Well chuffed

I'm well chuffed with this watercolour depicting the road into our village.  It was completed today, and I hope that the recipient is just as chuffed when the gift is opened on Christmas Day.

The painting is approximately 9 in by 6 in (including the 8mm White border where the masking tape is positioned). It's been painted on Cotman 'Cold Pressed' Gummed watercolour paper (a 9 x 12 sheet cut in half). I predominantly used Artists quality watercolour paints (Winsor & Newton) plus a smidging of two pigments from my Daler Rowney Artists Oil Pastels. I put on my fluorescent jacket earlier in the day and popped out if the village to take some photographs to help the composition.  The sky idea came from a photograph taken by a friend of mine. 

I'm really pleased with this one, as it's a huge step in the right direction on my artistic journey. 

Waste

Well those who know me, know that I hate waste. This is a piece of watercolour paper that someone had stuck down to a drawing board at MIND, but left alone for many many months (maybe longer) unused.  This waste had been bothering me for sometime. It is quite a large piece of paper at approximately 20 x 15 inches. Lots of paint and crayon had been spilt onto it, and where other boards were taken out or put back in place, the board edges had indented the paper.

So this week at MIND Aberystwyth, I decided to do something about it. Most people would have thrown the paper away, but for me it became my art project of the session. The final image was created using soft pastels, watercolour pencils and watercolours:

MIND Aberystwyth

I've been to Art at 'MIND Aberystwyth' today (I tend to think of the weekly meeting as a lifeline and become quite anxious if the arrangements change), and to Circuit Training this evening.  Not that I'm doing very well with the Circuits, it's sort of walk when everyone else runs, and modifying many of the exercise stations, to suit where I actually am in the lack of fitness game.  But at least I'm there, and that's the important thing.

I managed to complete a simple beach scene watercolour at MIND and then made a few art acquisitions ready for the next series of paintings: (1) the new ARCHES watercolour paper is as good as it gets, and I've been waiting to take delivery of this beauty for a while, (2) the art easel was dug out of a storage box and cleaned up (the easel belonged to my father who passed away 30+ years ago), and finally the china and loggoed up Winsor Newton brush pot, which was a delightful gift that I received from the lovely people at the Art Shop in Pier Street, Aberystwyth.

Yes the ARCHES watercolour paper is expensive, and yes, I had to raid the piggy bank, but I simply had to have a go. Not that it's opened yet, knowing me it will be put to one side for a while and then after procastination on my part, it will at some point be opened and used.  Whereas I suspect that the cleaned up pot will be holding a brush or two by midday tomorrow. Don't even ask about the easel, as that's now an ornament in the corner of my den.

Snow Time

This is today's piece. There was another one completed yesterday (an A3 Portrait view from North of Brodick on the Isle of Arran in Watercolour, Watercolour Pencils and Oil Pastels). This was on top of finishing the view from Arran towards Holy Isle which was painted in landscape format.

Today's piece is on 16 x 8 inch watercolour paper and the intention is again to use oil pastels and watercolour pencils to complete the piece.  It is interesting to see the changes in style as I develop as an artist. As usual, click on the image if the formatting is cropped and it should open full size.

Roger Bennett

Watercolour and mixed media painting: Looking out from An t-Eilean Àrd

This one was painted on Daler Rowney Aquarelle 'Cold Pressed' (also known as NOT) 8 inch x 16 inch watercolour paper.  If the watercolour painting is cropped; then simply click on the image to see it full size.

It's a view from the bay at Lamlash (Scottish Gaelic: An t-Eilean Àrd) in North Ayrshire on the Isle of Arran, looking towards 'Holy Isle' on the Firth of Clyde. 

It was painted using watercolour pencils, oil pastel, and watercolours.  

This is one of a series of images that I have produced after our lovely, albeit short holiday on the Isle of Arran.  I promised my mental ill health counsellor, that I would do some watercolour painting while on the Isle and upon my return.

For the sky: Watercolour pencils were used near to the horizon and dabbed in some places higher up, then wetted. Winsor Blue Red Shade watercolour paint, my favourite 'grey' of Venetian Red and Prussian Blue in varying intensities, and a mixture of Chinese White and Yellow Ochre.  The latter being replicated in the sea along with Winsor Blue R/S.

As is usual with all of my poetry, paintings and drawings, all rights are reserved, Roger Bennett

Africa watercolour painting

. . . and here is another watercolour painting for my friends, especially those in or from Africa (Patricia, Tamara, Michael, and Jeffers AKA Jeffery).

This painting of the night sky and its mass of stars, was constructed in watercolour and pen and ink and a tiny bit of watercolour pencil on an approximately A3 sheet of Daler Rowney 'Aquafine' 'Hot Pressed' smooth watercolour paper.    The paper size is an Imperial measurement of 16 x 12 inches (which is a tad larger than A3).  

The black ink aside, there are four prominent colours in this watercolour image, all Winsor and Newton Artist Quality paints, namely: Prussian Blue, Indigo, Winsor Orange, and Rose Dore. To a significantly lesser extent, there is some Yellow Ochre. 

