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.

 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.

 Got a bit behind with blog, mainly because of the weather, which has been incredibly cold. Consequently not felt terribly motivated.  Although have been fiddling about with paints haven't really done anything worthwhile.  Even going out on a Friday plein air painting has felt like a bit of a trial.  I have however been tidying up some of the oil sketches I have done, and they look a bit better.

Additionally we have an exhibition coming up at Quarr Abbey in a couple of weeks and there has been quie a lot of preparation for that.

The dogs have not wanted to go out in the cold weather and nor has Perry, so there has been a bit of cabin fever at home.

I have continued the swimming,  a miracle really.

I am now going to update my website, which could be a problem, as I have forgotten how to log on etc. Oh well, fingers crossed.

 Cold wet and windy week again.  Painting has been somewhat limited in terms of progress.  Stilll working at the oil still lifes, although with very mixed results.

Trying to get to grips with this.  Background a very serious problem.

I know, could have taken a better photo.  Anyway, it's a thing I'm still working on.

Our Friday plein air was at Cowes - again cold and windy. I only stayed an hour and did a pen sketch.  Not a very inspiring place when the weather is cold. However, in the afternoon we went down to the boat and had cake and a cup of tea.  Only wish the sun had shined.

I had thought about updating my website, but if I'm honest with myself, I haven't really done any "quality" work for a while now.  Perhaps that's another area I should be working on.

Swimming is still happening. I'm away to Daniels's this coming weekend.  Let's hope the weather is a little more favourable than it has been of late.

 Again not a lot this week.  Very  cold again.  Workmen here for a few days doing the facia boards, soffits etc.  Swimming a couple of times. In terms of painting and drawing, I think the cold makes it a bit difficult for me to get motivated.  I did do a few bits and pieces but nothing spectacular.  I've been doing a bit more oil painting (from zero that's not a lot), and the gouache is progressing slowly.  Did a paintalong session yesterday, in gouache, which was quite fun and today have been doing a still life in pen, watercolour, gouache, and this afternoon I'll try it again in oil.  But again nothing spectacular. Bit of sun would help.

 Not a lot this week. It has been bitterly cold.  Didn't even manage to go swimming this week, one day because I had a painful shoulder and the other because a huge traffic jam stopped me getting to Newport.  Went to art group on Tuesday and what could have been a good presentation, turned out to be rubbish because of poor sound quality our end.  Shame.  Didn't go painting on Friday because i) it was very cold and ii) meeting later and in a pub was going to be a bit like a coffee morning, and it would have been a long way to go on the bus for that.  I know.  I'm being a bit miserable.

Done a few gouache and watercolour sketches but nothing significant.  Tried doing what is called Master Studies where I take parts of a good master painting and try to match colour and paint stoke.  Not easy, as I don't have that many books to choose from.

Scaffolding surround the house at the moment for the replacement of facia boards.

Hopefully next week will be a bit better because it was certainly a bit difficult to get up and at it this week, and certainly was on the edge of a bit depressing!

 Christmas and New Year are over and now we can sort out the next 12 months.  Weather has been absolutely ghastly and generally have ended up doing a lot of reading. We've had strong winds, rain and then it would become freezing cold.  Managed to get in some swimming over the last two weeks, but often the pool was very crowded.  Still, should be ok next week.

Photoshop has been put on hold for the time being because I'm trying to sort out some of the settings on the camera.  Hopefully once I feel ok with that, I will go back to try the software editing of my photos.

I have done quite a few full preparation for paintings, although only moved on an painted a "proper picture" a couple of times.

This was just a prelim study of FollyLane

Two watercolour pictures from studies.  

I think there is progress in working this way and I certainly get to know the subject better.  I don't always carry them through to final painting if I think they don't really stand well as a painting.

Also done some gouache and oil painting but again don't do if the subject is weak.  Continued with gouache studies.

Back to normal next week.  Perry's toes are getting better and I have pulled a muscle in my back!