Not everyone wakes up on Sunday morning, hoping it is raining, but we did today.  And not only was it raining, it was raining hard enough to have the desired effect.  Cricket was cancelled!

Mr Cooper was very pleased with this result, and settled down happily to listen to radio 4, and to look forward to roast chicken.

 Last sunday the weather was glorious, as was the cricket tea that I produced.  When I went over to the ground to set it all out, Mr Cooper was busy fielding.  He actually chooses to be the wicket keeper!  I think I would prefer to be in 'silly mid-off' but always watching out for any 'googlies'.

 As I laid out the last plate of cakes (iced ginger shortbreads, to be precise), one of the opposition said to me "And how many of those cakes have you actually made?'  

I felt justifiably smug when I said "All of them, actually" which wiped the smirk from his face and happily they went on to narrowly lose the game, ha ha!

Last weekend, as well as baking and buttering, I spent quite a time getting ready for the 'Hands on your Memories' workshop.  As this was to be the first workshop in a new venture, I packed lots of varied materials to cover a range of outcomes.  There were so many 'unknown factors' that I wasn't even sure whether the target audience would be there.  

The brief was to facilitate the making of 'memory cushions' for elderly members of the community in Fratton.  It was a good job that I was geared to be flexible as none the people who attended were elderly, most of them had children at school, one woman had a young daughter with her, and almost all of the participants Bangladeshi. It was a pleasure to work with them, and it became a really fun and productive 2 hours, with most of the women wanting to know when date for the next workshop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUNZxyZDE1I

And on a purely personal level, it was also really fascinating to see my material remnants become a different work of art in another's hands.  Here are some of the results.

This design features motifs cut from one of my Christmas dress fabrics, plus edging for the aprons I made for close friends and family, after my garden wedding to Mr Cooper.  It is going to become the design on the back of a denim jacket.

This little bag is made from the dress fabric that I wore in the evening of my register office wedding, again to Mr Cooper.

This one is made from my 'posh summer frock' fabric, plus apron decoration.

And lastly, posh summer frock, whacky summer frock and Christmas dress.

It was really uplifting to see them being used in many different ways.  

I am looking forward to meeting Melanie Rose this coming Friday, at the Aspex Gallery, who is leading this new venture which I am so pleased to be part of.  http://www.aspex.org.uk/events/generate-workshops-for-people-with-dementia/

On Friday I was all set to start work on the crucifixion image, but not without trepidation.  As well as the importance and significance of the subject matter, it is a very technically challenging project, and I have spent many an hour last week lying in bed in the middle of the night, considering ways to overcome some of these.  The first challenge was actually one I had not foreseen.  As soon as I started the initial preparations, the heavens opened so I was unable to carry the work to my shed, and had to quickly transform the dining room into a temporary studio space.  

Mr Cooper does so love it when I spread my work out all around the house!

You will see no more of this project now until it has made its first appearance, when Nigel White preaches for the first time. http://www.missiontent.co.uk/

But after that first obstacle, work proceeded swiftly, which was handy as the dining room is needed this Sunday, when it will be filled with friends Susie and Werner, and roast chicken.  Plus a chocolate and raspberry pavlova to follow.

Book club next Wednesday.  I look forward to it with interest, as the choice was mine. It proved to be a remarkably interesting book, but in no way an easy read. Half way through it, I took a light-hearted break from it, to read a modern day version of Emma.

I found this book most enjoyable, and a really good interpretation of 'Emma'.  As well as being a Jane Austen fan, I very much enjoy the works of Alexander McCall Smith, especially those set in Edinburgh, unlike my Mum and big bro.  

(Thanks for the book you sent me, Si, I am really looking forward to reading it)

So, here is the book I chose for the girls to read,

I think that our opinions of it will be extremely varied, and the book will not have been liked by many.

But all will be revealed on Wednesday.

I whole-heartedly agree with the comment by Anthony Burgess from the back of the book,

                                                                                   and I will re-read the book very soon. 

