PAUL JUDGE……

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spontaneous watercolour of Paul

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When Paul Judge and I met at a skating party in the Pocono Mountains…we immediately clicked. I was twenty four and Paul twenty one. We were both only children born in London from similar backgrounds.

At that time I was still working for Sandy Lewis on the block stock trading desk in New York and Paul was studying at the Wharton Business School on a Thouron Scholarship.

For a while we visited one another in Philadelphia and New York….until we decided that we would marry when Paul graduated from Wharton. This also worked with Jarrod’s schooling in England, and my plan to resume work as an artist.

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We enjoyed some good times at Wharton….with its many international students and fun evenings at Smokey Joe’s and La Terrasse………….. To make life more convenient before the move back to the UK, I was able to transfer to the Philadelphia White, Weld office…………where I sat next to a man called Bill Reed…….!

In the meantime Paul was doing very well at Wharton….and had already been offered a position with Cadbury Schweppes……….becoming Deputy Finance Director at 28 years old.

Jarrod during this time.

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This is where I smile broadly to myself.

Paul was appointed Knight Bachelor in 1996 for public and political service and was key benefactor of the Judge Business School at the the University of Cambridge.

Sadly Paul died in 2017…..However we kept in touch over the years. I was with him shortly before his death.

On the subject of MONEY

As long as my needs are met and I am able to follow the creative process…. – money has never been of great importance to me -something that many have not understood…Paul Included……..

I am a great fan of Joseph Campbell...who encouraged individuals to pursue their deepest passions and authentic interests to find meaning, joy, and purpose in life.

This is when we encounter ‘hidden hands’ or the unseen energy which I talk about a great deal, leading to a life that feels authentic. Not about constant pleasure, but about deep fulfillment.

My first ‘selfie’ taken on my 80th birthday this past week.

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My next post is all about ‘none of us being creative enough to know how things will actually work out……….’

Meeting Bill Reed.

WORKING ON WALL STREET –

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Not to belabour it, but my first marriage did not work which left me aged 22 a single mother. The next time I saw Jarrod’s biological father was when Jarrod was 27 years old!

Given that I needed a full time job – dear Mimi Kolff, came to the rescue.

Mimi found out through her good friend David Weld, one of the partners at White, Weld & Co. that there was an opening for a Gal Friday at White Weld……and there it was the beginning of a new chapter of my life.

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I remember the day of my interview at White Weld, 20 Broad Street. I was twenty-two years old.

I left the elevator/lift at the White Weld trading floor and walked into a totally new experience. I was ushered into a glass cubicle where I met Sandy Lewis who was twenty-seven at the time. He asked me if I could make coffee, answer phones etc. and then he popped the question….‘DID I KNOW WHAT A WASP WAS?” I said a flying insect that could sting you…..

Sandy said ‘If I didn’t know that a WASP was a White Anglo Saxon Protestant….the job was mine……. I had entered an alternative dimension…………

A very old photograph of me on the ‘block stock trading desk’. the department that Sandy set up at White, Weld.

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Over many years, Sandy and his wife Barbara (a superb photographer) and I have stayed friends. In recent years my daughter Christie and I have enjoyed several memorable visits to the Lewis Family Farm – in Essex County New York …………..

I have enjoyed sketching there and painted both Sandy and Barbara….. This spontaneous watercolour catches the intensity of Sandy’s eyes.

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Timing in life is fascinating – When I first met Sandy he was starting a new ‘block stock trading department’. At the same time Sandy’s father, Cy Lewis was Managing Partner for Bear Stearns & Co.

The new trading desk at White Weld was being built when I arrived for my ‘gal friday’ interview…….It was quickly picked up that I was a fast thinker and so it was suggested that I take my registered representative exam to become a broker ………which I did and passed with flying colours.

Christie took this photograph of me, Sandy and Barbara on one of our recent visits to the farm.

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During the time I worked at White Weld New York, I watched the Twin Towers being built and so much more. On weekends Jarrod and I would often go to the Poconos where we stayed with a good friend.. On one such weekend we met Paul Judge who was on a Thouron Scholarship at the Wharton Business School ..……The plan was to move back to the UK with Paul………….but remember that ‘none of us is every creative enough to know how things will actually work out..!

Next time….Paul Judge and moving to the Philadelphia White,Weld office……..

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DRIVING TO NEW YORK IN JANUARY 1967

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After one year of living in Florida we began the trip back to New York…..only this time we had dear little Jarrod….who at 3 months old was a quite a novelty in Florida. – At that time there were very a few young people with babies……..Florida was made up mostly 0f retirees (snow birds) from the north escaping winter – and summers in my opinion which were brutally hot and humid!

