Welcome to this week's blog, featuring many wonderful artistic creations, several of which I have had a hand in.  I think this creative exuberance is a result of me and Mr Cooper having enjoyed a short 'two centre' break. This has left me feeling mentally refreshed, although perhaps a little jaded in the physical refreshment stakes.
 In order to secure the free time for an extra long weekend, I had to work in the kitchen for two consecutive days.  'Big deal', I hear some of you hard-workers out there cry.  Well it is, and it isn't, of course.  It gets it over and done with, but a 15 hour day away from home, twelve of which are spent hard at work at the sinks,  means getting home at midnight still buzzing , then having to unwind and then try to sleep to be up again at 6 for a repeat performance.  Especially demanding for those of us best described as 'young at heart!'
On the day before departure, I was found in my afternoon break in the Coffee Lab in Stockbridge https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g503843-d12229457-Reviews-Coffee_Lab-Stockbridge_Hampshire_England.html having a chat with Sam over a necessary pick-me-up of a large mocha with a peanut butter brownie to share.  As I am so at the cutting edge of sharing visual images, I am sure you can appreciate this photo which is showing Sam having taken a photo of me having taken a photo.  He is 'sending it on' in many wonderful ways, with distortions and sound no less, and I am just adding mine to my blog.  

Me and Mr Cooper were setting off on Thursday morning for a long weekend in Suffolk, via a stop-over in Canvey Island.  I was looking forward to this, as it was part of my quest to visit the strange outposts on the coastlines of the UK, and Mr Cooper was my reluctant partner.  He thought Canvey Island would prove to be 'not very nice,' or something like that, so I treated us both to a night's stay in the only hotel there, 'The Oysterfleet'.  http://www.oysterfleethotel.com/
We arrived at around three, checked in, and set off to explore.

Here is an image that brings together a lot of the elements we found there, in this atmospheric view of the virtually empty fun-fair....

....and here is Mr Cooper bravely smiling whilst managing to look more startled than happy.
When I first met Mr Cooper I had to camp with him a lot in Mendip, in a field with a disgusting toilet shed and no washing facilities.  Now, he no longer camps, and avidly reads 'trip advisor' and hence wanted to avoid 'the Oyster Fleet', (and Canvey Island, I have to add) as someone on Trip Advisor had found cobwebs in their room!  When did that pioneering spirit evaporate from his life?

We wandered around the fair for a little while, admiring some of the rides.  Here is a photo especially for Sam, and for other fans of the early Mighty Boosh.  We all know what to do when you find a swan, don't we, fellow fanatics?  Right on it!*

We left the seafront and the fair, and passed the welcoming large fly sculpture on our return to the hotel.  The staff were the friendliest and most helpful of anywhere I have stayed before, and we spent a bizarrely enjoyable night there.  We dined in the posh restaurant (posh for Canvey Island) and I was able to whet my appetite for dinner in a most unusual way.  We had a pre-dinner drink in the busy bar, and when I popped to the loo, I found the dinner menu framed and feature inside the cubicle, on the back of the loo door.  Not only did I return to Mr Cooper refreshed, but I amazed him by already knowing the menu!

The next day we sped to Suffolk, to spend  three nights with our friends Susie and Werner in Saxstead.  Mr Cooper was feeling happier about this, for they have a very lovely and clean home, and he had brought his slippers with him. We were there primarily to help prepare for a large luncheon party on the Sunday, but managed to include a quick visit to Walberswick, which was well worth a visit, being extremely picturesque. You will have to imagine that as the only photo I took from there was of this pair of sunglasses I bought for Juliette, from one of the many truly tempting gift shops.
We also enjoyed a brief visit to Framlingham, again another lovely place, where gifts were also purchased, this time for Sam and his lovely girlfriend Molly, but you will just have to take my word for all that and feast your eyes on pink flamingos and the faded glories of Canvey Island for your visual entertainments from our travels.

On Monday we left early to head towards Winchester, as it was Trinity's summer art exhibition, and I was to be wearing an artistic headpiece made by one of the group.  I was also wearing my 'flying picnic' outfit, as the starting point for a major part of this exhibition had been the theme of food.
Although the traffic was heavy, and accidents abounded, we got there in time to help set-up.
Here is the garden totem pole, which has been constructed to also be an insect hotel.  I think the Minion looks brilliant, and not just because I helped to create that section! (Well, just a bit.)

