June 2010 Tuesday 1.6.10 Richard Smith, secretary of the Friends committee rings re the AGM next week which I have to chair. Still adding new things to the big Gloucestershire College painting using some reference for the plumber’s blowtorch and a car tyre pump!! Wednesday 2.6.10 Lovely e mail from Lisa Webb who has been helping Kayleigh, a student who requested help with her dissertation via Stephen Davis. Lisa’s been brilliant, collecting Kayleigh from Rugby station, taking her to the Sherrier Centre where Leicestershire’s Artworks is housed for an interview and back to the station again afterwards. How wonderful it is when one’s friends are so kind and helpful. Bright day so particularly good light for working on the big Gloucestershire College painting, clambering on a high stool to reach the top and sitting on a low stool to reach the bottom! Thursday 3.6.10 Good day in studio - work into the early hours on GC commission, painting brightly coloured books on library shelves. Friday 4.6.10 Invitation for the ACS to the summer party at the Chelsea Arts Club; although I’m a member it’s often the only time I manage to get up to the Club even though they offer the most wonderful facilities and an array of events. Professor Ken rings; he’s compiling information on where all the paintings we have on loan from them have been exhibited over the past three or four years whilst they have been away in New Zealand. Even hotter today Saturday 5.6.10 How nice to receive an invitation to the Royal Garden Party from the Lord Chamberlain. I’ll have to get a new hat!! Also invitation from Paintings in Hospitals to a reception before the auction at Bonhams on the evening of Tuesday 29th June. There are eighteen other artists who include Anthony Gormley, Bridget Riley, Eileen Cooper, Patrick Hughes, Chris Orr, Richard Sorrell, Ian Davenport and Mary Newcombe. Anthony Gormley Patrick Hughes and Eileen Cooper all supported the Star Art exhibition in 2006 and Anthony Frost (son of Terry) also painted an instrument for the painted quartets. I’m always very touched by how generous artists tend to be and I know that these particular people will be inundated with requests from charities. But it is a wonderful way of giving back. Sunday 6.6.10 Call in the evening from Rick Rumrell sitting looking out over the water drinking a glass of wine, smoking a cigar and listening to Robert Fripp. So he decides to give me a call. He’s been busily acting for clients against BP since he specialises in maritime law (as well as getting my paintings back from errant dealers) he’s had to speak at three conferences on the plight of the coastal region and its inhabitants - fishermen, holiday companies etc. BP are getting a bad press; most deep sea oil rigs have on shore switches to cut off the oil supply but in this case BP hadn’t taken that precaution and some of the safety equipment was second hand from another rig. It’s turning out to be one of the severest oil spills and pollution of the ocean of all time. I dread to think what is happening to the creatures of the sea and the birds of the air that feed or swim in that region - it’s horrendous. Monday 7.6.10 Pop up to the Royal Academy for Varnishing Day luncheon. Am delighted to bump into Toyah’s friend Helen David of the fashion house English Eccentrics, who has gone back to painting - she is exhibiting a beautiful little work called Pearly Nationals. I’m also delighted to see Grayson Perry in a beautiful full skirted dress and ankle socks; he’s exhibiting an exquisite pot, Personal Mythology. Two beautiful semicircular pieces for Westminster Cathedral, St Francis of Assisi and St Anthony of Padua by Dr Leonard McComb - life sized studies for mosaics. A terrifyingly wonderful gorilla by David Mach made of metal coat hangers. Tuesday 8.6.10 Working on the GC painting. E mail from Robbie saying he and students could come next week for a studio visit. In the evening go into Cheltenham for the Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum where Dr Margus Laidre is doing us the honour of being our speaker. I’m only just in time as whilst still driving down Priory Lane we meet Henrietta’s school friend Elaine and her husband with their beautiful new baby, 8 week old Noah. I open the meeting and welcome Margus but am very remiss as I have forgotten to mention the Mayor Ann Regan so Richard brings a note up to me half way through. The meeting runs smoothly; Gina gives a very nice report on Heather’s behalf of the last years achievements etc. The Treasurer Andrew reports on the financial accounts and Jenny Ogle tells us about the wonderful trips they have organised during the year. Jane Lillystone reports on the further funds they have raised