The hunt for bagels!

What you miss....

It's funny how you miss little things that you are used to at home. I wouldn't have thought that Ciaran was big in to tea but when he heard that my mother was sending me a package he asked if she would also send some Barry's tea, as I had mentioned in a previous blog. since it arrived he has been happily enjoying a cup or two every day.

Bagels

Other than the tea, for him he also is missing a bagel which he was a fan of for breakfast from time to time with bacon and a fried egg. So after having seen bagels on offer in Julia Bakery we went on a search for a bag of them to have at home and maybe to put a few in the freezer. But it was no joy for bagels (not even in Lidl) they were not to be found.

Malt Vinegar

The other item that we both had a hankering for was for malt vinegar to put on chips. We had been enjoying steak cooked on the barbeque along with chips that we got from a restaurant across the road. The chips had salt on them but no vinegar. And so after hunting for malt vinegar we had to do with a substitute that I found a hack for on the internet. White wine vinegar mixed with a little balsamic vinegar makes for a perfectly fine vinegar for chips. Who knew!

So other than missing a few items like the above we are very happy here in Spain.

However, change is afoot. The net is closing in on Covid and new restrictions have just been put in place for the next two weeks.

Curfew

All non-essential businesses and restaurants have to be closed by 6pm and there is a curfew from 10pm until 7am. This really won't affect us much. The gallery that Ciaran's studio is has given him a letter to go to and from the gallery for work and I will probably do shopping during the day and be in before 6pm anyway. Even though the curfew doesn't start until 10pm.  I think this change will do something to assist in bringing Covid cases down as it will stop all of the boisterous evening socializing on the streets of Malaga.  

Online Classes

One big change the restrictions has brought for us is that our Spanish class had moved online for the next two weeks. The class was being given in a small boutique hotel and it has now closed for two weeks so until it reopens we are online on Zoom. We had our first class today and it was intensive. I found it tough online. It certainly challenged me - but if it was easy I probably wouldn't be learning more than I currently know. But as I said before progress is hard......and slow in regard to my language learning.

PIGSY Merchandise

And so life goes on here in Malaga. I'm still working away on Pigsy's art website and all of his digital marketing. Along with that his merchandise has come in and is selling well. 

I'm really pleased how well the Pigsy cap came out. Another thing I'm really pleased with is the result of the recent US election. To celebrate this Pigsy has specially released 46 (yes just 46!) enamel cups printed with his original artwork "Phoenix Rising" - it's a truly inspiring piece of art and it gives me a lot of hope for the future!  

I love my morning coffee so much in my Pigsy mug!! It really is the little things that make me very happy :-) 

Happy Pride month! 
I am delighted to present "Duval Flag" by Pigsy. “Duval Flag”  (410mm W x 920mm H)  (16” Wide x  36”) Mixed Media On Canvas Key West Business Guild are selling raffle tickets for a chance to win this piece "Duval Flag" which Pigsy painted on a recent trip to KW. It includes the famous sea to sea rainbow flag flying high and is painted in his usual expressionist style. It is an uplifting joyful piece that highlights the Key West motto of One Human Family. It will be on view during the week in the Key West Business Guild. Tickets are available, plus the painting is on display: *In the Business Guild, 808 Duval Street right now!

*At the Business Guild luncheon on Wednesday at the Marriott Beachside

*At the street fair on Saturday

Pigsy's curator Kemp has this to say about "Duval Flag": 

"While PIGSY was vacationing in Key West the overall vibe of the islands ethos of “One Human Family” compelled him to compulsively start painting. The result is an inspired flow of expressionism which helped him to subconsciously recall the sea to sea rainbow flag which was 1.25 miles long and ran along Duval Street from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean created by the designer Gilbert Baker (happy image on the bike exploring his creation) who passed away in 2017. The island created a sense of creative happiness which manifested itself in the positive message that,  all people are created equal.

The painting reflects the joyous pride that one can feel when prejudice and judgement of other people’s decisions are discarded and a free positive happy all for one, one for all approach to everyday life is embraced in a fair inclusive way, as it is with Key West which has embraced the motto “One Human Family”. The butterflies , flowers and smile on Gilbert’s Face show happiness and freedom along with pride and gives us a sense that the world is a brighter place with rainbows in it, along with an acceptance of diversity".

By Kemp

In to the West!

The Galway Film Fleadh is on this week and we will be making the trip to the West to see Mike Andrew's film "Pigsy" which features my husband, Ciaran, aka Pigsy.

We have booked a Pet Friendly hotel (the 4 star Ardilaun) and will bring our dog with us to enjoy a little bit of time away before we attend the screening of the film. Bones is well used to hotel stays having visited the Hilton in Belfast and The Twelve in Bearna on past holidays - in my next life, I want to come back as a dog!

The screening is on at midday in the Town Hall Theatre and will be shown as part of 8 Irish shorts.

You can see the trailer below and check out the full programme here.

"Nostalgia's Not What it Was" by Pigsy

Ciaran's exhibition "Nostalgia's Not What it Was" ran from the 5th - 8th of Oct in Fumbally Exchange.  It was a big success with over 400 people visiting over the weekend.

The first piece was "No space for nostalgia" and it was based on this picture of Ciaran as a child with his two best childhood friends.

The photo seemed to spark something in many who visited and lots of his pieces evoked memories of childhood that were familiar to all.

It was great to have both the guys in the picture drop in for a look!

I'm feeling nostalgia just looking at them!!

"I Find You Fascinating" at The Kemp Gallery

The day finally came!

Ciaran's solo exhibition "I Find You Fascinating" (as his painting alter ego Pigsy!)  opened in The Kemp Gallery yesterday.

Refreshment was provided by O Brother Brewing who are based in Kilcoole Co Wicklow. There were 4 different beers to choose from and everyone I spoke to agreed that they were really good.  I love the labels on the bottles - the colours are fantastically vibrant and the names of the beers are a lot of fun!  Pictured is "The Chancer" which was very tasty.  I also tasted "The Fixer" which was delicious too. 

The calm before the storm!  
Here is Ciaran earlier on in the day before the room filled up with people.

And look how full it got!!
There were a lot of people out to see the art. Some popped in for a few mins while others stayed the whole evening.  Many said they would be back to visit at another time over the next 6 weeks as they said they wanted to look at the paintings when it was quiet and no one else in the room.  That's understandable.  It was difficult to see some of the paintings (particularly the larger ones) with so many people in the gallery. 

There was a really positive response to the whole evening.  The beer went down a treat and the art work provoked a response!

The show is running for the next 6 weeks and Ciaran will be in there tomorrow (Sat) from 12-2pm so do call in for a view. As well as original art pieces for sale there are also limited edition prints available of three specially selected paintings.

If you visit the Gallery do let me know what you think of Ciaran's work!

I'd advise taking an afternoon to view the art and also calling in to the DesignYard -the The Kemp Gallery is based in the DesignYard Building.  The DesignYard have the most stunning jewellery collections designed by a range of Irish and European designers and jewellery makers. You'll love it :-) 

Kemp Gallery Exhibition - Pigsy

Ciaran is currently working towards an October date for his exhibition in the Kemp Gallery 

He aims to have about 10 pieces on show.

Some of his work is staggeringly large so he will probably only exhibit one large piece due to the available space. 

The exhibition will open in early October and will run for 6 weeks with his art work being available to buy online also.