Just a quick update as we are going away in a couple of days to the Cotswolds to see Daniel and family.  Last week's heading was about computers.... and that hasn't really finished.  Have had some real problems with Google Meet which is what I am linked to for the live painting sessions I follow.  It appears, after a huge amount of investigation by Perry, that Firefox doesn't want me to use it, so for the live sessions it looks as though I will have to use Google Chrome.  Let's see what happens Thursday.

 My last live session was an oil painting one and to be honest the painting was really pretty awful. Some bits were ok others were... well you can guess.

Other than that I have been swimming.  Restarted the swimming lessons to improve front crawl, but I'm not sure I'm getting anywhere.  Perhaps I shouldn't worry.

The weather has been absolutely dire here, rain, rain, rain, wind and the occasional sunshine.  Been very difficult to take the dogs out.  A friend has loaned me a dog buggy for Muffin, which we will use on our holiday break. He doesn't like it. Wants to get out all the time, and Henry wants to get in all the time.

Other than that, not a lot happening. 

 Computers, computers, computers. Why does everything have to be so difficult? I was on a live watercolour session the other day and for some unaccountable reason I just couldn't get the camera to work.  I did the watercolour painting, but it's disappointing if you can't share the work. However, today I spent what felt like an inordinate amount of time trying to sort it out.  I don't know yet if I have, but fingers crossed.  Does anyone else think that computers take away all our free time.......

The painting I did is

 I much prefer the second one.  I even started a new "filing system" for my painting, which so far works.  Trouble is, I think I may download to many of my images!

I've been continuing with the swimming and have gone back to lessons as an improver.  The front crawl is, I think, getting better, and I have increased the number of lengths of fc in my normal session.  Still need to do more.

Have been continuing with the sewing and finished a sweatshirt and a dress.  Think I might start being a bit more adventurous in the next few weeks.

We are having a decorator in tomorrow, for about a week, so that will temporarily curtain painting and sewing.  Never mind.

All the boys here are well.  Which is amazing because last week both Henry and Muffin had problems.  It is also raining and cold and probably about time I took them out. Perry is still managing to get out on his bike in between rain showers.  Unfortunately, we just have not managed to even get down to the boat let alone sail it.  Still the weather is bound to turn round very soon.  Hopefully. 

 Just looked at last post and realised it was end of December! I was so sure I had posted something more recent, obviously not.   

Henry has been ill, and is now on the last of his medication.  It was probably something he ate.  He is also on a diet, so hates me at the moment.  I don't think it's a problem, but everyone else does. Muffin collapsed last week, and then kealed over onto his side.  We were both very worried.  He has recovered, although we must keep an eye on him.  He is coughing and wheezing a bit more, so I think we are going to  have to prepare ourselves.....

I have continued with my swimming although I am now back to having classes.  I really must get this front crawl sorted.  Apparently I should use my legs a bit harder.

I have been continuing with the online oil and watercolour painting, although sometimes I am not sure if I have progressed or not.  It really is fast and for the watercolour uses a methoc that I don't always feel comfortable with.

 This is from last week's watercolour session.  The oil on Friday was a total diaster.

I have been continuing with the sewing but, as previously, it's getting a bit out of control and I must aim to do far less (also because it becomes expensive).  However, I have had a couple of successes .

I'm going to post this now because I have to get the boys' lunch! 

 Look at this, I'm late again.  However, it has been Christmas, which is now over.  Very calm and gentle here, except for the cold.  And boy has it been cold.  Managed to get in a couple of days swimming last week, but can't go again until tomorrow because the pool is closed.

Also managed to do some odd bits of painting

 

Just realised, if I actually label the photos, it's so much easier than searching at random for them! I'll add that to my list of things I've learnt today.

I have done more than those two, but they are the ones I have uploaded to the art group I have joined.  It does include doing both oil and watercolour live with the instructor.  Very fast, but quite satisfying. Quite often I repeat the painting a couple of days later in much calmer conditions!

We have decided to spend a week in the Cotswolds in February.  Hopefully we will be able to see a bit more of the family than just a couple of hours every six months.  We're booked up and the cottage takes two dogs, which is fortunate otherwise we'd have to leave them behind, and I don't think they'd like that.

I have been continuing with my sewing, slowly but steadily, and it is definitely getting better.  I don't really want to spend too many hours on it, although it is tempting, because I do have other things to do like painting, swimming, dog walking etc. and like any hobby/pastime,  it could easily take over quite quickly.

Well I think that's it for this year.  If anybody besides Perry reads this, have a really happy and great New Year 2026. 

 As  usual I'm  a bit behind! Was hoping to put a couple of pictures up, but in fact what I've done really isn't that good. I've not been too enthusiastic about painting outdoors, mainly because it's cold, wet and windy, but also because I just don't feel to keen about it.

I've done a few bits of painting indoors, but I think as winter starts to drag its heels, it all gets a bit like hard work.

I have continued with my sewing, with minor successes.  I still should work harder to make the stuff a bit better.

We had last sunday with Daniel and the family.  We were not with them that long because it was only a day trip, and we still ended up having to drive in the dark!  However, we have booked a week at an air b and b, for February.  So that is something to look forward to.

Swimming is still ok.  Regularly doing 40 lengths a session, and three days a week. 

Today is so wet, miserable and dark, it's really difficult to do anything, except think about how long till bedtime!  

 

 Difficult week.  Managed to go swimming three times, went painting on Wednesday, but didn't achieve much.  Tuesday night went to a talk at the Island Sailing Club.  It was about the artefacts that were in Queen Victoria's bedroom at Osborne House.  Friday (fortunately the plein air painting was cancelled) was Martin's funeral.  We watched the transmission of the service from the Crematorium, it was very moving.  We felt totally stunned and upset for the rest of the afternoon.  How sad, and what a dreadful shame.  Difficult to come up with appropriate words.

Friday night I participated in the Oil Live painting session

 It was very fast, and this is the version I repeated on Sunday. Much more under control than the live session.

I did manage to make a skirt.  Old pattern and fabric from my stash.  It was ok technically, but because I didn't have enough fabric I couldn't pattern match, and to be honest, it looks a bit frumpy.  Overall, I can only award myself 6/10.  However I will keep trying.  The daft thing is, that although I am enjoying the fact I have rediscovered my sewing machine, it is helping me paint a bit better!  Work that one out!

Weather has definitely started to turn towards winter.  We've had a lot of rain and sunshine, but now it is beginning to turn cold.  Time to dig out those thermals. 

 

 Yet again, just a quick update. Weather has been a bit up and down, but then again I suppose as we approach winter, it is to be expected.  I have been continuing my swimming, and have tried increasing the lengths.  Have managed 46 about three times, but I think it would be better to drop down to 40, because I have been suffering a bit with backache.

Painting is ticking along as usual, with a live workshops each week, either oil or watercolour.  In between I try and do at least one painting.  I have done a couple of outside sessions, but as the weather is a bit dull, it is difficult to get excited.  Perhaps I should have been a little less ambitious.

The very sad news is that Martin has died.  He had been unwell for a while, so although it was not completely unexpected, it was still very sad.  We will miss him.