from trusts towards the new development. The over four million pounds is well on the way to the five and a half they need to raise to increase their chance of Heritage Lottery funding. Margus gives a most brilliant, witty and profound speech - Estonians are a nocturnal people and many other stories about being small in a big world. Afterwards Everybody comments on how good it was; drinks and refreshments were served and the Friends mingled and exchanged news. I’m pleased to see Daphne and Michael. Then we go round the corner to Emerald, a Thai restaurant, for supper with Mark and Julia Hurrell, Dr Margus and Wallace. It’s a really enjoyable occasion and the Hurrells seem to get on well with Margus too. Wednesday 9.6.10 Heads down now for a big bash on the Gloucestershire College painting - I’m spending most of my time perched up on the stool painting the upper sections, refining the shapes and adding new elements to it each day. Thursday 10.6.10 ditto Friday 11.6.10 ditto Saturday 12.10.10 ditto Sunday 13.6.10 The weather has been forecast as changeable with rain later in the day but when we arrive at Patricia and David’s the beautiful garden and partygoers are bathed in glorious sunshine. Patricia tells us she has done most of the planting herself and there are some delightful floral beds enclosed by low box hedging. A magnificent cedar that David tells us used to have four boughs in a central circular bed contained by a low wall perfect for sitting on to eat the delicious salmon and asparagus that David has cooked to perfection. This time I get to see the exquisite marquetry by Patricia’s grandmother, lovely paintings by her Mother and a fine water colour by Patricia herself. Monday 14.6.10 Painting painting painting Tuesday 15.6.10 Form arrives from the Royal Academy asking for official permission to reproduce my Angel and Elephant as a postcard. Wednesday 16.6.10 Still gloriously sunny so particularly good light on the large Gloucestershire College painting. At about 5pm the phone rings - its the Hay Hill Gallery inviting me to go to the private view they have tomorrow night of the big Andy Warhol exhibition of drawings, screen prints and paintings. Thursday 17.6.10 Drive up to London for the Warhol opening. It is a fantastic exhibition and very glamorous occasion; lots of beautiful people in beautiful outfits. The gallery has six young women with MAs working in it and tonight they have caterers too. There’s also a large screen downstairs which shows images of other Warhol works that they were not able to include on the walls. Gary greets us warmly looking very elegant wearing a particularly beautiful tie that afterwards I think is probably an Erté; he generously tells us to make ourselves at home and exclaims the next exhibition is mine !! The show is very well hung and presented. We stay for an hour or so before collecting our car from Saville Row( where Richard admires some particularly beautiful shirts and ties by Oswald Boateng) and make our way home. By 9.30 and I’m back in the studio doing another few hours work. Friday 18.6.10 Good uninterrupted day in studio. Saturday 19.6.10 Manage a little more work on the big commission before our guests arrive for supper. Greg and his wife are coming to see the painting - he’s seen images of it in progress but never in reality; they arrive at just the same time as Kathryn the new Principal of the National Star College - she’s already worked there for ten years as deputy principal - followed by Edward and Alyson. Then Jane and Stephen Davis (who wrote the film Ruby from his stage play of the same name, also some of the TV series ‘Waking the Dead’ and ‘Silent Witness’) emerge in the doorway. Richard is serving champagne when Martin Kiszko looking wonderfully dramatic in a glorious red shirt and black suit with Nick Park, the most delightful man who created Wallace and Gromit, appear. Lots of talking going on. After half an hour we all go over to the studio for Greg to see the painting. Am so pleased that he likes it; he stands for a long time looking at the various elements and tells the others about my visits to the College observing and photographing students and equipment. Then we go back over for supper. There is some very lively conversation over dinner especially good repartee on the difficulty of working for the BBC between Stephen and Martin. Stephen is on committees at BAFTA as are Martin and Nick; there’s a marvellous sequence when S asks N if he has a BAFTA award and this most modest of men hesitates for a moment before admitting ‘I think I have six’ (he also has at least four Oscars). They also discuss their times in Hollywood. Another interesting conversation at Richard’s end of the table between