The pen is a Staedtler pigment liner size 0.05 which is waterproof once applied to paper.  The main art brushes used for this piece were my expensive Rowney 'Diana' series Kolinsky Sable in various sizes up to size 7 and my latest minor acquisition of a Daler Rowney 'Aquafine' Liner. The latter brush offers better control than a 'Graduate' Size 1 Rigger brush. 

As with all of my paintings, drawings, and poems: all rights are reserved, Roger Bennett

Vive la France

I have been working on this square shaped watercolour painting 'Vive la France' for several days now. It is my Liberté, égalité, fraternité image, and my small way to pay respect to those who have suffered terribly during the series of dreadful murders in Paris.  The three figures and their shadows in the foreground are painted in the blue, white and red colours of the French flag. The black car is my take on the small black car that was prominent in early news reports.  The figures in the background represent those that lost their lives during these dreadful and unnecessary atrocities.

The French scene was painted square, so that the image would easily upload as my Social Media profile picture.  The exact size was wholly dependent upon what size quality watercolour paper that I had in my stash at home. I opted for probably my best watercolour paper; namely 'The Langton Prestige' 100% Cotton. This 14 x 10 inch pad came in at £14.10 for 12 sheets quite a few years ago.  But alas this particular watercolour pad lay lingering in an art folder, simply because I neither had the skills nor the confidence to use it.  So for this painting, I removed a sheet and squared it off at 10 inches (250mm).

I used watercolour pencils to map out a similar image to one that I have painted several times before.  The bonus of using watercolour pencils is that the colours fade into the painting and the artist is not left with unsightly pencil construction marks. The planning stage meant having three prominent and distinct figures and the French flag in the foreground and the tower in looming the background.  But this is a 'wet on wet' watercolour process, so the flag, and the three prominent figures and the Eiffel  Tower were all masked off using a masking fluid pen like applicator. This would keep these areas clear of watercolour paint until the later part of the art process. 

The sky was painted first, using a combination of Winsor Newton Blue Red Shade and Winsor Lemon having first wet the paper. Greater detail was given to the car in the painting by using three different watercolour pencils, and then carefully wetting the image.  The same method was used for painting the Eiffel Tower. But of course these pencil images could not be drawn until the paper was perfectly dry.  The same applies to removing the masking fluid; if you try to remove it while the paper is damp, then there is a risk if tearing the paper or allowing paint seepage into the area that you are trying to keep clean.   Lines were constructed lightly in pencil for the Liberté, égalité, fraternité text, and the letters were then drawn using a pencil.  The pencil lines were there carefully erased, which also removes part of the shapes of some of the letters.  So a black watercolour pencil was then used to reconstruct the letters.  This was then finished by over painting with Winsor Newton Mars Black using a lining brush.  So the process took several hours a day over three days.

One of my mental ill health issues that interfere with my art; is the hang ups I have been getting about signing my name.  The small 'Bennett' has become 'Rba' with the date, and now somehow over the last two pieces it has become a broad and confident 'Bennett'.  Not that this confidence is mirrored in life.  Especially after the minor assault the other day, and the phone call I received from victim support yesterday.  But that's another story, to hold back for another day.  Today is a day of rememberance and sympathy, and a desire that all of those who were involved in any way, even a minor way, are caught and punished.

I'm pleased with the result, as it's satisfying to make a statement of solidarity.

As usual with all of my paintings, drawings and poetry; all rights are reserved 

Imitated Elliott Style Art but in Watercolour

This scene of a harbour on the east coast of the Isle of Arran was painted on request of a friend of mine called Nia, who had a particular artist and style in mind when I offered her a painting.  The artist whose style that I have tried to imitate, appears to work in acrylics.  Not that I am certain, because I have never scene one the original pieces.  Whereas this scene has been painted in watercolours.  I simply used two pieces of art as a reference point for the style, and then set about choosing a scene that I wished to depict in watercolour for Nia.

Having just returned from a short holiday on the Isle of Arran, this seemed to be an ideal setting for the artwork.

This square shaped watercolour painting took me exactly six hours to complete.  How do I know that?  Well simply because I attend two hour painting sessions each week at MIND Aberystwyth, and I decided to make this my 'Tuesday Monkey' for three of those sessions.  I finished the piece today, but alas I have left it at MIND because the rain is tamping down and I got sodden on the short walk to the nearby Coffee Shop.  So Nia will have to wait for a week or two (weather depending) before she can snaffle up the watercolour, and hopefully go on to hang it on her wall.

As my 'art' has developed over the last few months, I have experienced great difficulty signing my paintings.  I didn't want my name interfering with the image or taking up too much space, or an error occurring as I signed a piece, and that error going on to spoil the artwork.  Indeed, I moved from previously using 'R. Bennett' to only writing 'Rba' on my more recent watercolour paintings.  With this mental issue in mind, it is pleasing to note that not only did I boldly sign the finished piece (imitating how the original artist signs her name [her name is different than my surname Bennett, so there's no fraud or misrepresentation involved; as my piece is mine and signed as such].  As well as using my name, the scene is also original to me.  It is my interpretation of a small harbour just north of Brodick on the Isle of Arran.  The only similarities; is that I have sort of tried to adopt the other artists style, albeit in watercolour and not acrylic, in order to quench Nia's thirst for her work.      

