I may have ended the last post on a busy note, but since then things have been very difficult.  We set sail at the end of the month (April) to Yarmouth, had a night there and then moved on to Portland.  Some of the sailing was challenging because we were hit by a squall.  Two nights in Portland marina and then off to Dartmouth.  From then on things were not quite so lovely!

Five nights at the harbour, where is was cold and wet, and then we moved on to Noss marina, for another four nights.  Get some washing done and use there lovely showers. We left there with wind and rain and moved on to Dittisham, where we tied up to a buoy.  Still more rain and wind, and it was becoming quite a challenge to get ashore with Henry.   We did bump into Nick and Angie and had a laugh with them.  After four days, we had had enough and moved back down to Dartmouth, but the music festival was still on, which meant mooring was a problem.  Stayed on the long visitors pontoon (no walk ashore), again a challenge with Henry.  He didn't mind going in an out of the dingy, but it was tricky and really not good when wet.  We did in fact have about five days of sun.  However, I was getting a bit fed up.  Hadn't managed to get off the boat to do some painting, the weather really messed that up, so I tended to stay on board and do some.  Not the same.

Eventually at almost the end of the month, we gave up and moved back to Portland.  And there we spent the next 17 days!  Wind and rain, put paid to everything.  Although we did go out on the bus, sailing was a non starter.  We missed one day when we perhaps could have sailed on to the Island, but we made the decision that it was just a bit too unsettled.  

When we eventually sailed to the Island, although it was dry and sunny it was still unsettled, and we didn't have the nicest of sails.  On our departure I had a bad fall and ended up on my back.  Pretty painful.  Also I felt quite seasick on the voyage as it was a rolling sea.  It took over 10 hours, which is a long journey to the Island, and we were both pretty fed up when we got to Lymington.  However, it was lovely there.  We went to the Yacht Haven and is was very relaxing.  We left yesterday and decided to come home directly.  It was a lovely sail, thank goodness, and we are all pleased to be home.  

My back is still quite painful and I think I will have to wait a few days yet, before I can safely go sailing again.  We just about cleared all the rubbish off the boat and done all the washing, so it wont take us long to get sorted.  

We were out for six weeks and this has probably been the most disappointing holiday we have had.  Still, fingers crossed, it can only get better. 

 Busy few days.  Sailed to Lymington last weekend, met up with Dick and Judith.  Good fun.  Weather sunny but cold.  It was supposed to be a shakedown sail and fortunately there were no issued to worry about.  Have spent most of this week gradually getting things ready for the holiday.  As there have been significant road works in Newport, it has meant that I couldn't get to the swimming pool or the Priory, so I've had to  stay at home and catch up on things.

My knees are gradually feeling a bit better, although they still hurt a little, especially if I do a particularly long walk.  On the other hand, I do need to do that regularly as I am not swimming.

Haven't been painting much, but I have been doing a sketch every day for "Pleinapril".  They have been a bit scrappy, but I have done them.

We are hoping to get away next Thursday or Friday, but the weather keeps changing so we are keeping an eye on things. 

I had

 Another week of good weather, let's hope it continues.  I've been continuing with PleinAirpril, even though we did have a couple of days of rain in the morning, and I had to paint from the conservatory.

I've done  a couple of oil paintings this week and made a few adjustments to one I had done a couple of years ago.

This is the one I made adjustments to.  It was very dull (although the mill is very dull!).  I brightened the sky and that had the biggest effect, then just brightened up some bits and pieces.  Overall, I am more satisfied now with the painting.

The two new oil sketches are below

 This one I completed today, and I just have to make some small adjustments, but overall I am quite pleased with it.

This is the other painting I did yesterday.  I have had to note in my computer filing system the size of the painting, as I have done this before and now need to try and do them larger.

Other than that, I have been swimming, even though my knees still hurt a bit.  We are going to have major traffic works on the road to the pool, so next week will be my last week of swimming for a while.   I had better use the time sensibly! 

