Today I woke up to decent skies and it looked as though it was set to be sunny all day. But by the time I was around 40 minutes from the Roberts’ house the rain was absolutely tipping down. And it had tipped all day in Devon, I was informed.
Things were a bit of a rush this morning.
H and I were up and out for a quick dash round Streatley Rec soon after 07.30. I had preceded the walk with loading the car with the wheelie bag , H’s weekend bag and sundry other items.
On the walk, I chatted to the owner of an American pet bully. It was not high off the ground and square and thick set and very friendly and slobbery, sort of Weimaraner coloured. These come on 4 sizes with XLs being the largest. And very large they are, I was told. But my miniature version was a bit like a very very very solid staffie.
After this quick stroll, I dropped H off at the Illis and stopped briefly for a coffee. And then I was off to my watercolour painting masterclass at Ipsden. This time it was run from our teacher’s studio.
Ir was a near disaster. We are not a talented set of students and we excelled ourselves in our ineptitude. Or I did. I am coming to the conclusion that I was never cut out for success in watercolours. It doesn’t mean I did not enjoy the day, because I did.
But rivers are tricky to paint and couple them with incompetence and the outcome is not something to hang on my walls.
Our teacher’s house was an art gallery in itself. She mainly focusses on natural forms, in various media, in interesting juxtapositions. I really like her work.
I collected Heidi around 04.30 and we drove to Devon. I completed about 1/3 of the journey in daylight and 3/4 of it in dry weather. Then the wall of heavy rain took over. Heavy rain, in the dark – well it’s not really my scene. Luckily I had chosen to use the A303 as opposed to M4/5.
The radio informed me that chunks of the M4 were closed due to three accidents, near Newbury, near Swindon, and near Bath. In other places lanes were closed off.
It was relief that I arrived at Pen’s and took H off for a brief paddle round the garden. Dave had prepared a delicious tandoori meal and I was well hungry by then after my meager prawn salad for lunch.
We chatted and then it was bed time. Pen took H out into the monsoon for a last wee. And that was that.
Thought for the Day
Those would have been good results.
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