(Click on the image to open the watercolour full size if it appears cropped)    

As with all of my artwork and poetry, all rights are reserved.  

Poppy Fields

If I had to define myself these days, it would be as a poet and an artist. Not that I have sold or published any of my poetry for financial gain.  Indeed, I have three volumes of unpublished poetry and now close on 50 finished paintings in watercolour or soft pastels.  One of the paintings even has 3D raised edges as I develop into using other mediums.  The poetry and art goes a long way to offsetting my mental health problems, and I am indebted to MIND Aberystwyth for providing the weekly art class.

This is a monkey (tasks that are there but sought of never get done or take a long time to do) (they sit on your shoulders, often as a burden) that has sat there (in my head) waiting to be completed for about 3 or 4 years. I wrote the poem, and individually developed each of the military figures, including cutting them out and moving them around to get the composition.  The idea is that there is a poem and a linking image.  The left hand soldier is from the Boer War or early and that part of the scene is Africa. The middle soldier is a World War I stretcher bearer and us wearing the corresponding 'SB' armband.  The middle scene being the muddy battlefields of France.  They are clearly identified as British.  Whereas the clarity between nations for a modern soldier is harder to define, so the right hand figure wears a Union Jack on the left arm.  This soldier is saying thank you, to those that care for others.  That could be someone who donates during the annual Poppy Appeal.  The modern soldier scene is set in the Middle East, but the kit is deliberately greener than desert fatigues because our soldiers are trained and called to respond anywhere in the World.  

The theme was there, but I knew that the execution wouldn't be.  Especially seeing how poor an artist I was back in 2011.  Thankfully I had some marvellous watercolour painting lessons, including on how to paint poppies while on holiday on the P&O Ventura cruise ship this year.  The original draft drawing was too crammed.  I had used smaller sized paper and had written the poem too large and too close to the left hand figure.  

A few months ago (before the summer holiday); I redrew the poem (Poppy Fields) and the military figures onto a bigger sheet of better quality watercolour paper.  But alas I still set it aside as a future task given that my art was still developing.  So with the 2015 remembrance week looming, and poppies being a major theme, I decided to crack on with the painting a few weeks back and managed to finish it today. 

The final Stanza of the poem refers to the fact that members of our military still die, and that each death is a return of the 'Poppy Fields'.

(Click on the image to open it full size in order to see all of the scene).

All rights reserved (poem and artwork)

Roger Bennett

2015

#IStandWithAhmed

#IStandWithAhmed

Nothing more to be said really. 

The Brimmon Ancient Oak Tree

The Brimmon Ancient Oak Tree located near Newtown in the County of Powys is some 500 years old.  Which is pretty cool, as you can well imagine what has passed by in that time.  You could also try to imagine what could pass by this Ancient Oak Tree in the future.  But alas you don't need much imagination to do so.  The reason being, some really silly people are trying to build a By-Pass around Newtown that will interfere with the aforementioned Ancient Oak Tree.  Now you would think that the silly people would have planned a road route well away from the Tree.  Well that would be asking too much wouldn't it?  I mean, after all, this is Wales, and we sort of know lots about our bureaucracy, and its failings.  Avoiding a 500 year old Oak Tree would have been an obvious thing to do, but we don't do obvious.  No, instead we all too often do really silly stupid things, which can only result in a conflict outcome.  Common sense involves a whole new higher level of bureaucracy, and of course a much higher pay scale.  Maybe there should be an AS Level in common sense, with a retrospective requirement for bureaucrats to hold at least a Grade 'B' in Common Sense.  Although I do fear that a lot of people would lose their jobs; as it's quite apparent that they would struggle with this particular AS Level. 

The thing that gets me the most about this story, is that people are bandying around £56m figures for the road.  But in doing so, they are forgetting, one simple and fundamental point; it ain't a £56m road, it's just ink on paper.  

ANCIENT AND TRUE AND NOT SOMETHING NEW

I'm a real tree, 

Me, in this field,

Stood alone for Centuries gone.

Whereas they the Planners,

Have gone mad,

And trust me friends,

You'll be had.

Because me, this tree,

Ain't ink on paper,

Just an idea or a whim.

No, I'm the real deal,

With leaves,

That feel the wind,

And memories of Centuries gone.

Poem about the Brimmon Ancient Oak Tree

Roger Bennett

Penrhyncoch, September 2015

All Rights Reserved 

Susan Connell, Swansea, Newport, and Wisbech

Our family are saddened to announce the passing of Susan D A Connell (Nee. Bennett) b.1949 - d.2015, born and raised of Swansea in the County of West Glamorgan, then formerly of Crindau and subsequently Pillgwenlly in Newport Monmouthshire, and lately of Wisbech, Norfolk. 

MY SIS

Man hath no greater emotion,

Than the love in his heart,

Towards his fellow man.

