Mathew Clayton shares a year in daffodils and Romanian stamps.
A relatively shit year that I am pleased to see the back of. Five things that cheered me up.
1. Plants
Planting a shit ton of daffodils from my parents’ house in my garden. Vastly undervalued, the daffodil offers hope when it looks like winter will never end.
2. Animals
I will kill myself if I see murmurations being incorporated into another art project, but in real life thousands of birds flying pell mell just above you as you walk the dog at Southease is unbeatable.
3. Friends
Whether it is Robin’s substack, David’s film, Lally’s book, Richard’s latest project, Tom’s festival, Nina’s imprint, Roy being Roy – nothing beats seeing your friends do something brilliant.
4. Family
Ok, actually just seeing your family alive and happy does the same thing. They don’t even have to be doing anything to provide joy.
5. Anthony S.B. New
At some point in the year I chanced upon the Romanian entry in The Observer’s Book of Postage Stamps. See attached photo. It will always make me laugh – the perfectly named Anthony S.B. New is livid about Romanian stamp design, ‘to those who care for the dignity of stamp design… the aesthetic footing of a cheese label… etc.’
Ok maybe it hasn’t been that bad a year after all.
P.s. The Caught by the River Day Out will return on May 2nd. Our fifth year and now officially recognised as the start of summer. I hope to see some of you then.