It has been a long time since I wrote my last blog, far too long, in fact.  (Not long enough, I hear some of you cry, but I shall carry on regardless.)
At the beginning of September, being more than a little dismayed at still not having sold our house, me and Mr Cooper took positive action.  I turned our beautiful pink bedroom into a white one, re-painted and further de-cluttered the dining room then painted the stripey staircase and hallway white, and Mr Cooper went to Bristol to watch the Rovers win, and to drink beer and eat curry.

Then it was time to pack away the seagull bathroom, making it far less like a work of art,

 and more like an empty, blue, anonymous  bathroom. 

When the hallway was also changed from being its own little art exhibition, we removed all of my paintings and put them safely into my shed, which is now the only place that makes you realise an artist lives here. This was with the exception of The Flying Kittens, which was safely wrapped up, before beginning its journey to be with the three kitten's rightful owner, who now lives in Cambridge.

I have grown very fond of the flying kittens over the years, but it is lovely to know it has gone to its real home, which is a very kind, loving, and music-filled home.  (They don't need much feeding, Rowan, just words of admiration every so often.)

Mr Cooper pleased me greatly as we drove to Peterborough, not particularly with his fine driving skills, but by buying me lunch at one of our favourite pubs, the Stratton Arms in Turweston. Since drinking a pint of Sea Fury there, I have gone on to purchase it in its bottled form, for the occasional treat.  A good partner for it is a packet of salted, or salt and vinegar crisps.

We were going to Peterborough to celebrate Mum's 85th birthday, and her twin sister's too, then travelling upwards to spend a four-night stay in the Sherwood Forest Center Parcs.
Now, you must just imagine all the photos I could have taken over the coming 7 days, capturing happy family moments filled with smiling relatives.  You need to imagine them, as I don't often photograph people, apart from Mr Cooper.  Eighteen of us enjoyed ourselves with an early 85th birthday celebration for Mum and her twin sister Aunty Joan, at The Chequers in Gedney Dyke. I even baked and decorated a Mousie Mousie cake as a finale.  The one below was made for a previous celebration.  I think the birthday one looked even better, but sadly it was not photographed, along with everyone and everything else that week.

Then onto Sherwood forest, to spend a busy four days with Rachael, Ben and Henry, and Ben's lovely parents Dave and Julie, for our first ever visit to Center Parcs.
Although it was really lovely to spend holiday time with everyone, me and Mr Cooper did feel as if we had landed on the set of a science fiction film.  Lots of the actors seemed to be really getting into it, but we were more wandering around, wondering why we didn't quite 'get it'.  My advice for anyone intending to visit........takes loads of money, even if you do not intend to pay for any of the activities.
If you mean to enjoy a cheeky pint or two, be prepared to pay double!  Swimming and walking around are free, as long as it doesn't make you too hungry or thirsty... save those urges for when you are in your log cabin, tucked up with all the provisions that you have most sensibly brought with you.
Apart from swimming daily, I did manage to knit daily too, this time for young William, from Emsworth.

We helped ourselves gently back into the real world as we travelled home, by stopping for lunch again at the Stratton Arms.  Not only my sort of pub lunch, but my sort of photo too.  No people, just atmospheric glasses of beer, vibrant salty snacks, and rolls that are both inexpensive and delicious.

You may remember that a while back that I had drawn a picture for Nigel White, to help him secure a pitch for his Mission Tent, at the Great Dorset Steam Fair.  His bid was successful, partly thanks to the artwork, which helped the organisers get a visual picture of what Nigel was offering.

And here it the actual picture he sent me, from the Great Dorset Steam Fair.  Usually people draw from a photograph, but this time, the photograph seems to have taken its inspiration from the drawing!  Watch this space for further drawings as I am meeting Nigel tomorrow, with view to producing more illustrations for the second print run of his book, ' get Him out '.