And no greater memory,

Than that of his close family.

Roger Bennett, August 2015

Susan Connell (Bennett) is survived by her two younger siblings, her eldest son, and her two grandchildren.  Susan was pre-deceased by both her youngest son Ian and her former husband, Merchant Navy Engineer, John Connell of Pillgwenly.  Our mother Mary (Nee. Walters) and father Sydney Bennett, both passed away in the early 1980's.

Venice in colour

Two hours at MIND Aberystwyth yesterday and about one and a half hours today (complete with Spanish Guitar music playing in the background to create my CALM environment at home) to complete this small watercolour memory of Venice.

The photograph shows a watercolour that I completed earlier today (if it's cropped, just click on the image to open full size)

Fabulous eating

We've done well over the last few weeks.  You know what I mean; you can't really go hungry on a cruise can you?  Especially one on the P&O Aurora.  A £26m refurbishment in 2014 equals a fabulous cruise ship, and one we would love to go on again in the future.  But now we are back on dry land and find ourselves in England. We ventured out for Part 4 of our Summer Holidays and found ourselves at the easily booked table in the 'Blue Mango' (located not a stones throw from Brindley Place in Birmingham).  We enjoyed a lovely meal, and some very good service from the staff.  The place was packed, but we weren't rushed.  The pompadums were lush, as were the chutneys.  The starters fair priced and amazingly well presented.  All in all it was a great experience, and thankfully given the portion size we only ordered one bread and one bowl of plain rice to share between two.  Well it had to be between two really, as there was no way that we were sharing this feast with another table.  Oh, and I found the Dosa.

The photograph shows my Dosa starters, which I hasten to add, was amazing.

Photos

If the photo looks cropped, click on it and the image should open in your browser. When I'm away from the laptop I am unable to resize images and Blogger just uses them as they are. 

Mango

We are now in Birmingham on what really is Part 4 of our holiday.  It's a friends 50th Birthday Bash tomorrow and we are all booked in to dine at a Marco Restaurant (with the friend paying).  But we all know that tomorrow is another day and we mustn't get ahead of ourselves, so we grabbed a panini earlier on today, amd on a friends recommendation (the aforementioned birthday boy) we have just booked a table at the Blue Mango for this evening.  The Hilton Brindley Place is lovely and the car parking isn't overly expensive.  Now we need to plan out our weekend and sit back to enjoy Part 4 before heading back to Wales. 

Blighty

Well we are now back in good ole Blighty.  We stepped off the P&O Aurora onto the hard ground of UK this morning and enjoyed a very warm welcome at my brothers home enroute to visiting one of our daughters.  It has been a great and much needed holiday!  The art classes were an added bonus.  the aforementioned daughter has already had two completed pieces off me: a pastel drawing of Pen-y-Fan and a watercolour of what I refer to as 'The Milan Shopping Centre'

It wasn't just about art, as I managed ten exercise sessions.  Which I suspect is more than most people do when they are away. I would have liked to have done more, but the sea-urchin spines stabbing took me out of the game, along with a calf muscle cramp that had me almost crying.  So it's a gentle swim for me and a sauna at the hotel in the next few minutes, plus a look forward to meeting distant (geographically) friends this weekend, and hopefully close friends when we return home.

The photograph shows the Aurora onboard Art Teacher (armed with a brush) and her 'Glamourous Assistant'

Art Classes

I popped along to art class this morning, mainly to sit amongst friends in a comfy chair.  I knew that I had three more scenes to complete if I was to gift watercolours to those who deserved them.  It was an enjoyable experience and I am now sat in Anderson's bar (drink free I hasten to add) ready to hand over the piece that is shown in the attached photograph.  It is almost A3 size, and I'm pleased with the outcome.  Art onboard the Aurora has been very therapeutic.  In many ways it has been my highlight of the holiday.   

Fine Dining

It was a Marco Menu again last night for the Gala Dinner and I really enjoyed the first two courses and the champagne sorbet, but alas the vegetables with the beef Wellington were a bit bland. Anyhow I soldiered on and completed all six courses including indulging in a glass of port with my cheeseboard.  The theatre show featured Roger Wright from the West End, and was probably one of the best shows that I have seen while afloat.  Better still we had also attended the classical concert pre-dining, so for us it was a truly entertaining night.  We retired at 1 a.m. this morning and with the gentle rocking we were soon fast asleep

Wet wet wet

So it always happens in threes, and the same applies on holiday. Number 1 must have been the sea urchin stabbing spines and the subsequent medical costs.  Number 2 was arriving back at the room last night to find that our safe would not open.  That had to be felt with by the aptly titled 'safe buster'.  Number 3 started at around 6 a.m. this morning with Wifey shouting for my help.  I woke up in a daze to see my shoes floating around the bathroom, and water lapping over the threshold into our cabin.  Apparently our cold water pipe had fractured.  The team were really efficient.  Reception took the message, the plumber isolated the supply, and the cabin team, used more towels to stop the lapping.  Then someone with a big sucker upper arrived and removed the water.  Which of course others thought was the steward with the Hoover and came out to remonstrate, and then seen the big thingy; went back into their room.  The aforementioned plumber came back to repair the pipe work, and then a team of two with the hot air blower arrived to dry the carpet.  They mentioned that I needed to leave the room as it was going to get very hot.  Meanwhile I enjoyed a glorious sunrise and counted eleven separate colours in the sky.  An early breakfast of cereal and if we hadn't already had enough; water.  This was followed a few hours later with a bacon roll outside with friends on Deck 12 at the rear of the ship.  Now sat in the Crows Nest, having handed out some artwork as gifts to a few of the staff, we can think about returning to our cabin and cancelling that order for two pair of wellies.

