Last week, my outlook remained mainly sunny.  However, an unexpected  storm came over, followed by a deep depression, and lots of rain.  Luckily, the depression lifted fairly quickly, and the skies became a beautiful blue once again.
And in the midst of all this sun and showers, a lot was happening.
Saturday found me and son John getting the shed ready for a mini workshop.  We were having a morning of creativity with Dan.  He is a Friday regular, with his dad, down 'The Travs'.  We had no idea how long the session would last, or what sort of art would be achieved, from either John or Dan!  After an hour, we were all enjoying a coffee break, and rolling up the artwork for Dan to take home.
I love the painting he created.........

And whilst Dan was painting with harmony, John seemed to be having a deeply psychedelic experience, as he depicted his rabbit, Hybernia, playing on the grass with her kitten.

Hybernia  had only one offspring, unlike her sister Caledonia, who had very many.  I called her sole baby bunny 'Solo', but John named him 'Darren' after his then boss, before going on to enjoy him in a delicious recipe involving garlic and cabbage (the rabbit, that is, not Darren!)  And then, seamless link here, in the afternoon we went to Butser Ancient Farm, to attend the official opening of the Saxon Longhouse.  http://www.butserancientfarm.co.uk/

Darren Hammerton, the creator of this longhouse, is to be seen above, second on the right.  It was he who the rabbit was named after, a few years ago now, when John was working for him at the Sustainability Centre.  John was his apprentice in the construction of the longhouse, which is why we were there.  John is to be seen above, second on the left, having grown tall and strong after all those  lean meaty feasts he enjoyed.

Here is Hybernia showing her true colours.  She gets cross with strangers, and enjoys apples.  She is also good at shredding classic Penguin paperbacks, that have seen better days.

Mr Cooper and I enjoyed opening some late Christmas presents at the weekend, all the way from the Falklands.  I think unexpected presents are the way forward.... (as well as a large pile of expected presents on Birthdays and Christmas Day)  Sarah, Ali, and the cats had sent us these presents, and as Sarah and Ali are coming over to stay in the summer (Ali so he can meet his potential in-laws before he and Sarah get married next February)  we thought we would put our presents on, and take them down 'The Travs', to show Ali some of the places he will be enjoying soon.

Big smiles all round from future father-in-law, future stepmother-in-law, and future landlord, Colin.

It has been a week of trying to capture smiles with the camera.
As part of an Easter surprise for Mum, we are updating the pictures of all her grandchildren.
I gave George my camera before I went to work, with instructions to capture their good looks and sunny natures.
After work, George informed me that he had taken 3 photos of 'The Kray twins.'
This one was the best, with almost a smile happening.............

In this one, Sam seemed to be experiencing at first hand Hybernia's psychedelic lifestyle!

But I decided to try the next day.  Look, lovely smiles for mummy!

Tuesday found me at another Creative Writing Workshop at Tuppenny Barn, the last of the series on 'Journeys'.  Although I joined the group as I was very much attracted to the title 'Creative Writing for Gourmets', I have found that the titles are so open, that 'Journeys' can  end up as a burst of writing about unwanted soft toys, or the plight of women in some under-developed countries.
Thank you once again, Lizzie, for another enjoyable and worthwhile writing day.
http://www.tuppennybarn.co.uk/

Now we have decided to move house, but not very far, we have just discovered Hamblin Hall, and we went to a film evening there, showing 'The Celestine Prophecy'.  A film from the book that we have both read, and in fact  Mr Cooper has recently re-read it.  The world would be a better place if everyone was to read it.*  Terrific value, a great film and a glass of wine for £5.  We will be going again, and also checking out all the other things they do.  http://www.thehamblintrust.org.uk/

Back to work in the kitchen.  After all this creative writing, running workshops and planning works of art, the surroundings in the kitchen can seem a little mundane.  However, last week Juliette decided to brighten my existence and enliven my windowsill with the addition of flowers.
Why not go further, and turn the washing up corner into a creative corner, we thought?
A pleasing display of original artworks, a different one for each day I am there.
Here is the first artwork, a creation by George Hofman.  Some say horse, some say dog, it could be either.  It is a friendly yellow animal, plus aesthetic banana.

 I got a bit hungry and ate the banana (very physical work, washing up for 11+ hours a day) but this meant that the second yellow element of the composition was no longer!
Juliette to the rescue..........much more yellow arrived.  A burst of tulips, past their best for the restaurant, but just right for the new windowsill gallery.

If you are dining there in the near future, do look in to see what artworks are starring.  I work for only 2 days each week there, so it won't always be aesthetically pleasing, when you look into the window!
http://thegreyhoundonthetest.co.uk/ 

So, looking back on what has happened, and looking forwards to what is to come.
 Or what we think is to come, for who knows what is just around the corner for us all?
 Hopefully, mostly sunny spells this week, an egg or two perhaps, but most of all, happy times with our families and friends.  (And isn't it just right when your families are also your friends?)

* 'The Celestine Prophecy' by James Redfield.