Picture this

7th August 2025

Well all our stuff is on its way. I think about it, I worry about it, off on an adventure without us to protect it. We don’t know exactly where it is, but I picture it, bumping along, all wrapped up in its cosy “export wrapping”, not quite at the port yet. We don’t have a sailing date, as there is still a big question mark over how customs are going to assess our cargo. Assessed as used personal items and there is no duty, assessed as new and we face import tax. There is nothing new but who knows what mood they will be in. Clarity like many things with bureaucracy, does not seem to be easily obtained. Once it has been assessed then we will have a ship assigned. Fingers crossed the customs officer feels his ice cold Banks is overdue and with a quick whip of his pen, ticks the correct box.

This morning we sat down together and cross-checked all the stuff that was packed away. Easel ✅ BBQ✅ Kitchenware✅ The itemised list extended to 3 pages, repetitive in so many lines, we seem to be bringing many chairs and tables but overwhelmingly we are bringing pictures, pictures featured over and over again. To be fair, mirrors were described as pictures, photos in frames were pictures, my canvasses and paintings were pictures, some of my parents West Indian paintings were pictures. We are definitely people that like things on the wall and we need things that make Pollards feel like home. Pictures will definitely do that, but that’s a lot of pictures, mind you, we have a lot of walls.

This week some friends and I made our annual trip to the Royal Academy of Art to see the summer exhibition. It’s the largest open submission art show in the world and has been going since 1769. This year has over 1700 works of very eclectic art including: sculptures, ceramics, installations and many, many pictures, coating the walls of the Academy. Most work is for sale and some is really affordable, but we fancifully allow ourselves a theoretical budget of £10,000 and allow ourselves to make one theoretical purchase. The rules are simple, one purchase, no change, it must still be available. There is also the potential risk of scrutiny… “ok but where are you going to put the life sized hobbit sculpture” so whilst this is a fun game there are rules. I’m always amazed at other people’s work, surprised at what other people like and flabbergasted at what gets into the exhibition and often aghast at what wins the prizes… but that’s art!!!!. It’s also hugely inspiring, my annual refrain… “I’ll enter next year…” with my easel carefully packed and on its way to Pollards, who knows what’s going to inspire me.

Needless to say the award winning (Zatorski +Zatorski) sculpture of 101 rat pelts lined in 24k gold had not been sold but it was also way over budget £85,000 … gross IMHO. My choice a whimsical self portrait “Festival” by Gillian Wearing RA came in just under budget.

Like his father, my father loved pictures and was a keen photographer. He collated an amazing photographic collage of our ancestors on the walls in their home in Kent. I had to decide which if any, of these I would bring. It was an easy decision, I could picture them all, the whole display on a different wall, in a different country displayed with the same respect that he gave them.

Homeward bound, precious cargo. We will look forward to welcoming you home.