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One such retiree suggested that we contact his son and wife on Staten Island…..who he felt could help us find work and housing.

And so after a very long journey in our second hand Chevy Impala we arrived on Staten Island at the prescribed address to be welcomed warmly. The hospitality shown to us by many Americans at that time was astounding….

Our hosts Caron and Dennis introduced us to Mimi Kollf who had a cottage for rent at Harbor View Place…on Staten Island. Number 3 Harbor View Place was to be home for a while.

Mimi Kollf in her garden at Habor View Place. Her Father had developed much of Staten Island and one of the Staten. Island ferries was named after him. (Cornelious Kollf)

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The Verrazano Bridge connecting Brooklyn to Staten Island had only recently been opened….and so the Island still had some country/rural areas on it. Harbor View Place was lovely.

In front of Mimi’s house next door to the cottage we rented.

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Through Mimi I met Marie Mulligan and family. Marie became not just a friend but a wonderful babysitter for Jarrod when I began working on Wall Street. We continued to be friends until her death a few years ago.

One of Jarrod’ birthday parties with Marie and the Mulligan children….

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Funny how life is because only a year before we had arrived in New York Harbor on the United States liner….We came under the Verrazano Bridge and would have passed right by Harbor View on our way to docking on Manhattan. At that time, Jarrod was just a seed in my belly:)

On my next post I will talk about how I came to work on a trading desk on Wall Street.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE USA – JANUARY 1966

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I might as well have landed on the moon. Everything was totally alien to me. From the brightly coloured cars and billboards to people whose accents I couldn’t understand, and so much noise. – policemen with guns……!

Unbeknownst to me at the time I was pregnant…which I put down to the five days of sea sickness. When we stopped in Virginia I asked the lady behind the counter for some orange squash – we both looked blankly at one another………..she pointed to some dark coloured liquid which I accepted because there was nothing else..only to find that it was sickly sweet…..apparently grape juice!

I quickly learned that the US was big….no quaint villages with pubs….just endless roads. The bus ride to Miami took about 28 hours.

Probably the thing that struck me the most was the segregation which was very obvious. As a white English couple we were warmly received but I was aware that black people were treated very differently.

My husband’s uncle picked us up at the Miami bus station….and then the long drive to Key West and my first experience of a Howard Johnsons with its zillions of flavours of ice cream! 🙂 .

I remember the first thing upon arrival at the cousin’s home was a colour TV and the Johnny Carson show ….all knew to me.

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Of course this was years before digital cameras….and so I have very few pictures from this time….I chose this hummingbird watercolour to illustrate the further south we drove colours changed from winter to endless summer.

I was to learn that in the United States one could experience all four seasons at any given time of the year along with the amazing geography of the place.

Jarrod was born on 10th September 1966 at the brand new Holy Cross Hospital in Ft. Lauderdale.

My next post will be about moving to New York….

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y very poor.

EIGHTY YEARS OLD THIS MONTH……

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This photograph was taken in 1964 when I was eighteen years old. I am with art school friends Maureen and Patrick. We are standing in front of what was then the Commonwealth Institute – now the Design Museum in Kensington, London.

Those were wonderful days in the UK/Europe – days that felt like they would never end. Life was exciting and anything seemed possible.

One of my favourite expressions is that ‘None of us is ever creative enough to know how things will actually work out’ I had no idea when this picture was taken where life would take me…..and for the most part that was good.

In January 28th 1966, having married possibly my parent’s worst nightmare, I set sail for the United States for what was to be a two year visit. My husband had family in the States and he wanted to spend time there…..two years seemed doable.

And so off we went……

We sailed on the United States Liner….on what turned out to be a very rough crossing. ………. Upon arrival in New York we took a Greyhound bus to Miami Florida…where we were picked up by my husband’s uncle ..who drove us to what was then the active Marine Base on Key West. My husband’s cousin was a captain on the marine base and his wife was involved with helping Cuban refugees. Because of this we became involved….handing out clothing etc. to Cubans arriving on small boats. Fascinating times.

Meanwhile I found out that I was pregnant…remember these were the days before birth control pills and pregnancy tests…!

And so Voila – my beautiful son Jarrod was born in the brand new Holy Cross Hospital in Ft. Lauderdale.

Here we are…Me with my new born baby Jarrod who would have been just a couple of months old when this was taken in a photo booth on Los Olas Blvd. Ft. Lauderdale.

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Jarrod who is a musician will be 60 on September 10th this year……

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And so now here I am approaching my 80th birthday……My goodness it has flown by…..

Here my son Jarrod is playing music for me while I sketch him….. this picture was taken about four years ago when I was visiting Jarrod and his partner Kendle in the States. .

