Well That's Good To Know ;)

You Are 35% Addicted to Blogthings

Okay, so you know how to take and post a Blogthing. But you're no addict. (Hey, this quiz *proves* it!) For you, Blogthings is more of a healthy habit. At least, that's what you tell yourself!

How Addicted To Blogthings Are You?

Chips

Yes, chips - the one and only thing good about the detox diet is that you are allowed chips. Well, chips without ketchup and mayo of course. And so tonight I've had my favourite dinner - oven baked/roasted vegetables and home-made chips - tasty! Maybe I had too many chips but then I am ill, got to have a treat sometimes. This was only going to be a 2 week detox but as I'm surviving so well - especially with a cold - I'm going to strive to do 6 weeks - introducing a little fish on the 5th week - as the book says - oh yes, the book! There's rules to this diet, like any diet and basically it's a vegan/wheat free diet for the first 4 weeks - and for once I'm loving it. I feel SO much better - my skin looks clearer and without this blasted cold I'm sure I'd be full of energy and already my clothes feel looser or is it loser? Sorry, spelling has never been my forte even though at the age of 8 I once got 98% for my spelling test - the best in the class and the highest score almost ever at that school at that age. What happened? God knows.

To all those who raise their eye- brows at me, noticing new things appearing in the side bars I'm really proud of my recent find (that sentence so didn't make sense) (nor did that one) the translation one I found is excellent especially for my friend Andy who is learning Spanish right now! The only argument I have with it is there is no dutch! Disgraceful. And as for the other kind of cluster map map it only seems to show a visiting American every single time - well the site I got it from was all in Spanish so maybe I did something wrong - so Andy when you're good at the old Spanish maybe you can translate it for me!

I've slept most of the day now and I'm going back to bed right now - I hate being ill, I'm at the stage where I've forgotten what it's like to feel well and am wondering if I'll EVER get better!

Help.

Emy xxx

Detox Day 5 & Have Cold

Hey folks, well it's the 5th day of detox and not only do I have a stinking cold - change of diet - but also my period is late due to, yes, change of diet, so my Mum said "oh that's alright you can have a cold, your period and lose weight at the same time" I think she meant well(!) So here's my situation I can't breathe, I'm stuffed up and I'm missing my paintings - my paintings you say? Yes, my Dad and I dropped off 6 paintings at the gallery in Barnes yesterday and there are blank spaces on the walls now. 3 of the paintings have been with me for 3 years and it's like losing part of you - my children - and if they sell I would be happy that they would be going to good homes.

Some of the paintings gone are three of these white framed beauties that we had done in Cornwall 3 years ago, 21 altogether, painted with a title of 'from Gwendra Wartha to Wenlock Edge' as we holidayed that year in Cornwall for a week and that first time in Old Mill Cottage in Worstershire, (where we went again this year in July)

One of the one's gone


And another

And one more

I've also joined artwanted and to click on me and read my comments left by fellow artists then click here emyjane and then click on one of the images of my paintings that come up. So far, so good.

Sneeze. Sorry.

I had a strange dream last night - as one does when one is ill - about my old school. I often have dreams where I wander through the corridors, or talk to my friends either in the English rooms or the hall where I would often play the piano on my free periods in 6th form. This time I dreamt about my English teacher Mrs Bradford who died a year after we all left and my friend Mary and I went to her funeral. Well, I was at her funeral again in my dream - nothing odd happened, it was the way I remembered it, but it got me thinking of the rumours that circulated afterwards regarding Mrs Bradford's husband and our RE teacher turned deputy head at one stage Miss Nazareth (of course you're born to be a RE teacher in a catholic school with a name like that!) and how they were meant to be having an affair. Well, rumours turned to be fact . They WERE having an affair and by 3 or so months after Mrs Bradford's death they were living together. Coming from a woman of Miss Nazareth's (by the way she was called Mary!) beliefs, where throughout her whole career as a teacher she lived with her ageing mother who eventually died giving her the light to move in with him! It was the most bizarre thing and something my friend's and I often talk about years afterwards. There's no real point in me telling you this, I just thought I'd share it with you.

A few funny things on the news recently:

Boy of three buys car on ebay
And not just any old car, a shocking pink Nissan Figaro, bought at £8999. Funny that, a boy of three can work ebay and my Mum can't even type an email.