If I used some of the phrases as quotes, not only would it be extremely funny, but also highly offensive! 

You will have to read the book, to see what I mean.  If it were a programme on TV, there would be many and varied  warnings about it!

And I leave this week with something else to look forward to, which is definitely not washing up at 'The Greyhound'!  If you ever want a difficult 12 hours, make sure you are in an extremely hot and busy kitchen with 2 chefs who are actively hating each other, falling out, and generally making life difficult for all.  Thank goodness for the 'Young At Heart Club' whose friendship humour makes a sometimes bad experience bearable!

What I am looking forward to, as well as roast chicken, lunch in 'The Moose' pub on Monday, and book club, is another commission.

  My friend Gareth the poet's mum wants me to paint her a seagull in flight, against a blue sky/rocky cliff background.  I went to tell my shelf of seagulls this, and most of them immediately spread their wings, hoping I would choose them to be the model for it!

Wishing you all a happily productive week ahead. 

 I look forward to sharing the coming week with you all.  And don't forget to have fun!

What a week!  But then, I seem to be able to say that about every week at the moment.

Monday saw Mr Cooper and myself travelling to the Wimbledon School of Art, with my 3 entries for the Jerwood Drawing Prize.  It is the 3rd year that I have entered this prestigious event, and the first year I have entered more than one drawing.  Mr Cooper was enlisted to carry the two smaller works, and I wrestled with the largest work.

Wednesday morning found me baking flapjacks before doing my fortnightly hoover for Joyce, then in the afternoon, for the first time, I went to see John at work at Butser Ancient Farm.  Instead of carrying salt and pretty beads to pacify the natives, I had armed myself with flapjack, not knowing how many woodworkers there would be on the site.  It wasn't hard to spot the most important one for me.

Here is John shaping some oak to fit as part of the construction of the timber frames.  These are made on the ground, using tools the Saxons would have used (I bet they wished chainsaws or even saws had been invented by then, but sadly they hadn't)  When the frames are all complete, they will be raised and joined together.  Hopefully I will have enough time to be able to visit again this coming week, bearing more edible gifts to pacify and refresh the woodworkers.

 Above is the view of one of the frames, and also the back view of Darren Hammerton, who is in charge of the design and construction of the longhouse.  He has a very nice front view too!

My culinary discovery this week came from a brilliant book, the latest in this series.  I know some of you are familiar with these books.  For those of you who are not, they are well worth discovering!

In this book, the heroin, detective and scientist Flavia de Luce, aged 12, tells of her discovery of how to make the best hard boiled egg, with no discolouration around the yoke.  Don't boil, just steam!

And it works a treat.  Steam the egg over boiling water for exactly 10 minutes then cool in a bowl of cold water for the same time, roll to break the shell then peel and enjoy. This is the way forward for me.

I have come up with a culinary idea for another cake,  this one based on a game from my childhood. Granny Beba bought a game for us all called 'Mousie Mousie' and I thought I could easily turn the game into a decoration for the top of a cake ( it was a very simple game)

I told Mr Cooper that I had an idea for a cake that I would make for when we get together with Mum, my bothers and our various offspring in August. 

 "I have come up with an idea for a cake that will really make everyone smile,"  I said.

"What," said Mr Cooper in all seriousness.  "You are going to put cannabis in it?"  

 I think Mr Cooper has been such a long member of his own 'Young at Heart' club that he has reverted back to his college days!  I had to explain that, sadly but responsibly, the fun would be in my design for the decoration, based on 'Mousie Mousie.'  I will let you know how it progresses.

The reason that this particular blog is arriving later than usual, is as last Saturday, Mr Cooper, myself and Sam set sail for Eye, to take Mum on another short break to Sheringham.  We had the added bonus of seeing Si, Nik and Lucas on at Mum's on Saturday evening where we all enjoyed a cold collation, Pimms without gin, Pimms with gin (thank you Juliette for telling me how good that is!) then a little more gin before bedtime. 

