On close inspection my knees were unusually nut coloured for the time of year. Far from the minus-white mottled palour with those odd purple oblations ascending those knobbliest of joints in winter - just a bonnie brown. And why was not difficult to work out, as Africa carries a blissful climate in which we were immersed for a few days. And strangely ones knees being situated between the bluff of the shorts and the top of the socked leg swishing through the grasses bears most exposure to the elements. More than the hatted head which in turn shades the beak ...
Waiting to alight any aircraft is a boring rigmarole of the utmost process, checking and rechecking in a random way that gives little confidence - though of course, we do feel reassured momentarily: and so we obey righteously to escape embarrassment as we shuffle past the x rays and we avert the eyes from the suited officials so as to avoid any question of being pulled aside. Most recently at Nairobi one has to virtually undress but there was no worry to have to place the unfinished toothpaste or my yellow ochre tube oozing in see-through bags and not a thought about my stout shoes. ...
A few days in France cannot escape the traditional lunch stop - and away from the main roads and city centres the plat du jour being second of four or even five courses with white paper tablecloths and a pichet of wine is still very common. The locations are not always salubrious or pretty and non less than coming across a high French purpose built ski resort in the rain. In October void of summer bloom and well before the snows les acrs 1600 looks more like the film set for a post nuclear sci-fi: but as we pressed down the steel ...
Sitting and supping at the Fountain Inn in the lee of Wells Cathedral one can easily gain the impression of being in the presence of somewhere spiritual and great. The scale and majesty of the building and the approaches through arches and greens in the half light was only to be matched by what we found inside. The acoustics of the utterly magical singing from Tenebrae who without organs or instruments filled the huge space with sounds that were so precise and pure it must have given heart to the massive fabric of this wonderful church that such music can be repeated today in a ...
The place is simply a joy and no wonder those who visit Barcelona hardly ever complain. The active narrower streets nicely separate the main traffic from all the good parts - making such difference to getting about and allowing a host of small enterprises to spill out onto the pathways and squares all of which makes for interest and an unsophisticated order with family concerns jousting out of the shadows - yet there is little gaucheness as the natural rhythm is calm, is proportionate and is subtle. Staying close to the University at Hostal Grau describing itself as an eco-chic hotel, I could not have hit ...
Walking, and for that matter sketching, in March in the Dolomites, that rather undiscovered part of upland northern Italy, is made somewhat more challenging by lying snow and a chill in the air that befuddles the daily preparation of the contents of ones rucksack in terms of types of clothing and supplies especially as too much weight spoils the occasion, but too few layers can mean an early exit as the evening shadows close across the rugged outcrops. But with the crystal blue sky full of sunshine bouncing off the whiteness, the snow-laden trees and pink rock faces it made for a place ...
Those who dare read these notes should be made aware that my other life is more mundane but an absolute necessity to keep bread on the table. That said my work boils down to requiring a creative streak to be most effective and sustaining. So in a fit of blue mooding I brought two of the parts of my life together in a writing called 'why develop' - not so much of a question but a statement about the absolute necessity to move on and improve; but to do it in such a way that is fulfilling, long lasting and ...
if you are ever on Jersey and want a crab sandwich or a cream tea, perhaps as a stop-off on a coastal walk, the take a look in at The Hungry Man at Rozel, St Martins and you wont be disappointed. Established in 1947 it must be doing something right though hasn't for some reason expanded the franchise which is why its so charming. Moving over to the other end of the island there are several other eateries which overlook St Ouen's Bay such as Big Verns and El Tico where this martello tower is always in view
For my friend Jeremy the middle Wednesday of a mid-August week away is not complete without a serious boules competition played without compromise by anyone he can get grab. Heats were played all day and after dinner under flood lights and with full commentary the finalist were crowned to cheers from the assemblage and a potted hydrangeas for the winner. What fun.
[caption id="attachment_1213" align="alignnone" width="300"] sun and clouds anticipate the storm[/caption] Unusual events in nature's calendar have a habit of rectifying themselves and we had a profound example last week in the Alps above Annecy where we were privileged to hole up for Christmas last week. The bright low winter sun over the lowland hills all grassy and green, dotted with chalets and farms making Roblochon and great rounds of Beaufort out of the creamy milk of the cows snugly munching in their rich smelling barns gave for an idyllic scene of late autumn hill life. It all made for good walking, almost spring-like with babbling ...
Using a variety of media and styles the work responds to mood and geography but is more than often an observation of simple scenes in everyday life and on the travels across Europe.