Sharon stone showing more then she needed to
Come on Sharon you should know better!

You know I can't find anymore - I suddenly have a high temperature and am getting hot flushes. Sneeze. Sorry.

You Are 40% Hypochondriac

You can deal well with being sick - even if your symptoms are a little scary. You're occasionally prone to worry about your health, but only when you have pretty strange symptoms.

Are You a Hypochondriac?

Oh great, that makes me feel a whole lot better.

It feels like I have an onion up my nose.

Emy xxx the sick

P.S. My gran has made a full recovery - as she does everytime. You've got to hand it to her - she's one tough cookie.

Detox day 1, YES YET AGAIN, 13 Days To Go

It's a grey evening - the weathe man got it wrong he said it'll be sunny - the rain has been on and off all day and unfortunately 'on' when we were walking back from the train station, we got soaked, even in weather proofs, the drips were pouring down our backs. We had gone to see my grandmother in Kings hospital in Denmark Hill as she was very ill with a chest infection but it sounds more like pneumonia to me. A week ago she had a stroke, but the doctors didn't pick it up and sent her home too early only to be back a few days later. We're all in mind, my Mum, my Dad (her son) and myself that it would be better if she died as she has no life. She can't walk or eat by herself, she can't in fact do anything by herself, yet her mind was clear as a bell yet she couldn't get any words out. Now she can't talk at all and even though she did acknowledge us she fell asleep a few minutes later. She is the last surviving member of a big family, 2 brothers and 6 sisters, the last of the Pasmore's and as she's the youngest, the last member. The only other Pasmore in existence is her brother's son but he's gay and so cannot continue the line. I find that very sad.

And in the grey skies tonight flies a chinook, round and round it goes - not quite sure why. I can understand the RAF using the free, open, wild space in Devon but over the roof tops of South East London? God knows. Anyone got any suggestions? Training yes, but over my house?! Madness.

And the grey skies signify 2 weeks of detox diet. I'm determined to lose the weight this time. Fit into 'all' my clothes and not just the odd few and go to places my Mum has promised to take me when I'm thinner - as in Holland (are you reading this Uncle Peter?) Mum has promised me to take me around her childhood places so expect us sometime one day! So this is Detox Day 1 - and already I have the tell tell signs of a detox headache and slight hunger looney thoughts - which I won't go into just yet.

Ok a few links to finish off with:

Yesterday a 5 month old baby was mauled and killed by her family's 2 Rottweilers, who dragged her onto the roof of her family's pub. Now her grandfather's partner has been stabbed to death, but police are saying it's a seperate incident. Both dogs have been destroyed. Good!
Read story here.

Allergory free cat goes on sale for £2,500
American born, is it really a cat?

And The Daily Mail's resident cartoonist Mac on an interesting subject

I laughed so much it hurt.

Emy xxx

Forever Blue

Your Blog Should Be Blue

Your blog is a peaceful, calming force in the blogosphere. You tend to avoid conflict - you're more likely to share than rant. From your social causes to cute pet photos, your life is a (mostly) open book.

What Color Should Your Blog or Journal Be?

Docklands - The Three Towers

Hey everyone, well, here goes with a (large) set of photographs I've ALWAYS wanted to capture but didn't have a good enough camera, please tell me what you think:

The top view from Greenwich Park overlooking Queen Anne's House and the National Maritime Museum - one of the most romantic views in all of London.




















I'm one of these people who DON'T look at instruction manuals - I'd rather work it out for myself so I was so excited when I found a wide angle setting - Devon photographs will never be the same again.

Ok, black & white, but it was a little dark so I chested and enhanced it on photoshop - something I very rarely do these days.

You can also see the dreaded Dome from the park plus the old Greenwich power station

Plus Natwest tower and the Gherkin

The sunset & kites over the heath on the same evening

The death of the Conker trees




Every tree looks like this

Emy xxx

This Is Actually Kind Of Cool

Emily Jane Clark's Aliases

Your movie star name: Cake Thomas Your fashion designer name is Emily Holland Your socialite name is The Kid London Your fly girl / guy name is E Cla Your detective name is Cow Holy Trinity College Your barfly name is Muffin Wine Your soap opera name is Jane Ulundi Road Your rock star name is Refreshers Motorbike Your Star Wars name is Emitul Claand Your punk rock band name is The Happy Stapler

The Amazing Meganame Generator

I DO Like The Happy Stapler!