On Sunday, Si, Nik and Lucas left for Glasgow, and we set sail along the coast road to Sheringham, pausing only for coffee and sausage roll at Norfolk Lavender, and a brilliant lunch at Cley, at the 'George and Dragon'.  Only order a dessert there if you are feeling mighty hungry, which you won't be after their  stunning mains.  Lovely food, lovely location, lovely decor.

We stayed again at the Two Lifeboats, and it was such a treat be able to lie in bed, hearing and seeing the sea.  We also saw some of the Norfolk Broads, a wherry, a paddle steamer, beautiful sunsets over the sea and many menus.  But that was when we had got out of bed.

Back home and back to reality……….I had to work in the kitchen 2 days back to back, which means I am in bed between shifts for about five and a half hours.  So on Friday, feeling rather tired and washed out, it was a bit sad to get my rejection email from the Jerwood Drawing Prize.  I didn't really think my drawings would be accepted, but there was always a ray of hope shining through.

Here is a section from one of the rejections, a topical slice.  All change at Woodfire soon, as Tom is leaving.  I hope to have a guest appearance as a KP before then, as it would be fun to work with him and Sam together, one more time.  

When Mr Cooper and I made the return journey to Wimbledon Art College, to collect the rejects, I did ask how many drawings they had received at that centre.  It was 30,000, and that is one of 10 centres nationwide, so my rejection felt less painful alongside those figures.  Plus, all 3 works made it through to the first round!  Better luck next year, keep buggering on.

One piece of excitement for me is happening this coming Monday.  I was asked last week if I would lead a textiles workshop, working with elderly residents from a centre in Portsmouth, to create a memory cushion.  This is a very new and exciting venture, and has come along at just the right time for me.  I have been wanting to work with people to help them to use art to express emotions, getting away from using art in a school/exam content.  I will let you know how the first ever session went!

And to leave you with a piece of calm, at the end of a still hectic week ( I have to do the cricket teas tomorrow. I came back from London to create other works of art in the form of many cakes, all recipes from the Green Donkey Cookery Book.)  

Feast your eyes on a photograph of the replica iron age dwellings at Butser Ancient Farm.  A lovely place in such a beautiful part of England.

I will try to see you all in one week's time, not two, for the next thrilling episode of my life, and the excitement of being an artist in my fifties!  How did that happen?  Have a great week.

Here it is at last, my commission that I couldn't show you until now.  This was because it was for my niece Olivia 'Masterchef' Haslam's 21st birthday, which was on the 4th July.  So of course Olivia had to see it before all of you did.

It was a really enjoyable commission to do, especially as my brief was to create a painting for Olivia's 21st birthday, my choice of what it was about.

I spent a week taking my sketchbook out and about with me, jotting down ideas, reviewing sketches, and boring Mr Copper every time we went out for a drink (which we always do responsibly) by producing my sketch book and saying 'What do you think…..?'

So this painting is all about being in a sunny cafe in Hunstanton, with a plate of meaningful cakes.  From Chinese chews on the bottom layer, owl-eye biscuits on the middle layer, and topped by an individual avocado cheesecake, a dessert created by Olivia, when she was on Masterchef.

My current commission is proceeding well, the design has been approved, and materials ordered, for the creation of the crucifixion image.
Last year I made a fluttery silk flag for a friend, another fun commission, and one which also gave me a real boost in the technical know how, something which I am using again for the crucifixion commission.  Here is the fluttery flag I made for friend John.

Son Sam is on 2 weeks holiday, and is spending some time with us, which is lovely.  Son John is not on holiday, and is making a model steam engine from scratch, in his spare time.

We decided to have a barbecue on the Saturday night, and Sam requested a fish barbecue. 

 'Don't worry about getting the fish, I will do all that', he said, and went on to talk about lobster, turbot and scallops.  Mr Cooper wondered whether to get sausages too, but I convinced him that we were in for a glorious, plentiful, fishy feast.

