Mum

It would have been my Mum's 60th birthday on the 15th March. We have also just had Mother's Day. So, Mum, wherever you are, Happy Birthday and Mother's Day. Yeah, I know it's late but I am bad with birthdays. Obviously she's been on my mind a lot, if not always consciously. I dreamt about her too, which I hadn't for a while. I don't remember much about it. It's the dreams that upset you that are the more memorable. Around these dates and anniversaries, the emotional fabric is so thin. It doesn't take much to tear it. The lyrics of a song, a scene in a film or book. Then the feelings spill out. It's ok though, and it's necessary. I miss her and sometimes it hurts. It's that simple.

We spent the weekend in Dartmouth ("we" being my partner Mike and I).There was stuff to sort out for the exhibition and Mike has the house to worry about. It's always fun to go to Dartmouth, and I seem to know more people there than I do up here. I certainly socialize a LOT more...and drink a lot more too! We went to see a so-so comedy show on the Friday evening. This girl we saw gets good reviews, but I wasn't impressed (or very amused). Neither was anyone else much. I think it's an error for comedians to travel to places they perceive as backwater's and then patronise the audience. She kept making crude or spiteful comments, and then, when people didn't laugh, kept saying "Aren't you nice people!". Well, actually, no, you just aren't funny, bitch. It was a fruitful evening in that both Marilyn and Mike collared people and asked them if they would like to sit for me. Hence on both Saturday and Sunday I went and took snaps which I will turn into paintings this week. It's now 3 weeks until showtime, so I would like to get at least another 4 paintings done in that time. Marilyn and I framed 3 paintings on Saturday and they looked great.

First Post

I was a little apprehensive about starting a blog - I mean, who reads this stuff? Then I thought, well, that's not really the point...The point is for you to write it, regardless of whether anyone reads it or not. Hence..this. It's also a good time to start one because good things are happening for me at the moment. Next month I am exhibiting my paintings (my second exhibition) and while it's only a week and it's a small venue, I am pretty excited about it. It was only arranged last month (by my good friend Marilyn), and I only had 9 completed paintings. I need at least double that to fill the space so I had some work to do. It's good to have the pressure. I need it. Left to my own devices I just potter along. Meander. Get distracted. Give me an aim, and I am fine. I'm getting two paintings a week done, as well other little bits of stuff people have asked me to do. So it's just under a month until the opening. So I had better get on. (The image is my latest painting "JoJo")