We just took three days off and went to Hayling Island for no better reason than neither of us had been there before and we were due a few days rest; it was also Liz's birthday.

Hayling Island is one of contrasts, to the south a little like out of season Blackpool, whilst the north east (where we were staying), could better be compared with the Suffolk countryside and Constable paintings. Everybody was very friendly and food was available at very reasonable prices. We highly recommend the Barley Mow, which we came to call disrespectfully and unfairly the miserable cow.

It was a little chilly for lengthy outdoor painting sessions, so I was limited to short pencil sketch's, which were worked up later on in the evenings. The above, called the Kench, is where rather old boats in a muddy inlet have been converted into homes.

As I said the Isle was an area of contrasts, more in a few days.