The food prepared really reflected the theme, with the emphasis on fruit.  Look closely at this brilliant fruit basket, and notice the banana that is in fact a yellow dolphin.

Nestled to the right of the pineapple, in amongst the leaves, are lots of edible ladybirds.  When all was prepared, we looked at the tables laden with food and thought there was far too much, but at the end of our very successful and well supported exhibition we were clearing away just empty plates.

During the exhibition I had become a walking artwork, my crowning glory being a mainly knitted fascinator.  One of the women's group had made 3 items of headgear which symbolised how women are viewed and treated by some men.  The first hat was a jaunty number, but on closer inspection was 'a piece of meat'.  The creator of the three was sporting an eyecatching fascinator, which was a beautifully knitted but extremely phallic banana, and here I am showing off my 'nice pear!'

And here I am again still sporting a nice pear, but also giving a glimpse of my 'flying picnic outfit.  It also looks like I am showing what happens to the size of your bum if you eat too many picnic components on a regular basis!

Leaving exhibitions behind, and also my behind behind, and visiting now my productive shed.  In my last blog I was happy to show you the idea for my first significant illustration for the Green Donkey cookery book.

And here, after many productive hours, kindly assisted by Radio 4, I am happy to show you an almost completed image.  I have been having fun with paint and collage, and now need only to add a couple of flying blackbird pie-funnels (what else?) as well as some green donkeys to change my vibrant pink walls into an amazing wallpaper design.
Hopefully this will be completed and on view in my next blog, if there has been enough artistic time for me to include the above.  I have been getting up stupid early at the weekends too, to put in sufficient 'shed time'.

I hope you have an enjoyable weekend where you are able to do the things you enjoy, and only have to get up 'stupid early' if you really want to.  If the sun shines, why not have a picnic?  But just remember, eat responsibly, and aim to exercise at least three times a week.  One exercise could be walking to your local, another strenuous arm exercise I enjoy is opening a bottle of champagne!
Have fun and be kind to yourself and others.
Looking forward to seeing you all again soon.

* This will mean nothing if you did not watch The Mighty Boosh, so don't worry.

'It doesn't quite feel like I am on holiday yet', I said to Mr Cooper, whilst assembling a lasagne to take to my Mum's to eat later that day.  'Oh don't worry, it soon will', replied a relaxed Mr Cooper.
We were heading off to Mums on Tuesday, in order to catch the train to Glasgow on Wednesday, to help celebrate Olivia and Jon's wedding on Thursday.  As we were taking Mum, we were travelling first class (a first for me and Mr Cooper) and as Mum is now 84, we were providing the evening meal.
Son John was coming with us, so I was beginning to feel like I was in charge of a small school outing but with the possibility of complications.

It was good to arrive in Eye, and to complete stage one.  Luckily the lasagne survived the journey, and soon I was busy preparing a salad and rosemary roast potatoes to accompany it.  Mr Cooper kept shouting from his position on the settee, firmly clutching the remote control, and I kept leaving the kitchen to find out what he was saying.  Mr Cooper: 'I was just asking you if you needed a hand' (said with eyes fixed to the screen) Me: Sorry, I didn't hear what you were saying as I was busy chopping/washing/roasting/preparing'.  (I still wasn't getting the holiday vibe.)

First class train travel, it is so worth it, and when you book in advance, it is only fractionally more expensive than cattle class.  I sat with Mum, and we enjoyed our free food, and wine.  Mr Cooper sat with John and they also enjoyed their free food, with wine and beer and whisky.  Si met us in Glasgow, a very excited father of the bride, and after a little rest in the Premier Inn, our home for the next 3 nights, we went to have an evening at Nik and Si's.
The evening before a wedding always has a chaotic excitement of its own, and this one was no different. No sooner had Si given us a brilliant Glasgow gin to try, adorned with crushed rosemary and sliced green chilli, than he had to rush off to help with the food preparation for the reception.  Son John went too, and I was in charge of the evening meal.  Despite having a gin top-up, everything came together, and we enjoyed the first sitting, with Si, John and Rowan rocking up later for the second sitting.