Martin and Edward (MD of the racecourse, which next year celebrates it’s centenary) about the plans Martin had to write an oratorio on the racehorse Foinavon and another conversation between Alyson and Martin; she is also a musician and sings with the Bach choir who she says are always looking for new works to perform. I persuade Martin to recite a poem from his “Green Poems for a Blue Planet” (Which has been beautifully illustrated by Nick) not yet published because he keeps tweaking it; it goes down so well that there is a request for another. Stephen recites an environmental poem too. Everyone contributes to the entertaining banta Kathryn makes many witty comments and retorts as does Greg (an amassing man who manages to steer his vast institution from strength to strength even in these difficult times). Like Kathryn he has in infectious enthusiasm and positive approach; his wife Alison tells me that they lived and worked in Bahrain for some years; she had spotted my Saudi Arabian jewellery hanging over the mantelpiece and told me about some of her fascinating experiences there. Jane Davis knows the College well as she has been working there with students from the Heritage course that she and Stephen developed, particularly dry stone walling and arts and crafts skills at Woodchester Mansion where Stephen is Chairman of the Trust. A business woman who has worked for Estee Lauder starting out in Manchester where she knew the late great Georgie Best. Sunday 20.6.10 Back in the studio Monday 21.6.10 Much e mailing re the big unveiling and concert at Gloucestershire College. Tuesday 22.6.10 Phone call from Meurig. Plans for the auctioning of the musical instruments have been brought forward to coincide with the Cheltenham international Music Festival. There will be a silent auction whilst they are exhibited at the Parabola Arts Centre at the Ladies College, where several of the festival performances will be taking place; there will be online bidding too. Later I get a call from Niki the young woman who is organising it for the Festival. Much of the proceeds will be going towards the National Star College. Nice phone call from Nathan then one from Henrietta immediately afterwards. It is Isaac’s sports day tomorrow Wednesday 23.6.10 A parcel has arrived. I wonder if its going to be the postcards form the Royal Academy. It’s a smart double layered box; when I open it there is a card on top from dear Margus requesting for my birthday that the sun may always shine on me. Beneath it are two beautiful books, the first which must have only just been published is The Great Northern War and Estonia, the trials of Dorpat 1700-1708 by Margus Laidre. How has this remarkable man (who is also an Historian ) managed to achieve this as well as all his diplomatic duties and coming to Cheltenham to give a talk to the Friends and organising my exhibition in Estonia. Its written in the same brilliant way in which he speaks; you can open the book anywhere and it still makes a good and coherent read. And it is touchingly inscribed to me. As if that were not joy enough there is an even bigger book the exquisitely presented, limited edition, Solomon’s Song of Songs by the Estonian poet and artist Raul Meel. How fortunate I am to have such a dear friend. Thursday 24.6.10 Notice from the Royal Academy that my Angel and Elephant painting sold at the gala evening. Friday 25.6.10 The postcards arrive from the Royal Academy. Telephone conversation with Jane Lilystone at Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum re taking the Bishop’s breakfast group there in July. We also discuss how well the appeal is going and next years exhibition The Horse and celebrations of the centenary of the racecourse. She asks if I will paint a horse for them that will then ( after being on display) be auctioned for a horse charity to which I agree. Saturday 26.6.10 Statement arrives from Bridgeman Art Library for reproductions used here, Europe and the USA, including a payment from DACS. After a session in the studio, change and go over to Meurig and Rachel’s for dinner. Rachel’s looking very well and beautiful with only three and a half weeks to go until her baby’s due. Meurig’s cooking and unusually we’re the first of their guests to arrive. Three of the other four are doctors and the fourth, husband of Penny one of the doctors is an entrapaneur; a mathematician who has set up several companies including a very clever idea for working with schools where pupils are able to request their school dinner choices by text on their mobile phones which is also relayed to parents - likewise information on school trips etc. So simple but such an effective use of current technology. He seems to have investments