And again...late getting the news out! What a hopeless blogger I am. It's just because since we've been back we seem to be busy all the time.  Well, here's catch up.  I have finished the outdoor painting with the Isle of Wight Art Group and my last painting with them was at Wolverton Manor.  What a place!

Wolverton Manor.

Hope this depicts what a lovely place it was.  It was a bit cold painting, but at least it didn't rain.

I also finished a painting of steps in which I experimented with some ideas I have had for a while. I think it worked.

Study of Steps

Also I attended a course hopefully to improve my oil knife painting.  And the following is of hay bales (photo taken in France).  Tutor felt it was a bit controlled and I should have been much looser with the knife.  I did another painting, much smaller, but I felt it was too messy.  Must try harder.

Hay bales

We have also been sailing.  Not too far, taking advantage of the relatively light winds, but mainly to get Bertie used to the boat.  He certainly seems to be getting the hang of it now and he and Perry often "pop" down to see if it's OK.  He's really nifty at jumping on and off as well.

A posing skipper

After a couple of hours sailing, this boy is really really hungry.

Just cannot concentrate.  Must eat, now!

Weather forecast for the next week is absolutely grim, so it doesn't look as though we will be out again on the boat.

Yet again I have been remiss in updating the blog, but hopefully all will now be sorted.

It has been very hectic since we've been back and today is our 42nd Wedding Anniversary - amazing!

Latest news is as follows:

First Tuesday we were back, after yoga, I painted with the Isle of Wight Art Group at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. Weather a bit fresh, and sun intermittent, but I did manage something....

Managed to paint a couple of "squibs" before they moved them.  A regatta was being held at the weekend.

Osborne House - Following Tuesday's painting.  Again sun made an appearance later in the morning.

Mottistone Manor Gardens - Yesterday we decided to go for a picnic.  Fabulous place.  Bertie had a really good run around.  Lovely colours, and very, very warm.  Think we'll come back here for another visit before we get into winter.

Today's picture. Lakeside country club at Wootton.  Again a little overcast first thing, sun only appeared about half an hour before I finished.  We are starting to get a touch of autumn colours.  Should be great in a couple of weeks.

And of course one of the very important event.  On Sunday Perry cycled round the Island.  (He said he was only going to do half, but I knew he would do the lot).  He managed to get a medal (I should think so too), which he let Bertie wear for the rest of the evening.

Should is still uncomfortable, but I will be going for physio soon.  As today is our wedding anniversary I suppose I had better rush off into the kitchen now and make a bit attempt at making something edible.

Saturday 23rd august - Combourg. Weather still unsettled. As usual I listened to someone else's suggestion and ended up painting something I had no enthusiasm for!

Sunday - Bazouges la Perouze - really don't like this place. Weather again unsettled,but at least I think this turned out to be the best picture I've done this summer - and of course it's the last one for me!
 Saw a programme on dog behaviour, so now Bertie is having training lessons. However he prefers foraging for blackberries.

We are now in our last week here and beginning to get things ready for the return. Have to get van ready for its winter rest home.
 Frozen shoulder is still frozen. Had dinner with Mike and Fay yesterday. Great, but over ate again. Guess what - forecast is for good weather!

 Bazouges la Perouze

 Combourg

Thursday 14th August - left for St Benoit des Ondes where we had superb mussels and chips. Unfortunately after that the heavens opened! Went to Jugon les Lacs where it was still raining hard.
Friday painting - ok, but overcast in morning,then started raining again.

Bit wishy washy but never mind. Decided not to go on to Quintin and moved to a nice aire near Pleslan.
Saturday lunch at Hirel  via Lidl at St Malo. Then headed home - no rain, typical.
Sunday to wednesday, showery.
Saw a programme on fat dogs, so now Bertie is on a diet. Also saw Pamela, who is here fir a quick visit. Pleased.

Today I am just trying out our World SIM wifi rather than using Mike's internet.
Just for interest sake, of the 20 or so books I have read this holiday,my favourites are
Diary of a provincial lady
A short history of nearly everything
Wolf hall
The Rosie project

August

Back from England - met a couple of nice American ladies on the ferry.  They were undertaking quite a trip - best of luck girls!

