OK. Back in East Cowes again.  Last visit here was to vote in the Referendum- what exciting results!  Yet again I have a memory stick inserted in the computer, so let's see whether I can get any photos out of it about our trip.  Still no painting - well I lie.  I've done just one, and that was after our trip to Normandy.

First stop was Deauville.  Look - it's twinned with Cowes! How about that.  We also checked out the railway station that was in the Agatha Christie film.

 

 

 

Casino in Deauville -also used in films!

Next place was Honfleur where we stayed a couple of nights (and not just because it was cheap).  Lots of boats and lots of locks to check out. Very nice.

Next stop Etretat.  Yep, just like Monet's paintings.  Unfortunately weather wasn't too special, but the town was very clean and very expensive. Only one night here, then headed home again.

This is what Bertie does when we get home.  I never know how come he never falls off the sofa back!

And this is what he does in the van!  Although we set out to do a couple of painting competitions, only managed one at Malestroit, but the following day was damp (again) so decided to abandon the painting and just loaf about!  After that we moved on towards the coast.  Ended up near Roscoff -hardly anyone around. Amazing!

Near Roscoff.  White sands, very picturesque. However, decided to spend the night further inland on a campsite because we were worried about the fridge.

Had a couple of nights here at Sizun.  Awful village, but campsite was really nice, and by a river.

Think I might have a go at painting this one day!  After this we moved on up to Port Diben and had a couple of nights up there, then crawled our way home staying at Frehel (very hot) and then Hirel (also hot).  Because of fridge problems felt we must get home and get the thing sorted. Unfortunately got home to find out that Faye had just died.  We are both so shocked and really sad, she was a really super friend and we are going to miss her so much.

Well here I am back in East Cowes and getting ready for voting on Thursday.  It has been too difficult to put anything on the blog while in France, so I am hoping with the membory stick stuck in the side of the home computer that I may be able to put in some things of what we've been up to. Spent quite a bit of time getting house ready for the forthcoming sale. Then went away.  We started off by having a few days near Cap Frehel.  Cold wet and windy.  After four days it was a bit more settled.  Stayed in a place near to an inlet which completely dried when the tide went out and was just sand and mud!

Tide's out!

 Went to St Malo on the way back.  Long time since we sailed there!

Inner port where we originally stayed.  Not as appealing as it was.

Entrance to walled city.

The two boys enjoying the mild! weather.

 Went back home, got in touch with an Agent to get the sale of the house started.  Had to wait in for an Energy Assessor - who didn't turn up!  Went off again for a few days, this time to St Jean Le Thomas.  Been there before, but it's nice.  Wet and windy again!

Lots of beach huts very close to sea and in view of Mont St Michel

 Then went up to Granville - wet and windy!  Not really that exciting.

Huge tides in Granville, only every stayed there once before and didn't like it then either.

 Went home, and energy man eventually turned up. House is now officially up for sale. Decided to go away again.  However, because the weather was still cold, wet and windy, I didn't feel enthusiastic about painting. Thus so far I have done absolutely no painting at all! This time we went to St Jean sur Mayenne, between Mayenne and Laval, which means we didn't travel very far at all.  Had a couple of days there, again cold, wet and windy.  But for a couple of hours on the second days the sun came out and it was very picturesque.

Along the Mayenne river.

So not really a lot to report so far.  On the return ferry crossing the sun came out half way across, and by the time I got here it was very sunny and warm! Let's hope it stays that way from now on.

Well it's been quite busy, and I am desperately trying to keep the blog up to date.  Last Wednesday we managed to sail over to Warsash.  First sail there for absolutely ages.

Well that's Warsash sailing club.  Small changes, but food was good.

Hamble river.  As usual packed with boats.  More so that our side of the world.

Storm clouds - so decided to clear off and get home.

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday we made the decision to go off to Yarmouth for a couple of day.  As you can see Bertie takes a very active part in this decision making process and is a very helpful member of the crew.  Those ropes look quite warm.

Yes he did wake up, and decided to sit with Perry who was about to have a biscuit.

Tied up in Yarmouth, but Bertie saw another boat which has a dog on it.  Couldn't believe it!  Just stared!

Walked to Fort Victoria for a cup of tea and a cake, and where Bertie gets a free sausage.  Obviously this is his favourite cafe.

Where's my supper?

Still staring at other dogs, until rudely interupted.

 Yarmouth was pretty calm, although a bit on the chilly side, but at least we had sunshine.  Left on Tuesday midday (a little early), and the sea was a bit rolly, which meant Bertie had to make us feel really bad while he slept on his pile of ropes again!  However, as we were nearing Cowes we had to put a reef in to allow this other chap to pass.......

You can just see him, it is Ben Ainsley!  Pretty impressive stuff!

