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.

 Can you believe it - it's hot, so hot that I can't sit outside!  I finally managed to finish a watercolour painting that I am reasonably happy about.

It's taken me a while because I was not really happy with the colour combinations.

I've continued painting outside in the mornings, but still having a bit of a problem getting the gouache to the "sticky"  stage.  Sometimes just about ok, and other times not.  I went to the esplanade in the hopes of painting the beach, but low and behold, the tide was in.

Meryel and I haven't been able to sort out our new venue, because unfortunately she's been unwell. Perhaps next week.

I also heard from a good friend in Downham Market, that her poor cat has died.  Both Bertie and Kebi got on really well and it was fun seeing them try and work each other out - usually by staring!  Still miss Bertie.

Henry and Muffin do not like the heat, and make it very clear that they want to stay in the cool.  We haven't been out on the boat yet, because Perry has been fixing the car.  Hopefully we will get out next week, assuming the wind is not going to blow too hard!

 

 Still trying to catch up on things! Not a lot of painting taking place.  I have been trying a particular subject, but just can't seem to get the colours I want.

Managed to get my paintings back from the shop up the road.  I wish they had told me that they were closing the premises, because I would have removed my paintings earlier.

Meryel and I are trying to put an exhibition together, just the two of us.  However, it does involve some leg work and we haven't yet fixed a time for it.

Not a lot else going on.  Hope to have tea on the boat this afternoon as we are now getting lovely sunny afternoons.  Still a cold wind though.

Won't be long before we go on holiday, so we are beginning to get that sorted as well.

 Phew. What a week!  Lots of stress build up to exhibiting, then the stress of the exhibit, then the aftermath when I have to sort out the money and produce the accounts.  We had a reasonable number of visitors, considering the weather was bitterly cold.  Fortunately no rain.  We sold a reasonable number of paintings, 14 between 5 of us and quite a few cards.  I sold three, which I am really pleased about, and I sold a painting to someone who had bought one at our previous exhibition at Quarr.  Fantastic.  It was a birthday present for her.  I am absolutely over the moon about it.

Just a small picture of my exhibition area.  Sold the top left pictures on the upper rail, plus an oil painting.

We have another one scheduled at Quarr for this time next year, so perhaps I had better start planning now!  

Poor old Perry was left with the job of looking after the dogs, feeding, walking etc. for six days.  That's pretty tough.  However, as soon as it was over, the boat had to be lifted out for its annual scrub, so now it's my turn!  At least we have a bit more sun. 

I had an email from my lovely friend in the States.  I was so great to hear from her, although I think it's all a bit tough her side of the water.  Hope it gets better soon.

The dogs are fine, although a bit silly as usual. Although the sun is shining it's still very, very cold.  I'm sure it will just flip over to hot and we'll all start moaning about the weather being too hot!

My outside painting on Friday was at Compton bay (cold as usual) and there must have been about 20 surfers in the bay.  Incredible.   

So after a rather intensive period, I'm trying to catch up on things now.

Take care to anyone who reads this....

 Jusr remembered I hadn't written anything today, so this is going to be a bit rushed.  Firstly, I did actually manage to get on the website last week - miracle number one!

I have been continuing with my little oil paintings, and also with my swimming.

Didn't go painting plein air because it was just too cold.  It really has been quite bitter here even though we are finally getting some sunshine.

Our exhibition is next week and I have finally got all the paintings etc. ready.  There was even an article in the County Press.  I am sure it's going to be chaotic and quite stressful, but I really do hope it's going to be a success.

I've ordered a few sketchbooks that were on offer at Jacksons, probably shouldn't have.

Fingers crossed for next week.