Don’t worry Hugo — they won’t bite

This was Hugo yesterday, on the train, on our way to a Belmont Abbey School, year of ’74, re-union. With all the emotional trauma of organising a funeral service, cremation and ashes scattering ceremony, in Ireland, over, it was wonderful to at last feel unburdened and able to enjoy a wonderful day with people who I had shared the last very happy couple of years at school.

Happier days

A sketch of Tom from a couple of weeks ago, before the madness of having to make cathartic funeral arrangements for my crazy mother.

Ladies lunching, Kensington High Street

Train Sketches

Hugo and I went into London as he has a day off school. I mistakenly thought the Natural History Museum wouldn’t be crowded as it’s still term time. In my day the museums were beautifully empty on school days, and apples tasted better, and you could go out for a three course meal and still have change from sixpence.

The start of the Tall Ships’ Race 2006

Royalist, the ship Flo is on.



Another ship, the name of which escapes me.

My little girl racing in this

Flo is setting off from Torbay to Portugal on the 50th tall ships race today. She rang last night after a horrible crossing from St Malo where she felt sea sick the whole time and was on galley duty, which – as any of you who’ve sailed will know – is the pits, when you’re feeling queasy. Anyway do not try to get in touch with me from 14:30 GMT today as I will be glued to the live video of the start here. As you can imagine I’m excited and anxious for her

Puppet show in St Albans

A wonderful free puppet show in town to celebrate the St Albans festival. Xavier was transfixed for the entire fifty minutes. The adults in the audience have of course lost that childish ability to look as though they’re having fun.

Blind Contour Friday - Sky

reserved spot for when I can fit it in!

Another back of envelope

I think Cin has something here with using up scrap envelopes. This one was an A3 envelope. To see more self portrait marathoners visit Crack Skull Bob.

Self portrait six

I thought that using an old brown envelope and a sharpie might loosen me up sufficiently to get a portrait that looks like me - but no, not this time.

Flo in my seat

Isn’t it awful how when you get middle-aged you have my chair. Once again I’ve completely failed to capture the sweetness of Flo’s face. Sorry darling, just let me keep on trying.

Cooling off by Papa’s pool

Sandridge church fair sketchcrawl

My contribution to the tenth worldwide sketchcrawl.