Perry met me off ferry and we went home. Left on Saturday morning for Lanvellec.  Sign on was at a chateau - incredibly impressive. However, day started off a bit damp - what's new!

How lovely is this.

 

Here's my version.

A week later, we are in Elven.  However it rained all day!

Sunday, St Nicholas des Eaux.  Unfortunately I am getting a bit bored of going to places we have been to before and also painting in the rain! Have to start think of something else. 

Dol de Bretagne

Well I have been pretty naughty and got really fed up painting in the rain.  Although we arrived at Dol in reasonable weather, it rained all Saturday night right through until Sunday afternoon.  You can see my attempt, a bit wishywashy, but at least it is something.  Decided not to go to next venue because of the unsettled weather.

 

.We moved to Hirel for the night, which was OK,and then Monday went to St Jacut de la Mer.  Again unsettled, but at least we got to mess about on the shore line.  Couple of nights here, then I decided the weather was still so unsettled that I was not going to do the next weekends painting.  Went back to Hirel and messed about again.  Decided to explore a little of the Normandie coast went up to St Jean le Thomas.  Absolutely fabulous.  Enormous sweeping bay , the bottom of which houses Mont St Michel.  When the tide went out I am sure you could walk to Jersey.  However,  in the evening a young man from the council came to warn all of us in our motorhomes that storms were forecast (including us) for 31 departments of France and we had better prepare accordingly. 

It turns out it was the storm that never came, although I understand it was pretty dramatic  in the UK.  It was incredibly hot, but no thunder and lightening and only a moderate amount of rain.  Unfortunately it did mean that Saturday morning was again grey and very sultry, so we decided to go home.  Stopped at St Hilaire du Harcouet for some shopping and the heavens opened up - I can't remember ever seeing that much rain in such a short time! 

I left for England on Tuesday, and arrived to what appears to be a heatwave, and so far it just hasn't let up.  It is so hot! I'll be leaving here tomorrow (Friday) and we will be off to a painting venue in Finistere on Saturday.

We are back at La Pelouiniere, weather a bit unsettled, more rain than the UK!

After staying at campsite we moved on to visit Cap Sizun in general.  Managed to get in some  "wild camping" as well.  Fantastic views, just like Cornwall.

Yes, it really did look like this!

Right way up would have been a bit better

Steep walk  to this harbour, and boats are launched via a lift!

Stand up straight girl!

Pointe du Raz

Super

After this wonderful weather we went to Loctudy.  Arrived on the Friday - lovely weather, good subjects.  However, Saturday it started to rain.    Unfortunately it continued all day!

This is me painting in the rain....how I hate painting in the rain!

Managed to produce something (under a polythene bag!), and was a runner up.  Decided to not do Sunday's painting, because it was still raining.

 

Went back home but started to get ready for next weekend.  Left on the Friday and stayed in one of our favourite places

Me

St Jacut de la Mer - lovely

Again - how lovely

However, I did manage to paint something.  The villas on the sea defences.  Very windy, damp and difficult to paint! What's new! I won first prize - amazing!

Saturday, left for Pleneuf val Andre.  Unfortunately, guess what, it rained, and rained, and rained.  Sunday didn't look too good, so I thought I might abandon.

Well it's Tuesday 24th June and a fair chunk has happened in the last couple of weeks.  Painting at Erquy.  The day started off fresh, but then got very hot.  As it was a bit grey to start with it was a bit difficult to imagine lots of colour - the brightness didn't happen until about 2.00, which is only an hour before submission time!

A bit wishy-washy, but as my arm ached quite a lot, I wasn't totally displeased.  Foreground should  have been left out completely!

 

The following weekend we decided to stay at home in preparation for my trip back to the Isle of Wight.  It turns out that this was a good idea, because the painting competition down in the Morbihan turned out to have had some problems!

