Wednesday, 31st October 2012 - Watching the Moon

In between a grumpy morning and grumpy evening caused by oven cleaning I spent a charming afternoon with Harriet and Hetty.

Alone this evening I managed 15 minutes watching The Sixth Sense before there were footsteps upstairs so I turned to Kevin.

Watching the Moon

Watercolour

Bockingford 140lb not

Tuesday, 30th October 2012 - Clouds with a little Sun

A couple of hours spent with my parents this afternoon. Mum and I knitted while Dad dozed, chatted and dozed. It was a peaceful time.

Clouds with a little Sun
Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Monday, 29th October 2012 - Thirty Pound Yield

I have had to make room in my freezer for 8kg of Red Ruby Devon beef.

My task today was making marmalade from the defrosted oranges and lemons.

Thirty Pound Yield
Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Sunday, 28th October 2012 - Strictly iPlayer

I watched a recording of Strictly Come Dancing on iPlayer today

Strictly iPlayer
Pen and Ink with Watercolour
Bockingford 140llb not

Saturday, 27th October 2012 - The Red Barrows

At the Apple Fair in Cranbrook we were entertained by Rob on a Penny Farthing, The Weald of Kent Morris and a very bizarre performance from ...

The Red Barrows
Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Friday, 26th October 2012 - Feeding the Lions

Feeding the Lions
Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Thursday, 25th October 2012 - Persimmon and Figs

Persimmon and Figs
Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Wednesday, 24th October 2012 - Ripening Fruit

I know I will be too tired and possibly a little full of alcohol to blog anything of any comprehension later this evening as we are trying Gram Spice in Biddenden. BOGOF night tonight where we will be joined by Mike, Pippa, Si, Lesley (looking forward to my Red Ruby beef delivery this evening), Tony, Wendy, Sarah, Nigel, John and Innis. Hence a rather early posting.

It has been a beautiful sunny day to celebrate Tim's 54th birthday.

Happy Birthday Tim

We squeezed in coffee and presents before he had to go to work in London.

An afternnon trip to see Dad found him in high spirits. They were doing exercises to music when I arrived so I drank my tea and waited til they finished. "That was bloody awful", Dad said. Good timing by Mum and their friends to distract him.

I did some gardening and pulled up the dead and dying.

Ripening Fruit
Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Tuesday, 23rd October 2012 - Wrapping at the Ready

I met the Evans in Canterbury for a lunch and shopping excursion.

Wrapping at the Ready
Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Monday, 22nd September 2012 - I Know He Love Me

Tim gave me some flowers

I Know He Loves Me
Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Sunday, 21st October 2012 - Pip and Ladybird

It was national celebrate the apple day today.

Pip and Ladybird
Oil
Clairefontaine 140lb oil paper

Saturday, 20th October 2012 - One becomes Three

After a day of domestic bliss the sun turned to rain. We met with Alan, Mary, Nick, Suzy, Gareth and Sue for an early evening drink which turned out to be a little longer than anticipated.

One Becomes Three
Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Friday, 19th October 2012 - Stretch and Lift

Sarah and I did our homework for our art class on Monday evening. We need to stretch our watercolour paper. When dry cover it with a mid tone removable wash. We played around with paint this afternoon to find out which ones would not stain. Sarah complained about have to extra curricular activities but I know she likes it really.

I took my knitting and went to see Dad. A short visit today as he was very agitated and I seemed unable to allay his worries. I am hoping he was just tired from visitors.

Tim and I drank wine and water with Mike and Pippa who are still contemplating their next house move.....or not.

Stretch and Lift
Waterolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Thursday, 18th October 2012 - Elizabeth's Pottery

A bit of toilet cleaning and bed making then it was time to visit Dad.

I had a great afternoon full of stories. When he was at school he and a few friends found a void in the space above the main hall. They drilled a hole and positioned a bag of flour which was suspended by string soaked in potassium nitrate which when lit is a slow burning fuse this would burn through and release flour onto the pianist below. They succeeded a couple of times. Dad told me that his 'bicycle clipped' headmaster probably new the culprits but they were never reprimanded. Probably because they were the most intelligent students in the school.

They used thorns instead of needles to play their 78's due to stop wear and tear. The sound was muffled but cheap. I love my Dad so much.

