Look at this, I'm late again.  However, it has been Christmas, which is now over.  Very calm and gentle here, except for the cold.  And boy has it been cold.  Managed to get in a couple of days swimming last week, but can't go again until tomorrow because the pool is closed.

Also managed to do some odd bits of painting

 

Just realised, if I actually label the photos, it's so much easier than searching at random for them! I'll add that to my list of things I've learnt today.

I have done more than those two, but they are the ones I have uploaded to the art group I have joined.  It does include doing both oil and watercolour live with the instructor.  Very fast, but quite satisfying. Quite often I repeat the painting a couple of days later in much calmer conditions!

We have decided to spend a week in the Cotswolds in February.  Hopefully we will be able to see a bit more of the family than just a couple of hours every six months.  We're booked up and the cottage takes two dogs, which is fortunate otherwise we'd have to leave them behind, and I don't think they'd like that.

I have been continuing with my sewing, slowly but steadily, and it is definitely getting better.  I don't really want to spend too many hours on it, although it is tempting, because I do have other things to do like painting, swimming, dog walking etc. and like any hobby/pastime,  it could easily take over quite quickly.

Well I think that's it for this year.  If anybody besides Perry reads this, have a really happy and great New Year 2026. 

 As  usual I'm  a bit behind! Was hoping to put a couple of pictures up, but in fact what I've done really isn't that good. I've not been too enthusiastic about painting outdoors, mainly because it's cold, wet and windy, but also because I just don't feel to keen about it.

I've done a few bits of painting indoors, but I think as winter starts to drag its heels, it all gets a bit like hard work.

I have continued with my sewing, with minor successes.  I still should work harder to make the stuff a bit better.

We had last sunday with Daniel and the family.  We were not with them that long because it was only a day trip, and we still ended up having to drive in the dark!  However, we have booked a week at an air b and b, for February.  So that is something to look forward to.

Swimming is still ok.  Regularly doing 40 lengths a session, and three days a week. 

Today is so wet, miserable and dark, it's really difficult to do anything, except think about how long till bedtime!  

 

 Difficult week.  Managed to go swimming three times, went painting on Wednesday, but didn't achieve much.  Tuesday night went to a talk at the Island Sailing Club.  It was about the artefacts that were in Queen Victoria's bedroom at Osborne House.  Friday (fortunately the plein air painting was cancelled) was Martin's funeral.  We watched the transmission of the service from the Crematorium, it was very moving.  We felt totally stunned and upset for the rest of the afternoon.  How sad, and what a dreadful shame.  Difficult to come up with appropriate words.

Friday night I participated in the Oil Live painting session

 It was very fast, and this is the version I repeated on Sunday. Much more under control than the live session.

I did manage to make a skirt.  Old pattern and fabric from my stash.  It was ok technically, but because I didn't have enough fabric I couldn't pattern match, and to be honest, it looks a bit frumpy.  Overall, I can only award myself 6/10.  However I will keep trying.  The daft thing is, that although I am enjoying the fact I have rediscovered my sewing machine, it is helping me paint a bit better!  Work that one out!

Weather has definitely started to turn towards winter.  We've had a lot of rain and sunshine, but now it is beginning to turn cold.  Time to dig out those thermals. 

 

 Yet again, just a quick update. Weather has been a bit up and down, but then again I suppose as we approach winter, it is to be expected.  I have been continuing my swimming, and have tried increasing the lengths.  Have managed 46 about three times, but I think it would be better to drop down to 40, because I have been suffering a bit with backache.

Painting is ticking along as usual, with a live workshops each week, either oil or watercolour.  In between I try and do at least one painting.  I have done a couple of outside sessions, but as the weather is a bit dull, it is difficult to get excited.  Perhaps I should have been a little less ambitious.

The very sad news is that Martin has died.  He had been unwell for a while, so although it was not completely unexpected, it was still very sad.  We will miss him. 

 Just a quick update.  Although I feel as though I've been busy, I don't appear to have achieved much!  I did however, sustain a black eye, because I managed to lunge at the newel post at the bottom of the stairs, where I usually hang a load of stuff (bags, scraves etc), except on the day I hit my head! The whack was on the side of my head, but the bruising was around my eye.  Decided it was perhaps not a good idea to go swimming, so missed a few days.  Went back last Thursday, and managed 40 lengths.  That seems to be a good distance now, although still hard work.

Painting has been a bit on and off,  Have done a couple of live workshops in both oil and watercolour, but not overly satisfied with either of them.  There is another live oil workshop this Friday, so I'll see how it goes.

Plein air on Friday, but again not too special.  Dull and overcast and that's how my painting looked! Although it was at Osborne House, the weather really did make it a bit of a non event.

We did however go to the Island Sailing Club new members day.  It was ok, and we did manage to talk to a few people.  Although like any new members day you do feel a bit awkward.  However we did get a little snack of fish and chips, which was very nice.

As the weather is so dull and dreary it does mean there is not too much wind, and if it continues until next week, there is a chance we might go sailing, perhaps to Lymington, although  Perry doesn't want to go there again just yet! 

 My  goodness, just signed into my blog and it was like trying to get into my bank account! What  will they demand next time?

Funny week, weather very up and down, definitely getting colder and we have had a couple of really dull days.  Very depressing. I have done some pictures, but the paint alongs that I participate in, were pretty disastrous.

Anyway, I have managed to put some photos on to the computer and will show some of the things I have done:

small

 Oil on small panel

Oil on small panel.  A repeat of the one I sold at Carisbrooke Priory,

 

Another small oil on panel

 Watercolour in sketchbook

 Watercolour in sketchbook

 Watercolour in sketchbook

These are not all the paintings I have done, just a selection.

Henry and Muffin are fine.  I think they are relieved it is not as hot as previously.  However, their walks get a bit restrictive when it rains! Can't have it all ways.

Other than that I'm still keeping up the swimming and am finally feeling a bit better for it (now that I have increased the number of sessions and distance - not a lot, but enough).

So now to publish this little ramble..... 

 

 Jusr a quick update, and of course, again three weeks to catch up on.

I have been doing a lot of swimming, and I think finally it is getting a bit better.   I have also been doing a lot of oil painting, predominantly on small oil panels, which are fun.  I have done some a little larger, and obviously they take a little longer. I think I prefer the smaller ones because I can actually create a reasonable picture in an hour.

I have also been catching up a bit on watercoloour, which has been fun.

However, for the last two weeks we had our exhibition at The Carisbrooke Priory, which, as usual does take up a lot of time, and when it's over, I have to produce the accounts.  Although it was fun, this does put a spanner in the works as regards my painting and swimming, hence why everything has got a bit delayed.  Hopefully, I can now get back to a more organised week and will also start to download some of the pictures I have done. I sold a few cards and one of my small oil paintings.

I did actually go swimming yesterday afternoon, as I am very determined to improve my front crawl.  I think I did make some improvement, and today's swimming session was definitely better.

The boys are ok and now the weather isn't quite a hot, we are able to take them for slightly longer walks, although Muffin is not really up to a longer walk.

Sailing appears to have been put on hold for a little while, but again, that is something we will get round to getting back to.

Better finish here, so that I can at least publish this post.