A day in Cadiz

Well Cadiz was lovely.  We thoroughly enjoyed our day roaming the streets and enjoying at various points; coffee, beer, tapas, and ice cream.  We found an astonishingly cheap cafe bar with outside seating by the Cathedral Square.  The best bit being the Spanish solo guitarist playing quality music as we enjoyed a coffee and pastry.  Wifey also had a coke zero and the total bill came in at only 7 Euro.  That should have been the bargain of the day, but as time pressed on we found ourselves at a traditional tapas bar in a narrow road just away from the tourist crowds. Four tapas, two beers, some bread, and olives; and all for 12 Euro total.  Okay my beer was larger than Pauline's, but you must admit, this was the real bargain. The shops were lovely, the people friendly, the architecture interesting.  A few years ago we were in Cadiz and soaked into doing an excursion.  This time we planned our day around what we should have done last time.  It was a great decision, and became the perfect last stop on our cruise holiday.

The photograph shows us both at dinner that evening on our return to the ship. We were given a large six seater table just for the two of us (out of choice) and enjoyed good food and excellent service. Normally one would ask the other to pass the salt, but on this occasion we asked each other to pass the iPad. 

Clapham Free Weights

Our first sea day towards Cadiz was an eventful affair.  I need my own space and managed to get that in abundance and thereby finished two watercolour paintings.  Mainly in the coffee shop, having raided the onboard library for inspiration.  One painting of the now disappearing fishing nets and a sunset in India, and the other that is akin to a Milan shopping mall. Today's painting effort has been a crowded market place in India (a stark contrast to the light colours and space of yesterday's image).  I think that I am gearing up to hand over watercolour paintings to five employees from India who have provided us with excellent service.  There have been more, but you have to be ruthless and leave the task achievable.  Otherwise it becomes all to stressful.  I'm sat down in the 'Crows Nest' on deck 13 enjoying a diet Pepsi and have taken a sneak preview at the subject for this afternoons Art Class.  It turns out that the intended subject is extremely good for me.  It's an African woman stood in a field and carrying a child.  With a bit of manipulation I should be able to make it an Indian figure, and thereby complete the third gifted painting. That would leave me two to do with three art classes left.  But that's getting ahead of myself, and you don't want to reach the finish too soon.  Which is why I am smiling to myself while sat typing this Blog post.  You see, we went to the cinema again last night.  This time to watch the second best hotel.  A lovely film with lots of India inspiration for me.  Like India; it was crowded, and the people wouldn't settle.  At one point, Pauli blurted out "it's like Clapham Junction in here".  It was Indeed, but after my personal training session learning how to safely use 'free weights' I was a tad too tired to notice.  But I perked up, when, twelve minutes from the end, a couple came in and settled down to enjoy the film.  By now I was giggling, as was Pauli.  Indeed I even clapped, but they, oblivious to their early arrival for the late showing, simply soldiered on.  Engrossed in the film, the penny never dropped until the screen went black and the titles rolled.  That could have been a perfect end to the day.  I had bunked off from the black tie evening and dressed casually had loitered around the ship wherever I was allowed to tread.  We had even been to the deck 13 cafe for dinner.  The first time ever for us on any holiday.  I just didn't want to play, and our cafe dinner followed by the pictures was going to be our evening out.  And as we wandered back, our new employee friends at the 'Glass House' beckoned us in.  I explained that we couldn't as I was not wearing black tie, but they insisted.  The best bit is, they don't actually get my business, as the drinks I order have to be fetched from other bars on board, and they scurry off to complete the service and each of those bars get the sale.  Which is why one of the staff is going to deservedly get first dibs with the 'India' paintings. Which of course, like the weights, it's going to be 'free'. 

Spines

Well the big news story so far, is that I didn't have a bruised foot from the sea kayaking.  The pain in my left foot got progressively worse, and close examination yesterday afternoon suggested that I had an infection or a splinter rather than the assumed bruised foot.  I popped down to the Medical Centre on Deck 4 and explained my predicament, including that if it was a splinter, then I don't know where on earth it came from.  It turned out that a sea urchin had stabbed me, twice.  And yes it was infected.  So more antibiotics for me.  Antibiotics that is after the aforementioned sea urchin spines were dug out of my foot with a rather big needle.  The only good thing about this storyboard, is that the digging about happened after our homage to the Godfather excursion in Sicily.  We had a fabulous time and fully enjoyed the panorama, the relaxation, and the warm welcome of the locals that included setting of flares to announce our arrival.  It was great to wander the streets of two villages where the Godfather films were set. To see the tavern where the self imposed exiled future Godfather sits with his minders, to see the wedding square, and the church.  It was a great excursion, and one that was only slightly bettered by the previous day's visit to a Monastery and Winery in Corfu. 