:0

I'm A Happy Bunny With A VERY Good Camera!

Hello everybody! Yes, I did survive my Birthday and I didn't get a silly hangover either as my Dad pushed the boat out with fine wines - just shows you, quality DOES count! I had a great day with lots of great presents including a beautiful digital camera, a Canon IXUS 800 IS 6 mega pixels - if anyone's interested and last night I took it for it's ultimate test - night time photography to shoot the Dockland towers from the heath and you know what - it aint bad!




You prob be thinking - what is she going on about? They're awful - well it was at night, as in no light at all in the sky (well, no natural light that is) and sometimes cameras don't know what they're taking - like my old Casio. But as the pixels are so good and the 4x zoom (up to 16) I think they're great and my Dad and I are going to Greenwich park tonight at 6:30 for the view of the park and London at Dusk - then I can REALLY test the camera's ability!

And earlier yesterday I went outside into the garden and took these! I'm well chuffed!

The day before this flower was intact - not now!

I'm going to send this image in to a card company to have it printed for Valentine's Day!

Smile for the camera!

Our famous Basil plant - it used to be two separate plants - an Organic one from Waitrose and a non-Organic one from Asda (big supermarket) and was in my Warden's flat in Canterbury. This summer we joined them together - and LOOK AT THEM!!!!! It has even started flowering!

Shadow on the kitchen floor - make a nice painting

I was sorry to hear about the crash involving Richard Hammond last night - the hamster - as I think he's a really good presenter and apart from the cars, he's the reason why I watch and enjoy Top Gear. He was trying to break the land speed record in a jet powered car and it skidded off the track and rolled over at 300mph speed. Amazingly enough he was still breathing when they cut him out - but he's still critical in hospital. I wish him well and send love to his family, his wife and two small children.

I hate these blasted 'Scheduled outages' that blogger pulls once in a while, plus the 'Could not connect to blogger.com' messages that come through when I've typed all I want to say. A small hint for those who encounter the same problem (and have already thought of it long before me) copy and paste what you've typed into word or text edit - least you wouldn't lose it!

I've been spying on the neighbours today - one lot have moved out who have been here for 10 years and another have just got here and unpacking the lorry. Looks like a young couple - wow, more screaming kids to come. This place is perfect for families - a private estate with no cars coming up and down and each quad has a green in front. Yet there are quite a lot of oldies here too - it's a nice mix. Full of mad people though - including us.

The weather is fantastic really hot for this time of year, but there is a sad sorrowfull sight happening all around us - the Horse chestnut trees have got this terrible disease, the same type in which the Elms perished in this country a few decades ago. The Oaks sre already dropping their acorns, but the Chestnuts are dying - as in the leaves are already dried red and falling, while the conkers haven't even dropped - still green, stuck on the twigs, wanting to drop. And I haven't seen just one tree going through this plight but several - even in Canterbury - every tree looks the same. Read about it here. For those off you living in America it's the same disease that wiped up your American Chestnut.

Ok, must go and make some early dinner as we're haeding to the park in an hour!

Lots of love,

Emy x

Funny Isn't The Word

Your Inner European is Dutch!

Open minded and tolerant. You're up for just about anything.

Who's Your Inner European?

My Dutch Mum would be SO pround of me!

I Won't Be 26 For Much Longer (hint, hint)

Hey everyone, well, I survived Saturday night but had a ghastley hangover the next day, having drunk white wine all night and then shots of neat vodka. As one does. I didn't sell any work but I got a lot of interest, as in everyone was very impressed and really felt that I have a future as a painter. Well, that's a turn up. Even my Dad has started called me a mature, professional artist and is very proud of me, as I am of myself. There weren't many people there, but those who were all had a great time, and that's the most important thing.

