

Recent thunder storms reminded me about this…….
Forget that most people probably didn’t spend summer holidays at Frinton, ( v. exclusive Essex resort ) where my family would be huddled in a beach hut on wet August afternoons while the kettle boiled on the primus stove and the wasps hovered over the jam doughnuts. Waiting for the summer thunder storms to pass, we would play Happy Families.
This was first published before the Great Exhibition of 1851. Eleven families, Bun the Baker, Bones the Butcher, Block the Barber, Grits the Grocer, Pots the Painter, Bung the Brewer, Chip the Carpenter, Tape the Tailor, Soot the Sweep and Dip the Dye. Four members of each family Mr / Mrs / Miss and Master. Mr Bun the Baker, Mrs Bun the Baker’s Wife, Miss Bun the Baker’s Daughter and Master Bun the Baker’s Son.
The characters were illustrated by Sir John Tenniel, famous for Alice in Wonderland and Alice…
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Down the road to Kings Place to meet friends and show them the Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Exhibition which is now open Wed – Sun until 6pm. Stopped off on the way to just admire Central St Martins with fountains playing and children running about under them – it’s such an amazing change. It used to be so grim and sad and now it’s wonderful, very exciting to see. I’ve posted photos on my facebook page.
Quite fun being in a gallery for a few days – you see people going past and some notice pictures and some don’t – if you have to get their attention to even get them in to a gallery to look and maybe buy you really need to attract them – how to do that is hard.
I’d love Alan Sugar to help here – but that’s not likely to happen. But I’ve had a good week, met some new people, friends have come in so it’s all been fun and after tomorrow I can start doing new work – so that’ll be good too.
This was a really sweet dog, very patient while his owners had quite a long lunch opposite

Come along and see over 100 paintings and prints by 20 different artists. Prices from very small to a bit more – but all fantastic and a great opportunity to buy direct from the artist. There really is something for everyone and we have had lots of admirers and buyers today. Open 11-6 including Saturday.
From Monday 15 July until Saturday 20 I am being a ‘Galleriste’ and playing shop.
Please come along to 54 The Gallery, Shepherd Market, Mayfair, London W1J 7QX, where I will be spending each day amongst a lot of very interesting and gorgeous paintings and prints. I can tell you all about the 20 or so artists who will be showing work – and there is something for everyone! Prices from £20 for a print upwards and there is some really fab work. Hope to see you there!
On Monday I inched a bit closer to finishing a project that I’ve been working on for a year. Then I met someone I was at school with for a cup of tea – must do it again soon. Tuesday went to Yoga, tried to start ‘NEW WORK’ but failed. Met my sister, brother-in-law and Daisy & Felix at St Pancras for a drink. They had a few days in Paris to see Ron Mueck Exhibition and others. Nice pub in Kings Cross station but I can’t remember the name. On Wednesday I managed to write something for my project which I think is what’s needed. Thursday Yoga again, then down to Kings Place to the Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait Competition PV. That was fun – very busy and saw some friends there. Supper at lovely Fish Central. Friday went to the RA Summer Exhibition – sorry to say I didn’t like the way it was hung at all – specially the Large & Small Weston Rooms. Looked as though the person who hung it ( not mentioning names) was either trying to make their own work look better by hanging some very uninteresting pieces or trying to lose the RA a lot of money – the Small Weston Room used to be a jewel box of entertainment and possibly buyable art, but that doesn’t seem to be the object anymore. If I were running the show I would go with ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ – the Academicians can do their own thing somewhere else. Then on to BP Portraits at The National Portrait Gallery – very busy, everyone loves portraiture, me too. Later saw ‘Behind the Candelabra’ – Michael Douglas & Matt Damon fabulous and whoever did the make-up was brilliant.
So that’s why no painting got done – maybe next week will be better.
The final bunch of tulips – they were very long lasting and wonderfully flamboyant. Was hoping to paint them – made a start so perhaps something will happen eventually.
Bad News – I didn’t get into the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition this year.
Good News – my self portrait will be in the Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait Competition and Exhibition at Kings Place Gallery,London.