and companies in China too. They are building a concert hall in an old tithe barn in the grounds of their home. I love the story he told us about when as boy walking home from school he thought how interesting it would be to see how many calculations he could do using 4 and 4 and 4. He spent a couple of years filling notebooks with his results - it had over 10,000. Later at university he was delighted to discover a competition in the Scientific American posing just this question; he phoned his mother to ask for the notebooks and was told she had thrown them away - he would have won the prize as the winner had only got 4,000 results. Peter, the doctor who sat to my other side, knew the Star College and had raised moneys for it. He’s a saxophonist too and also does work on occupational hazard with lead or radiation etc. in industry. Sunday Good day working in studio. Monday 28.6.10 Still working round the edges of the Gloucestershire College painting. Finish at about 10 past 6, then cross the Lane to the house and spot Tom on his invalid scooter in front of the gate. He asks if he can lie on our floor (with cushions under his head) which he has taken to doing over the last couple of weeks as he likes the tranquility of the room and I imagine the friendship. He asks if I will call his father to explain where he is and get him in turn to phone his carer who is at his little house, so that she knows where he is. Tom, who has Parkinson’s, looks younger than his forty seven years. Movements are a lot more stable than they were before he was fitted with an appliance that administers his drugs on a 24 hour basis. But stress can sometimes counteract the medication. He also, as he seems to have now, seizes up, if not enough of the medication has got through, so has to press a button on it to give an increased boost it then takes about 20 minuets to take effect. My Mum and Richard and Rose from over the Lane arrive ten minutes later for my birthday tea. Tom of course can’t join them in a glass of wine so sips his water instead, until he decides he is strong enough to make it back to his home. Tuesday 29.6.10 Up very early to travel up to London where I am attending the AGM of ACS. Richard gets me to Hoxton Square in perfect timing with two minutes to spare. But Penny Govitt’s studio where the lunchtime meeting is to take place is shuttered up. Richard goes round the back of the building to see if there is an entrance there but to no avail. A taxi draws up and an elegant Frenchman steps out. I enquire if he is also attending the meeting which he is; we make our introductions and he explains he is also a Trustee and a lawyer who deals in intellectual property rights. I phone through on Richard’s mobile to the Bridgeman Art Library and get through to Adrian who is usually at the meetings too. He thinks there has been some confusion and will phone me back when he’s made a few inquiries. When he does he explains that the meeting had been rescheduled as someone couldn’t make it and that for some reason we obviously hadn’t received the message. and that Harriet, who is out at lunch, would be mortified. He asks if we would like to go and have lunch there; Pierre charmingly declines and says he will go back to his office and likewise we will go onto Henrietta’s, which will mean we get to see more of the little boys. After stopping to buy some present for them we arrive just after 2. Only Henrietta and Samuel are there as Isaac’s had a trip to the theatre and nursery school party. We all go to collect him then taking him on to his swimming lesson, before going back to tea. Isaac had helped Henrietta make the birthday cake for me and it was at his suggestion that it had been decorated with a mermaid. It seems too beautiful to cut but the little boys have been waiting with great anticipation so after Uncle Nathan and Ruth have arrived and played games, the candles were lit and the cake was cut before their bed time, after which Henrietta has prepared a glorious supper that we eat outside by candlelight. I open my birthday presents: Bill Bryson’s ‘At Home’ from Nathan and Ruth and we recall that I had bought him the ‘Brief History of Everything’ which he says he still really enjoys reading. I’d heard this latest one reviewed on radio 4 and had thought what a good read it would be. I have two lovely painted shark cut outs from Isaac and Samuel, a lovely stripy tunic from Henrietta and kev; we also notice I am wearing a striped cardigan they had given me on a previous birthday. Nathan and Ruth depart at about 11 as we do half an hour afterwards. Wednesday 30.6.10 Phone call from Robert Sandelson to see how things are progressing with the Hay Hill exhibition, which Richard takes.

