Richard Scott Blog: 11th September 2022

I got off to a good week on Monday after a good nights sleep Sunday night. I normally spend Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at the Studio in Melkbos. Mostly doing admin on Monday and creative studio work on Wednesday. Friday, I try do as little as possible. Let’s see this week. So on Monday I got all my admin done bar two things: send a client a detailed invoice and do a stock-take/re-cap of all my art in the UK. I have been on a drive, post COVID, to clean up things and recall all my art and get it back to one location. This week I am going to get in touch with my Uncle Stuart in Pangbourne, England, where I live and store my UK art collection, and get moving on getting it back to South Africa or see if James, my UK art dealer is keen to do an exhibition.

Monday afternoon I got stuck into a new print I have been toying with for a while. There was such an overwhelming response and request for me to explore and continue this series. I wanted to allow the influence of Robert Hodgin’s work flows into the creative and design process. I invested allot of money into his art from 2002 and have always loved how he uses a smudge effect and plays with the male figure. He is my favorite South African Artist by far.

Tuesday morning I dreamt I died on an airplane. I was sitting in an Emirates Airbus 777 on the way somewhere and I looked out the window and the plane jerked and started to dive. The pilot came over the intercom and said brace please, we are in a dive, I am trying to recover. I looked out the window again and saw the ground come closer and closer. It was like we were gonna crash in a township. Anyway I looked left at my friend and calmly said “How weird is this, were going to actually die in an airplane crash”. The plane hit the ground and I flew forward though the cockpit into a room filled with people standing around and one guy on a computer. Myself and all the people standing were dead and had a brown orange tinge on us like the colour of the iodine they use in surgery. I walked over to the guy working on the computer and he acknowledged me. In my dream he was still alive and we were all dead but he acknowledged me. I asked him if he knew of a recent airplane crash and he googled it and said no. I said to him that is just happened so its probably not reported. I realized I was dreaming and woke myself up. Quite strange because if you die in your dreams you apparently wake up. I didn’t I carried on dreaming.

Tuesday I popped into the shop. Joanne commented on the way to Cape Town that I haven’t been with her in the car for 2 weeks. Quite weird as last week I think I rode in with my Vespa one day and skipped Thursday. Angelique took some picture of me signing a package going to a collector in Pretoria. It’s always so cool to add in a little extra value for clients. The series is called the “PACKAGE SERIES” and as some of you may know I sign and paint on the boxes and tubes I send to my clients. I just had a brainwave. One day it will be cool to do like a NFT trade with people – bring me your package I sent you all those years ago and I will trade you an NFT or something like that.

Tuesday afternoon I picked Joanne up and we went to go view a 1 bedroom apartment in Century City potentially for one of the kids. Afterwards we had 2 hours to kill before a supper with Harold and Jo in Greenpoint. Joanne and I popped into my shop in Woodstock and went upstairs for a beer with Andre at Woodstock Brewery. Joanne helped me update my Will and Andre joined us. I asked him if he had a Will and he said “sort of”. Well withing minutes, Joanne had taken instructions to draw up a Will for him and Mira.

Supper with Harrold and Jo was lovely. Harold is a big fan and collector of my art. Jo made us a delicious curry which we both loved. Harold owns the first ever Richard Scott Hot Tub. Its like a jacuzzi but works on convection. You heat up the water by making a fire on the side of the tub. It’s a genius idea from Andrew. I met Andrew through Harold. Harold wanted one of Andrew’s Hot Tubs but with my art on it.

Wednesday was my dad’s 80th birthday. Happy Birthday dad. At least I know i’ll get to 80. I gave my dad a call and wished him and then chatted for a while. I miss my mom and dad. I used to visit so often pre-COVID. Joanne and I are planning a UK trip.

Wednesday itself was an admin day as usual. I got alot done on email and in the studio.

Thursday Joanne and I headed to Greyton for the weekend. We booked a nice big modern house for the older kids. We wanted to show them Greyton. Joanne and I did go a day earlier so we can have some alone time in the town we love. The weather was beautiful and we settled in and played cards and popped into town (Greyton Town) and had a light lunch at The Potters Inn Brewery and got some supplies for the weekend at the local OK.

