Wednesday, 30th December 2020 - Appledore Heath

 Today Tom left me.

The BBC weather app forecast snow falling from 7pm. Concerned my son driving home in inclement conditions I suggested he left today. Hoist by my own petard!!! I always thought it was 'foist'.

I am fuming. 

It has been an emotional day.

I was talking about my art and how I would like to take it more seriously. Do more than my sketchy blog pictures. Maybe get an income. Just a little one. "Treat it as a hobby", was the response. I felt crushed but undefeated. Just you see.

Tim and I went for a cold and bracing walk along the Royal Military Canal in Appledore. It looks a lovely place to live. Maybe I will move there.

I am going to bed with the anticipation of snow falling in the night.

Appledore Heath

Acrylic Ink

Tuesday, 29th December 2020 - Walking the Line

I enticed Harriet onto the mat with me today. 57 minutes with Adriene. I was just thinking I could have a rest in child's pose when we were off to one legged downward dog not forgetting to square our hips and pull our belly buttons in. No respite in corpse pose as she sneaks in a bit of leg scissoring for our core. Blimey. 

For the third day in a row with have eaten curry. Each day it has had an addition. Salmon the first day or chicken if you preferred, there may have been a bit of pheasant. Day two king prawns and sprouts. Today accompanied by runner bean chutney, naan sour dough made by Brett and a side of sprouts. I bought far too many sprouts when they were 19p for 500 grams. We now have them with every meal. I used to look forward to a sprout. Now they have become a bit of a mission.

Walking the Line

Pen and Watercolour

Monday, 28th December 2020 - Tom and Herbie

 It has been a slow day. Herbie came and played cars and we read a book or two. Tom was outside cleaning his bike. This looked a much more interesting activity even in the rain. 

I was meant to tidy my studio to get the works of art batting around my head onto canvas. I ended up lighting the woodburner and reading my Kindle. I think my eyes many have shut for a while.

We watched a programme about the 30 years of Have I Got New For You. What an amazing feat.

I wish I hadn't listened to the news today. Brexit and Covid are both horrific.

Tom and Herbie

Pen and Watercolour

Sunday, 27th December 2020 - Paths of Water

My absence has been due to evenings of knitting, being unable to get myself together and Christmas festivities. 

I was wearing the very beautiful blue sporty leggings Harriet gave me for Christmas as Adriene vigorously worked my core muscles this morning.  

An afternoon walk took us through mud, glorious mud. Storm Bella had morphed the footpaths into streams. Amazing to see so much water.

I managed to drag myself from the sofa to paint this evening. I have missed my diary.

Paths of Water

Charcoal and Watercolour

Saturday, 5th December 2020 - Calves

Adriene lulled me into a false sense of yoga. A 40 minute session called 'Kiss' started with lots of deep gentle breathing and stretching before ramping up into a breathless sweaty practice. 

 I made Felicity Cloake's extravagant mince pies filled with homemade mincemeat and pastry made with egg yolks. They look ok.

An afternoon walk removed my sluggish feeling until I opened a bottle of Prosecco and receded back into a relaxed state whilst cooking dinner.

Calves

Charcoal

Thursday, 3rd December 2020 - Next Stage

Thursday is the day I have got used to meeting up with Sarah, grabbing a take away coffee from Arthur's and wandering around Cranbrook and the outskirts. Today it was bucketing it down so we couldn't go. Can't meet in each others houses. Can't meet in a coffee shop. I felt miserable.

Tom has left us again. He will bubble back again in a couple of weeks. I am trying to be positive here.

I was back in my studio and took out my bad mood on my collagraph plate and getting the pressure right on my press.

Tim and I have found a series to watch on Netflix. Unforgotten. It is very good. Tonight we found out there are three series to watch. Excellent.

Next Stage

Collagraph

Wednesday, 2nd December 2020 - Christmas Collograph Plate

We are now in Tier Three Very High Alert!!! I am feeling rather miserable about it. A friend told me 'Pull yourself together woman'. I am trying.

So I have been working on our Christmas card. It was going to be simple/quick/easy. It has taken many hours drawing, planning and preparing. It really is just a good excuse to retreat to my studio with Tom Walker singing to me. 

Christmas Collograph Plate