DECEMBER 2025

Monday 1.12.25

Richard puts five miniatures online at a few moments to six and by fve past they have all sold and Ive taken it upon myself to paint a couple more for people who were just pipped at the post.

Tuesday 2.12.25

Joel e mails to ask if he might come and see the miniatures before he goes skiing. He’s such a nice young man, the son of Maureen who I was at art school with. I say if he can come in evening I say Richard will hang them to give him a best idea and he goes for a diamond shaped owl. But he’s had a difficult time getting here after a three hour root canal appointment his car breaking down, getting on his electric bike to ride to a friends to borrow their car. So we are rather touched by his enthusiasm as he has to do a repeat journey of car and bike to get back home.

Wednesday 3.12.25

We’ve been invited for drinks at the Deanery by Dean Andrew Zihni and Lloyd, I think as a thank you for the lion auction. Our lovely friends Maeve and Ian who made that possible are already there when we arrive. There’s a lovely warm Christmassy glow and several of the hospital doctors including Richard’s radiotherapy consultant Dr Jess Bailey are there. And Diane Savory who is chair of the Cheltenham & Gloucester  Hospitals Big Cancer Space Appeal. It’s a delightful drinks party before the stunning concert in the cathedral made up of the Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra, the NHS Choir, the dementia choir and the Midlife Choirsis which is organised, run and conducted by Rachel Bowen Meurig’s wife, who we haven’t seen for some years. The whole concert is magical and all the more so when the Cathedral is lit up by the candles we each hold, lit candle to candle. Im so pleased with the joy it gives to everyone but especially Maeve and I an who sit next to us is a delight. Such a glorious evening

Friday 5.12.25

R prints and puts up labels

Saturday 6.12.26

Open Studio. As I walk across the Lane to the studio I meet Jackie and Laurence carrying their youngest granddaughter; such an exquisite little girl dressed in red coat with fur around the collar and cuffs. Jackie tells me she bought one for each of their three granddaughters for the Christmas spread in Hello magazine. She had come for the Owl and the Pussycat miniature which she had in mind, it being one of her favourite poems. (and mine)

I can see Ian and Maeve, great friends and supporters and Su and Len, Lucy and Andy with their lovely son Charlie; Lucy seems taken with the little Swimming Pool, one of John’s brilliant frames that has an oval cut into it, to go with their collection that has grown over at least twelve years. We are so fortunate in having such lovely neighbours living in such close proximity.

Su Billington, who is also an artist, rushes up to tell me that she has just bought Tilting at Windmills and that Don Quixote is one of her favourite subjects. It is always particularly meaningful when another artist supports. She has the most beautiful smile, her whole face lights up like that of a child. And Len enquires about the Library.

Dear Maeve and Ian have gone for The Dog with the shiniest coat which I have to admit was inspired by their dog, Mr Bear and the triangular see-saw painting. I hope that dear John who is also here and has made all these frames for love rather than money, realises how very much he has dded to the occasion. Peter is here with his lovely niece Hannah - Andrea is away in Australia visiting friends and relations.

Our other dear friend Sue, who also trained as an artist, is here with her husband Andy who was until recently a pilot, has very generously chosen Fishers of Men for her sister Jane from their Mum and The Three Little Pigs.

Thomas, our wonderful gardener friend who does our big cutting back, has bought the Gardener’s Helpers.

Melissa arrives with her lovely Mum Sheila. Poor Melissa who was at school with Henrietta recently lost her lovely husband Paul to what I think is a similar illness to Lewie Body Disease. Such a clever man, an engineer who made fenicular railways for shipyards etc. She tells me that their beautiful son Harrison helped her nurse him and how good he was especially since I think he is only fourteen. It’s sad that Melissa misses Henrietta.

Who arrives sometime after 2pm with her friends Daniella and Alain, who have driven all the way down from Blackheath in London. Daniella particularly likes the first of the garden painting Jardin du Temps which is already reserved; she also likes The Windy Walk, which my lovely dealer Ellie bought not long after we opened so has commissioned two more and unbeknown to Daniella, Alain is also secretly buying TheWedding as it is their Anniversary weekend.

Colin and Libby come from Malvern. They are such a wonderful couple and have been coming every year.They had managed to buy Oranges on Monday evening and he promises to send his two latest photography books.

Mid afternoon I turn round and there in the middle of the studio is Annabelle the delightful Star student who won my art award this year, standing there with her Mum who had seen the event on my website. I cannot express how much joy it was to have her there, bearing a little gift bag with two glass Christmas tree hangings that she has made at the Star College and a beautiful card with flowers painted on it, some of the work she has been doing with Jim at Artshape which I managed to facilitate as  her Mum had asked if I knew where she could have extra classes after the Star who rate her so highly that she was the recipient of my award whilst still being in her first year there. They brought some sketch books in which she has been doing some work with Jim, who is a very jovial man who has worked with Artshape for many years and is the brother of Nicki Seville. I’m so very pleased that it has worked out. I think Jim has a PhD in the performing arts too but has a studio at Artshape where he works and teaches. Its wonderful when Annabelle is talking to Henrietta who seems to draw out whole conversations from her.