This evening Elizabeth took me to The Kent Potters Private View (very nice wine) with Brenda in Smarden.

Elizabeth's Pottery
Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Wednesday, 17th October 2012 - Eaten at Eat

I went to Canterbury. Harriet, Brett and Hetty have the choice of five allotments. Harriet, Hetty and I went and had a look at them. They varied from covered in bindweed very near the river for Hetty to fall into to quite charming with just a touch of weed. They have chosen one that they can see from their home when the tree has been removed.

Hetty was a delight again today. She is very good at keeping her Grandma entertained.

While Hetty had a doze in her buggy Harriet and I chatted over a couple of Chai Teas and a scone and a muffin.

Lindsey had been to see Dad who seemed not too bad today. I wish Mum would visit him more often.

Eaten at Eat
Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Tuesday, 16th October 2012 - £8.46

Tom and I went with a just a little reticence to see Dad today. He was in a better mood. An incredibly emotional time. Dad's parting comment to Tom was of how proud he is of him. Oh Dad. If only we could make you see how much we love you.

Tom has gone back to Bradford. We will miss you. Thank you so much for all your help - physical and emotional. I look forward to meeting Jeni :)

Washing and ironing and shopping at Coop was how I spent the afternoon.

This evening we were glued to The Great British Bake-Off. Tim and I both got it wrong as to who would win.

£8.46
Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Monday, 15th October 2012 - Strength of Line

Tom and I went to see Dad today. He was having a very bad day and did not want to see us. Lindsey went to see him later when he was feeling more positive after a rest.

This evening at my art class we learnt how to use line to create depth.

Harriet, Brett and Hetty gave me some beautiful roses.

Strength of Line
Pencil

Sunday, 14th October 2012 - Exhausted from Entertaining

Every part of our house has been filled from Ruby with her socks in the utility room through to enough beds to sleep ten people.

We joined together for bacon and eggs with plenty of tea and coffee breakfast and then the house was quiet again.

After a trip to see Dad who seemed well today we relaxed in front of the television with Tom and leftovers.

Exhausted from Entertaining
Pen and Ink with Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Saturday 13th October 2012 - Adam and Eve

We had family for lunch. I am too exhausted at present to elaborate further at the moment.

Here's a bit more detail for you.........

Tim built a table for 23. Tom mashed. Harriet piped and stirred. Hetty entertained. Brett chopped. Jack played in the garden.

Then they started to arrive. David and Josie (with Ruby), Alice and Dave, Matthew, Lucy followed by Elizabeth and Brenda, Uncle Bill, Mark with George, Henry and Thomas (lively boys), Susan and Roger rather later and Debi and Nidge (and Smudge) even later due to traffic.

We ate beef in Guiness, drank wine and water and were generally merry. A core group stayed and managed a takeaway curry while discussing very important matters.

The cabbages came from the local Farm Shop.

Adam and Eve

Pen and Ink with Watercolour

Bockingford 140lb not

Friday, 12th October 2012 - Pea's Scan

Tom and I looked after Hetty while baby evans had a scan.

Pea's Scan

Watercolour

Bockingford 140lb not

Thursday, 11th October 2012 - Tom, Klodian and Beer

I have worked my little socks off today.

Breakfast followed by a marathon cooking session ready for Saturday.

I am delighted that Tom has come home. We went to see my very confused Dad. Mum had just visited and I think he was tired. He conversed inbetween much napping.

Tom and I did more cooking.

I relaxed at Book Group with Sarah, Pippa and Kath. We met at The Woolpack where we had a very lovely meal. The Scotch egg with curry mayonnaise was particularly good. They divided the bill into drinks and food. We spent as much on drink as food.

Klodian came to see Tom and charmed me as always with a box of chocolates. It was good to see him after months of absence.

Tom, Klodian and Beer
Pen and Ink with Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Wednesday, 10th October 2012 - Business Meeting

I got four huge bags of compost from Charity farm and potted up -

One Katsura Tree - recommended by Alan Titchmarsh so must be good

40 Violas that were free because they were meant to be Sweet Williams

One Hydrangea

Over sixty little perenniels

This afternoon I met with Pippa, Bev, Sarah and Corinna for tea and cake at Hole Park.