Tuesday 1.6.10

Richard Smith, secretary of the Friends committee rings re the AGM next week which I have to chair.

Still adding new things to the big Gloucestershire College painting using some reference for the plumber’s blowtorch and a car tyre pump!!

Wednesday 2.6.10

Lovely e mail from Lisa Webb who has been helping Kayleigh, a student who requested help with her dissertation via Stephen Davis. Lisa’s been brilliant, collecting Kayleigh from Rugby station, taking her to the Sherrier Centre where Leicestershire’s Artworks is housed for an interview and back to the station again afterwards. How wonderful it is when one’s friends are so kind and helpful.

Bright day so particularly good light for working on the big Gloucestershire College painting, clambering on a high stool to reach the top and sitting on a low stool to reach the bottom!

Thursday 3.6.10

Good day in studio - work into the early hours on GC commission, painting brightly coloured books on library shelves.

Friday 4.6.10

Invitation for the ACS to the summer party at the Chelsea Arts Club; although I’m a member it’s often the only time I manage to get up to the Club even though they offer the most wonderful facilities and an array of events.

Professor Ken rings; he’s compiling information on where all the paintings we have on loan from them have been exhibited over the past three or four years whilst they have been away in New Zealand.

Even hotter today

Saturday 5.6.10

How nice to receive an invitation to the Royal Garden Party from the Lord Chamberlain. I’ll have to get a new hat!! Also invitation from Paintings in Hospitals to a reception before the auction at Bonhams on the evening of Tuesday 29th June. There are eighteen other artists who include Anthony Gormley, Bridget Riley, Eileen Cooper, Patrick Hughes, Chris Orr, Richard Sorrell, Ian Davenport and Mary Newcombe. Anthony Gormley Patrick Hughes and Eileen Cooper all supported the Star Art exhibition in 2006 and Anthony Frost (son of Terry) also painted an instrument for the painted quartets. I’m always very touched by how generous artists tend to be and I know that these particular people will be inundated with requests from charities. But it is a wonderful way of giving back.

Sunday 6.6.10

Call in the evening from Rick Rumrell sitting looking out over the water drinking a glass of wine, smoking a cigar and listening to Robert Fripp. So he decides to give me a call. He’s been busily acting for clients against BP since he specialises in maritime law (as well as getting my paintings back from errant dealers) he’s had to speak at three conferences on the plight of the coastal region and its inhabitants - fishermen, holiday companies etc. BP are getting a bad press; most deep sea oil rigs have on shore switches to cut off the oil supply but in this case BP hadn’t taken that precaution and some of the safety equipment was second hand from another rig. It’s turning out to be one of the severest oil spills and pollution of the ocean of all time. I dread to think what is happening to the creatures of the sea and the birds of the air that feed or swim in that region - it’s horrendous.

Monday 7.6.10

Pop up to the Royal Academy for Varnishing Day luncheon. Am delighted to bump into Toyah’s friend Helen David of the fashion house English Eccentrics, who has gone back to painting - she is exhibiting a beautiful little work called Pearly Nationals. I’m also delighted to see Grayson Perry in a beautiful full skirted dress and ankle socks; he’s exhibiting an exquisite pot, Personal Mythology. Two beautiful semicircular pieces for Westminster Cathedral, St Francis of Assisi and St Anthony of Padua by Dr Leonard McComb - life sized studies for mosaics. A terrifyingly wonderful gorilla by David Mach made of metal coat hangers.