 Another difficult week.  Apart from my knees hurting all the time, we had the exhibition at Quarr Abbey.  I think it was reasonably successful.  I sold quite a few small oil sketches, three larger paintings and quite a few cards.  However, overall, I think our presentation this year was rather poor.  It looks as though we haven't learnt any lessons from last year.  However, that is all about to change.  Because of new laws relating to my card reader, we can no longer operate as a group.  This has meant that I have set up as a Sole Trader.  Since my gross income from painting is considerably less than £1000, I do not have to register as a business.  Thank goodness.  I do have a booking with Quarr Abbey for next year and I am still going to go ahead with that, and perhaps will invite a couple of people to exhibit alongside me, although the exhibition will be in my name.

I did post the image of the oil sketches last week, but this is of the "wall" of framed jpaintings. I sold everything in the bottom row, with the exception of the Marshes picture.

There are a few things I will have to do to make sure my "business" is presented in a more professional way, including labels etc. and updating my website.

The watercolour live session was on Thursday evening, and  I think the paintings were ok, if a little rushed.

Certainly used a lot of paint!

Henry, and us, are still missing Muffin dreadfully.  Poor Henry, he is really so sad, just doesn't know what's happened.  We do keep taking him out, but he is still so unhappy at home. 

Because of the pain in my knees, I haven't been swimming, but hope to start again tomorrow. 

 Yet another disastrous week.  I fell over on Monday while out for a walk with Henry and whacked my knees really badly.  Since then I haven't been able to swim because of the pain in my knees. It is getting better, but very slowly.  When I fell I was really worried that I had broken something. Fortunately, I think all is ok, but how stupid was that!

Next disaster was that Perry has his credit card compromised, and it was all my fault! I still feel terrible about it.  We thought we were both being really careful, but hey, things happen.  Lesson learnt!

 I did manage a small oil painting at the weekend, and I'm quite happy with it.

Also, our exhibition at Quarr has started.  It's ok, but I think in terms of presentation we could have done much better.  Still three days to go, but sales are really low.  I have sold a few small oil sketches, but no pictures so far.  This will be the last time we can function with the group as it is.  I have to make a brief presentation to the group of Tuesday about where we go next.

Perry made a little stand to show some of the small oil paintings.  I think it's good and we are going to try and put another one together, so it can be displayed on the wall.

Well that's all for today and I'll continue feeling sorry for myself with my bad leg! 

 Life is not the same without Muffin.  Henry is so sad, it's difficult to get him up and moving.  When we're out he's ok, but as soon as we come home, he's just listless again.  I think we are going to have few weeks of this.

I have done some painting on line again. One watercolour session, one oil and one gouache (that one was not too good).

 I actually did the oil painting again, as it was originally quite messy.  Think I even managed to get the loose painting effect second time around.

Again we did two watercolour paintings.  I was quite pleased with both.

Getting ready for the exhibition at Quarr next week.  As there has been road disruptions and also people are generally very careful with the money now, I don't think it will be a financial success.

I have been swimming and also doing some sewing.  Also got a new kindle. So now we have one each. Might be a bit cheaper on the book front.  Who knows. 

 What an absolutely awful week.  Poor Muffin has now left us.  Poor chap's heart finally failed him on Thursday. It was all really quick.  We are all really sad, especially Henry who is very depressed now his chum has gone. We will miss him so much.  In the short time (two and a half years) he was with us, we felt we all fitted together well.  Lovely happy character.  Stoic. Perhaps we should all take a leaf from his life's book.

The day after Muffin died, our fridge freezer packed up! Managed to  put our frozen food in David and Ann's freezer, but the other stuff we've had to put in an electric cool box that we had in the roof!

My car has decided to develop a leak - not helped because it's been raining so much. Just can't trace where it is, so now it's an ongoing project.

Boat went back in the water on wednesday and we all (including Muffin) sailed it back to it's mooring.  There was no indication even then that there was going to be a problem with Muffin. 

Looks like the forthcoming week is a week to sort ourselves our.