Today we travel backwards one more time, then end up firmly in the present day.
This will find me in the same house (no buyers as yet) looking out at a spring day (overcast) but also at nesting starlings and my beloved shed, which houses several exciting projects.
 It may be grey in the sky, but the sun is indeed shining inside my shed.

When me and Mr Cooper used to travel more, we always made a point of taking a 'view from the bedroom window' photo.  Here is our bedroom window view in Havana, on the ninth floor of the Hotel Deauville, looking out over New Havana.  We were just a couple of blocks away from old Havana, and just a roadway away from the Caribbean.

This one looks a little more picturesque, doesn't it?  Mr Cooper thought I was quite brave to venture onto the balcony, as, like quite a lot of things about the hotel, it looked in need of repair.
 

Each day, after a most enjoyable breakfast (all the more so, as we always had to wait for it ) we set forth to Old Havana, which meant leaving the hotel and turning our backs firmly on New Havana.
Our chosen mode of transport was 'on foot', and daily we walked for hours.  Sometimes I looked at the bicycle taxis, and felt so sorry for the driver as they had to transport  overweight (usually) tourists in the heat of the day.  It was good to see these taxis able to have a rest between fares.

I would gladly return to Havana, and this time with many more memory sticks for my camera.
The colours seen on the streets were always incredible, and always changing.
One moment you would be in raptures about a pink scene,

and the next, you would be bathed in green.

And below, don't look at the chaos, but rather at the two areas of blue, and the two of red.
That is the good thing about being an artist, rubbish disappears as colours appear.

In the guide book what we read on the plane, we were informed that not many roads were lit at night, although they were safe to be in.  The roads around our hotel were definitely dark at night.  The only danger we came across were huge holes where drain covers had vanished, and holes where sometimes portions of the pavements had disappeared.
When we were in the more up-together parts of Havana, we realised that there were places where the street lights just got together at night to 'hang out'.

Each day we existed on a diet of culture ( amazingly good museums and art galleries, especially the Museum of Cuban Art) rum cocktails, and incredibly good food.
When we first got there and viewed our surroundings, we were a little anxious that the food would be a reflection of what we saw.  How wrong we were!
Wherever we ate, sometimes the facade was crumbling, and at times we had to avoid piles of discarded chicken's feet in the gutter on our way there, but once inside, we were in another world.
A main meal was the equivalent of five pounds sterling. This would be meat or fish, with rice and beans, plantains in many guises, salads and vegetables.  After our food in The Falklands, where vegetables were an expensive rarity, this suited us down to the ground.
And in between these culinary feasts, we walked everywhere, taking in the beautiful views.

On our last day, we ended up in the most touristy regions, where the facades were repaired, the sun was shining and the food was three times the price.  I preferred to wander away from this after a while, to where there were no 'pretty pictures', but rather glimpses of the living Havana.
Colour everywhere, a mixture of  dwellings next to dereliction and splendour scattered throughout.

I would gladly return, just to wallow in that glorious mix of past and present, rum and beer, rice and beans and always, always music.
This is where the Cuban photos stop, but do give me a call if you have an urge to see the rest.
Come round on a sunny day, and we can sit outside and enjoy a Ron Collins as we view them.

Then after that I can drag you into my shed, and bore you silly as I show you my current painting, and talk about all the ideas I have.  Perhaps I need to give you more than one Ron Collins, so you are more 'pliable' to this.

 So what is going on in my shed?
Last week, I completed a series of 12 illustrations for Nigel White, for his book which should be published around Easter time.  It was a very enjoyable commission, and I spent many a happy hour drawing smug-looking goats, and cheerful Guinea pigs.  I will show you these, but after the publication of the book.

You may remember that I completed another commission from Nigel, not too long ago.  This drawing was instrumental in getting the Mission Tent accepted as part of this year's Great Dorset Steam Fair. Exciting times ahead for Nigel and his team.   http://www.missiontent.co.uk/

 Knitted creations have also been produced.  Henry is a year old this week, and when we go to see him, I will give him a smart jacket and hat.

Beatrice is a long way from being one, and knitting for her does not take so much time, or wool!
 As I now possess all Mum's button collection, each time I a garment, I see if I have suitable buttons before going to the shop.  I did find 5 shiny metal buttons for Henry's outfit, but he needed 6.

 But Beatrice was luckier, and I found the last two remaining buttons on this button card.
There are not many babies today whose outfits include buttons that were 'Empire made!'

My latest painting is a very exciting commission, and includes Frida Kahlo and her monkey.......

Millie and Bertie.......

As well as flowers, Crucifixes, beach huts and teddies.  Plus I to listen to Radio 4 whilst combining these elements.  Being an artist is not always easy.  It is frustrating at times, and extremely lonely.

When you are not able to paint and create, it is hard too.  But there are times when it is truly enjoyable, which help to make up for the rest!

So, if I manage to get you in my shed, softened by the application of a few Ron Collins, I can also tell you all about this year's significant drawing.  This will include a dolls house and paper dolls, many changes of paper clothing, and a range of accessories....I can't wait to explain this in detail to someone, I think Mr Cooper would be pleased too, if I find a fresh victim!

Now I am once again tuned in to Radio 4, I will leave you with a radio snippet which struck a cord with me.  So much so that it has become the 'thought' for this blog.

'Try to spend at least a decade of your life wearing just what you want to.'  This does get easy as you get older, and today I gleefully added rainbow laces to my frosted pink DM boots,  Thanks Juliette for the laces, and Mark for the boots.  

So don't worry too much about what others think, it will never be exactly the same as you.  

Just please yourself in an area that you can, and hopefully also enjoy the sunshine.

See you all very soon.