I must admit that I have felt a little cast down of late, with regards as to the non- sale of our house.
 Me and Mr Cooper are in a not very pleasant limbo-land, whilst having to act as if everything is fine.
It was very sad to parcel-up the last seagull, and to place him in the box with all the others.  This one I especially love, as Sam bought it for me as a holiday 'thank you', for when we had a week in France, many years ago.

But what better thing to do when in the doldrums than to bake a cake, or two, and invite friends round to swap life stories and laughter, whilst eating ' coconut charmers' and 'yum-yums', both of which will be featuring in my forthcoming cookery book. (I am still working on the second significant illustration, this one for the Small Cakes chapter, which is where you will find the recipes for them.)

 It is very true the saying that as one door closes, another will open.  No sooner than I had wrapped my last seagull than Sarah and Gareth arrived to sample the above delights, and presented me with not only an eggcup that I haven't got, but also these fabulous Mexican 'Day of the Dead' mermaid earrings!  I just can't stop wearing them, thank you so much, both of you.

 And then, when I went to work on Tuesday, it was to be greeted by a large milk chocolate fish, a present from Sam, all the way from the Isle of Wight.  I think an evening spent eating this will definitely cheer me up from my temporary loss of seagulls.

And you never know, in my next blog I might be describing the seagull's new house, having had an offer for this one.  Or I might not, but there will be a new house for them sometime in the future.

Enjoy your next week ahead.  Be patient if you need to, and pro-active if that helps.

And more importantly, meet up with old friends to catch up, laugh, and to enjoy home-made cake.

See you all in the next week or two.

Here we are again, after another busy two weeks, this time with a lot of it having been spent creatively in the kitchen.  Happily, also with glimpses of beautiful countryside, a dash of culture, plus a little time having been spent creatively in the shed, hurrah!  This is commonly known as 'a holiday'.

Me and Mr Cooper kicked-off our holiday experience by hosting a dinner party.  Previous to that, I had left the hot and steamy kitchen full of young male chefs late on Thursday night, saying 'see you the week after next', to exchange it for another busy kitchen on Friday.  This one was not so hot and steamy, and I was promoted to actual chef, leaving me with Mr Cooper at the sinks at times.  I suppose he is still just younger than the combined age of three of my normal kitchen compatriots, but sadly not as quick on the chopping and washing front.

Saturday night saw us all feasting on slow-roasted leg of lamb, rosemary roast potatoes plus a selection of Persian salads.  As most people get even more excited by the dessert selection, I had factored this into my preparations, and we then enjoyed chocolate truffle torte, strawberries with raspberry puree and fresh cream meringues.  I do not mean that we chose what to eat from the above, we just ate it all!

Lots of fun was had, and it certainly set us up for the holiday week ahead!

My brother Mark and his youngest son Jem arrived on Tuesday morning, and after a light lunch, we sped away to the north of Petersfield, to show them both the two abandoned tractors that we had come across on our walks.  On the walk towards them, we paused whilst Jem enjoyed playing in an abandoned JCB. (We know how to have a good time, here in the country)

The sad news is that, although nothing is impossible, these two Masseys are very far gone.
So breathe a sigh of relief, Jayne, we are not expecting Philip to bring them to your farm for a restoration project!
Here are Jem, Mark and Mr Cooper looking very young and fresh before two tired tractors.  Not a good end at all for a pair of hard-working vehicles.

We then set off for a pint of beer to cheer us up, at the Pub With No Name, with me pausing only to do an 'art shot', because that is what I do.

We cheered ourselves up a little more when we got back by scooting down to 'The Travs' for a swift pint, before returning to enjoy a sausage feast. This was accompanied by another selection of salads, and also my son John.  He was not on the menu, but had come over to share in the festivities.

The next day saw us setting out fairly bright and early, to explore the delights of Selsey, a nearby seaside town.  Me and Mr Cooper are thinking of re-locating here, and we would love to meet anyone who doesn't look totally surprised and say 'Selsey???!!!' as if totally amazed, when we inform them of that fact.  Mark and Jem enjoyed the Selsey experience very much.  We looked around a house that me and Mr Cooper would like to move to,* then enjoyed a cafe fry-up, pausing on our drive back to wash it all down with a pint from 'The Crab and Lobster' at Sidlesham, one of my most favourite areas.  This is where me and Mr Cooper had our first wedding reception together.
The countryside here reminds me of the Fens, where I grew up, but with a lot more trees, the best of both worlds.

