Unfortunately Henry has got a bacterial infection and is quite unwell. He's on antibiotics and antiinflammatory medication (for the last two days), so we need to keep an eye on him. Probably drank contaminated water!
I have been keeping up with the oil and watercolour painting, but not swimming. Bad girl! Just a bit too many things going on. Will post better next week, when hopefully Henry is a lot better.
Daniel and the girls arriving next Friday.
Up and down weather. Shouldn't complain. Pool was closed for a few days and also I had a doctor's appointment, so haven't done as much swimming as I should have done.
Been continuing with my little oil sketches
Yesterday we went down to Fort Victoria to see the boats go through the Needles for the start of the Fastnet race. Some of those boats are huge.
I now have to take Henry for a walk, because I think he's a bit fed up. Muffin seems to have developed a second wind and has become lively and really enjoying his food for a change.
It has been incredibly hot here, which has meant a big dose of lethargy. Perry has done a couple of jobs on the boat and |I have done some painting, even been swimming. However, we both could have done more.
Muffin had a couple of days when he very clearly didn't feel too well. He seems ok now, but I think both boys have suffered in the heat.
I have continued with the oil painting sketches and now also started to include water colour sketches as well.
watercolour sketch. Again, there are a few more.
I do feel a bit more motivated than I have done of recent months, but I do still need to wind myself up a bit better. I have continued my morning sketch, but unfortunately it's been very confined to East Cowes. I need to move about a bit more!
Meryel and I are getting ready for our exhibition next month at the Monkton Gallery.
We are home, and have been now for a fortnight. We did end up in Dartmouth and had five weeks there. Mostly the weather was ok. We tried Muffin in the dinghy but he was really not very happy with it. However, we moved up to Dittisham for an overnight, and because it involved a lot of going in and out of the dingy, it was clear that it didn't really work very well with Muffin, so we went back to Dartmouth. Dick and Judith we with us most of the time and that was fun.
I realised I was short on medication for Muffin, so we had to arrange to go to the vet in Portland. The trip there across Lyme Bay was incredibly rolly and I felt quite unwell, so did Henry. He felt so bad he tried to get off! Fortunately he was tied in. I got the medication in Portland and we had to stay 11 days there, before it was suitable to sail on to the Solent. Unfortunately I only received 15 days worth of medication from the vet. I did have two weeks emergency supply with me!
We then moved on to Lymington and had a few days there. After that, two nights in Bucklers hard, where we met up with Dick and Judith again, who had finally managed to sail from Dartmouth in quite reasonable weather.
The weather now was incredibly hot. We got back here, and the first thing I checked was the medicine store - and unfortunately I had more than a months supply! Why on earth I didn't bring the whole lot with me, I don't know.
We were out for 7 weeks in all, and it was really lovely, very relaxing. It's a shame Muffin was so nervous about going out the in the dingy, because that meant we really were confined to staying in Darmouth, but still, it is a very nice place to spend time.
We haven't been out since, because we had quite a few things to catch up on, but we hope to be going out again soon.
I have been spending time oil and water colour painting, and I'll put some of them up in next week's blog.
Just started last Monday to go back swimming, and to be honest it was like swimming in treacle. What a state to be in. So this coming week I am going to try a bit harder!
we are in portland marina and moving off, hopefully to Dartmouth tomorrow. So far
day 1 - East Cowes to Yarmouth in the afternoon.
day 2 - left Yarmouth about midday and went to Portland, a bit earlier than planned but the weather looked right. Dogs were pretty desperate to get off after a very boring 7 hour journey.
Day 3 - woke up to fog. Lucky we left Yarmouth the day before! Bit worried about Muffin, not eating breakfast and then a bit lacklustre.
Day 4 - shopping. Visit to Portland catle. Muffin still off his food.
Day 5 - Very windy and cold. Did washing. Perry made bread.
Day 6 - at 2.00 in the morning a Bavaria 40 managed to hit our starboard quarter! Not too much damage, but we all woke up - not surprising. Very cold and windy again. Went to Chesil beach for my outdoor painting today. Have kept up with the sketches.
Day 7 - shopping and getting ready for departure tomorrow. At about 6.00. Very unlikely to get wifi as we are not going into a marina.
Just aquick update. We had a long weekend in Lymington and were very blessed with the weather. Met up with Dick and Judith, which was great. Chocolate cake, yummy.
We are planning to leave for the long holiday on Wednesday, all being well. Weather looks good. We'll probably sail down to Yarmouth and have one or two nights there, then on to Portland. Weather looks fair for the next week or so, but not sure yet how long we would stay in Portland before hopefully moving on to Dartmouth. Our biggest concern is the health of Muffin. He certainly spends a long time sleeping.
Should see Dick and Judith again, about a week after we set sail.
Meryel has managed to successfully book us in for two weeks at the Monkton Gallery in August.
Will try and update where we manage to get a wifi signal.
Cold again, but at least it's dry. (Except for yesterday eveing!).
Meryel and I visited the possible exhibition venue, although it was very nice, it really isn't sensible for usto exhibit there. Not only cost, but not much likelihood of selling paintings there, and bearing in mind the cost, that would not be a good idea. Still we do have some other venues to look at.
I have finished two more paintings, but need to revisit them before photographing them.
Took the boat up the river for fuel and a little motor about. The holiday is getting quite near now, and it's time to think about what to take.
My paintings have been up at the Apollo Theatre for over two weeks now. No interest shown, well at least not to me. I did think that was likely.