Olive oil and wine

Apparently our time in Venice was the hottest day the city has had in 30 years.  No wonder we were baking and washed out at the end of that trip.  Yesterday's sea day gave me a chance to indulge in lots of water-colouring and have a private lesson with a personal trainer.  So on in all it was a perfect day especially given that I managed to read a bit more of my cruise book.  Today we were in Greece, and yet again without an alarm I was up and about at 6 a.m. which of course turned out to be a good move with all of that beautiful scenery to look at as the P&O Aurora sailed into port at Corfu.  During our excursion up into the mountains to visit a monastery, we were told that towards the end of last Summer there was so much rain that 90% of the Olive Oil crop and 50% of the Wine crop was lost.  That puts into context the fabulous weather we are enjoying while we both visit this part of the world for the first time.  It has been a glorious albeit hot day, I fell asleep on deck this afternoon and then managed to complete the Venetian watercolour that I have been labouring with over the last four days.  It's only slightly larger than postcard size, but nevertheless it turned out to be quite detailed.  I can't imagine that I will do many of those, as I can't deal with the stress of things that go on and on.  Maybe that's why I have started to like pastel drawing; it's simple and easy to complete in just a few hours.  We are now hauling anchor and leaving Greece for Sicily.  Somewhere where we were due to visit many years ago, that was until we broke down in Florence and had our holiday curtailed.  In about 1.5 hours we should be off the coast and into the Ionian Sea.  Around 0530 we are due to pick up the land off the toe of Italy.  Maybe I will wake up early yet again and watch that sail-in as well.

The accompanying sunrise photograph is from our balcony on the Aurora looking at part of the Greek coastline during this mornings approach.

Postcards, sort of

I was up and on deck at 0530 for the sunrise and sail away from Venice. It was lovely to be one of only a few outside.  It was also refreshing to see Venice again without the maddening crowds.  I had retired to bed last night half expecting the ship to move into deeper water, so it was a lovely surprise to wake up and find us still quayside.  The Aurora glided effortlessly out of the city, aided by a tug or two.  It was a lovely morning and a great opportunity to indulge in some scenic photography before catching some shut eye on a sun lounger rather than going back to the cabin and disturbing Pauli.  After breakfast a few of us met for an impromptu outdoor art session in the shade but near to the pool.  Watercolour painting is a lovely way to relax and time slipped by so quickly.  It was nice during that session to hear that I'm not the only one who suffers from stress and anxiety.  One of the group sort of snapped when someone came over moaning about this and that.  They simply asked that person to leave.  She explained that she lived on her nerves and simply couldn't cope with interruptions when relaxing and enjoying herself.  I knew what she meant, and I liked the way that she despatched the unwanted commentary.  The art session was a success and after a sandwich and a suitable break, I headed for a cardio workout followed by one to one personal training to learn how to use free weights safely and efficiently.  Then it was art class proper and my third Venetian scene of the holiday.  A lovely time amongst new friends, as we tried out yet another watercolouring technique. It was a pity when the session ended and it was time to dress for dinner.  We are heading for Greece and Pauli is tucked up ready for the early start and that excursion our postman recommended to us.  Oh happy days, and the best bit is; there are still eight nights to go.

The photograph shows the results of our impromptu Deck 12 art session.  The four panels are the output from that meeting.  Each piece of artwork is on watercolour paper about the size of a postcard. The idea is for each of us to write our name, address, and the date on the reverse, and then add some notes of memories about this cruise.  Thereby creating a memory card to cherish in the future rather than a postcard to send on to someone else.

Venice

Venice was lovely. Lots of wonderful things to see, a great atmosphere and a great visit.  You don't necessarily need an excursion, as every time you cross a bridge or look left or right, there is something to see.  We spent six hours in the city on a baking hot day and were glad to get back in board the Aurora.  After much needed further liquid refreshment, I even needed a nap.  Then we were in one of the Jacuzzi's on Deck 12, when I had to explain to Pauli that the roof was retractable and no we weren't in our usual outdoor jacuzzi that is further along the ship.  Pauli was quite surprised, and commented that it was like being in the Millennium Stadium.  Ah bless, I see the subtle similarity, both have a roof that retracts, but this ship (unlike the 'Eclipse') doesn't have any grass.  Six to seven pm is a great time to do some sensible sun bathing.  And now after getting ready for dinner, I find myself in the 'Glass House' on Deck 8. Thankfully it's only a glass house in name, as that folks would be unbearable in this heat.