On Thursday I asked Sam if he had ordered it all, and he said not to worry, as he was going out on Saturday to buy it.

I had to work at the sinks on Saturday, so I saw Sam that morning, and asked if he had the fish.  Not yet, was the answer.  Later on he rang me to ask if he was getting the fish for everyone, or just himself. When told that the original idea had been for everyone (all three of us) he asked if we liked mackerel, as he was thinking of buying 4, one each and one for second helpings!

We did end up having a lovely barbecue, with a mackerel each and some chicken in Sam's special marinade and of course I had made lots of salads.  The sun shone, we drank beer (Mr Cooper) rose wine (me) and rum with pineapple tropicana (Sam, of course) and took it in turns to choose our favourite tracks.  Bliss.

Last week saw the completion of summer dress number two.  I really love the fabric for this one.

Last week also saw me complete the entry for the National Open Art Competition, as the deadline for that was the 5th July.  Although it is an online entry, so work does not have to be delivered, it still takes a big chunk of time to add your CV, write about the work, photo, measure and price it all.  So that was on Friday, when 2 of my ink drawings sped through the ether, at a cost of £20 each, to join all the other entries.  The ones I entered are shown below.

'Awakening Conscience…..'

and 'Deepening Conscience…..'

Seeing them again has made me think of ideas for a third in the series, I will show you when these ideas become visual.

Last week was really good on the reading front.  I got a detective novel from the library that was so good that I actually rationed my reading of it, to make it last longer!  Here it is.

If you enjoy reading crime, I thoroughly recommend you read the Tony Hill novels, as well as everything else by Val McDermid.

And after working on Saturday, I had the urge to make Sunday extra special.  Roast chicken to please Mr Cooper, and the two items below to please me.

Thanks Dan (fellow K.P from 'The Travs') for giving me the chocolate as a short-lived present!

Well, another week ending, another one beginning.  As always, I aim to, in the words of Sir Winston Churchill, 'keep buggering on'. Or KBO, for short.
Or, put another way, just  'keep flying the flag.'

Whichever you choose to do, I look forward to being with you again, next week.  Have a good one!

The first week of austerity, as Mr Cooper is without his regular job.  After a deep discussion on saving money, I have agreed to buy the gin in future.  This should keep our heads above water!

Talking of water…..a long time ago, Mr Cooper said he would buy me a swimming costume when I was able to swim two lengths of crawl without a break.  Today, I managed to do just that, spurred on towards the end by the thought that if I succeeded,  I wouldn't have to do it again for a while.
 Here is my new costume!

And another has been promised, when I can swim four lengths of continuous crawl.  Well, that won't be for a little while.  If it could be in breast-stroke or back-stroke, I could have many new costumes!

We embarked on another money-saving scheme, last Wednesday.  As Mr Cooper is not working on Wednesdays now, we went to The Gribble, to redeem our voucher. (Basically, I had to drink a bottle of wine at lunchtime, in order for Mr Cooper to get 25% of his next bill, when he lunches there next week with Jim and Dave.)  What a hardship!
 http://gribbleinn.co.uk/  Have a look.  A beautiful pub, with its own brewery!

 Last time we went to The Gribble, for reasons best known to ourselves, I pretended I was a world famous artist, flying to New York the next day for my exhibition.  And Mr Cooper, rock guitarist, was taking a break from recording his latest album, prior to touring. We both ended up laughing so much  that I nearly had to go outside to compose myself.
Just in case anyone thinks a liquid lunch is a good idea, just make sure you are not having to work the next day………...

On Tuesday night after work at The Greyhound, I found John busily sharpening a selection of woodworking tools ready for the next day, using a diamond honer.  He is helping to construct the Saxon longhouse at Butser Ancient Farm, using only the type of tools that the Saxons had (they did not have a saw!)  http://www.butserancientfarm.co.uk/
 I said he should stay over at The Gables soon, and he said that Wednesday would be great, then gave me a leg of lamb to cook for the occasion, from a Manx sheep that had been trotting around Butser Ancient Farm not too long ago.  If you ever have the chance to eat a Manx sheep, please take it.  A small animal, with very little fat, and a great flavour, especially the back legs!