Later that day, we kept with the saltwater theme, and enjoyed a walk round the sea front in Nutbourne.  Such a beautiful walk, and only two fields away from the main road.  This walk helped us work on our appetite, as it was the night for an Indian takeaway for six, as both Sam and John were coming over (Sam much prefers an Indian takeaway to a sausage selection, particularly if it is from 'Memories of India,' just down the road from us at Bosham.)  And, if you are a member of the local gym, which we are, you get 15% discount on food from there.  A really good reason to attend classes, use the gym regularly and go swimming, between lashings of dhal and Peshwari naans.

On Thursday we had a day of culture and education, as we visited Fishbourne Roman Palace.  After our 3 hour visit, we really had learnt a lot, particularly as we had joined in with the guided tour.  And as is usual with learning more, we also realised that there was so much that we didn't know, mainly about Roman history!  It also struck me that it had been a while since I had visited what is sometimes described as a 'place of interest'.  It certainly also gave us lots to talk about, both during pre-dinner drinks down at 'The Travs', but also during that night's festive fare, a Shanghai Steamboat.  This was followed by poached apples topped with caramel shards, the apples being from Marks' own apple tree.

Early next morning saw me saying goodbye to Mark and Jem, and heading off to Midhurst with 10 paintings, which were destined for the walls of 'The Olive and Vine' where I was joining in with the annual Madhurst celebration of music and the arts.  Above are my two picnic paintings, 'Celestial Picnic' and 'Terrestrial Picnic' and in the picture below, Fluffy really does seem to be in heaven in the final one of the triptych, 'Fluffy Goes To Heaven'.

As I was busy that morning being an artist, Mr Cooper was assuming his very important role as 'Grandolph' as Rachael, Ben and young Henry came to stay for the weekend.

Here is Mr Cooper taking his role very seriously....

.....and perhaps now looking even more surprised than Henry at the height of the tower.

Here is one where they both look lovely, but one of them is looking on especially lovingly.

The next couple of days revolved around a couple of walks to The Travs, making sure Henry had a sufficient nap in the middle of the day, doing some much-needed garden maintenance, and roasting gunard one night, then creating a more classy dish the next  of 'poulet saute au vinaigre'.  Mr Cooper really loved that one, as he told me during the meal most effusively.  This also could be due to the fact that he had followed his couple of pints by a large gin, before quenching his thirst with some white wine.  Luckily, the second appearance of the chocolate truffle torte pleased everyone else around the table.

Sunday came all too soon, which meant we waved goodbye to Rachael, Ben and Henry, then got the fondue set out of hibernation, ready for Molly and Sam, later that evening.  As well as grating copious amounts of cheese, I made a classic old school dessert, treacle tart, ensuring butter and lard were used in the making of the pastry.

I had forgotten what fun it was to have a cheese fondue, especially with Molly and Sam, not forgetting Mr Cooper too.  The only disappointment was that the fondue wasn't large enough, but a game of 'Cards Against Humanity' soon put smiles back on our faces. (Especially mine, as I won!)

Another good result from this week of gaiety was that the first illustration for the cookery book was completed.  Here it is, hot off the paint brush.  And, wonder of wonders, the next one has already been started.  I have just got to get the idea for the third, now.

 Anyway, I hope you have lots of ideas if you need them, and not too many if you don't.  Plus, if you have a house for sale, I hope you have a stream of viewers.  If, like me, you are feeling a little sad and frustrated, just remember that Mercury is in retrograde at the moment, until the 3rd September, so just keep plodding on, and smiling!
Till then, don't plod too heavily, and do try to smile brightly!

* All sadly theoretical at the moment, as we still have a house to sell!

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'.