Tips

Here are some tips for you first time sea kayakers who intend to have a go on a forthcoming holiday: (1) buy a pair of cheap cycling gloves to help minimise getting sore hands, (2) wear sandals that have a buckle or Velcro strap to keep them on your feet if you fall into the sea [they will stop you getting sores and or bruising on the outside of the foot where you press into the foot holds on the kayak], (3) put sun cream everywhere, including your ankles and knee caps as the light bounces everywhere, (4) if there's two of you, snaffle the front seat as the seat back offers more support than the rear seat in the kayak, (5) don't wear anything that can't get wet, as people do fall in. I'm testament to item 5; indeed I fell in twice.  But hey ho, it was great fun, and when we got to swim in the Mediterranean during the kayaking rest break, for me it was my third time in the water :-)  

Venice here we come

Dubrovnik was fabulous, and so was evening dinner followed by the Tom O'Connor show. I must admit that Des's bro held the audience well for an hour. We also held on well; especially now that we know it's baking hot at the back of the auditorium and air conditioned towards the front. Unfortunately though, there was a distinct lack of air conditioning while I was sea kayaking at Split in Croatia today.  It was so hot (35 degrees today and 36 yesterday) that I now have clear sunglasses outline marks on my face, and sunburnt sections above and below the shape of the sunglasses arms. I wore factor 30, the aforementioned sunglasses, and a hat. There was a lack of kayaks on arrival, plus everyone else was related or friends and had paired off.  So they found a single seater for yours truly.  Now I was warned that they are extremely unstable, and yep it was.  I fell in twice before transferring to the the slightly more stable two seater.  We headed out to sea and along the coastline. Before stopping at a lovely beach for a swim.  They all enjoyed their dip, but for me, it was my third go at swimming in the Mediterranean.  So I can tick that one of now, along with sea kayaking having done it twice.  Sea kayaking hurts.  I'm now back in our cabin with sore hands, sore feet (underneath on the outer edge) and a sore back.  Still, I managed to grab a sandwich when we got on board after the lovely boat tender ride, and then had a coffee and while my back held out, carried on with my current piece of artwork.

It's an image of Venice, in watercolour on a small piece of watercolour paper. Might be A5 but I'm not sure.  Plus I'm too tired and aching to bend forward and pick up the pad to check.  We are due to berth in Venice tomorrow, and that's the inspiration for this piece, but it may not get finished while I'm away.

Holiday

Started a new watercolour this morning, a scene of Venice. An enjoyable two hours and with a nice coffee. 

This afternoon we took the coach to the Old Town in our first port stop in Croatia and then had a ramble around, and a hour sea cruise in a glass bottomed boat. All topped off with a beer outside at a lovely place located in a narrow alleyway and in the shade.  It's baking hot, but we are enjoying the trip.

  Sea kayaking is planned for tomorrow at the next port in Croatia and of course I hope that the activity is laid back, and that I can keep up! At the moment I'm enjoying a beer 100 metres from the ship, using the Internet at a cafe that is far cheaper than the onboard costs for wifi. But then again, when you are at sea, the onboard costs are really quite cheap, as it's an extra facility that is gratefully received and paying for it is only fair.

Flicking and Poetry

Well it's been another delightful day. I've managed six days in a row in the gym and now intend a rest day tomorrow when we hit our second port.  Today's workout was 30 minutes of uphill walking on the treadmill at 5km per hour speed and 5% incline. That's great on both accounts as on each of the last five days I have been slowly building up from 4.5 speed and 4%. The plan tomorrow morning is to relax and enjoy some personal space time, maybe a watercolour or a pastel drawing and a coffee and a read of a brilliant book that I am enjoying regarding the birth of the Tudors.  Our onboard daily regime seems to have settled into a healthy breakfast of cereal, and a glass of orange juice and water. Coffee seems to be inevitable, and sea day art class at either 1030 or 3pm depending on how I feel.  Gym late afternoon, and then into the jacuzzi early evening for a long soak before changing for pre-dinner drinks.  Today was a bit special as we enjoyed our usual on deck lunchtime sandwich, and then saw 'the Theory of Everything' in the stunning and spacious cinema. 

The morning art class resulted in this effort. The poem was written just after I sat down and saw the image that we would be interpreting, and was written as I was sketching the outline for the painting.

Pen-y-Fan

As well as the onboard watercolour Art Classes, I've brought along my Schmincke soft pastels travelling set, 3 Sennelier soft pastels that I bought in Cardiff the other month, and a small set of Derwent pastel blocks. The latter aren't the best pastels in the world, but I bought them second hand (and unused) and they have a few different colours that are useful. I also have some card for pastels. So after breakfast this morning I headed for the coffee shop and completed this offering.  I also managed to pick up some Bristows 'natural hold' hairspray, no not for me, but to 'fix' the drawing.  Completing the artwork, made for a good talking point. There is at least one thing that I would do different if I know how.  I don't know how; so at this moment in time, this is as good as it gets folks.  

Ps I had the common sense and good manners to clean up after me, and to go outside onto Deck 7 to spray the drawing.