After a busy day, we were all looking forward to our respective beds, but the taxi driver had a very hazy idea of how to get us there.  A two mile journey took half an hour, as we explored many dead-end roads, and even a road blocked by an overturned lorry!  I was feeling many things by the time we were back at the Premier Inn, but not as if I were on holiday. 

After our breakfast, the next day felt much brighter.  Mum got ready to go to the wedding ceremony, and we began our preparations for the evening reception, starting with a walk to Waitrose to buy our drinks for the evening.  Then we did a lot of resting to ensure we were ready for dancing.

Here is Olivia, all beautiful and ready to be wed.

And here they both are, the new Mr and Mrs Lennox, obviously delighted to be wed.

This was all taking place whilst my other brother was in the air, flying up with his children, and it was great to see them all that afternoon.  We then ordered a seven-seater taxi, and transformed ourselves into well-dressed and happy wedding guests.  This taxi driver knew where he was going, but also used the 30 minute journey to try to convince us to book him for a day's sight-seeing, castles optional.  Well, it helped pass the time.

As I was on 'Mummy duty', I knew that me and Mr Cooper would not be having a late night.  It was such a lovely reception, filled with friends and family that were all so happy for Olivia and Jon.  The speeches were good, and the food was excellent.  The cake was beautiful, and the playlist was great.  I did my best to condense a long night into a short time and I think I succeeded.  When Mum announced at 10.30 that she was ready to leave, I was happily dancing with new friends and some Prosecco.  We had to leave when Mum took position standing on the dance floor as a reminder that she was ready to go, and I then demonstrated that there were several different ways to get into a taxi, other than the more conventional one.  Head-first was fairly successful, and sitting on the floor of the taxi is another way forward, too.


Friday was a day full of happy reflections, and lots of fresh air and water drinking.  Mark and his family had left the reception at 3.30 that morning, followed by Si at 4.30.  Just think of all the dancing I could have done!  We all enjoyed a lunchtime drink sitting outside in the sun, one of the few occasions where lime and soda was chosen over beer!
Mr Cooper and I explored Bearsden later that afternoon, and instead of our usual pub exploration, we went into a teashop to enjoy a Fentiman's Rose Lemonade.  I know, what is the world coming to?

What better way to end a stay in Glasgow than to have a curry?
And what better way to get ready for it by sharing a huge bottle of Prosecco?  Although tentative at first, it perked us up no end, and we set out to enjoy haggis pakoras as well as many other delights.  Nothing wrong with our taxi trip this time, apart from us thinking we had left someone behind and stopping the cavalcade to have a quick head count.  All was well, and everything was delicious, from the first poppadom to the last mouthful of pistachio kulfi, a rare treat.

Saturday morning saw us getting back on the train, with a parting gift from Si of Haggis-spice chocolate.  We did get a bit of a surprise on the train.  The menu was a lot smaller, and we were told that if we wanted wine with everything, you had to purchase it, at the weekend!  On the plus side, you could eat as many sandwiches as you were physically able to, which kept Mr Cooper and John happily occupied for most of the journey.

Then back to normal life on the Monday.
On Monday afternoons I work as a volunteer at Trinity in Winchester, and this coming Monday we are having our summer art show.  Which made me realise that I needed to work towards completing my painting which had food as its starting point.

It has become more of a study for a painting for the future, and my initial idea has evolved into something else.  That is one good advantage for when you take a long time over a piece of work.  In between doing the actual painting, your ideas grow and change, and the painting almost takes on a life of its own.  I will also be wearing an artwork also for the exhibition, and I will show you what in the next blog.  Let's just say that I will be a work of art from head to toe.

Now, I hope you are sitting down, for I am about to show you the idea for the first illustration for my cookery book.  I am so excited for not only am I pleased with the composition, but I also know how I want to make it.  I didn't want to produce a painting, but will be making a layered collage, which will include painting, paper cut-outs and printmaking too.  I think also that red and white checked fabric, plus green donkeys and blackbird pie-funnels will abound throughout.