I'm sitting here and the evening sun is on my face, which makes me feel happy. Tomorrow I'll be one year older and I need to do a playlist for myself on my ipod - I've tried teaching my folks, have tried teaching them everything from internet to microsoft word - but to no avail. Any Birthday or special occassion I put together a playlist and you would think by now my Dad could do the same on my Birthday - no such luck. I have a frightening 8500 songs on my ipod now and it's going to be pretty hard to chose ones for tomorrow - basically it's what has meant more to me in all my 27 years, the music I have loved best and continue to love and so definitely need some Beatles on that, bit of Jimi H and Mr Dylan and then on to Blur & Oasis to Radiohead, The Killers, Coldplay . . . to Air, Groove Armada, Bent to Boards of Canada and Susumu Yokota - it's going to be a LONG night. My Dad is cooking a special meal, as in I can't be anywhere near the kitchen while he 'creates' - he's good at that! And of course presents and cards in the morning - I'm very excited.

And on that note:

You are 80% Virgo

How Virgo Are You?

Very interesting.

Emy xxx

And Now For My 170th Post:

You Are a Life Blogger!

Your blog is the story of your life - a living diary. If it happens, you blog it. And make it as entertaining as possible.

What Kind of Blogger Are You?

Dark Skies Above and More of Shirley's Flat

The journey coming back to Canterbury yesterday with the storm clouds

Ok I feel like those dark clouds above. I’m getting a little nervous about tomorrow night – I saw Shirley again last night to make the final arrangements for the show and she said that a few people had seen the paintings, some liked but others and one in particular – a painter herself – wasn’t so impressed. Ok, I’m not a proper landscape painter or figurative and some people may think that I can’t do such things as that, but I can, I just chose not to, it doesn’t interest me or capture my imagination to paint things ‘real’, I would feel so un limited in my palette and ideas – to mix a perfect blue and then paint it next to a red excites and enthrals me, but to paint a tree green and a sky blue would bore me senseless – I feel I have freedom in what I’m doing and so desperately want to go back to my studio in Devon and keep painting. Soon, I hope, maybe mid October.

Wedding and party preparations!

Oh yes and a painting in her bathroom too

The title of my exhibition

Paintings definitely go with the decor now!


Of course a ground floor flat comes with a nice garden too


That long hallway again!

My films on the TV - do some recognise the trees?

Paintings from my previous solo show which I gave to Shirley as a present

I’m sorry if I upset anyone over my views on Steve Irwin yesterday – well, that’s kind of what a blog is for – to rant and rave on any given subject. I was greatly shocked over his death and how he died and I wouldn’t want to wish that on anyone, least of all him it’s just unfortunate coincidence that he died by one of his poor tormented animals. Oh well. RIP Steve; please send a message to your adoring fans to tell them to stop killing the sting- rays as revenge.

I discovered that one of my favourite bands ‘Underworld’ have released new tracks. BUT only to be downloaded – don’t you just hate things like that? Of course I did just that, coming from a girl who hasn’t ever downloaded anything like that outside of itunes. So if my laptop dies tonight, I know why, I’ve downloaded a corrupt file.

And then one thing that made me really unhappy today:

Discovering that over a million tonnes of raw sewage has been dumped into the River Thames, by accident they say, but still pretty bad, there has been only 20% oxygen in the water and the life it holds cannot survive., so a major clean up operation is taking place. Read full article here.

I’ve got the worst attack of the nerves today. Hot flushes and butterflies, palpitations and achy joints – what the hell is going to happen tomorrow? Will I sell anything? Have I over priced them or under priced? Am I professional enough to call myself an artist? I tell you one thing I was so happy to see my films again from last years MA, after 2 days of stress trying to burn them on DVD and failing miserably, to see them on Shirl’s wide screen TV made it all better! I had never made any films in my life before and to see what I achieved there made me happy and positive, then why can’t I be positive about my paintings too? Help springs to mind.

Ok, that’s all for today folks,

Emy xxx

I Ask:

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW?!
We’ve had torrential rain for the last few nights, accompanied with frightening thunder and lightning – and all on the media they’ve said because of global warning and this years drought, blah, blah, blah – we ALL should change our gardens to save water, as in rip up all our existing grass and plants and plant a new shingle/Zen type place for ‘better’ water management. “Did you know that London has less rainfall than Madrid, Rome or even Dallas?” Asks the ‘London Wildlife Trusts’, well, yes, as Madrid, Rome and even Dallas have a warmer climate then us; if it asked “Did you know that London has less rainfall then Moscow, Vienna and Toronto?” Then I WOULD be worried! I picked up a leaflet and these two things it said shocked the living daylights out of me:

‘Make a DIFFERENCE by pledging to do one of the following:

I will choose low water or drought tolerant plants that encourage wildlife.

