Back to painting

Today's efforts...This is Featherbed Rock on Vane Tempest Beach. I was supposed to do a small sample, but went straight ahead and painted it 24x24. It's about half-way there.

 This is a small 6x6 that is now sold, but I couldn't resist strengthening it before sending it off on Monday. When I varnish it tomorrow, those colours are going to explode. Can't wait.

Now how many times am I going to tinker around with this Irish rock pool? I'm a lot happier with the flowing water and am tempted to call it a day.

 A favourite scene of mine...a step closer to completion.

I can't wait to get painting full-time, but with France looming next week, I'll have to wait a while longer.

These are too big for my art blog so they'll end up on my website when finished.

We just nipped out about an hour ago for a treat (Chinese takeaway) and got caught in a truly violent storm...thunder claps and all... it was tremendous and we were drenched as we ran into Blockbusters to pick a film for the night.  We enjoyed Liam Neesom in Taken, so we picked another of his films just as the ceiling collapsed behind the counter.

We stood with dropped jaws at the torrent of water gushing from above and drenching the staff and stock. It was the most incredible scene and proved most entertaining. There was more water falling than the waterfall in the above painting. Of course, they couldn't operate the till so we eventually left empty handed as they emptied the store of customers and locked the door behind us.

The storm has now passed and the sun is shining.

That was an experience and a half and was one of those times that I wish I had my camera with me because I can't believe what just happened as I now look out of the window.

Couple of treats from last week

Had a great time last week and just one of the highlights was a first-time walk with my baby sister in Mowbray Park. We paused to sit in both of these which were about 500 yards apart, to read the words.

How would you finish each verse?

Another special date was with my daughter who treated me to a concert for father's day to watch Ron Sexsmith at the Sage.

The big old bridge is Newcastle and the new Millennium Bridge is Gateshead...the Sage Theatre (mirror cladded armadillo) is in the middle above Juli pulling faces...

 The old bridge...

 We stayed after the concert to watch the various colours of the tilting bridge...Pity my camera doesn't stay focused for bright lights, but it gives an idea...

 Juli still in wacky mood...

The bridge fully tilted...how can you tell I didn't take the photo?

I'm a lucky dad, eh?

She did make me work though :)

The full verses from Mowbray Park...

If love was a lion, it would purr like iron, burn bright as orion.

If love was a rose, we'd watch how it grows, learn all the secrets it knows.

A first time experience

This is what I wrote and should have posted before going to Sunderland ten days ago. I'm back now and feel a new man having had almost 12 hours much needed sleep last night.

22nd June...The drive is finished and looking good, although I think I'd like another sprinkling on top and whack it down nice and firm. I'll have to wait because the gravel is out of stock...as if I care. I welcome the break.

I've never caught a train from Newark to Durham and am looking forward to to this first-time experience. When Chris picks me up at the other end and drives me to Sunderland, I will be at the mercy of Juli for a week or so.

I expect the list of jobs to have already been penned and their completion eagerly anticipated. Roll on tomorrow for my first-time experience...and another chance to be of use.

Enjoying Wimbledon
Enjoying the chocolate from Father's Day
Enjoying not feeling guilty about those extra few strips of  chocolate today
Enjoying the warm days
Enjoying waking up
Enjoying ticking off the jobs completed
Enjoying reading blogs
Enjoying hitting the pillow
Enjoying my dreams

Not enjoying feeling zapped around lunchtime and having to push myself.

Can't seem to fit everything into my day anymore.

Another study of Vane Tempest Beach...or should I say two. I'm fiddling around with it and I shouldn't. This one is the latest version...a little rougher.

I was also busy with the drive...not sure if Bev will be pleased.

It's strange, but I feel as if I'm running out of time even though I have all the time in the world right now.

Sunset

I'm so happy that I felt hungry to paint today.

Here is an oil study from my sunset walk with Juli along Vane Tempest beach last week.

The walk only lasted an hour or so, but was special because we shared the same space; just the two of us for a change...and the two people fishing...and the two canoeists.

The dying rays of the sun seemed to breathe life into everything it touched. Had Juli not insisted we go, I would have missed an unmissable experience.

Golden Memories

I was in Sunderland for the funeral service of uncle Ronnie, and it was great to see the family and visit old haunts.

It's been 42 years since I was in Barnes Park so I was glad Juli took me back on the way to pick Susan up from work at the hospital (she works on the ward where I was born).

I was particularly impressed with the way they turned trees upside down, carved faces and painted them ...

I loved these seats...

And this water feature...featuring Hollie...

These reminded me a little of the steps of an Inca Temple...currently used for people to run up and down to get into shape...Juli and Hollie declined.

Me, my sisters, one of my brothers and two Aunties at the get together...

Mowbray Park...The place I used to go for lunch when I first started work...a tramp sat next to me and helped himself to my sandwiches on my very first day. I also used to catch tadpoles in this pond...

This is what's in the glass building (Winter Gardens)...

Emmaleigh and Aimee were singing to the Lady Mayoress with their school friends (in the same park)...

Do you still think Annabelle and Hollie are cute:)

Spent some time at sunset with Juli at Vane Tempest Beach (six minute drive)...

Met a Leeds lass, fishing...

A golden memory to go with the rest over the past few days.

End of the road

The football season has finished and Sunderland rallied to take 10th spot. Stadia across the country are now being used for other events.

Recently, the girls went to see 'Take That' with Robbie Williams at the Stadium of Light (Sunderland's ground), and me and the boys went to the 'Monster Jam' at Pride Park (Derby County's ground). We then all met up at our house for a family get-together and a walk along the river on the Sunday.

I tried and failed to upload a video of the monster jam. It was brilliant...and very loud.

The past two weeks have been hectic even though I'm officially unemployed. My work with Vodafone  finished last Tuesday, but I've been working hard with all the jobs around the house which are never finished.  I'm looking forward to having employment again so that I can have time to relax and paint:)

It's the end of the road for our rose arch...it's currently being supported with rope until reinforcements arrive.

An extra visit from Juli, Danny, Aimee Abs and Hollie meant a welcome break for me...Juli is inside trying to educate her grandma on using the controls of the armchair she's brought her (not an easy task) Annabelle and Hollie opted for me and the front garden seat while Danny and Aimee settled in front of the computer.

I've been busy building two brick pillars in the front garden to match the others so that the twisted fence panels can be fixed to them to straighten them out. I would prefer a brick wall, but I don't have enough old bricks...they are hard to find. Here they are all stained and straight...I just have the tops of the pillars to do. The gravel has just arrive so I'll be busy with the drive now.

I went into the loft to try and find my extension cable and work hat. I found neither, but came down with millions of old photographs to sort. It's so good to have a visual reminder of all the good times bringing up a family...I never photograph bad times although I do tend to capture our kids having a strop from time to time:)

Tomorrow I'll be off to Sunderland to attend the funeral of Uncle Ronnie who passed away while we were having our family walk along the river. No, he wasn't with us...he was back home in Sunderland at the time of our walk here in Newark.

Here I go again...regretting not spending more time with my uncle...the last one in the family. He was quite a character with a wicked sense of humour. I really should have found the time in this time-vanishing world of mine.