In fact, I was so much on a roll that after getting the idea for the 'pastry' chapter, I came up with the beginnings of the 'small cakes' design. Yes, I did say it was only the beginnings!

Well, I must away now to do my preparation for Monday's art session at Andover mind.  I am off to spend a happy hour in the shed with PVA and tissue paper, which will hopefully provide a visual inspiration for tomorrow.
Good preparation is usually necessary for a good outcome, so aim to put a little extra into your preparations in the week ahead.  It should result in not only a better outcome, but less stress in the long run, always something to aim for.  You don't have to use glue and coloured paper in your preparations, but what fun if you do!
So until next time, be prepared for what you can be, and be ready to be receptive to events you can't plan for.  Just embrace those changes, before applying pink tissue paper to them.
See you all soon, take care and have fun.

Being a busy person, and having many different meaningful activities each week, I make a lot of lists.  Looking at my today list of 'things to do,' a lot of the bigger events are nearly over, meaning that writing my book is rising steadily to the top of the list!  Well, let's continue to focus on those things that are stopping me starting, a lot easier than actually starting.

The first of the major events that has taken up a lot of my time was the Annual South Downs Walk.  Not just the 9 days of the actual walk, but also all the training walks beforehand.

I was fully expecting to be walking this year on my own, as Mr Cooper was adamant that he was not going to do it again.  In fact, just to make sure, he had taken himself away to the Lake District with his chums, one of whom had walked with us last year, returning home just after the start of the walk.

It was a lovely surprise to realise that Dawn, John's exceptional yoga teacher ( and saxophonist as well as many other things) was walking on her own too, so we joined forces and walked together.

Here we are looking happy, if a little apprehensive, at the beginning.

The English landscape is incredibly beautiful, and last year I saw parts of England that I had never seen before.  Although the Seven Sisters are a taxing start to the walk, their beauty more than makes up for that. (This is very easy to write about a couple of weeks later, I probably wouldn't have scribed this straight after the end of day one.) This picture is a little deceptive....it was so windy that if we had stumbled going downhill, the wind would have flattened us back onto the steep slope, we were in no danger of falling forwards, apart from perhaps over the actual cliffs.  So the first part was spent fighting the headlong gale-force winds, and making sure we were not too near the edge.  It was a relief to reach the end of the Seven Sisters, and turn inland into gentler weather conditions.

Each day brought its own highlights, and memorable sights.  It was great to see the marker for the Meridian line, but a trifle bizarre that such an important and much-photoed landmark had a huge manure heap behind it, a lot higher than the hedge,providing a really picturesque element to the composition.  It's a good job that this photo does not provide the smells too.

Not all of the memorable sights were to be found in nature.  At the end of the walk on day four, having completed 49 miles, this was a memorable sight that impressed us both, in the garden of the Frankland Arms, in the incredibly pretty village of Washington.
There is no better drink, after walking many miles, than a pint of beer (or cider, in Dawn's case)

The next day provided us with another very welcome drink.  This refreshment stop marked the halfway point for the whole walk, and lemon squash at that moment was the best drink ever, teamed with a fig roll biscuit.  It is the simple pleasures of life that bring a smile, and add a spring to our step.

All in all, it was a much more pleasurable experience this year.  As I had done it before, I knew what it felt like to walk continuously for 9 days, and had made sure to do a lot more regular walking (including lots of uphill) beforehand.  We both knew it would be a long, hard slog, and Dawn and I just settled into a rhythm, and got on with it.  And we talked about many things, topics ranging from our schooldays, to life after death, and almost everything in between.  That really made the miles pass by extremely pleasantly.  Thanks for that, Dawn.  In fact David Bowie came to help too; talking animatedly about him as we scaled the last steep hill on our way towards Devil's Dyke made the experience almost pleasurable (and thanks to you too, David.)