Went back to East Cowes on the Tuesday, caught early morning ferry.  Weather was absolutely fabulous.  Had a lovely time.  Dr's appointment on the Friday confirmed what I thought. The tendonitis has now changed and become Frozen shoulder.  Not only is this a pain (!), but could last anywhere between 1 and 3 years - not a happy bunny at all, looks as though I have to keep up the exercises!  At least I was given some strong pain killers so I can at least sleep at night! After Dr's appointment straight back on IoW ferry then over to Portsmouth to pick up Brittany  Ferries afternoon sailing.  Perry met me with the van and we drove down to Ducey where we parked for  the night. Saturday left about 9.00 onwards to Pont Croix, Finistere.

Loads of the chums were there, had lots of laughs.  Although very hot, Bertie sat on my feet most of the time I was painting. Again should have left out the foreground.  However, I did get a runner up, so didn't feel too grumpy.

Pont Croix

 Sunday night we moved on to Plogoff (just up the road) and then on Monday moved on to have lunch at the nature reserve at Cap Sizun. In the afternoon moved on to a campsite to take advantage of their Wifi and internet connection.  The campsite is Pors Peron, Beuzec-Cap-Sizun. It is absolutely fabulous here.  I don't think we have ever stayed in such a clean campsite! They even have "glamping" here!  Exclusive beach and great walks.

Bertie and I wandering on the cliff edge  Tuesday afternoon.

Bertie and I want for an early morning walk on Wednesday as it is  a bit too hot for walking in the main part of the day.  Fabulous views.  Perry went for a long bike ride and got too hot!  Will be moving on to another part of the coastline tomorrow.

Well, another weekend and two more paintings.  Again, weather was awful - painting in the mist!

Chateaugiron - started off drizzle, not the best to paint in!  Sunny in afternoon.

When we got back, Perry worked on getting the barn/workshop finished to that we can put the van in for the winter. 

Becherel - again started off drizzle/ This time I decided to make it more colourful, because the whole time we were there it was grey!

 

Well, weather finally turned hot for a few days.....at least for the weekend! Tendonitis is still a problem, but carried on painting.

Saturday was Pleslin le  Petit - not the most inspiring place in the world, so I ended up painting the salle!

not the best - still never mind.  Next day was Plougras.  Lots of interesting things there, managed to park almost at the church.

Best one I've done so far  - even managed to get runner up! In the mean time, have a look at what my boys got up to....

Can't leave them alone for a minute!  Thanks Mike and Fay for letting me use your wifi to type this up.

 OK so  we are now in France and thanks to Mike  and Fay we are attached to their wifi. Thanks guys, much appreciated.
Tendonitis still bad and have made an appointment in UK to have a repeat injection!
Well I have now done three competitions with Colours of Brittany - boy should I have practiced in-  the winter! First one was Plouer sur Rance, weather was absolutely awful, easel blew down a couple of times (obviously butter side down),   wind blew and it was cold.  I had forgotten how much of a challenge it is to paint outside!

Plouer sur Rance

it

Vertou - rained virtually ALL day.  I was totally soaked.  However, we all received a bottle of wine for  participating.  Also sampled Perles de Murmure absolutely lovely, must try that again.

St Fiacre - rain, wind, hail and sun!  Naff picture, but at least marginally better than the other two. Good to meet up with chums again.

   

Well, this is it.  Almost finished up here on the Island, and we're off back to France on Tuesday.  Although we've been busy for the last couple of months following our trip back from Spain and Portugal, nothing really exciting has happened.  Bertie managed to get a cut on the side of his eye - cost £200! I have been suffering for the last 10 weeks with tendonitis, and finally got the injection yesterday - hopefully all will now improve.  I've only been out on the boat a couple of times, but no real sailing.  However, Perry has been out a few times.  I also exhibited some paintings at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club.  Nice exhibition, but didn't manage to sell anything. Went to a talk last night on Robert Hooke.  Weather is absolutely superb today, let's hope it stays that way.

I will hopefully update the blog every fortnight, but as we no longer have internet in France, I will have to ask Mike very kindly if I can send via his place. 

Painting starts next Thursday................... I wish I had done some practice!

