Although I have put some photos into the computer, something appear amiss and I'm not sure if I can download them into the blog. Well here goes
At least I'm stilll in the same month! Life has been a bit hectic at the moment. Meryel and I had an exhibition at the Monkton Gallery for 10 days. We both managed to sell 4 paintings each. Not sure whether we will use them again.
Life at home has been absolutely chaotic because we are having the shower room removated. What started as OK has ended up very stressful. Not sure when it will finish. However it meant that last week we were living on the boat. Although the work has not finished, we found it too difficult to live on the boat so were coming back home for the evenings. But as the bathroom fitter is fitting the work around his other jobs, they only appear here every other day. Conclusion is that we stay here until they turn up, then go down to the boat.
We have also not been sailing. Weather hasn't been too special. However, Perry is managing to get out on his bike.
The Monday plein air painting has been good. Expecially this Monday when we went to Yaverland. Doing more oil painting. Photos to follow later. I have joined Isle of Wight Arts and am working (with Perry) on a website. Things to follow on that later.
Oh dear. Looks as though I've been a bit neglectful again! I've now got to think of things we've done. Must make a note in the diary to try and blog each week, or at least every other week.
We've had a few day sails and we had a long weekend in Lymington for our 50th wedding anniversary. That was good. Managed to meet up with some sailing friends as well.
Ive been doing quite a lot of outdoor painting, even though the weather was not always very kind to me.
Henry is fine. Think we must try and get him to the groomers soon.
Shower room is going to be ripped apart on Monday so we are going to have to live on the boat for a week. Should be interesting.
Meryel and I have had an exhibition at the Monkton gallery in Ryde. I managed to sell four paintings on the private viewing. Amazing. We still have another week to run. In the mean time we're looking for other venues for next year.
As things became a bit busy I decided not to publish anything for a while. I completed all the Tuesday winter outdoor painting. Great fun and look forward to the next session starting October. As it finished we went to the mainland to see the family. I stayed with Daniel and Perry went off for a couple of days to see Ann in Lincolnshire. My stay involved going to Burford on the bus and Blenheim Palace on the bus. Great.
Then we went on holiday for 6 weeks. East Cowes to Yarmouth where we spent a couple of days, then on to Portland where we had five days. As soon as all was well we left for Dartmouth following inshore passage around Portland Bill. A week in Dartmouth where we met Dick and Judith then on to Salcombe, where we spent 10 days. Great. Henry got the hang of getting on and off the dinghy very quickly. Better than I did. We only had one misshap when we had strong winds for 36 hours. Dingy (attached to Bloto) was upturned with outboard attached. Took a bit of a struggle to get things in order but we managed it. Only to discover that we had lost an oar. However, when Perry took Henry ashore for his morning pee, a chappy had found the oar and gave it to Perry.
It was lovely in Salcome, especially as we hadn't been there for about 30 odd years, when Daniel was a little chap.
After that, went back to Dartmouth, where we stayed for just over 2 weeks, mainly due to weather. Dick and Judith also came back to Dartmouth. Then finally moved back to Portland - for 5 days. Very hot. Came straight back through Needles not stopping at Yarmouth this time. Trip took 8 and a half hours, motorsailed all the way. Unfortunately en route discovered a problem with the calorifier. Sprung a leak. Dumped the water.
New calorifier is on order. Weather is incredibly hot at the moment, so we won't be going anywhere for a few days, but when it is slightly cooler we will go back out and play in the Solent. Henry was really good on the boat. Seemed to just take it in his stride. That has made it so much easier for planning any longer trips. I did take a few photos but there all a bit the same, just of shorelines! Howver, I did manage to do a watercolour sketch almost every day. Most are a bit rubbishy, but at least I did it.
Will try very hard to get back into a fairly regular post. These last couple of years have not been too easy. Which is probably the case for everyone.
Take care.
Not a lot has been happening. Weather hasn't been condusive to doing a lot although I have been continuing to sketch outside with the group on Tuesdays. It has been pretty cold though, so sometimes quite a challenge.
We haven't been out on boat, but Perry has been continuing to do maintenance work. Won't be long before we can go out.
Finished oil painting workshop. Bit disappointed. Not very motivating, although the group was nice.
Finally got approval from DVLA so we can get number plates for the van and start using it again.
Hopefully weather will start to improve soon and we can start coming out of hibernation (or what appears to be!). I am sure Henry will enjoy getting out into the sunshine just as we will.
Been a bit slow putting stuff on the blog. We've had Christmas and New Year and hot and cold weather. We went to mainland after Christmas to see the family, which was fun. The rest of the time we stayed home or went down to the boat.
Painted at Newtown and the Needles, for both we had pretty grim weather.
For some reason can't upload the other pictures. Will have to check it out.
We've also taken Henry to the beach at Yaverland and he loved it. Gamboled all over the place. Will have to investigate the pictures for that as well.
Got a nasty cold at the moment. Fortunately not the dreaded plague! Take care.