Another worry for the long distance walker (I can say that now that I have repeated the experience!) is the wear and tear to the feet, and the fear of blisters.  Last year, my oldish boots cracked, were a little too tight, and my waterproof coat of the same age gave up being waterproof.  This year I set out armed with new boots and coat, plus Compeed plasters and suncream. Here I am, applying a precautionary plaster just after Cheesefoot Head outside Winchester, only 3 miles from the very end.
Yes, it is really me, under that hat.  You are not so worried about your appearance whilst walking, a fact that had been noticed by one of the leaders.  And my blue bag full of essentials really did weigh between 4-5 kilos each day, one essential being plenty of water, which is really heavy. The last two days turned out to be very hot and sunny, ideal for nearing the end of the walk, but thanks goodness we didn't have 9 full days of it.

It was really exciting to reach Winchester, but also more than a little sad.  We didn't want the walk to end (a very different feeling from that of the previous year) and I didn't really want to return to what is called 'normal life'.  Walking for a long time really gives you a lot of space in which to think about your own life.  To slow the pace of your own life down for 9 days is a remarkably meditative and
head-clearing sort of thing to do.
But here I am, happy to have reached the end and achieved my goal.

But not as happy as when we were able  to get into the air-conditioned toilets at the Guildhall and to change from our walking gear into dresses, release our hair from its confines, and even apply a little light makeup.
One of the walk leaders told me that I looked so very different,  (what sort of sad sight had I been for the last 9 days) and that I 'scrubbed up really well'.
I will drink to that, and seriously think about repeating the experience next year.
But looking at this photo, I might have to do more a lot more work on my arms before then!

But after all, who doesn't like a colourful certificate?

Before I started the walk, I had visions of myself returning home to do a little artwork in the evenings.  What I did do most evenings was have a bath, eat a meal, get my packed lunch ready and then try really hard to stay awake until 10, before happily going to bed.
It wasn't until after the walk that I was able to continue with my significant artwork.
The studio room is now complete, as is the bedroom.  Out of consideration for my children, and non-arty friends, I am not showing you that room.  You can come round and see it, if you so desire.
You would be very welcome, and I will also make a cake if given enough advance warning.

And now, with the deadline only days away, I must complete the last two rooms, one of which will be the hardest for me to do.  That I will show you in my next blog.  Then, when all has been entered for the National Open Art competition, there are no more major obstacles to me starting my book.  The last obstacle being that I actually do need to start it, instead of thinking about starting it.  Does that sound familiar, all you writers and artist out there?
So I am off to swap the office for my shed, and aim to complete the last two rooms before teatime.

Why don't you aim to complete a task this week, that you have been putting off for too long?  Usually the thoughts of it are much worse than the doing of it.
 Then you will be one step nearer to doing what you know you should be doing, if it weren't for the fact that you've got too much other stuff to do.
Looking forward to seeing you all again in a week or so's time.
 Don't forget to have a little fun as well, or a lot, if you have manged to clear your list of boring jobs.
Or, keep your list the same length, and re-define 'boring'.

'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. 

This week I am sharing with you two books, two beautiful walks, and two very welcome 'bunches' to help celebrate me and Mr Cooper's 7th wedding anniversary.
 Yes, time does fly, and yes, we are still very happily married.  I said to Mr Cooper the other day that we were very lucky to have found each other, not least because not many other people would have been able to put up with either of us long term.
 Being together has indeed been/still is a voyage of discovery.

Back to the blog, and onto the first book.
In a month's time, I will hopefully be on day 5 of the annual South Downs walk.  That will be quite a significant day, as I will then be over half-way through the 9 days walk.
As a consequence of this event getting realistically close, I have had to increase my training (yes, I have actually been training at least twice a week, and not just perfecting my packed lunch repertoire)
So me and Mr Cooper have been working our way through this book.  Walking hangers* involves doing lots of steep 'ups' which I sadly need to do a lot of.  I say 'sadly' as it is hard work, something that is in our nature to try to avoid!  But, no pain, no gain.........

Walk one was titled 'Steep and Ashford Hanger' (Steep being a village, and not in that case an adjective, although it was really steep too) and when we were halfway up the first arduous ascent  it was to find this monument to a local poet, Edward Thomas.  He drew his inspiration from this area, before being killed in the First World War, in 1917.

I found the words on his memorial to be very moving, and timeless.

And I rose up and knew 

that I was tired 

and continued my journey

Whether it is our own personal journey through a difficult part of life, or indeed a demanding, physical journey, you have to, at times,  just keep buggering on.  

