My recent blog posts have all included personal anecdotes; at the risk of over-sharing, this one is going to top them all. This Friday a charity auction and raffle is being held in London to raise funds for my friend Natasha Laflin. A hugely talented craftsperson, Natasha’s life (and those of her family and friends) took a sudden shift 4 years ago when she had a massive brain haemmorhage. Initially admitted to hospital in Paddington and then to the Royal Neurological Hospital, Natasha’s prognosis was pretty grim. It has since got much better. She was moved to the National Hospital for Neurological Disability (where she staunchly suffered the indignity of being sung to by the Great Western Singers – I apologise, we were on less than good form that day!) and from then to two successive rehabilitation homes. The past 4 years have been far from easy, or indeed smooth. Natasha’s health has improved and then regressed again on a number of occasions but, following the withdrawal of one of her drugs she has moved on massively and consistently. Her family and friends now believe that the best place for Natasha’s further care is back at her home and that . . . good reader . . . is the reason for the raffle/auction.
Natasha has always been a community person. Great Western Studios was one of the communities that she played a huge part in – often by means of being the first person at the café in the morning (peanut butter on toasted bagel from memory) – and by valuing the friendship and support of her fellows artists and craftspeople and repaying that friendship and support similarly.
I have three pieces of Natasha’s work at home. The watch seller was a commission for Alex – her research was impeccable – Alex can name the make and model of the millimetre high watches. The rabbit was a gift – my first semi-house rabbit had his own cushion and was treated royally. Alex bought Amor Perdido from Tash at an Open Studios. Natasha’s artistic output is seeing light again. An exhibition of the works in the auction has already been installed at the new Great Western Studios by her partner Sid and Tash tweeted on Monday that she was going to see it on Tuesday and with typical self-abasement that she was worried about seeing her own work.
The raffle and auction (which is being taken by Anne Robinson – her of the telly) includes some great lots and some great prizes (the odds on the raffle are pretty good as well). If you fancy your luck, or indeed fancy contributing to the appeal to get Natasha back living amongst her community, family and friends then the website for all of this can point you in the direction of doing so.
