This morning iIwant to talk about not taking yourself to seriously.

Yesterday was great fun, as my wife and myself were working at a family weekend scout camp, of nealy two hundred persons in lovely wooded Surrey, at Beechmeer scout camp site.

Liz was providing drinks, whilst I was organising an all day art workshop.

I saw in an art shop the other day a packet of about sixty coloured biro type pens at a give away price and thought, "They look like good fun for some youngsters". As the workshop started several of the youngsters wanted to see me paint something. So I took the childrens pens (all were awfully bright and clashing colurs) and said what do you want me to draw; a surgestion of a boat was shouted back, so a boat it was to be. Then using the childrens gaudly coloured pens the above was created. I started with a gold pen, changing to other bright colours as it went on. Suprisingly the colours calmed down as the work progerssed.

Not a great work of art, but fun and the kids and families enjoyed it as well.  By not being pompous about correct materials and that sort of thing, everybody was very open to me and two things happened.

1   Everybody of all abilities had a good time, then amazingly;

2  Two adults who were present, showed remarkable artistic ability, which they were not previously aware of. Both intend to take up art as a future addition within their lives.

So don't be pompous, occasionally, when appropiate bcome a child again and enjoy playing. It is healthy and good for you.