 Forgot to add the fact that I have been painting as well.  Different workshop this time, much more textural painting

I did in fact do two paintings, first one with just fingers, but this one was with fingers and sponge.  It is actually a view down the solent from Fort Victoria.

Another textural painting which I did last week, this time with fingers, sponge, paper and knife. Just in case you are not sure, it is of the Needles, again taken from Fort Victoria.

We are now in the processing of packing the boat up, because we will be off to France next week.  Still have one more painting session so hope to complete the blog before we go.

Oh dear doesn't time fly.  April passed a bit quick and here we are in May.  The exhibition went fine, but clashed with Anna's daughter's christening. Couldn't do both. Hope she understands.  Meantime we have been sailing at every opportunity.  We have visited Lymington for a weekend and Gosport for a weekend.  Finally made the bit decison that we should venture further afield and get out of the Solent, so last Monday we packed up the boat and off we went.  First stop was Yarmouth.  Following with an early start next morning.  Through Hurst narrows past Hurst Castle and then saw the Needles.  It's a bit difficult to take photos from a boat and at a distance, but hope the pictures don't appear too bad.

Having got through Hurst narrows, Hurst Castle felt awfully near.

Next viewing was the Needles.

We carried on into Poole harbour.  Had to pass chain ferry (much bigger than the Island one) then on into quite a packed waterway.  Went into Salterns Marina and stayed the night there.  Nothing going on, apart from huge, and I really mean huge, motorcruisers!  Next morning left about 1030 heading back to the Needles.  Saw Great |Harry Rocks.

Great Harry Rocks from quite a distance. 

Lovely sail from then on, although Bertie was pretty bored.

Bored Bertie

Similar to another photo done earlier - subject never changes!

Here we are sailing along

Took a photo of Needles from the other tack this side!

Now it's on our right side going back into the Solent.

We went back into Yarmouth, but left very early next morning to get to Gosport on Thursday as I had a meeting with excolleagues on Friday.  Left Gosport on Saturday morning, along with what felt like 10000 other boats!  Pretty hairy stuff as entrance to Portsmouth is a bit narrow.  Then we went to Buckler's Hard (Beaulieu), to finally meet up with Dick and Judith.  Tide against us getting into Beaulieu river and it was nearly 4 miles to get to the Marina.  However, all was well meeting them.  Left Sunday morning and back to our mooring.

Boat is good and we are now considering where to go next as we have only two weeks left before we go back to France for the summer.

Well what a miserable day again!  Yesterday we got the 4th art exhibition up and running at the RVYC.  Will be there for about 10 days.  Quite a reasonable attendance for the private viewing but I think that may have been due to the free glass of wine on arrival!.  I have put in 6 pictures, which have all at some time appeared recently on the blog.  Fingers cross that perhaps one may sell, but I'm not putting too much hope into that!

We managed to find the spray dodgers hidden deep in the bilges of Bloto, and Perry has put the name on the side.

Attached spray dodgers!  Looks good.

We were anticipating going to Beaulieu (Bucklers Hard) this weekend, but the weather forecast is set to give us a few storms and rain again, so it looks as though it will just be a little sortie tomorrow to make sure we manage to get a sail in.  Unfortunately as always seems to happen with an Easter weekend the weather is likely to spoil it for everyone.  Looks like I'd better dig out a good book!

 Some of the pictures I've painted in the last six months!

Profile of a squib

Boat on the Mayenne

Squibs

View from gardens at Royal Victoria Yacht Club

I've just checked, and cannot believe that I haven't done an entry since September! What a bad girl am I.  Thus, I have almost 6 months to catch up on. Well let's start with the painting - of which there has not been a great deal.  When we returned in September, the weather wasn't too bad so I managed to do some outside work.  Looks as though I have placed the pictures badly, but hey you get the idea.  Following that in October we did the so called "gentle" atutumn series with East Cowes Sailing Club.  We didn't do too badly for a couple of old fools, won two of the four races, but overall came second.  At this point we had thoughts about changing the boat...... started to have look around and decided on a Hanse 301, and ended up buying one but it was in Anglesea of all places.

This is us racing with Bloto in the Autuum series.

After quite a delay, managed to get the new (well not brand new!) boat brought down and lifted into Gosport.

Bolero ready for its departure to Wales.

Hanse 301 arriving in Gosport

Looks big to me!

While waiting for the new boat to come down, we managed to sell the Bolero, and off she went to Wales.  She's been a very good boat to us for more than 30 years, but perhaps it was time to make a change, and get down to a bit more sailing.  Perry and Dave managed to bring the boat safely across the Solent and set up over there, but unfortunately there were quite a number of jobs which had to be done to get her seaworthy.  In addition the weather was absolutely foul which made work difficult.  When the work was finally finished the weather was still foul and delayed any sea trials.  We managed a couple of trips up the Medina and even poked our head out past Cowes but that was about it.  Then finally winds eased up (a bit) but started to blow from North/North East, and bitterly cold.  That was not going to stop us.  So off we went to Lymington.....