Luke, the ex Gloucester College student I met at Laurence and Jackie’s garden party for Linc and who came for lunch earlier in the year was also of one of the recipient of one of my student  awards there some some ten or twelve years ago buys my little Lighthouse. I’m so moved by this. He also manages to coincide with Robbie, lecturer from Gloucestershire College. Also another new friends, Emma from the Great Western Air Ambulance was here  early on - she bought the Cats’ Choir over the ‘phone on Monday evening.

Sunday 7.12.25

There’s another lovely atmosphere in the studio today. Edward and Alyson’s delightful friend Dee Russell Thomas calls out to Richard as he’s crossing the Lane and she drives past. Caroline, Simon, Kate their daughter and new husband Ted arrive at the same time. Caroline has asked me to paint a garden (Jardin du Temps) for her. Edward and Alyson come later and chat to Henrietta There are lots of people and the conversation is very convivial  particularly Martin Kizsko and Edward. Almost everything had sold  Saturday. including a print to Helen.

A nice couple, Josh and Jess with their son Stephan come in the afternoon - Josh is a picture framer who I sponsored when he ran  the London marathon for Linc in the summer. Also some new neighbours with their son Fox who has bought drawings to show me, which are amazingly sophisticated, all based on film comicstrip heros. Then Seth our twelve year old neighbour, son of Bethan and Stephen, arrives with a donation and entertains us all with interesting conversation for a considerable time. Then my wonderful young friend Max who is a similar age, the boy for whom I gave the talk at Woodmancote Primary School came in bearing gifts as usual, with his beautiful Mum. They tell us about his amazing grandma who drives a red tractor around Bishops Cleeve, she builds kilns and grows willow to make baskets etc. It is she who taught him how to engrave on glass - she really does sound like a super-grandma. Our lovely neighbour Margaret also came with a donation and as they are next door neighbours she walks back with Seth.

Tuesday 9.12.25

R has his important appointment today with his haematology consultant so goes to Gloucester hospital early at 10.30 for them to take blood for the consultant to analyse. I’m working in the studio on miniatures for those who missed out, when I receive his call just before 1p.m. and hurrah! its good news. The Lymphoma tumours are all stable at the moment, meaning they are not growing much in size and unless they cause him any discomfort he doesn’t have to go back until March which is brilliant.

Friday 12.12.25

We set out for the Star College at about 12.30. Today is their Christmas sing-along at 2pm but before hand the College are going to demonstrate to Ian and Maeve and us the wonders of the ‘magic carpet’ system that they have just bought for the students. It is very beautiful and sophisticated  having many programmes from fish swimming between lily pads etc that react to the students’ touching it with their feet or hands to a Jurassic scene of dinosaurs or a football game at which I was not very good. My ball just bounced off the other side when I kicked it but R scored a goal. It is a fabulous light show directed onto the floor from above in the dance studio where non-ambulant students in slings can swing over it and touch it. It also includes a large wall screen and changing coloured lights on the ceiling to alter the mood. Ian and Maeve also bought one of these for Helen and Douglas House, the children’s hospice in Oxford where they are also Patrons. So their generosity to the National Star blows my mind away. At the sing-along the piano that Niel plays is another item they have recently purchased for the Star. I truly count my blessings that two such good people came into out lives. The sing-along is joyous and some of the students even take the microphone to sing a solo. It is always a moving experience to watch them perform and join in.

Saturday 13.12.25

Drs Charles and Emma Slosberg come for supper after the Races. We haven’t seen them for some time so its wonderful to catch up and hear the latest news on Daniel who is getting married on 1st August and Suzannah who is now working for a media company after completing her degree at Manchester. After they leave I go back upstairs to work on Martin’s painting as he and Reiko are coming from The Barbican to collect it tomorrow and see for the first time his commission, a Resurrection painting. that I have been working on since August.

Sunday 14.12.25

I am so happy that he is pleased with it as it always feels like a huge responsibility. It is very touching as he so enjoys Richard’s gravadlax, pomegranate salad and jacket potatoes commenting on how much he is loving this lunch.

Monday 15.12.25

Very nice e mail comes to say the painting looks very good in their flat in the Barbican.

Tuesday 16.12.25

R has another appointment at Gloucester Royal, this time at the opthalmology department as for a few years now they have been monitoring a small growth on the back of his left eye to make sure it isn’t getting larger. He had been a bit concerned before the appointment so we are left a little in limbo waiting to hear the result.

Wednesday 17.12.25

We should have been going to the Alderman Knight Schools carol concert at TewkesburyAbbey today but as I have developed a cold I don.t want to pass it onto them - so we will hope to visit them at the School In the New Year.