Even more valid if you were a poet fighting in World War One.

Each time we go walking, Mr Cooper asks me to identify wild flowers.  Sometimes I can, but this one I couldn't, although we both agreed it was purple.  I am going to get round to looking it up (in a wildflower book, of course, of which we have several) but if you know what it is, by all means get in touch, and tell me, to save me that bit of effort (see what I mean about being fundamentally lazy.)

What with walking, and painting away in my shed, annoyingly, paid work just gets in the way.  Sometimes Juliette brightens my working day with some flowers that were destined for the bin, but this time, son John gave me a present to add to my collection of seagulls. 
Thanks John, it is indeed as you described it, as 'a nice one'.

Happily leaving work once more behind, and putting on my walking boots again, me and Mr Cooper set out in search of more steep slopes. I do like, on an aesthetic note, the link of the yellows in these two photos.  Schwepps Tonic Water  and a field of oilseed rape sharing the same vibrant yellow.
This circular walk above Stoughton is a favourite of ours, which we know as the Polish Airman's walk.

I must be getting quite reflective in my mid fifties.  Each time when we pause to read about the death of a young Polish pilot, killed whilst fighting for Britain, I do think that a lot of people should also be more reflective about their life, and that of their neighbours.  Perhaps aiming to take out a portion of prejudice/ignorance from their lives, and to replace it with some kindness.

Well, we have now covered one book, two walks, and two reflections.
 Let's find out more about two exciting 'bunches'.
Me and Mr Cooper had to decide what to do to celebrate our 7 years of undiluted happiness.
' You can do whatever you want',  Mr Cooper told me, flinging his arms wide to show me just generous this statement was.  When I told him what I would like to do, it was deemed to be 'too expensive'.  Here followed a lengthy discussion about the actual meaning of the words 'anything you want', and also whether 'within reason' should have been included as part of the statement.
When peace and love had been restored, we decided to have an enjoyable day on a low budget.
This day would also incorporate yet another walk, but this one ending up in an Indian Restaurant (yummy) where you had to take your own booze (even better.)

Juliette presented me on the day before, with an amazing anniversary gift, almost all of it pictured here, designed to go with curry!  (We ate the cashews and mints almost immediately, another trait that makes us so compatible)
Thanks Juliette and Col, we love our 'bunch of beers'......

......and Mr Cooper made the treat complete the next day, by adding a beautiful bunch of flowers.

We had a very successful walk, which did manage to also incorporate two pubs, as well as the Indian restaurant (well, it was a special day). I still think that I would get as much enjoyment from an Indian meal by drinking Cobra, eating poppadoms and their accompaniments, and just reading the menu.  The food was delicious, but I was too full to eat it all.  Another reason why me and Mr Cooper are so blissfully compatible..... he can eat for England, especially if he is paying for the food (or if it is a free buffet, or a Sunday roast, or dinner round friends......)

Keeping on the food theme.  My painting of Millie and Bertie is now complete, and awaiting collection.  And yesterday, Jan was coming over for tea, and collect it, and Di was coming over for lunch, and much laughter.
So time to shake the dust from a childhood cookery book,  'My Fun To Cook Book' by Ursula Sedgwick, which I got for Christmas in 1969, and have loved ever since.

I share with you the recipe for "Topsy Turvy Cakes'.  If you want a teatime treat, and love glace cherries and a burst of sweetness, do not hesitate to make these!

Bringing you now to my last picture for this blog, here is the completed painting of Millie and Bertie.
This was a commission that I got so much pleasure from, especially as I was so fond of Millie ( and still am, of Bertie, and looking forward to meeting his new playmate Billy)
And what made all the thought and hard work worthwhile was that Janeese loved it.
As I said to Mr Cooper later that day, the best sort of commission ever.

So, until we meet again, just keep on with your journeys through life.  If you keep travelling, the scenery will change.  If you put in the extra effort to climb the hill, the views will make it worthwhile.
Why not make a cake this week, and invite a friend to share the treat? 
And, try to be kind.  It is not always easy, but neither is life.
Looking forward to seeing you all very soon.