Business Meeting
Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Tuesday, 9th October 2012 - Elizabeth's Begonias

Kath came for mint tea. Little Martha was wowed by the dusty dolls house on the landing. Thank you for all the clothes for Hetty.

I made it into the garden to remove the dead and dying.

This afternoon I made a trip to see Dad. He is getting more confused. We are wondering if it is because he has too much time to think and not enough to occupy him. We need to try and find a solution.

I had an enthusiastic hour or so making today's rather messy picture.

Elizabeth's Begonias
Blue/Black Quink Ink and Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

8th October 2012 - Back to School

Wet, wet, wet - not the band (they would have brought sunshine to my day) the weather. It has rained and drizzled most of the day.

Not a good weekend for Dad at Halden Heights. Lindsey, Mum and I have spoken to Daisy and hopefully all is sorted out. I would hate to have to move Dad as he is beginning to settle in.

Simon has mended my tumble drier - again.

Sarah drove me to art. I hardly recognised her as I have not seen her for so long. Thank you very much for our huge box of lovely apples. Art was excellent and a bit messy. We made pictures using Quink Ink, bleach, wax, salt and lots of water.

Back to School
Quink Ink with Wax Resist

Sunday, 7th October 2012 - It Started with Coffee

The Adams Family left before I had served my guests breakfast.

We met Mike and Pippa in The Woolpack for coffee, followed by a glass of wine in the barn at the back. Marcus and Mercedes came with us to the tent on the green where we listened to Coco and the Butterfields (very lively bunch from Canterbury) while drinking cider. Back to The Carters for tea, followed by a glass of wine at The Holt and then off the view a potential new house for Mike and Pippa with Jonathan and Becky.

It Started with Coffee
Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Saturday, 6th October 2012 - One Dozen Perennials with Potential

We met with Steve, Zoe and Fergus in Canterbury with Harriet and Hetty in La Trappiste. Those of those who were drinking shared two sticks which were 12 one third pints of all different beers. Very enjoyable. Hetty enjoyed her tap water with ice feeding the new toy lion a present from The Adams. Fergus downed a coke following a visit to Canterbury University where he is contemplating studying physics. Brett joined us after work and helped tidy up the remaining beer. Back to The Evans' for pizza. A very charming day.

This morning I potted up some of my bargain perennial plants from Thompson and Morgan

One Dozen Perennials with Potential
Pen and Ink with Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Friday, 5th October 2012 - Pheasant Preparations

I am preempting here - surely not the correct spelling? I am anticipating that I will be too tired and a little too merry later to be able to produce a painting of any recognition. So here is one I made earlier.

We walked(very bravely in the cold) to the village and collected two little birds from Wards which are now in the oven along with some wine, apple juice, prunes and a few vegetables.

Steve, Zoe, Fergus, Gordon and Dawn are coming for a very informal dinner. Hence the possibility of me drinking this evening.

Oh and Tom you will be delighted to know that under the floor is now dry enough that we have removed the paint cans from your bedroom. Such a lucky boy.

Pheasant Preparations
Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Thursday, 4th October 2012 - Wine and Wasabi at The Woolpack

Lindsey and I went to see Dad. His only request was that one of us visits him each day as he gets very confused and it helps to see a familiar face.

Then we went to a demonstration in oil painting by Brian Oxley.

We had to go for a drink afterwards to recover.

Wine and Wasabi at The Woolpack
Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Wednesday, 3rd October 2012 - Waiting to be Fried and Stirred

Back to normal today.

Tim has gone to London.

I am at home cleaning ready for my guests. I miss my Room Boy

The Tumble Drier engineer has visited to tell me he cannot fix it until Monday - great news.

Good to catch up with friends and Dr Who.

I had to cook!!!!!!!!

Waiting to be Fried and Stirred

Watercolour

Bockingford 140lb not

Tuesday, 2nd October 2012 - Bunches

A very Happy Birthday to Tom. Twenty five - I can nearly remember being 25 years old.

I went to see Harriet and Hetty. Hetty did some impressive dance moves to the music in a shoe shop. Hetty's hair has grown in the last two weeks.

I called in to see Dad in his nursing home on the way back but he was in bed asleep.

Bunches
Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Monday, 1st October 2012 - Back Home