Tuesday 8.6.10

Working on the GC painting. E mail from Robbie saying he and students could come next week for a studio visit. In the evening go into Cheltenham for the Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum where Dr Margus Laidre is doing us the honour of being our speaker. I’m only just in time as whilst still driving down Priory Lane we meet Henrietta’s school friend Elaine and her husband with their beautiful new baby, 8 week old Noah. I open the meeting and welcome Margus but am very remiss as I have forgotten to mention the Mayor Ann Regan so Richard brings a note up to me half way through. The meeting runs smoothly; Gina gives a very nice report on Heather’s behalf of the last years achievements etc. The Treasurer Andrew reports on the financial accounts and Jenny Ogle tells us about the wonderful trips they have organised during the year. Jane Lillystone reports on the further funds they have raised from trusts towards the new development. The over four million pounds is well on the way to the five and a half they need to raise to increase their chance of Heritage Lottery funding. Margus gives a most brilliant, witty and profound speech - Estonians are a nocturnal people and many other stories about being small in a big world. Afterwards Everybody comments on how good it was; drinks and refreshments were served and the Friends mingled and exchanged news. I’m pleased to see Daphne and Michael. Then we go round the corner to Emerald, a Thai restaurant, for supper with Mark and Julia Hurrell, Dr Margus and Wallace. It’s a really enjoyable occasion and the Hurrells seem to get on well with Margus too.

Wednesday 9.6.10

Heads down now for a big bash on the Gloucestershire College painting - I’m spending most of my time perched up on the stool painting the upper sections, refining the shapes and adding new elements to it each day.

Thursday 10.6.10

ditto

Friday 11.6.10

ditto

Saturday 12.10.10

ditto

Sunday 13.6.10

The weather has been forecast as changeable with rain later in the day but when we arrive at Patricia and David’s the beautiful garden and partygoers are bathed in glorious sunshine. Patricia tells us she has done most of the planting herself and there are some delightful floral beds enclosed by low box hedging. A magnificent cedar that David tells us used to have four boughs in a central circular bed contained by a low wall perfect for sitting on to eat the delicious salmon and asparagus that David has cooked to perfection. This time I get to see the exquisite marquetry by Patricia’s grandmother, lovely paintings by her Mother and a fine water colour by Patricia herself.

Monday 14.6.10

Painting painting painting

Tuesday 15.6.10

Form arrives from the Royal Academy asking for official permission to reproduce my Angel and Elephant as a postcard.

Wednesday 16.6.10

Still gloriously sunny so particularly good light on the large Gloucestershire College painting. At about 5pm the phone rings - its the Hay Hill Gallery inviting me to go to the private view they have tomorrow night of the big Andy Warhol exhibition of drawings, screen prints and paintings.

Thursday 17.6.10

Drive up to London for the Warhol opening. It is a fantastic exhibition and very glamorous occasion; lots of beautiful people in beautiful outfits. The gallery has six young women with MAs working in it and tonight they have caterers too. There’s also a large screen downstairs which shows images of other Warhol works that they were not able to include on the walls. Gary greets us warmly looking very elegant wearing a particularly beautiful tie that afterwards I think is probably an Erté; he generously tells us to make ourselves at home and exclaims the next exhibition is mine !! The show is very well hung and presented. We stay for an hour or so before collecting our car from Saville Row( where Richard admires some particularly beautiful shirts and ties by Oswald Boateng) and make our way home. By 9.30 and I’m back in the studio doing another few hours work.

Friday 18.6.10

Good uninterrupted day in studio.

