Graphite's blog

Here in the SouthWest it's Wassailing time. Wassailing is a rural tradition that stretches back into the mists of time An ancient rite desiged to scare off bad spirits from the cider apple orchards and encrouge harmony and good harvests.
In darkness the wassailers gather among the apple trees and carry out the ancient ceremony. They hang cider soaked toast in the branches of the trees and pour cider around the base of the trees to feed and encourage birds to stay in the orchard and eat harmful insects and to nourish the roots of the trees. They then dance and sing traditional wassail songs and make merry with the help of a glass or two of cider , the noise being to frighten off evil spirits

The Thursday before Christmas I started a cold, because I have emphysema this means I have to take antibiotics to clear my lungs. A trial scheme has just started here, the National Health Service and the Met Office have got together to provide an early warning service for people who suffer from CHOPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). The weather effects people with this condition, be it hot, cold or humid. I got a warning call from the Met Office about a week and a half ago so I was expecting it. So I havn't been drawing or painting recently.
Seasons greetings to everyone and best wishes for the New Year

On Friday I collected a new pair of varifocal glasses, they are so different from my old ones they are doing my head in, will I ever get used to them? I hope so.
Yesterday there was an event in Bideford to turn the Christmas lights on. Things started at 2pm and went on till way late in the evening.

The main road through Bideford was closed to traffic.The local radio station were there compering the event. There was the obligatory Father Christmas, fairground rides, any number of people in costumes. There were reindeer and the worlds smallest horses The town brass band played and the school choir sang Christmas carols. at 5pm the lights were switched on to the sound of cheers and oo's and ahh's.

Some 4,000 people were there which is not a bad turn out for a very small town.

Bideford Quay

Yesterday I made a start on painting this scene. I streached the paper and started lightly sketching in the information I need before I start painting. This is going to be my first attempt at painting in water colour.

My busy week didn't get started in quite the way I wanted, we had ordered a load of new stuff for the home, vacuum cleaner, jet washer, saucepans etc. I was hoping we could collect them yesterday but they didn't get delivered to the shop. This will put pressure on things later in the week, not to worry. See how things go today, there are never problems that can't be over come. The best way is to forget them and do some drawing or painting.

Sundays storm finally subsided during the night, but it did wake me several times it must have been around 5am before it quietened down. There was a beautiful sun rise this morning.

It promises to be a busy week, things to do every day. Must fit some drawing in along the way.

Just been for a walk along the beach. It's blowing a gale, however we are not the only people on the beach. At this time of year there are no holiday makers, just local people out for a walk or walking their dog. It's a great way to spend a Sunday morning.

There is so much to do at the moment I'm having a job keeping up with all the things I want to do.
Last week I won £10,000 woth of Garden Vouchers. We are running around centres that except them, trying to spend them, kind of difficult when you have a garden the size of a postage stamp.
Because of this I'm not getting any new artwork done.