Here is one, looking a little sheepish.

So all we had to do was buy the veg, and dig up another potato plant!  Another cheap meal in our first week of austerity.  I don't think opening a bottle of red to accompany the lamb helped with how I felt the next very long day a work.  Especially as both John and Mr Cooper didn't want any!

I am working on my next commission, again from Nigel White.  He is preaching for the first time on the 9th August, and I am creating an image of the crucifixion of Jesus, which will be present at the event.  http://www.missiontent.co.uk/
Luckily last year I created a piece of work for a friend, which made me learn about a whole new technique, and one which I will be using in the work for Nigel.

I can't show you anything about my latest commission till after the 9th August, and I can't show you my other completed commission for another week or so.  But I can show you a creation from last week, ready for my trips to Sheringham in July, and Puglia in September.

It was lovely to see Juliette and Colin over the weekend, as they were staying just down the road, at a campsite between our house, and the Travellers Joy.
 They went to the Festival of Speed at Goodwood, an event that makes you very thirsty, both before and afterwards. It was great to be able to chat without having to break off to wash pots and pans, and mash potatoes, if it is Tuesday. (Chatting makes you thirsty, too)

I spent part of the weekend starting to de-clutter, beginning with a very dusty exploration exploration under the spare room bed. After a productive two hours, I took a load of clothes to the charity shop, some with sadness.  I put on some clothes for the last time, and was tempted to keep them.  But I decided I had, as a member of the 'Young at Heart' club, to dress nearer my age, not my chest size!

Then one trip to the tip, with less sadness, and then I discovered 3 paintings I had totally forgotten about.  Much happiness!  I painted them after my beautiful cat Fluffy died after having been hit by a car.  I found here on the verge opposite our house. The three paintings are designed to by hung one above the other, and show her ascent into Fluffy Heaven.  The top one, Fluffy Heaven, is not quite complete, as she will be surrounded by all the things she would like to find in heaven.  Namely, milk, cream, and mice.

Here they are, in heavenly order…..

Having re-discovered them, I will now complete 'Fluffy in Heaven'.  I was going to say it will provide me with a little light relief from creating the crucifixion image, but really, I think working on both concurrently will fit together really well.

And on the keeping- awake front, I have managed to stay awake fairly successfully in my evenings at home this week, by avidly knitting.  The front and back are complete, and the first sleeve has been cast on.

Should be finished ready for autumn.

Have a great week, whatever you are doing.  Looking forward to joining you all next weekend.

Just taking a break away from painting, to write my blog.

What looked to be a relatively straightforward week became crazier than a coconut………

There was I, calmly drawing the Owslebury Show sign, then equally calmly painting it thinking I was working to the agreed timescale.  After an email check, I discovered that the show's hosts would like it ready a week sooner if possible.  At a squeeze, I thought, if I start to paint it like a woman possessed.
And also, if life this week treats me kind.

Mr Cooper has a voucher for lunch with a free bottle of wine at the Gribble Inn, and he had a day off from school on Wednesday.  Before the new timescale on Wednesday I was swimming at 7am, working for Joyce in the morning, enjoying a slightly liquid lunch, then emerging for bookclub at 8pm.

Then Joyce rings to ask whether I could do some weeding, as well as housework, as her gardener mows lawns but isn't really what you'd call a gardener.  This would extend my hours on Wednesday and perhaps add some on Friday too.  Answer yes, but my new plan then is, swim at 7 am, work for Joyce 10-1, paint furiously 1.30-6.30, eat soup, attend bookclub, then in bed ready for a 6 am start for a day at the Greyhound.  And goodbye to my slightly liquid lunch!

