Reasons to be Cheerful

Art Tour finishes this evening, and though it has been an incredible experience, I am looking forward to getting my weekends back.

Over the past four weekends, I have met with friends and strangers, who have come to see me and discuss art. I have had advice, guidance, praise, and even the gift of two whole fleeces, which I must now learn to treat. One is a jacob, one a massam. They both smell strongly sheepy.

Here are a few things that have kept me going through June:


The allotments beside the train station in my village. I have loved to walk past and eye up the poppies.


Mai Yu, Adriaan and their gorgeous custom tandem. They are two cyclists I met in the pub whilst watching the England-Algeria match. I told them all about Art Tour, and lo and behold, the next morning there they were. They have been cycling from the Hague where they live, and plan to cycle across Newcastle-Carlisle, then take the ferry across to Ireland, cycle anti-clockwise around the coast, get the ferry back across to Holyhead, head across country and get the ferry back to Holland. Most impressive.


The Corbridge poppy fields. I see them every time I head in to work or university, and I love them.


Finally, these roses have been coming out in droves in our new garden. Hooray for summer!