Another week starts and the ongoing coping with the living a quiet life continues.  As it often happens the feelings to get away for a while are with me, to have a break, a holiday, to chill out a little and relax; it sounds nice; so why not go to Jersey in the Channel Islands for a day or two in my mind and work up a few sketches and photos from a trip there a few years ago.

The place is the Corbiere Lighthouse on the rocky southern tip of Jersey in the Channel Islands, you might recognize it from travel pictures on TV or in magazines, it is a wonderfully iconic place. Liz and myself have been fortunate enough to have been there twice; on this visit, the first, it was a glorious day, but the wind, was blowing a monstrous gale. I did a sketch, but had great difficultly holding my pad steady. With a wind like that you certainly didn't go near the sea edge; it was difficult standing, let alone sitting and drawing; my foot was on my bag, with the shoulder strap wound round my leg, I kept my jacket on so that it wasn't blown away. It is amazing that it was possible to draw a straight and steady line, but it was good fun and I had  lovely time. We returned a few years later with Michael (one of our sons) and it was like a millpond.

I have moved round the island at the moment and am painting at Gorey; you will see that in a few days.

Must get on. Duncan