Plus, a phone call on Tuesday says it is our turn to do the cricket teas on Sunday.  So, add to this the production of a variety of cakes…..but none with pink or sparkly icing.  The cricketers tend not to eat them, as pink is not a manly colour, and as for sparkles……...

So Wednesday morning early swimming, in the medium lane……..it was great practising my stroke in slow motion, and the words 'doing the crawl' took on a whole new meaning, as that was also the speed I was going.  Let's just say that on a Wednesday morning at the pool, I am not only a member of the 'Young at Heart' club, but also the 'Young in Body' club too!

Sunday 15th June, liberation day for the Falkland Islands.  Our local very kindly flew our flag for this event, as Sarah, Mr Cooper's youngest beautiful daughter, lives in the Falklands with her fiance, Ali.

Wednesday evening saw me attending a very exclusive book club.  There had been a mix up somewhere along the line, which resulted in only Diane and myself discussing the book, whilst eating freshly made onion rings, courtesy of Keith, and lots of cheese.  All in all, although not what we expected, the evening was most enjoyable.

The book is definitely worth reading, but with tissues nearby.

I was very tired at work on Thursday, as a few days of painting at every available opportunity made me feel that I was definitely in the 'Young at Heart Not Body' club.  But when I got back from work after midnight, there was good news…Cricket was cancelled, so no baking, no sandwich making, and I had my Sunday back.

Early Saturday morning saw me entering the shed……………

 and leaving it 5 hours later.

Then repeat on Sunday, but this time when I left the shed, I had finished the board!
www.owsleburyhorticulturalshow.co.uk/

Whilst I had been occupied, Mr Cooper had been opening his father's day cards and gifts.
I rather think he did more opening than Mr Hofman would have been doing!

 And to round off a Sunday that just kept getting better, we were able to enjoy our first vegetables this year, from the garden.

So, two commissions completed, and another really interesting one just round the corner.  You will have to join me next week, to find out about that one.
 In the meantime, I hope you all have a good week ahead.

How lovely it was to wake up on Friday, and to realise I had 3 days ahead of me, in which I can work.  In my life, this means I can paint….hurrah.  An activity which is often interrupted by washing up for money, and social activities.

Last weekend was a whirl of social activities, as we went to a family BBQ in Bristol.  Mr Cooper was a bit uneasy as we crossed the river, as the BBQ was being held 'south of the river' in Bristol.  And we were leaving the land of Bristol Rovers (gas heads) to go into the alien land of Bristol City (something-else heads)

We had a lovely day, but 2 things remained in my mind afterwards.  Firstly, although being older means you are almost certainly invisible to those aged 35 and under, and it does mean that you have gained some wisdom.  As a consequence, we did not drink the punch.  It was like being in a game of skittles, and watching the punch-drinking pins fall all around you throughout the afternoon.
Secondly, when someone said 'I do love your shoes', and I said 'thank you,' it came as a sadness to realise it was Mr Cooper she was speaking to, not me! As one who has many different and wonderful shoes, it was sad for not only my face to be invisible (too old) but also my footwear (eclipsed)

They are rather good, though.  As son Sam said later, that is what will happen if we visit the Dr Marten outlet shop in Gunwarf Quay, and I encourage Mr Cooper to make a purchase.

Returning to real work…….I need to get my Owslebury Show board ready for painting today, adhesive removed, rubbed down and primed, and tomorrow the design can be applied.

Here it is on Monday, after 4 layers of primer and five hours of painting.

And also, I have another commission I am very excited about, but one which I can't show you yet, as it is for someone who is a reader of this blog.

Also this weekend, I must read the bookclub book as we meet on Wednesday.  I have been putting this on hold as I have been absolutely captivated by reading 'The Sea' The Sea' by Iris Murdoch.  I finished it this morning, and I am so glad I have read it, this one will stay with me.  A story on so many levels.

