Back to reality

I'm back from holiday and, as I sit here with the sun streaming through my studio window and warming the left side of my face, I feel a little out of sorts. Yes, I know I shouldn't, but I do.

It doesn't help to be reading a book entitled 'The Art of Dying'.

Perhaps when I pick the brush up and start painting I'll feel better. Perhaps when I catch up on a few blogs, I'll feel better still.

I invariably feel this way after a good holiday...especially after listening to world news or reading a national. I should also make certain that my calendar is clear following a break.

How would you feel if you lost your home?

Well, waddya know...the Sunderland v Chelsea game isn't until this weekend because of International fixtures last Saturday. Perhaps it's just as well that I'm out of the country...unless they show it on the ferry.

Anyway, I don't now why I'm speaking of such small things. Yesterday was a disastrous day for the owners of Dailypaintworks.com...the site that hosts and auctions my small paintings.

They just happen to live in Bastrop County in Texas and were just one family of approximately500 that lost their homes to the raging fires. Carol Marine (a fellow artist) gives her reaction along with what they managed to save as they evacuated. She wasn't able to save her larger paintings.

I just can't imagine how I'd feel if my home was burned down. Devastated wouldn't even come close. David and Carol seem unbelievably calm and practical about it all.

'All is well' he says...'We are safe and face a new beginning'.

How positive is that from a man who has just spent the past year building a new studio for his wife, only for it to be destroyed along with everything else.

It's made me think about where everything is, should I need to get them out in an emergency, because fire is something that can strike anytime and anywhere.

If you Google Texas fires, you'll get an indication of how big a disaster it is.

High life and a rich vein

Having read a bit about Lady Gaga, you can keep her...talented, yes, but I've decided to strike her off my Christmas card list for a whole load of reasons.All that's gold doesn't shine, are words from Dylan that come to mind. Actually,why am I still with Dylan after all these years? Perhaps I'm just picky when it comes to who I spend time with:)
I guess, in her defence, being a celeb has its own set of pressures and rules.

I've tasted the high life this week and felt a bit like a celebrity myself, having been featured in several local newspapers and radio, but you are pretty safe with me...I break no rules and my behaviour is predictably boringly safe...most of the time:)

I'm in Mansfield at the moment and it's 6:30 am. In a little while we'll be setting off for Sunderland to plaster my daughter's bedroom ceiling while she is on holiday. We'll then be attending Craig and Anna's wedding on Saturday before making the journey back to Newark. The biggest disappointment will be missing the Chelsea v Sunderland clash at the Stadium of Light...just minutes from the reception venue. We'll hear the roar of the crowd as we score and poor Craig will have difficulty making himself heard. Okay, we'll be a mile away, but a mile is nothing when 38,000 fans get excited. I'm so looking forward to the wedding, though...and the beach which is facing the reception hotel...and seeing family and friends, and walking barefoot in the sand, and...

Money can't buy what the weekend has in store for me and being poor affords such a rich vein of experience at times. 

I just hope Sunderland beat Chelsea. The reality will probably see us being beaten 3-0 but I'm already working on responding in a positive way:)

An off day only if I let it

I admit to knowing nothing about Lady Gaga other than having heard one of her songs today (which I liked).  I heard it said that she enjoys wallowing in loneliness as it's what makes her the artist she is.

I am an artist of sorts, albeit a few thousand leagues below her apparent calibre, and understand a little of the loneliness of the studio and the creative process. Thank goodness for music, radio and regular distraction. I don't think I would cope without modern technology.

Today wasn't a good day.

Imagine how I felt when, after hours of struggle, I dropped today's painting wet side down onto fibre rich carpet. The lady wasn't the only one feeling gaga.

All is well...I just had to scrape off, dust myself down psychologically speaking and start all over again.

They say that it's what life is all about, but I can do without it :)

Working with one family or another

Having spent the weekend at a CHinK charity sale and a work project at the home of one of my sons (which just about wore me out now that I sit here and feel the effects), oh, and socialising with Paul and Debbie...not to mention the normal routine of study, church, painting and shopping...I wonder if I'm not trying too hard to make the most of life.

More recovery time is a sentence that's bouncing around my brain right now...or have a more realistic calendar. The next four weeks show no signs of let-up and I can't amend anything. I guess I'll just have to stop complaining and be thankful for a full life:)

This is Friday's little painting which I forgot to post here...

Today the sun streams through the window as I sit to apply paint to canvas and I am grateful for the rest.

Here's today's offering...

Thomas Marent, the wildlife photographer, has kindly given me permission to paint this happy scene from a photograph found in several UK newspapers last week. I love the way the baby urang-utan is is trying to grab the parent's ear as they both screech for joy.

The details of the charity to which the proceeds of the sale will go, along with Thomas's website are over on my art blog.

Pennies from Heaven

And I still managed to paint.
Fist of all, this is yesterday's painting the proceeds of which will go to charity.

Details of the charity is over on my art blog.

Today's offering...with a little help from the girls...they told me what I needed to do.

Highlight of the day...Hollie emptying all the loose change from her mum's purse into my piggybank.

Guess who's babysitting tonight while Bev and daughter go out?

He just isn't that bad. Not all rogues are criminals.

In my humble opinion this is a very misleading headline...

I knew Norman as hard working, articulate, confident, considerate, positive, likeable, resourceful and enterprising rogue. He was even humble and teachable to a degree. Yes, he loaned money without authority to do so, but it was never a secret as far as I remember. They were short term loans made to a few desperate individuals until the next pay day. He saw it as offering a helping hand rather than anything more sinister and would struggle to get his money back. He also offered a gift wrapping service in the run-up to Christmas as well as trying to establish his office cleaning business.

I liked him. I still like him. He's more honest than most in my opinion and certainly a person not deserving of this article which is a touch misleading. If Norman says someone was lying, I would tend to believe him...but who would believe a loan shark?

I'm not condoning the practice of money lending registered or not, nor of Norman's actions. I'm merely pointing out that you shouldn't believe all you read.  Everyone that knew him saw an indefatigably happy, helpful, smiling and positive individual. Rarely would you see him like this photograph...unless he felt aggrieved.

I once had an accountant who fleeced us for a lot of money for services I later found out to be nothing to do with our type of business. He knew he was charging for such services. Yes, there are real criminals who are licensed to fleece us and they are often well respected. There are others that I have had personal experience with that should be locked up... but not Norman. I trust my instincts and can usually recognise if a person is hardcore criminal and evil to boot...not Norman. Give the man a break.

It makes you wonder who else the press hang out to dry.

On a separate note, but still with crime...I finished this book last week...

It's a true story that shocked Victorian Britain in June, 1860. It was recommended by a friend and, although a terrible crime, the book is also crammed...and I mean crammed, with interesting facts. It was a fascinating book that has to be read through to the last illuminating page. Don't be tempted to google the original case as it will reveal who the murderer was...or will it? Things are not as straightforward as they seem.

The only time I found myself drifting was during references to the great crime writers of the time, even though one of them was a certain Mr Charles Dickens. Mr Dickens had his own suspicions regarding this crime.

I think this is the first book I've read which is of a specific murder and, strangely enough, I would recommend it.

Todays little painting...

This is another study of Featherbed Rock in Seaham, NE England.