Our "new" Bloto on her new moorings in the river

Just to prove we made it to Lymington!  Boy was it cold and thank goodness for the heating.

Of course, Bertie didn't seem to realise it was cold and was happy to do a bit of sunbathing on deck.

Fortunately it was sunny in Lymington and the Yacht Haven was lovely.  Spurred on by that we decided last weekend to go the other way and set of to Gosport.  Unfortunately arrived an hour too early so it was a bit lumpy turning the corner in Portsmouth.  Moored in Haslar Marina.  Not too special where we were moored.  Boat rolled most of the time with the help of the northerly/easterly winds.  Took two days after we got back for my eyes to stop rolling.  Again it was cold but we survived.  Pretty lumpy for the return home, and I am not sure I am in a rush to get back there again.

Here's the proof that we were actually in Haslar Marina - So the lesson learnt is not to leave the blog 6 months before updating, because there are too many bits and pieces, like Christmas (with Annie) that got left out!

Well we've been back on the Island now for just over a week, and it's taken that long to get round to updating the blog.  Can't believe how much everything had grown in the garden - took ages to sort that out.  And then the general sorting out...... Well let's catch up then

When I got back to France at the end of July, it was still very hot.  Annie and Martin came out to celebrate Perry's 70th birthday.  Picked them up from Laval station and then just loafed about with them for a few days.  It was good.  Then off they went via Paris, back to the UK.

Following that we set of for a 10 day sortie.  First painting venue was in the Vendee in a place called Aiguilon sur Vie.  What an experience!  Very hot - as expected.  Signed on but there was some paperwork which I didn't really read properly - first mistake!  It appeared that a number of people had stands to sell their work.  During the competition Perry reported back that the standard was very mixed and there were some very poor paintings.  When it came to the prize giving - all became clear!  Winners 6th to 10th place were invited onto the stage and received a white envelope and then appeared to give their paintings to someone.  Then the next group.  I came 5th, got a white envelope which contained a cheque for 40 euros - very nice, then my painting was taken away from me and given to someone who appeared to have won it for 2 euros!  Running at the same time as all the events, was a tombola and the prizes were the paintings we had spent all day doing!  No wonder the standard was mixed!  All the other 50 painters who did not win anything had to parade onto the stage with their paintings in their hands and just give them away to the tombola winners.  I renamed that walk onto the stage as the walk of shame - I will not be painting there again!

Here's the picture that was given away for 2 euros!  I was actually quite pleased with it, but a little disappointed that it was given away........

Following that we went for quite a tour round the Loire area and visited a few places that we are definitely going to go to again.  The next painting venue was Briollay, on the Sarthe which feeds the Loire.  Weather was a bit dodgy, however, parted with my signing on fee (15 euros this time) and got on with the painting.  Had to deposit the painting in the afternoon for safe storage and pick up again on the Sunday.  In the afternoon there was prize giving, I didn't win anything.  After that was an auction.  Yes I did manage to sell mine, but out of 30 painters, only 6 were sold.  Another place I am not too sure about going to next year.

As you can see, I experimed with this.  Some bits worked fine, but other bit - not too sure about.

We went home after that to get ready for the following weekend which was going to be in the Mayenne - much closer to home.  Saturday we left for Saulges near Laval.  Again arrived and it was hot, and Sunday morning it rained - story of my life!  Signed on, and set up.  Weather looked as though it was going to clear so I felt ok about it all - famous last words.  Even had the parasol up - to protect from sun and drizzle - then an enormous gust of wind took the lot!  I was pretty cheesed off!  Anyway, afternoon cheered up and we had a feast of mussels and chips.  Quite a few entrants but I got the Municipality prize - which was a couple of bottles of wine, books and loads of vouchers (which I gave to Paulette).

happy bunny

Last bit paintedin the sun

Well that was the end of the painting in France.  We spent the weekend before travelling home, getting the last bits sorted.  Had a meal with Mike and Fay, which was lovely.  On the morning of our travel home had a text from Brittany Ferries informing us of problems on our route because of protesting farmers!  Great.....So we set off earlier than planned, took a different route and saw bits of Calvados that we hadn't seen before.  Crossing was as tedious as normal, and it was really good to be back on the Island.  Weather for the next few days was perfect.  Painted with the IoW group at Bembridge Windmill

Small painting of Bembridge Windmill - not the most exciting of subjects

And last Friday managed to finish a painting I started the week before at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. It was really good to meet everyone again and to chat and paint at the same time!

France and the summer now seem so far away.  I am already using different blues for the sky and the brightness of the landscape has now become more muted.  Looking forward to the colours of autumn.  Let's hope the rain stays away to allow some more outdoor painting.