions, and your first rehearsal is absolutely free. If you fancy a try, get in touch with the choir.