'How are you getting on, writingyour cookery book?' I hear you say.  Indeed, it is a question that I often ask myself. Well, I can tell you why I am not able to write it, just at this moment.
The last three weeks have been full of many different activities.  In some of them, me and Mr Cooper behave like other people, and in others, we revert to type.  You had better read on!
 Last year I completed the South Downs Way Annual Walk with Mr Cooper and two friends.  Having said soon afterwards that I would never repeat the experience ( a bit like giving birth) a statement which was heard by Juliette, I find myself in training for doing it all over again this year, but on my own this time.  And it starts tomorrow!

As well as walking on a very regular basis ( I could be writing the cookery book instead......) I have been working on this year's significant artwork.  Each year I submit an entry for the Jerwood Drawing Prize, and also the National Open Art competition.  This year I want to combine dolls house imagery with cut-out paper dolls clothes to create a work based on some facets of my own identity.  Sounds very 'arty' doesn't it?  Well, that is what I do.
Here are the early structures taking place.

 Both my children do not see why I sometimes wear ridiculous-looking clothes and walk for hours in the countryside (it does sound a bit bonkers, put like that) but Sam has a kind heart, and said he would accompany me on one the regular walks I do on a Tuesday and Thursday, in my break at the Greyhound.  On those days, I put on my boots, set off for Danebury Ring, and walk around the fields, climbing up to the top, and then back down, for about an hour.
Sam used to walk there with me when he was small, but so long ago now that he can't remember.  Having him with me was a mixed blessing, as I had to shorten the uphill bits to accomodate the fitness levels of my youngest son.  He was very pleased to reach the top and see the views, before having a cigarette whilst I pointed out the names of the crops in the fields, and how to identify them.  Isn't it strange that I usually walk alone?

 In fact, the first part of the dolls house drawing was of me, ready to walk alone.

 Me and Mr Cooper have been striding out regularly too, as he was getting ready for a week in the Lake District with his best friends.  But over the Bank Holiday weekend, we did behave like normal people, and hugely enjoyed a day at Goodwood races on Saturday with four friends, followed by a BBQ on Sunday in Bognor Regis, with another two friends.  We took the train to Bognor and arrived a little early so we spent half an hour acting like normal people and had tea and toast in a cafe, instead of beer and crisps in a pub.  After that lovely weekend where we also included a couple of longish walks on Friday and Monday, we then behaved more like me and Mr Cooper.  He left to go for his annual break with friends, and I stayed to have my annual break with just me, dividing my time between walking on my own, completing more art work, and working at The Greyhound.  I must add here that I did spend a very enjoyable Friday with Diane and Rio.  It was a day of firsts for Rio as he a) experienced the countryside,  b) saw cows for the first time,  and c) went on his first train ride. 
Not bad for a West Highland puppy who lives in Southsea.

At the weekend, I re-visited two of my favourite Hanger walks, one of which has a really sad element to it, as you have to walk by these two tractors left to rust and decay.  I have plans to take brother Mark and nephew Jem to see them ( and perhaps Philip and Jayne too) to start a rescue campaign.
Philip and Jayne, you have been warned!

I was also happy to complete, on Saturday, my kitchen scene for the artwork and to start the planning for the next room, which is to be the office.  A room where I am sitting now, both writing this, and sometimes staring out of the window!  The knife in my hand denotes the fact that I am also cooking, and not that I have any murderous tendencies towards Sam.  His walk with me has certainly done him good, as he appears a lot thinner!

 As I write this, the timer is ticking away next to me, as flapjacks are baking in the oven.  I have given you before the recipe for the best flapjacks ever, from the Camping Cookbook by Annie Bell.  Today I am baking sustaining cakes as the walk starts for real tomorrow.  When the flapjacks are done, I will be making from the same book, for the first time, the twice baked banana cake.  At the end of this blog, the writing of which is interspersed with a Chichester shopping trip, some floor washing and furniture polish (house viewing on Saturday morning) and cake making, I will let you know how the cake tastes, and if it is one for you to try or not.

Sunday was another successful day in my art shed.  I completed the office room, and started the roughs for the next room.  In fact, if there is a spare hour or so towards the end of this day, I want to start drawing the finished picture, which is of the dining room.

 On my Sunday walk I chose another of my favourites, which starts in Selbourne, and incorporates Noar Hill at the end of it.  Selbourne is, to me, a magical place, and Noar Hill is such a wonderful area.  As is so often the case, I was walking for about 3 hours through the most amazing countryside, and didn't meet a soul until I reached Noar Hill.  On the final climb towards it, I saw a wild rose petal lying on the ground, and I took this picture to show Mr Cooper, who was and is many miles away.  They were scattered all around, and made the most beautiful confetti, the only sad part was that in so doing, they had been shed, and discarded.  Transient beauty.

I do know that Bill Bryson thinks that Noar Hill is a spectacular place too, in fact he has thought so for way longer than me, as it a recent discovery for both me and Mr Cooper.  As I walked towards it on sunday, I had a quite delightful imaginary conversation with Mr Bryson in my head, in which we sit next to each other on the bench and start to chat.  I share my piece of flapjack with him, and we go on to find many common points of interest amidst much laughter.  I happily accept his invitation to join him and his wife for Sunday roast that evening.
Oh well, it wasn't all disappointing.  Look at the view from where I ate my piece of flapjack (at least I didn't have to share it) and I did have a roast of sorts that night.

Well, shopping is completed and floors brushed if not washed.  No time for drawing sadly, but there was time to try a slice of cake.  If you love bananas and marzipan, this one is a winner.  It is moist and very fully flavoured, just right to eat out of doors. 
I hope to be with you soon, after my nine days out of doors, sustained by cakes and conversations with strangers who may turn into friends.
I hope the next two weeks find you also sharing chance encounters that involve cake, indoors or outdoors.  If you meet Bill Bryson on Noar Hill you can share your banana cake with him, but do let him know I am looking forward to meeting him up there one day, with or without flapjack.
Looking forward to seeing you all soon. 
I will let you know whether 'never again' are words I should have taken more notice of.