Saturday 19.6.10

Manage a little more work on the big commission before our guests arrive for supper. Greg and his wife are coming to see the painting - he’s seen images of it in progress but never in reality; they arrive at just the same time as Kathryn the new Principal of the National Star College - she’s already worked there for ten years as deputy principal - followed by Edward and Alyson. Then Jane and Stephen Davis (who wrote the film Ruby from his stage play of the same name, also some of the TV series ‘Waking the Dead’ and ‘Silent Witness’) emerge in the doorway. Richard is serving champagne when Martin Kiszko looking wonderfully dramatic in a glorious red shirt and black suit with Nick Park, the most delightful man who created Wallace and Gromit, appear. Lots of talking going on. After half an hour we all go over to the studio for Greg to see the painting. Am so pleased that he likes it; he stands for a long time looking at the various elements and tells the others about my visits to the College observing and photographing students and equipment. Then we go back over for supper. There is some very lively conversation over dinner especially good repartee on the difficulty of working for the BBC between Stephen and Martin. Stephen is on committees at BAFTA as are Martin and Nick; there’s a marvellous sequence when S asks N if he has a BAFTA award and this most modest of men hesitates for a moment before admitting ‘I think I have six’ (he also has at least four Oscars). They also discuss their times in Hollywood. Another interesting conversation at Richard’s end of the table between Martin and Edward (MD of the racecourse, which next year celebrates it’s centenary) about the plans Martin had to write an oratorio on the racehorse Foinavon and another conversation between Alyson and Martin; she is also a musician and sings with the Bach choir who she says are always looking for new works to perform. I persuade Martin to recite a poem from his “Green Poems for a Blue Planet” (Which has been beautifully illustrated by Nick) not yet published because he keeps tweaking it; it goes down so well that there is a request for another. Stephen recites an environmental poem too. Everyone contributes to the entertaining banta Kathryn makes many witty comments and retorts as does Greg (an amassing man who manages to steer his vast institution from strength to strength even in these difficult times). Like Kathryn he has in infectious enthusiasm and positive approach; his wife Alison tells me that they lived and worked in Bahrain for some years; she had spotted my Saudi Arabian jewellery hanging over the mantelpiece and told me about some of her fascinating experiences there. Jane Davis knows the College well as she has been working there with students from the Heritage course that she and Stephen developed, particularly dry stone walling and arts and crafts skills at Woodchester Mansion where Stephen is Chairman of the Trust. A business woman who has worked for Estee Lauder starting out in Manchester where she knew the late great Georgie Best.

Sunday 20.6.10

Back in the studio

Monday 21.6.10

Much e mailing re the big unveiling and concert at Gloucestershire College.

Tuesday 22.6.10

Phone call from Meurig. Plans for the auctioning of the musical instruments have been brought forward to coincide with the Cheltenham international Music Festival. There will be a silent auction whilst they are exhibited at the Parabola Arts Centre at the Ladies College, where several of the festival performances will be taking place; there will be online bidding too. Later I get a call from Niki the young woman who is organising it for the Festival. Much of the proceeds will be going towards the National Star College.

Nice phone call from Nathan then one from Henrietta immediately afterwards. It is Isaac’s sports day tomorrow

Wednesday 23.6.10

A parcel has arrived. I wonder if its going to be the postcards form the Royal Academy. It’s a smart double layered box; when I open it there is a card on top from dear Margus requesting for my birthday that the sun may always shine on me. Beneath it are two beautiful books, the first which must have only just been published is The Great Northern War and Estonia, the trials of Dorpat 1700-1708 by Margus Laidre. How has this remarkable man (who is also an Historian ) managed to achieve this as well as all his diplomatic duties and coming to Cheltenham to give a talk to the Friends and organising my exhibition in Estonia. Its written in the same brilliant way in which he speaks; you can open the book anywhere and it still makes a good and coherent read. And it is touchingly inscribed to me. As if that were not joy enough there is an even bigger book the exquisitely presented, limited edition, Solomon’s Song of Songs by the Estonian poet and artist Raul Meel. How fortunate I am to have such a dear friend.

Thursday 24.6.10

Notice from the Royal Academy that my Angel and Elephant painting sold at the gala evening.

Friday 25.6.10

The postcards arrive from the Royal Academy. Telephone conversation with Jane Lilystone at Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum re taking the Bishop’s breakfast group there in July. We also discuss how well the appeal is going and next years exhibition The Horse and celebrations of the centenary of the racecourse. She asks if I will paint a horse for them that will then ( after being on display) be auctioned for a horse charity to which I agree.

Saturday 26.6.10

Statement arrives from Bridgeman Art Library for reproductions used here, Europe and the USA, including a payment from DACS.

