Fetcheveryone Member of the Month

pedroscalls asks: Congratulations on the MoTM win, my question is if time and money was no object what race or route would you love to do?

phal says: Thank you very much. I believe I have a 'date' with RooA, Rosehip, KinkyS and the Cape Wrath Ultra at some point when one of us wins the lottery.....

Actually, the event/challenge I would really like to do doesn't have an entry fee or a limited amount of places as a barrier, but my own fitness and relying on the kindness of people to come and help out - I've been fortunate to be involved with a couple of BGRs on the supporting end in the past (the first one being Dave A's (the hubby if there is anyone left in the fetchiverse that doesn't know that we are married!!!) successful completion on Leg 5 back in 2011 and I fell in love with the BGR there and then) , and if I could get my proper hill fitness back and my body could cope with the time on feet and stresses of the event as it’s a pretty gnarly one - and I am under no illusion that I am anywhere near it yet (it's 11 years since I was last out supporting on a dear fetchie's first attempt) - then that would be my choice. No hesitation. It's such a life affirming and wonderous challenge that just brings folk together and makes sound friendships

Mushroom asks: Congratulations. What particular sporting event or person has inspired you to put on some trainers and have a go?

phal says: Thank you, Mushroom.

Blimey - this is going to be cheesy, but I am most constantly inspired by reading stuff on fetch.... RooA's return to running was a big inspiration to me to get my trainers back on after a long time out where my head and body just couldn't cope with doing the running thing. KinkyS and Flanker consistently inspire me with their grit and determination - it's all their fault I decided to give Ultra running a go years ago Kinks and project SP were a huge part of me feeling that I can *actually* maybe do this again. Velociraptor, NSC, Northern Exile and his comeback after the 'fecking tick incident' - there's so many others I have missed.... Elsie Too and her return post-Covid and the determination she's shown in getting back and managing her recovery.... I am more inspired by reading about what others can do who I can be in contact with as it makes it all the more accessible and do-able and that I can at least give it a go! Dave's been a major driver too as he just gives me the confidence that I'll be reet - plus he is the most committed person I know to achieving his goals. Hard work in and performance out to the best of your ability. Watching him work so hard to come back after injury is a good reminder that things *can* happen if you put the work in.
I started running again as an adult (I did use to track run with the local club as a junior plus cross country and stuff, but then stopped that to start playing water polo, which I did for years….) because my ex-housemate from Uni ended up being RD for the first Coventry Half back in 2005…. I bumped into her in the swimming pool, had a chat and she persuaded me to sign up…. Then I found RW…. And then fetch, thanks to flanker! 😀 And then the Lakeland Trails…. And the rest as they say….. 🤪

RRR-CAZ 🇬🇧 asks: Well won
My question is if you were offered golden tickets to any sporting event what would you choose watch

phal says: Thank you RRR-CAZ.

Easy - I'd have a season ticket for England Cricket - all matches across all formats - women and men. I'd make sure there was a +3 as well, as I know a couple of folk who'd probably quite like to come along for the ride.

I'd choose an Ashes year too (and as it's a proper golden ticket all travel and accommodation would be thrown in too )

#gowell

GimmeMedals asks: Congratulations and about time! You are such a talented artist and our picture of Jess still wows us every day. Where is your favourite place to draw? (You can interpret this how you like as I can see it has multi-meanings).

phal says: Thank you, lovely. Jess was an absolute pleasure to draw, and I am so pleased it brings you joy xxx

I draw in the little bedroom at home on the desk that I had at my parent's house as it's the right size to fit under the window in the box room. This is my favourite place to draw as it's such a peaceful and contented space (so long as the neighbours are being quiet).... I can travel to anywhere in that little room, depending on what I'm drawing (or carving for linocut), and it's just a nice (but chaotic, messy and tiny) space. I have some prints on the wall - some of mine, some by other more established artists, and also a print by someone who came on one of my workshops, fell in love with printmaking, and then ended up selling her work too. I commissioned the print in pink and yellow as they are my happy colours

Pothunter asks: Congrats! What would you have for your death row meal? Starter, main, dessert and something to wash it down.

phal says: Thank you! You know, this is the question I think I've pondered the most.... basically because I'm not sure. It all depends how I'd feel on the day and what I'd like..... today I'd go with.....

Starter: a massive tub of humous, carrot sticks and a big bag of crisps.

Main: Jacket potato with tuna fish (plus a knob of butter to mash in my tatty), a nice big salad including avocado and gerkins and some salad cream, (But NO ROCKET. Rocket is the food of the devil) Iceberg lettuce, baby plum tomatoes and a bit of red pepper'd do. Nowt too fancy

Pudding: Something with ginger and rhubarb I think. Maybe a panacotta? Or maybe ice cream with cooked rhubarb (from my garden) and a bit of ginger syrup. Oooo or mum’s lemon merengue pie because it is Amazingly Excellent.

To wash it down: Fizz (champers to be precise - I'll be fancy at this point) and then a nice cup of tea at the end and a slab of dark chocolate with nuts in.

westmoors asks: Congratulations. If you could meet anyone, past or present, who would it be and why?

phal says: Thank you, Westmoors. I think I'd go for Grayson Perry. I quite like his outlook on life and have really enjoyed the different documentaries he's done on society and different groups within it, as well as about passages/stages of life. His social commentary is great, and he always asks really good, challenging, questions of folk too while staying empathetic to them. Plus he'll ask a really great question of someone who is a bit of a nob which is phrased in such a way that they realise that what they've just said to him is a pile of rubbish. I'm also a massive fan of his tapestries (that sounds dodge!) and I just think he'd be fun to have a chat to and just find out more about what makes him tick. What would be really great is if we could spend a day working on an art project together - that would be the bee's knees His books about his life and growing up and masculinity and the art world are good reads.

Dave A asks: Cookie and Phoebe want to know:
Can we have Scoops please?

phal says: Cooks and Phoo can of course have Scoops, as they have been good hounds. However, if the doggy ice cream van is playing music, it means the ice cream has run out.

You are the provider of Scoops, surely? Two days in a row in Coniston, if I remember correctly, one summer

Ness asks: Congratulations on your MOTM win. I've seen some of your beautiful sketches and printing projects. What would be the subject for your perfect 'next project' for sketching or printing if you could go anywhere in the world to complete it?

phal says: Thank you, Ness. And thank you, that's really kind of you. I'm never sure about what I'm going to make as my next subject for a print or drawing. They tend to just pop into my head as an idea, or I'll see something - bit like the Dodo. I don't try to do things that other people have done as I need to have to have a connection with what I'm making, and I don't 'make to sell' I make it because it makes me happy. If other folk like them too, then that's marvellous. You need to put a bit of your soul into it to make it work. I tend to spend a long time thinking about the print and visualising stuff and working out the process as they can sometimes be a bit tricky, and then just go for it. I'm currently working on prints that have sent me in a bit of a different direction to when I first started off making; currently I've been working on some landscapes mainly from things I saw when we went to Scotland on holiday last September.

I'm trying to work out, still, how I want to print mountains. Then I'd be in a little studio somewhere in a quiet bit of the Lakes with a big window and a log fire and then travel round to lots of different mountain places around the world and just make Lots of prints of mountains. We had a great view of Great Gable from the tent the other weekend - at some point I'll make it into a print..... But the Lakes. It'd be a grand place to start.