Tin Bath

You can dress it down anyway that you like, but it's a bath.  Yes, it may be a similar size to the tin bath that we had in Aylesbury Street when I was a child, but nevertheless it's a bath. And at 7 a.m. this morning it was a very welcome addition indeed to our cabin layout.  We always have a shower when holidaying, indeed several a day, and rarely have a bath.  So you can well imagine my delight, when having retired at just gone midnight, I woke up at 6 a.m. and lay there wide awake until it dawned on me that we had a bath. Yes, this was a result. 

Midnight Ramble

Dinner was a casual dress affair last night, and the post dinner show in one of the theatres was fabulous.  It was like an Abba spectacular, and there we were tucked in a corner, and feeling as if we had our own private box.  We had a great evening to cap off a great day in Gibraltar.  We even managed to assemble an alcohol free day.  Now we don't drink as such.  Wifey may manage one, and after three I am anybody's.  But the thing is, we all know that alcohol in excess is bad for you, and we also know that when you are on holiday it's relatively easy to slip into bad habits.  So we planned an alcohol free day.  We had done the same on Thursday, but had failed.  I succumbed to a Peroni while waiting for Pauline to change for dinner (I always get ready and head out first to give her space) and then post dinner I went for two Cosmopolitans.  Not together mind you, I'm not a lush.  No, I separated them with a suitable time gap.  But that was the previous day, and this one involved no alcohol.  It was two cans of pop, coffee and water; spread over the whole day for both of us.  It probably helped the bank balance and probably was a contributory factor as to why we stayed up so late.  Especially seeing that we had stayed up late the previous night and got up early that morning.  So having already had a great day; Pauli suggested a nighttime walk on deck as we retired towards our room.  Well, exercise is always a good thing, so I seized upon her idea and agreed.  I had intended to put on one of the two jumpers that I had brought with us.  But at the last moment grabbed and carried our coats as we headed for Deck 13.  Now I don't know what I was really expecting; was it rain, or a cool wind.  I mean, it was a reasonable assumption given that it was by now past midnight.  The heat hit us as we ventured outside, and instantly reminded me of my short break in Africa.  It was astonishingly warm and the coats were an unnecessary burden to carry around the deck.  We enjoyed our ramble and then took a more private route back to our cabin.  Probably sub consciously to avoid those awkward gazes, you know the kind, that when others see you carrying a heavy coat while travelling in the Mediterranean in Summer.

More Art

I'm smiling a lot on this holiday, probably because the 1 hour Art Classes are lasting 1 hour 30 minutes and I'm learning lots about using watercolours.  I'm also smiling because I have hit the gym hard, four days running.  While refusing to have a full breakfast on each of the cruise days so far.  Today's breakfast was scrambled egg on two slices of toast with a glass of orange juice and water.  Lunch was a sandwich and chicken from the chilled cabinet.  So all in all, I'm exercising my body, while also exercising a degree of common sense.  Wifey is doing the same.  In fact Pauli even walked the 20 minutes from the Port into Gibraltar this morning.  So good stuff all round, and with that in mind, the waitress is approaching with my evening coffee and I need to sign off and settle down.

The photograph shows today's artistic effort.

Transatlantic

The P&O Aurora is a lovely ship.  Even lovelier than suggested at first impressions. The reason being apparently it is a Transatlantic vessel with a keel rather than the usual flat bottom of the larger ships.  This means that the Aurora comes across as being remarkably stable.  Now that may be a simple illusion, and the reality of the calm Bay of Biscay, was simply the fine weather. Well, whatever the reality of the situation, I am extremely pleased to be on such a ship, only having to cope with the gentle rocking during my sleep time slumber.  Gibraltar is done, but unlike five years or so ago, on this occasion we spent more.  I've at long last picked up a TTL flash gun for my ageing camera.  Not an all singing Canon jobby with its mega bucks price tag, but instead a more simple affair.  It's a Metz with a pop on diffuser and a full tilt head.  I'm glad to say that it didn't cost a Kings Ransom, and the lovely chap in the shop in Gibraltar gave me a 1:48 exchange rate, a 50p discount, and threw in a full set of Duracell batteries.  So all in all I think that I came out of the deal with a smile.

Dining on Board

They have put us on 'Freedom Dining' which was not a choice.  I need it would never have been a choice having previously endured 'Anytime Dining' with another company a few year ago.  You see, we like to meet people and chat and thereafter build upon the relationship.  Whereas with 'Freedom Dining' you have to queue for a table and can end up sitting by anyone and in various group sizes.  But, in all fairness it has worked out fine so far.  On the first night (with casual dining) we sat by a lovely couple from Liverpool and an elderly lady travelling alone from Yorkshire.  On the second 'formal' evening we by chance ended up sat by the aforementioned Liverpudlians and were joined by two others from that fair city along with someone from the North of England who now lives in Wales.  Wherever they were from, they would never have suspected the turmoil that I caused by travelling without my dress shirts that fit.  Indeed, if it wasn't for Pauli, we would have ended up dining in the cafe.  The onboard shop assistant said that those hung up on display were the only shirts, and with no sizes suitable, we were about to leave the shop when Pauli spotted another display with packed items.  Phew, a lucky escape, and yet another gold star for Pauline.

The photograph shows me on the third option dining night: that of smart jacket.