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TIME TO BREATH AND TAKE STOCK

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I took this photograph in a beautiful place on the borders of France and Italy……It was very quiet, except for the sounds of nature…..my kind of place.

It is now time to recover from what has been a very long holiday period. I feel as if we have been celebrating Christmas etc. for months!:).

I am now in lock down mode…..using this time between Christmas and new years to get my house in order..so that I may begin the. new year with physical and emotional vitality.

A watercolour sketch from Wales……

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I would like to wish all of my friends wherever you are good health and a very creative new year ahead.

I will be back with regular posts after the new year.

Best wishes to one and all. Janet.

SPENDING TIME WITH THE LITTLE ONES…..

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Yesterday it was my great pleasure to spend time with ‘Little Ones’. I live very close to an amazing community Hubb….‘THE INSPIRED HUBB’ in Hampton. http://theinspiredhub.co.uk A place I love for many reasons….including the fact that it caters for ALL ages.

Unfortunately we were not able to take photographs – so this little watercolour of my friend Houda’s granddaughter represents the little ones:)

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These beautiful little children put on a fantastic Christmas play….Yesterday was their dress rehearsal. before they perform for their parents…….and weren’t we lucky. It was wonderful….and for the first time I felt the Christmas spirit.

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I hope everyone reading this is able to spend time with little ones and people of all ages during this holiday season. Think Peace and Love….

Merry Christmas to one and all……..

A Traditional English Christmas Cake Story – sustaining life and enhancing international relations…..

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I post this every year – it’s a huge reminder of how different our world is today from when I first wrote this…….

PAUL JUDGE……

spontaneous watercolour of Paul When Paul Judge and I met at a skating party in the Pocono Mountains…we immediately clicked. I was twenty four and Paul twenty one. We were both only children born in London from similar backgrounds. At that time I was still working for Sandy Lewis on the block stock trading desk…

janetweightreed10's avatar by janetweightreed10

WORKING ON WALL STREET –

Not to belabour it, but my first marriage did not work which left me aged 22 a single mother. The next time I saw Jarrod’s biological father was when Jarrod was 27 years old! Given that I needed a full time job – dear Mimi Kolff, came to the rescue. Mimi found out through her…

janetweightreed10's avatar by janetweightreed10

DRIVING TO NEW YORK IN JANUARY 1967

After one year of living in Florida we began the trip back to New York…..only this time we had dear little Jarrod….who at 3 months old was a quite a novelty in Florida. – At that time there were very a few young people with babies……..Florida was made up mostly 0f retirees (snow birds) from…

janetweightreed10's avatar by janetweightreed10

CHRISTEVE THE CAT FINDS HER HOME…..

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It’s that time of the year….when I tell an abbreviated version of how Christeve the Cat finds her home with Janet the Artist in the Magical Town of Crickadoon.

Sitting between mountains and watched by the moon, with hummingbirds weaving their love……..this story is told in the Magical Town of Crickadoon…..

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At this time Christeve the Cat was lost and alone searching for a home of her own……

she spent most of her time sitting in a tree where she could see a lovely little cottage which looked as warm as can be…..

When she looked in the other direction she could see the golden warm lights from the Magical Town of Crickadoon….

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The little cat was unaware that special energy from magical hummingbirds was surrounding and guiding her and keeping her safe.

During the long dark nights every little noise gave her a fright – and sometimes she cried. …..but something inside of her always knew that there was nothing to fear….and that help was always near.

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One morning after a snow fall the Little Cat felt so cold and alone……

Would she ever find a home of her own?

One things for sure she would never give up……and then from seemingly nowhere…

an angel appeared beneath her tree…..The Angel said ‘follow me’

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And there was the cottage glowing with warmth and light……

Janet the Artist was waiting with outstretched arms…….

At last Christeve had a home of her own.

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Janet the Artist named the little cat CHRISTEVE because she arrived at her new home on a very special Christmas Eve…..

MODELS COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES…..

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On one occasion my scheduled model arrived at the studio with her very young baby…She asked if she could model with the baby….I jumped at the opportunity which turned out to be the first of many sittings.

One of many sittings with my very young model…

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I have loved working with many different models over the years. each one gives me so much. This little girl would be in her mid to late twenties now and I think living somewhere in the Pacific.

One of many watercolour sketches….

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It was lovely to paint mother and child together….Given that the studio was very warm…baby slept peacefully….

watercolour of mother and child….

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Most images were watercolour – but quitea few were a mix of watercolour /gouache…. After a few visits the baby became used to being in the studio.

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I did of course sketch and paint my own children many times……for now a photograph of Jarrod (soon to be sixty) holding Christie (now fifty-one). with Tom Kitten next to them……

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A reminder of how quickly time moves by……..