Sam was 24 on Wednesday.  When I had got to his house in the morning, put the candles in the cake, and then said 'I have got my camera with me' (another quaint habit from a 'young at heart' person, my camera is separate to my phone) he said, I suppose you only want this for your blog, and ambled off.
Here are his cards, his cake (a recipe for the Green Donkey Cookery Book, Cold Tea Cake)
and the family cat, Millie.  She is in one of her natural habitats which is on top of the table.  Luckily, she doesn't like fruit cake.

Millie hasn't really got red spikes, she is posing in front of an artwork of a shark.

Then Sam and his parents went off to have a fabulous lunch at Tanoshi Fusion in Winchester.
http://www.tanoshiifusion.co.uk/
The food was amazing ( I want to go again, and eat what just I had before, with the addition of soft-shelled crabs) the staff presented Sam with a birthday desert, and sang 'Happy Birthday' all the way through, and George, whilst insisting his remarks were linguistic, not racial, was eventually persuaded not to continue saying 'this chicken is rubbery' 'aaaah so' and others.
If you live near enough to eat there, do so.  Not only are the flavours amazing, but the textures are awesome.

And as well as all that, my jumper is progressing nicely…….

And my shoes for this weekend are these, chosen for being unsuitable for someone over 50.

Looking forward to catching up with you all in a weeks time.

Well, back to writing one day out of seven, plus a paragraph on Monday!

A busy week again, hampered by back pain.  This receded, came back a bit, then went crazy when I was bent forward for 2 hours, completing my artwork on Monday for the Owslebury Show. 

Working at The Greyhound on Tuesday was not good. 

Then after 3 increasingly better days, and an appointment with the osteopath booked for later today, I woke to have a bright idea……..

Earlier this week I was feeling really despondent about the state of the garden this year, really because I have been able to do very little gardening.

Susie had sent me a photo of her beans, not only grown from scratch, planted and looking good, but starting to twine around homemade bean sticks.  I looked over at my vegetable patch, a mass of vegetation, but not all from the vegetables I had planted!

When Juliette (young at heart club) bought me 3 courgette plants yesterday, as an anniversary present (many thanks Juliette, looking forward to sharing the harvest with you) I took these home along with some French runners my son John had grown.  He did protest a little, but not too much, and mainly in riddles.  We shall have beans, I thought.  And a lovely garden (perhaps, might just stick to beans)

Knowing I would not be able to do any digging or exercise after my visit to Jonathan, I got up early to dig and clear enough ground for the beans and courgettes,

 and then I painted more of the bathroom ready for the seagulls, then off to Southsea for manipulation.

So now I have to take it easy for 3 days (what a hardship.) All that remains for me to do today is to continue to arrange my seagulls and shell art collection into their new home.

Above is some of my shell art collection, the really amazing ones purchased many years ago when I was visiting Robin Hood's Bay with Nigel White.  Look at these beauties.

And on Thursday it was a real pleasure to meet up with the same Nigel and his wife Jennifer in Woodfire, Stockbridge, to show them the preliminary design for the Owslebury Show. (They are the show coordinators) We also had a chat with the junior sous chef from Woodfire, as Nigel had not seen my son Sam for many years.

Presenting the design was a success, nothing needs to be changed, and next week I can expect delivery of the 8 x 4 foot board, and start work on it.

Here is the preliminary design, and you will be able to see its progress.

So, from being sad at my lack of progress, I now have a much better back, a really good reason to relax over the weekend, a job to look forward to, a patch of garden to plant, and a newly decorated home for all my seagulls.  What a difference a couple of days make.

As well as that, I have had fun buying presents for the junior sous chef, who is 24 next Wednesday.

Here he is on his 23rd birthday, just going to enjoy a cake flavoured and decorated with lemon balm….from my garden, of course.

I said to Mr cooper that I hadn't realised that Sam was living with us, this time last year.  I thought it had been longer ago.  Oh no, said Mr Cooper. Sam was definitely living with us last year.  He said it as if it was still very much in his mind.