After a session in the studio, change and go over to Meurig and Rachel’s for dinner. Rachel’s looking very well and beautiful with only three and a half weeks to go until her baby’s due. Meurig’s cooking and unusually we’re the first of their guests to arrive. Three of the other four are doctors and the fourth, husband of Penny one of the doctors is an entrapaneur; a mathematician who has set up several companies including a very clever idea for working with schools where pupils are able to request their school dinner choices by text on their mobile phones which is also relayed to parents - likewise information on school trips etc. So simple but such an effective use of current technology. He seems to have investments and companies in China too. They are building a concert hall in an old tithe barn in the grounds of their home. I love the story he told us about when as boy walking home from school he thought how interesting it would be to see how many calculations he could do using 4 and 4 and 4. He spent a couple of years filling notebooks with his results - it had over 10,000. Later at university he was delighted to discover a competition in the Scientific American posing just this question; he phoned his mother to ask for the notebooks and was told she had thrown them away - he would have won the prize as the winner had only got 4,000 results. Peter, the doctor who sat to my other side, knew the Star College and had raised moneys for it. He’s a saxophonist too and also does work on occupational hazard with lead or radiation etc. in industry.

Sunday

Good day working in studio.

Monday 28.6.10

Still working round the edges of the Gloucestershire College painting. Finish at about 10 past 6, then cross the Lane to the house and spot Tom on his invalid scooter in front of the gate. He asks if he can lie on our floor (with cushions under his head) which he has taken to doing over the last couple of weeks as he likes the tranquility of the room and I imagine the friendship. He asks if I will call his father to explain where he is and get him in turn to phone his carer who is at his little house, so that she knows where he is. Tom, who has Parkinson’s, looks younger than his forty seven years. Movements are a lot more stable than they were before he was fitted with an appliance that administers his drugs on a 24 hour basis. But stress can sometimes counteract the medication. He also, as he seems to have now, seizes up, if not enough of the medication has got through, so has to press a button on it to give an increased boost it then takes about 20 minuets to take effect.

My Mum and Richard and Rose from over the Lane arrive ten minutes later for my birthday tea. Tom of course can’t join them in a glass of wine so sips his water instead, until he decides he is strong enough to make it back to his home.

Tuesday 29.6.10

Up very early to travel up to London where I am attending the AGM of ACS. Richard gets me to Hoxton Square in perfect timing with two minutes to spare. But Penny Govitt’s studio where the lunchtime meeting is to take place is shuttered up. Richard goes round the back of the building to see if there is an entrance there but to no avail. A taxi draws up and an elegant Frenchman steps out. I enquire if he is also attending the meeting which he is; we make our introductions and he explains he is also a Trustee and a lawyer who deals in intellectual property rights. I phone through on Richard’s mobile to the Bridgeman Art Library and get through to Adrian who is usually at the meetings too. He thinks there has been some confusion and will phone me back when he’s made a few inquiries. When he does he explains that the meeting had been rescheduled as someone couldn’t make it and that for some reason we obviously hadn’t received the message. and that Harriet, who is out at lunch, would be mortified. He asks if we would like to go and have lunch there; Pierre charmingly declines and says he will go back to his office and likewise we will go onto Henrietta’s, which will mean we get to see more of the little boys. After stopping to buy some present for them we arrive just after 2. Only Henrietta and Samuel are there as Isaac’s had a trip to the theatre and nursery school party. We all go to collect him then taking him on to his swimming lesson, before going back to tea. Isaac had helped Henrietta make the birthday cake for me and it was at his suggestion that it had been decorated with a mermaid. It seems too beautiful to cut but the little boys have been waiting with great anticipation so after Uncle Nathan and Ruth have arrived and played games, the candles were lit and the cake was cut before their bed time, after which Henrietta has prepared a glorious supper that we eat outside by candlelight. I open my birthday presents: Bill Bryson’s ‘At Home’ from Nathan and Ruth and we recall that I had bought him the ‘Brief History of Everything’ which he says he still really enjoys reading.

I’d heard this latest one reviewed on radio 4 and had thought what a good read it would be. I have two lovely painted shark cut outs from Isaac and Samuel, a lovely stripy tunic from Henrietta and kev; we also notice I am wearing a striped cardigan they had given me on a previous birthday. Nathan and Ruth depart at about 11 as we do half an hour afterwards.

Wednesday 30.6.10

Phone call from Robert Sandelson to see how things are progressing with the Hay Hill exhibition, which Richard takes.