On losing yet another limb . .

What about the bag and losing yet another limb, I hear you ask? I know that most of you appreciate that I am a bit short of limbs already so, losing another one or even two, is well, careless to say the least....  The short version is this... (because the full one might take me many more

In January last year, my car window was smashed on the street and thieves (on a bicycle!) stole what was plonked on my passenger seat.... My two bags... now fondly remembered as "my right arm" and "my left arm".... At the time, I called them no such thing...too much pride... but with the loss of them has come the realisation that this is what they, in effect, were.  This bag, fitted me perfectly and contained all my own inventions and perfections to live in the world as a two-limbed person. 

The second bag was very different, ordinary, even, except its contents were even more important. It contained my swimming gear and all that was necessary to do battle (and win) against a wet and sticky swimming costume. And so, the loss was tragic....I was in shock. I knew, once it was discovered by the thieves that there was no cash to be gleaned from either of them - except for the euro coin for locker in the swimming pool - I knew my precious bags would end up in a big skip or dumper somewhere close by ... and I ran around in the rain, realising that I couldn't lift the lids and if I tried hard enough, I might end up tumbling in.  Or at least, that is what the Garda* said, as he restrained me.   Of course, I rang Joe Duffy.. **  He didn't ring me back. Long before it was taken, I was aware this might happen. I had travelled with it far and wide - from Central to North America, from North Africa to the Far East, and all ports in between. Everywhere I went my bag came with me.  And with it came the awareness that I would be lost if it were lost,  and so I looked for a replacement.  I had engraved on my heart, the name ...Hidesign  At the time, I knew nothing more about the maker of my bag.  Since then, I have learned a lot. I have learned that it was made in Pondicherry, India.   I have learned that my bag was made by a small, artisan, two-man workshop, which started in 1978.  It grew rapidly and began exporting to the West in the early  1980s, where these bags became a "counter cultural  icon", stocked in "small, independent" stores. Immediately, on reading this, I knew I had a chance...I wasn't dealing with a large conglomerate, and being small and independent myself, I knew, once it was an indigenous company, with deep roots in the "independent minded" community, I had a chance.  And so, I wanted to make the best of this chance. for hours and days I scoured the internet, until I managed to contact one of the top people, the son of one of the original owners, Vikas Kapur, and, as the say, the rest is history.  Of course, it wan't that easy.  But from first contact, I knew I was in luck.  
 Himself in the corner, my Dearly Beloved comments wryly that I never get lucky... he says I am just relentless in pursuit of my objective.  I don't disagree. It means so much to me.  And now, 16 months later, I do have an identical bag, and I feel complete again.   
  I can wander without risking breaking my neck. I can fill it with bottles or bricks (to straighten my shoulders). I can actually use it as an exercise device to try and strengthen my neck muscles -which are still pretty lax these days with my heavy head lolling about like an uncontrollable rugby ball on my miniature neck muscles. I'm doing okay. I am doing so okay that I am making a foray back into the exhibiting circuit this weekend. at the Schoolhouse in Enniskerry as part of their Festival. At this moment, the day before the hanging, I am planning to bring some very big drawings

is some very small paintings, like this one....  But all that might change by Friday.  So, do come and join us if you can on Friday evening at 6.30pm, for the Reception and/or on Saturday (11am-9pm) and Sunday 24th May (11am-6pm). Click here for directions. And, also this weekend, my self-portrait (see above) has been selected for the Royal Hibernian Academy Summer Exhibition and that will run from May 25th right through the summer until early August. For my readers outside of Ireland * A Garda is a member of the police (man or woman) in Ireland. The plural is Gardaí. Collectively known as An Gardaí Síochána ** Joe Duffy is the host of a famous irish phone in radio show called Liveline, with a huge listenership.