The house we stayed in had a portrait of the Queen hanging on the wall. RIP Your Majesty, LONG LIVE THE KING

Our home for 3 days

Thursday night we did a walk around the town and popped in to see if Alister was home. I wanted to give him the Olive Caviar gift I bought him. We use it in his famous Chicken Olive Casserole recipe. Tabatha was home and welcomed us in and we caught up with a nice glass of Lionel Smit Red.

A note to Al to say thanks

Friday morning we tried to sleep in but it was difficult as we went to bed early and the birds were singing before sunrise. I got up and made Joanne coffee and got the fire going. You know me, I love fire. Joanne caught up with some work and banking and I fixed the hot water problem in the house. The gas bottle was empty. LOL. Joanne made me a yummy Olive Caviar omelette.

After checking out the house we headed back home as Chad had arrived. We welcomed him in. Joanne got a nice photo of all the wild horses roaming the village.

Richie and Victoire arrived safely and we popped out for lunch. We went to the old trusted Via’s. Chris the owner makes the best Milkshakes and a super duper double Chris’s burger. You can choose between chicken or beef or both. It was entertaining to watch the kids eat a massive double burger after drinking a very large milkshake. Eyes bigger than there tummy’s stuff, but they all finished.

Kids and Milkshakes

Joanne and I popped into town to do some thrifting for Angelina. There is some really nice thrifting shops in Greyton. I helped out after getting some water and extra supplies.

A few shots of the draft beers on offer in Greyton.

Early Saturday morning I decided to make use of the pool as we paid a nice price for the house so I might as well enjoy the pool. Yes, the cold pool. It was very refreshing. There was a time in my life for a few years that I used to shower in cold water every day, even in winter.

 When the kids were up we went to the Greyton Market. We bought an Olive Ciabatta from the famous Greyton bread man. I got the pancake order in and then we headed to the herb man to buy sage. I introduced myself but forgot his name. I’ll make a better effort next time and want to ask him if he will teach us to forage in the mountain. After that we got our stash of spring rolls and samoosa’s and we sat down and scoffed them around the table. Chad got some biltong and salami and Victoire got a few bars of hand made soap.

 I didn’t know you get all sorts of herbs you find in the wild to help with prostate and body PH and and and. The list goes on.

After the market we headed out for a short walk in the valley. Greyton is surrounded by mountains and amazing hikes from beginner to expert.

After our hike the kids were tired and decided to chill a bit. I got a invite from Al to join him for a beer at the Potters Inn Brewery to catch up. Joanne and I took a slow walk down and met up with Al. Al is one of those people that 1 and 1/2 hours in conversation feels like 10 mins.

We’re arrived back home and we whipped up a light lunch of toasted bread cooked on the gas stove flame, Richard Scott style, a quiche the kids bought us at the market and some left over sirloin from the previous night’s braai.

Joanne was reading a book she bought at the Red Cross shop called “Getting The love You Want” by Harville Hendrix, while she’s helping Chad with his studies. Richie and Victoire are watching a movie and playing games at the same time. How do they do that? I’m typing my blog 🙂

Saturday night we watched a horror movies IT while the kids played that parking puzzel game. Grrrrrrr, I gave it a go and it’s addictive.

Sunday morning I got up real early and opened the curtains and windows to feel and smell Greyton. It was cold but yummy. Lying in bed with Joanne with a gas stove percolated coffee and the smell and feel of Greyton.

Joanne and I took a very long walk around Greyton after the kids left. It was raining so it really felt like we were in Pangbourne. We left around 11.30 and took a slow drive home. We stopped at Dassiefontein and I bought a pencil box for myself, 2 draw knobs for Angelina side tables and some coffee.

We then headed to Peregrine and got a stash of pies for Dean and arrived home safe. We unpacked the car, you know that f e e l i n g , blah, then I finished my blog and Joanne potted around the house. Guess what. We left Greyton with no electricity and we arrive home to no electricity.

Peace out, power out.

Until next week.