On the side of a lane near Taunton in Somerset. 

Well this morning is Christmas Eve and it has been a monumentaly busy run up to the Christmas festivities. What with a new kitchen being enstalled, preparing for an exhibition and to top it all we have both had a few physical problems. However the turkey is smiling nicely and resting in the fridge, we think that the shopping is done. Arangments for Christmas and the new year are just about sorted; we hope. Now this morning is the big clean up time and the great earranging of the livingroom time, so we can fit in the large table for all the guests. Phew, we are nearly there.

Two things, firstly dont stop painting, even if it is tacktfull to do a little less, then secondly, dont forget to spend a few moments each day thanking God for this season and his love for us.

So have a fantastic Christmas and I hope that Santa leaves you a lovely toy.

Happy Christmas

 

 A little about a coment by a reader of this blog about my change of style.

A change has been noted by myself as well. The painting on my last blog has a clean crisp edge to it; that was all deiberate and planned, but in the past not easily done due to my eyesight. Following surgery I see colours much more brightly, everything has much more contrast to it and amazingly and this was not what I was not expecting at all, my periferal vision is also much improved.

With the above in mind, I worked for three or four days trying to show the cleandliness of clour which I could now see and that was the result. One of the pictures leading up to it was the above; it is of the west end of Beer Bay, a simple water colour; but, produce in plein air on a wet morning, in the drizzel.

At times painting "Plein Air", or in simple words painting outside, can in this country be a tad tough; the boats picture was produced on a freezing morning, sat on the shingle beach in the teeth of a howling gale, that was a bit tough to put it mildly. Wherea the above, a water colour, was produced on a wet morning, neither were ideal conditions. On a warm, sunny afternoon with a gentle breeze passing by, painting outside is a rather lovely relaxing pastime; oh  for the weather to be like that each time I go out to paint. So painting in this country can be challenging, but really good fun. So find your log johns, wrap up and have a go.

 Good morning and you might have noticed that I have not placed a blog for a couple of weeks, the reason is simple, it is because we were away; it has been a busy time! We had a new kitchen instaled, which meant, no electricity, no water, builders around, so our lovely small masionette was rather crowded, not very warm and with no area for food preparation.The answer is simple, go away and leave them to it, which we did. 

At the same time I recied new eyes!!!! Well I had my cataracts removed and new lenses placed in both eyes; they were both done at the same time and the result is staggering. Iam delighted with my new vision, I cann't remember seeing like this before. I was working on an ink drawing the following day; the improvment continued for about four days until they reached an anastounding clarity of vision.. Thank you everybody for my lovely new eyes.

We went to Sidmouth, our favorite happy place for a few days and as usual visited to sketch that fishing village called Beer, see above; it was a tad chilly sitting on the stoney beach painting, note the wind in the flags,but it was good fun and then on to Taunton where we stayed with friends, before winding our way home via Bridgewater; we will not dwell on that, but the hotel was nice.

So we are now home, have a lovely new kitchen and eyes, so we are both happy

Good morning and thanky you all for your get well wishes. My eyes are now truely amazing, I cannt remembers ever seeing so well. We have been away for a few days to South Devon and Somerset, having had a jolly good rest, lots of painting and a few adventures.

Exeter catederal was so special, we found several wonderful works of art:  The "Madonna and Child" by Raphel, a painting which I also knew about called the "Virgin on the Rocks" by Leonardo De Vince and this mrosaic whjich is above, there. I need time at home to scan all the paintings, so as yet I can only show you the photos. I will be home in a few hours.

We stayed in two hotels and were looked after very well. Also fiends were seen in Taunton, which was special.

We have had a good trip and now to be honest, I just want to get home. Will write again when I am sorted out.