Oh the difference a week can make! This time last week, I was scrabbling around in the dark on Brighton beach desperately, and unsuccessfully, looking for my glasses that I’d lost whilst out walking the dog!
To finish that particular episode off, I returned to the beach again at about 7am the next morning to continue my search in daylight. It was more in unsubstantiated hope than expectation but I also felt there was nothing to lose by trying.
To my utter delight, after about ten minutes of pacing up and down the beach, there they were, lenses up on the pebbles and seemingly none the worse for their night out under the stars!
It was such a huge relief because I’m increasingly reliant on them in so many aspects of my life, not least my painting!
Work continued to be fraught to the very end but my impending holiday offered a desperately needed bit of light at end of the tunnel. (I say end of the tunnel but I’ll be right back into that tunnel’s pitch darkness as soon as I return!)
Late yesterday afternoon (Tuesday), we arrived in Barcelona to be greeted by bright sunshine and 30+ degrees of warmth! It was immediately transformative and the stresses and strains of ‘normal life’ began to ebb away!
Here are a few snaps of Barcelona style inspiration so far:
There are times when the expression ‘a change is as good as a rest’ seems especially true, but a change and a rest is just wonderful, and it’s already proving to be the perfect tonic!
It’s a little too hot in the middle of the day to be out and about much, which provided me with the perfect opportunity to get a bit of air conditioned sketching in!
Here I am at play in my holiday studio!
And my first sketch of the holiday (with the added pressure of it being the first page in a new sketchbook)!
Hope that anyone and everyone that gets to read this is also able to get a change of scenery and a rest in this summer!
In the meantime, I look forward to returning next week topped up with rest, relaxation and lots of inspiration!