Sunday, 18th October 2026 - Santa Clara Island

This morning Tim and I met with Tom, Caroline and Fable at the Winchelsea Beach Café. They had spent the night bravely testing out Tom's rooftop tent at a nearby campsite. Elizabeth and Keith joined us for breakfast. I recommend the Gourmet sausage sandwich. Christmas plans came up in conversation. It seems too soon to be discussing Christmas until Tim told me it is only 8 weeks away. I love Christmas.

 Day Three of the Basque Holiday Tuesday, 6th October.

Tim and I went for a walk around the coastline. My painting is of a wonderful view of Santa Clara Island in La Concha Bay. The white lighthouse looked intriguing. I have just looked it up and there is a water sculpture inside. Now I plan to go back. Tim and I stopped for coffee. The weather was warm enough to sit outside and people-watch. Afterwards, we spent a couple of happy hours in the San Telmo Museoa. A bonus was it was free entry on a Tuesday. We left feeling cultured. There was a painting by Ignacio Zuloaga of a group of men. I have taken photos to try and learn from the beautiful line work. Back at our apartment we restored our strength with a glass of wine. We headed out to try our first pintxos. Zabaleta Taberna was a great place to start. Little dishes of salt cod, squid, meatballs, croquettes, pork cheek and pig's snout. The pig's snout tasted like pork flavoured jelly. I think I will leave the snout for Tom's dog Fable in the future. We finished the day with Rioja at Bar Txiki - I can't remember if we ate anything more!

Santa Clara Island

Saturday, 17th October 2026 - San Sebastian

I wrote a 'to-do' list, a long one, to keep me on track of my jobs. Not many crossed off today. It was a good day for a walk into the village to post a birthday card and have coffee with Roger. The highlight was all The Evanses dropping in. I am sure the grandchildren have grown in the last few weeks. They are so gorgeous. Herbie was very patient explaining Super Mario to me. I need to do some research so I can keep up with our future discussions.

We are watching Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes - excellent but harrowing.

Day Two of the Basque Holiday Monday, 5th October

First train Lille to Gare du Nord. Second train Gare du Nord to Montparnasse. Third train Montparnasse to Hendaye (French spelling), a rather hot journey with cough and cold viruses in abundance. Last train Hendaia (Basque spelling) to San Sebastian. We added to our daily step count with a walk from the station, along the Urumea River and over a bridge to our apartment. We popped into a supermarket for water and wine. The rosé was very welcome after hours of train rides. Happy 35th wedding anniversary to Nick and Alli. We helped them celebrate with a fantastic dinner in Restaurant Gandarias. Unfortunately, a cold virus took us down by one member. The remaining five of us shared anchovies and spider crab. I had old cow, which was much more delicious than it sounds. I slept very well.

Friday, 16th October 2026 - Day One of Basque holiday

Tim and I got home from a train holiday with Si, Lesley, Nick and Alli yesterday. Hence my absence. 

Day One Sunday, 4th October - Lille

We met on the train and arrived in Lille early afternoon. After a couple of Ginettes in Au Paon D'Or the sunny afternoon was perfect for a wander through La Grand-Place and stroll around the cathedral. We stayed the night in the Hotel Chagnot. What a name!

Here we are walking to dinner at Chez Raoul. It was very rich in the local cheese, Mimolette.

Lille
Pen and watercolour

I took a couple of tiny sketchbooks with me. Each and every drink I drank was captured in pen and ink. 

Saturday, 3rd October 2026 - Winter Ready

Tim has planted up hanging baskets with pansies and polyanthus ready for a riot of winter colour. Thompson and Morgan delivered some very healthy looking plants. They have been a bit hit or miss in the past. These look great. The pansies are already beginning to show their faces. 

Winter ready
Pen and watercolour

Friday, 2nd October 2026 - Three Coffee Pots

I enjoyed the challenge of making a piece of art for the month of September. I have learnt a lot and it is a great excuse to continue experimenting and doing something I love....so I am continuing with my daily diary in words and picture. 

Running a bed and breakfast means the need for a plethora of teapots and coffee pots. Here is a  watercolour of three of the cafetières that today were filled with decaff and not decaff coffee. 

I was very brave and had my flu jab. I am now needing some sympathy for a sore arm ...?

Herbie entertained me via WhatsApp video while I was cleaning the windows in the dining room. He opens up the world to me. I love that boy so much. Guests will be having breakfast in there tomorrow. The room is delightfully sunny in the morning but shows up a grubby window. 

Very happy birthday wishes to my gorgeous son Tom. A beautiful baby has turned into a beautiful soul. St Leonards is a great place to celebrate being 39. I feel the need for a party for his 40th next year. 

Three Coffee Pots
Pen and watercolour

Thursday, 1st October 2026 - Two Panic Portraits

It was chilly enough this morning for me to brush the cobwebs off my denim jacket. After a ferret around the charity shop, Sarah and I went to Arthur's cafe for coffee and shared a bacon sandwich. We sat in the garden to catch up in between holidays. 

I have just returned from an evening with WOKAS. Juliette Dodd showed us how to draw speedy portraits. She started by demonstrating three in less than an hour: front, side and three quarter. After coffee and biscuits, made beautifully by me as Jenny who usually does it is on holiday, we sat in groups and had three 15 minute sessions to draw each other. I was a model and got to do two portraits with a feeling of panic with so little time, it did make me focus. Great fun. 

PS I am waiting to hear if I have won my Strada Easel.

Two Panic Portraits
Oil pastels

Wednesday, 30th September 2026 - The Completion of Lessons

My day started with tea and a text to my sister. I am not sure if she is checking that I am ok or I am checking she is ok. Whichever it is I like our morning messages.

I needed wipers for the rain as I drove to see Lindsey and Mercedes. We had coffee, chocolate brownie, almond slice and a very delicious apple cake that was warm from the oven and made even more delicious with a dollop of very thick cream. We swapped many stories about children and grandchildren who are of great importance and delights to us all. I wasn't hungry for lunch!

It was hot and humid when Tim and I walked into the village this afternoon. We had a wander around the village green and posted a birthday card I drew for Tom's 39th birthday on Friday. 

Day 30 #stradaeasel

Today is the last day of the strada easel challenge. I think it is about the fourth time I have done it. I am ready to receive my easel prize after painting from life every day in September. Well done me.

I have finished with a sprig from a spindleberry tree in our garden. It is covered in pink fruits with bright orange seeds. A favourite of the spindle ermine, a very spotty caterpillar and moth. In folklore it symbolises the completion of lessons. I thought this was very appropriate for the last day of the challenge that has taught me a lot about observation and given me some extra frown lines.

The Completion of Lessons
Pen and watercolour