And then another way of putting it:

Ten gardening tips to save water and help wildlife:

3. Choose low water or drought resistant plants that encourage wildlife.

Of course they do give sound advice on other aspects but this is NOT ON!

Basically they are telling you to rip up your existing garden – destroying your already beneficial wildlife habitats to create a dead/unliving piece of landscaped garden shit. You know, the ones with palm trees, bonsai trees, fountains and blasted shingle!

WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE IS THAT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS?

My Dad has been SO outraged by the entire thing that he phoned the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) to have it out with them and he got this silly, brainless girl who hadn’t a CLUE what he was talking about, even though it has been a news item on TV and in the papers for the last 2 months – where has everyone been, on MARS?! The mentality of some people is unbelievable, why do they walk with blinkers on through life? Ok, I do to some extent, but least I know what’s going on in the world and can have my say, others are so wrapped up in their own little pathetic, meaningless lives that nothing and I mean NOTHING moves them.

Ok. Another rant.

Steve Irwin.

Ok, the man is dead and I agree fully with Germaine Greer and PETA. Firstly I’d like to say that I don’t have much time for Ms Greer, or is it Mrs? But what she said was pretty close., she said that ‘his death after a stingray’s barb pierced his chest was the animal world taking revenge’ describing him as an ‘animal tormentor’, three cheers for Greer – of course he was! So you’re a Australian crocodile, minding your own business, swimming freely in your vast territory when this git extraordinaire suddenly jumps down on you from no where, into the water, disturbing your peace, disturbing your life, just to get you on camera for some dangerous animal documentary for the human world to see – this man WAS a nutter. PETA taking one step further and has brandished him ‘a cheap reality TV star’ Read full article here. But it doesn’t end there. Steve Irwin was a ‘star’ in his own country and in the US and the countries have been going mad, pouring out their grief in some ‘Princess Diana-style floral memorial’ (couldn’t have said it better myself Greer) and the people are baying for the sting rays blood who killed him, so over the last few days 10 sting rays have been found dead, washed up on beaches, with their tails cut off. That went against everything Mr Irwin believed in, I realise he was ‘some sort’ of conversationalist but he just went about it in a very stupid way. As PETA have stated (you really don’t have to read the full article now!), “He made his career out of antagonising frightened wild animals, that’s a very dangerous message to send to children”. And don’t forget the stunt he pulled in front of tourists visiting his family’s famous Australian zoo, his son in one arm and food in the other waving to a GIANT alligator – it’s the whole Michael Jackson thing, dangling his baby son over the railings. Bloody hell!

Click here for PETA article via 'Helping Animals'

Ok, I can’t go on, that’s really exhausted me, SO MUCH TO COMPLAIN ABOUT!

So I went back to KIAD today to retrieve my TV I loaned to Laury, believe me, that’s the LAST they’ll be seeing me there for a LONG TIME. And then over to Shirley’s to make the last arrangements for my show. Her flat looks AMAZING by the way, not only my paintings but also something else. Tomorrow she’ll be having a wedding reception at her flat and the flower arrangers had been and made it amazing, oh and one more thing, this is not only any old wedding reception, this is a gay wedding reception, so the balloons are pink and the cake too! Hope they feel like buying a souvenir . . . like a painting!

Pictures and everything tomorrow. I’m so tired now. Just waiting for more thunder to come. Love this weather.

Emy xxx

A Solo Show - I MUST Be Good!!!!!! (er, no comment)

Ok, it's me again and I'm back to the real world once more - well, kind of - as I have a solo exhibition this coming Saturday, at my friend Shirley's house in Blackheath (in fact a few doors down from our old house). It has been in the pipe line for ages and discussed over and over again, so I can't believe it's finally taking place. Yesterday all the family (well, Dad, Mum & me) went over to Shirl's to hang my work, all 21 canvases and had a lovely meal in her garden as it was THAT warm outside. And here are some pictures of her flat and my work:

Sitting room

On the hall wall, my 'West' series

The longest hallway in the country!

