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.