More from our Ezra's Diary

Just beyond the underpass and what should we see but a man from Derbyshire County Council up a tree cutting it down (from the top) with a chain saw. It was alongside the old bridge across the River Derwent. Free 20 minutes entertainment! 

Ez's diary again

Now the Art Show submission season is over I have time to devote to our grandson Ezra's diary again. To cross the busy A623 at Calver between Chesterfield and Manchester we use the underpass (above). It's concrete wall to wall and floor to ceiling like an echo chamber so I can demonstrate my yodelling expertise to Ezra. I think he's impressed. He's in the No 2 pram with Grannie in control. That's Hulleys of Baslow bus crossing the underpass so it must be 10.45 - 15 minutes to coffee time!

Barker's Pool, Sheffield

My take on the Lib Dem Conference in Sheffield in 2011. There was quite a lively crowd outside the City hall with a lot of shouting but it seemed good natured with some police officers amongst the crowd chatting away to all comers. The beautiful red curtain walled building on the right is one I helped to detail in 1985(ish) during my career as an architect. It is my only painting with a political slant - I didn't create the placards - I just used the ones that were  most apt!The reason I'm posting it today is because there's an enlarged image of the painting now on display at the New Market on the Moor in Sheffield until 7th July. There are also 6 of my paintings on display at the Great Sheffield Art Show tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday in the Octagon at the University.

 

Scary Google

Opened Google this morning on my 70th Birthday, hovered over the cup cakes and my name came up. How do they do it? ...... and they've got my number, it's all a bit scary!

Houses of Parliament on Father's Day

Re-union with the Uni of Sheffield Dept of Architecture Class of '67 in London last weekend visiting the Shard and Cutty Sark. Free on Sunday morning so did a 10 minute sketchette of the Houses of Parliament from under the London Eye. All equipment supplied by daughter Sian for Father's Day - watercolour paper postcard, squezzy watercolour brush, and emergency palette (seen in top RH corner) which consisted of 12 watercolour pencil dabs on paper... add the postage stamp, find a post box and the job's a good 'un!
Sian took my paintings to Art in the Gardens Submission Day and all 5 were accepted.

"Churchill's View" Camera de Lobos, Madeira

My final (of 5 paintings) for Art in the Gardens submission day on Saturday is framed and ready! It's from our beautiful holiday in Madeira last April/May and it's the scene (with a bit of artistic licence on the boats) from below the terrace that Winston Churchill used for his paintings in Camara de Lobos.

Grateful thanks - blowing through a straw 03

Grateful thanks to the previous generation(s). My father would have been 100 years old this year, I'm 70 in 2 weeks time, our son is 40 and there's a grandchild due later this year. I'm from the lucky generation!

Blowing through a straw 02

This time - steam train coming up the line.

Blowing through a straw 01

Heeley Art Club meeting last night. The theme was "blowing through a straw". We sucked up watery acrylic paint and blew it onto paper. I swallowed the paint just once (which was less than Gwen sitting next to me). I decided to give my artwork a bit of structure with the side of a credit card dragged across the paper!