Going towards the sitting room

This is how my paintings look like up!

On friday night I was at KIAD doing the bar for the MA show, which I really enjoyed. The show was not bad, but the attendance down, which was a shame! I stood through the speechs, hiding at the back, when the words of thanks came about to Judith Rugg (Art Theory tutor), Richard Davies (head of MA) to all the technicians and the student reps and then my name was called out and I could have shrunk into the floor, everyone laughed as I gingerly, red faced made my way up to Laury who was giving the flowers to me and then disappeared back behind the lines. I really enjoyed helping them all out and because of that I've made some really good friends so the flowers weren't needed! Nice though. I had no dinner that night and just drank away the free wine, ending up at the bar and then a small party at my old warden's flat. Odd how these things turn out. I need to go back to KIAD on Thursday to get my tv back from Laury who borrowed it for her research space and then that will be it with KIAD and me for this year. I'll definitely go back next year for the Private Show, but I do feel I've outstayed my welcome somewhat, especially how Richard did his best to ignore me on Friday night.

Now it's really hot here, although rain forecast tomorrow.

And now for some links, as they went down so well last time:

Star Trek becomes up to date with special effects - Now, I'm not a fan, but I'm with the fans in this one, this is NOT needed, Star Trek has worked perfectly well without computer graphics and all that!

Paul McCartney again - his bitter, twisted lyrics over his failing marriage with Heather already written as early as a year ago. You fool Macca. Didn't everyone say she was wrong? Did you listen? Nope, of course you didn't.

Commercial Breaks and Beats - The UK Television Advert Music Database - OK, most adverts in this country are rubbish, but some do come with a catchy tune and I've always wanted to know how to find them - well, HERE IT IS!!!!! - I've got a feeling this is going to come in great use for one and all!

The Lonely Hearts Correspondence Club - This was sent through my 'Art jobs' emails and I'm not sure why it was, but it's a good idea, only for those who need it, which I'd like to say now that I don't - a site for people who need other like minded people to understand them and to write in and share their thoughts with others to feel better about themselves. It says exactly what it does in the title! The music is irritating!

That's all for today/tonight - I'm too hot to go on!

Emy xxx

I'm Back And Hurting, Oh, And SMILING!!!!!

It has been a hard week, in fact 10 days since I last posted. I decided to stay at Canterbury longer, I was meant to go home Saturday 2nd but stayed till Monday4th as everything had to be done by 12pm Monday (a likely story, it was actually 2pm like last year!) I can't believe I experienced all that panic again over getting it all done in time. At one stage I thought all was lost. I was running around helping everyone, well, everyone who needed my help. I twisted my ankle, bruised my knees (one is still swollen), got blisters on my fingers through painting the floor, hurt my back and cut my finger open with a stanley knife - all the injuries I should have given myself last year but I was so high on Red Bull it didn't happen. On the last painting day (Sunday) I gave in to 5 cans of Red Bull - I was that tired - and coffee just gave me a headache.
There was a major panic on Sunday as Laury ran out of grey paint for her floor (by the way, Tucker and all fellow KIADians, Laury is in your space T and Bochao's too, so imanging painting that grey, it took four of us and luckily we had a mastermind to mix the paint, a MA student form this year called Hatem (think that's how you spell his name) so all was ok in the end.

I didn't witness many arguments or tempers boiling, only those directed to Richard and Ali (Head of MA and tutor) who as always through their weight around, telling people to change things in the last minute. But evereyone on the whole remained cool and it looks good. We all went for a drink at the Two Sawyers at the end on the Monday, sitting outside in the Indian Summer. I felt shattered and my usual Emily reaction shifted into gear thinking I'm really not part of this, I'll sit on the side lines. But I don't think anyone really realised what I was thinking then and there, even though I told some. Last year at KIAD was an amazing year for me, I really came into my own and for once my work and myself were remembered (that NEVER happened after Winchester) and I sat there feeling shell shocked. It was an end of an era last year and now I've witnessed an end of an era this year too, as I already knew a few part time MA's and one MFA (Laury) from their first year last year. It was an odd feeling, if I had been alone I would have burst out crying, crying for my friends to come back, crying for the year previous to be repeated, crying to not feel to be such an outsider. The feeling past as I drank more wine and I began to come round again and join in with the festivities and the chatter.