Well we're back on the Island after having had quite an adventure for the last 4 weeks! Even the departure went wrong - the VW van wouldn't start so we had to transfer everything, very rapidly, to our tiny C3 - then off we went.  Arrived at La Pelouiniere on 29th to discover that out outbuilding had been damaged - lots of running about to get it sorted, i.e. insurance cover, estimate and then the work.  Next problem was that the Hymer failed its controle technique (MOT)! Fortunately we were given a few weeks grace, which meant we could go on our trip.

Left La Pelouiniere on 1st February and head to a place south of Niort.  Unfortunately due to poor programming of our GPS came off the motorway too early and ended up doing more than an hour on very small roads.  Arrived at St Jean d'Angeny in the dark!  Area was flooded in places, but generally parking was OK.  Next stop Biarritz.  There had been a storm there and we saw some pretty impressive waves!  Went off nice and early on the Monday, only to be hit by ferocious winds while trying to head to Bilbao.  As most of the motorways in Northern Spain cut along the edge of the mountains along viaducts, we were getting blown about all over the place - very dangerous.  Came off the motorway and rested for two and a half hours.  Then off again (fractionally calmer) along the North Coast then eventually hung a left and went down to Leon.  To get there had to go through rain, wind, snow and mountains!  Leon is on the plateau which seems to extend across most of Spain.  Very, very modern city, but had a very cold night.  Ice on the windscreen!  Next stop Palencia - a nature reserve in the middle of nowhere!  Again wet and windy.  Then on down to Il Rocio which is a holiday town just for horse riders - no cars!  Again wet and windy.  Then finally on to Portugal.

Met up with Annie and Martin at Aqualand and followed them to their villa.  Very nice.  Every day was spent out and about and saw some interesting place. I know I'll get most of the place names wrong, but I'm sure I'll get a message correcting them! this is only a sample of the photos we took - hope whoever reads this (besides Perry), likes them

round the corner from Annie and Martin's villa.  Looks sunny doesn't it? Actually is was in between rain showers.  Quite dramatic though!

Storks were Everywhere!  I kid you not!

I think this places is Silves, very nice.  We had Chicken Piri Piri for lunch - yum yum

How pretty is this then? Very colourful

Went up a mountain - unfortunately it was not a clear day so we couldn't see the Atlantic Ocean.  However, Annie managed to construct this (cc's welcome).

Colourful sardine fishing boats - think I might try and paint this.

Orange and lemon trees everywhere - except when I wanted to take a photo of one! Best I could do on the day.

Yes, the sun did shine in between the showers (hence the coats), but the wind was a bit fresh. Sitting outside even in February.

This building was actually tiled in green tiles! Saves repainting every year.

Churches like this were everywhere.  Much smaller than I imagined they would be.

Henri the Navigator - responsible for Vasgo de Gama and others!

The church in Alver - how pretty is that! Even in what appeared to be a poor village, There was a nice bright church.

My favourite picture - here we are eating sardines.  What a fabulous meal!  Really, really yummy. And the sun shone on us (while we were in the restaurant).

 

Now the return journey - initially took the same route - through Il Rocio, Placencia, but then up through Valedolid.  Could see the mountains looming ominously in the distance.

overnighted in Aguila de Campoo.  Not a very touristy place, but very popular with the Spanish.  Very old town centre, church, abbey etc.  However, closed for lunch for 3 hours!  Rained a lot.  Woke up Friday morning to a storm.  Decided we couldn't start out at that point.  Waited till late morning, then off to Biarritz again.

Biarritz after the storm (same storm as hit UK).  Very difficult to take picture to give true impression of the enormity of the waves.  Absolutely jaw dropping!.

 Incredibly mild at Biarritz - even down to jumpers (no coats) for the first time for weeks.  Set off next morning to Mervent (nice place) on a level with Poitiers.  Noticed lots of fields and rivers flooded en route.  Sunday left for La Pelouiniere - noticed even more flooding!

Well, got home safely after nearly 4500 kms.  The van passed it's controle technique (put in very expensive fuel) and then the telly blew up! What a trip.  Had a really good time, shame about the weather.  Still you can't have everything. We're now back on the Island.  Perry's been down to check the boat.  Fortunately no damage.  Bertie has not moved from his bed and I think never wants to travel anywhere every again!