It's taken me a few days to get over KIAD and now I'm off there again tomorrow to do the bar at the Private View tomorrow night. I've already worked out what to wear and have packed my stuff. And Devon feels SO long ago!!!!!

Ok, now for the good and unexpected good news. Laury dropped me back home on Monday and she stayed the night because the poor thing was shattered. She already had plans for me, we had talked long and hard about my work and how they would sell and where to start that she had even given me numbers for galleries to call and sent people emails about me. She even hitched a plan in her head that she and I would drive around the South West from Cornmall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire - even Wales (Cardiff) with a boot full of my work and she could guarantee she would get me selling my work in one gallery per county. Sounds great, but is this just talk? On Tuesday morning I was so tired, yet Laury was up and jumping up and down and before I could even blink she was on the phone to a gallery in Barnes talking about me. She gave me the phone and I arranged to see the gallery owner today between 10pm-5 with my portfoilo and a few canvases so he could see the quality. Oh my God, I really thought of cancelling, it was TOO soon, I wasn't ready, wasn't prepared! So ALL yesterday I spent preparing, printing out all my stuff (as most of the originals are in Devon) and chosing which paintings to take. Barnes is a long way, right the way through SW London, through places such as Clapham, Wandsworth, Putney . . . On and on and on and SO much traffic. Well, to cut a long story short, he was interested. He wants to sell my work. Hurugh! Or is it Huragh?! And Barnes has a A LOT of money floating around. He asked me how much I wanted to sell them for, I said £250? No, (he said), how about £350? WOW, I said. £350 each and one day (he said) possibly £1000. Good God I thought, while pinching myself. So this is good and all thanks to Laury and now I know how to show my work to gallery owners I'm going to do this more often!

Plus, I'm having a small solo exhibition at a friend's house on 16th September. Shirley (my friend) has emailed 100 people to bring their cash. So another thing to look forward too. Am hanging the pictures this coming Sunday. I've done 12 especially for her and a few prints and postcards. Will let you know.

And now the photographs:




The Cedar at KIAD is still looking splendid and she (yes, SHE!) is still producing some lovely cones! Lots of people still use her as part of their work but there has been a move to protect her from that as things have been glued on to her or stuck on and it's not good for the tree.

The house I stayed there. True, in the middle of no-where but in a public park so you get a lot of strangers with their dogs walking past. Security is not so good, they've been broken into 4 times and once someone took their whole roof off to get into the property (mmmm. . . Strange) I really wouldn't want to be there by myself in the dark. But the owners have dogs so it does make sense to live 'on' a park!

The back - the reason the pictures are so bad was because I was SO tired when I took these that I could hardly see plus it was dusk too.

This was above them on the hill - which must have been the major house on the estate. On Saturday night I heard a lot of people going past, smashing bottles and shouting and the gate being forced. Then a bassline of music all night. Thing is I was SO tired that I didn't put 2 and 2 together until the morning when the music was still going on. It was an illegal rave, so Laury phoned the police. They were there as we were leaving, we left them to it and when we came back the rave had stopped. When the owners came back on Sunday night they weren't surprised as it had happened before.

The owner's dog, Max, I could have taken him home, but I couldn't fit him in my suitcase!

Laury and her Sculptures with Esin who came to stay (Another MA I knew from last year)

The man on the roof, a piece of work left over from the BA show in June

A closer look

Laury's MA show work, one of three of her Monumental sculptures, pretty impressive, made out of clay and resin and towering above you

Their eyes follow you around the room and when you look back they stop looking at you!!!!

Another guy (my friend!)



How they are made inside

Barnes by the River Thames today

Looking the other way

The London Wetlands Centre - a mini Oasis in the centre of London, packed and brimming with flora and fauna you wouldn't expect to see in the city

And planes coming at you overhead to Heathrow - a little too close for comfort!

Signets at the Wetlands Centre

Pretty tame ( though I wouldn't stroke it, I DO want to keep my fingers!)









The horses of the duck world!

Bobbies on the beat (I couldn't stop laughing!)

Lots of love and see you all on Sunday,

Emy xxx