Saturday 20.12.25

Amazing to hear so soon from the hospital that the mole-like growth at the back of Richard’s eye has not changed which again makes us very happy and grateful.

Sunday 21.12.25

We were supposed to be delivering Lady Anne’s Angel Dove & Candle when she was kindly going  to show us her collection and number 11. But due to the having a cold we postponed and will send the painting Special Delivery.

Monday 22.12.25

I think Robert Fripp has visited our porch leaving a parcel wrapped in a map of London and a bottle of champagne in a beautiful gift bag.

Richard sends off miniatures to Lady Anne and Sheila in his custom-made boxes special next day delivery. I’m still working on the last few miniatures before going down to order presents or write labels or tie bows on the beautifully wrapped parcels to go under the Christmas tree or in the eight Christmas stockings. So the kitchen is full of the colourful stockings, the earliest two handmade by me when Henrietta and Nathan were babies. The largest are two large sacks, green felt one side, red felt the other with red silk cord tie threaded through the top. Isaac ad Samuel did used to have sack races in them before they hung them up but are now past that stage

Tuesday 23.12.25

Kimmy and her sister Kayleigh are cleaning today. I’d given them their Christmas boxes last week and presents for the children so this week I proffer a large box of Christmas crackers which Kimmy seems very pleased with as she says she was going to buy some today. Richard and I then go down to put a poinsettia on my Mum’s grave and beautiful red cyclamen on my father and Henry’s which are either side of hers.

I’m still finishing off a couple of the extra miniatures and Richard is doing a splendid job of wrapping the presents.

Wednesday 24.12.25 Christmas Eve

Gill and Ian arrive late afternoon having had a very good journey from Blunham, surprisingly quicker than usual. We sit and have mince pies, cheese and tea. They were laden with presents which are now under the tree along with ours. Gill has also brought a big hamper of goodie and four bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape plus two bottles of rosé and Ian bearing his two tins of reversible gingerbread men  (which are always very popular) and Christmas mincemeat slices.

Henrietta, Kev and the boys arrive about 6.30, the time they had specified. It is SO good to see them. The boys loom above me and smile indulgently at me as they give me hugs. Samuel suggests a game of chess to granddad and after much concentration

he wins both games. Gill and Ian have been very helpful to Richard with the chowder he’s making, all three Samuel being keen cooks. Richard has a rest in his chair whist we wait for Nathan who only flew in from Mexico yesterday and had to collect Bea only to find that the battery on his car was flat as he’s been away filming in Mexico for three months so he was going to have the RAC out before he could start his journey which is the longest of all as he is coming from Ramsgate. But he arrives promptly at

9 p.m. It is wonderful to see him after three months and we all sit down to enjoy chowder which is delicious. After which baked apples and ice cream.

The conversation is bright and happy and Nathan congratulates Gill and Ian on getting married after being together for ten years. They both look very happy.

After the meal I give the boys their two big boxes of presents from Nancy and her

son Peter, which has become a Christmas Eve tradition. It also helps as we can take photographs of them being opened ahead of the big exchange of gifts tomorrow.  There is a machine that sends out a lighted streamer that changes colour and shape; a hot chocolate mug that seems to mix it and keep it warm and as usual a wonderful Wentworth wooden jigsaw puzzle that Isaac diligently completes there and then. The most wonderful knitted chimney with Father Christmas’s legs and boots sticking out at the top. How clever Nancy is to knit such a complex design to contain a Terry’s chocolate orange. After they have all gone to  bed we distribute the Christmas stockings & sacks.

Thursday 25.12.25 Christmas Day

Stockings and sacks first thing. Kev prepares a cooked breakfast for everyone.Then a combined effort preparing the Christmas Dinner whist Kev takes the boys to play foot ball. On their return we open the Christmas presents from under the tree.

Then the Christmas feast with crackers that I have filled myself which meant I could choose either appropriate or unusual small gifts for them all.

After dinner we play cards. The main beneficiary of the evening seems to be Isaac!

Friday 26.12.25  Boxing Day

Kev cooks pancakes for everyone’s breakfast - I have blueberry which is in his light crispy crepe. He’s made enough batter for everyone to have at least two - I think he often cooks them for the boys’ breakfasts at weekends or birthdays. Calling it breakfast is actually rather flexible as it’s probably more of a brunch. Kev and the boys are going to see a new film at the cinema in Cheltenham so they leave about 6 as they are going to Nando’s while Richard is cooking a venison casserole or salmon alternative for dinner during its’ preparation we sit for spells in front of the fire and chat or reminisce.

Saturday 27.12.2

Gill and Ian set out for Blunham at about 1 pm, Henrietta Kev and the boys depart at about 2pm and Nathan & Bea shortly after them. The house feels very empty. We go to bed early and watch the film Mr. Turner

Sunday 28.12.25

We do a bit of planning, discussing ideas for the various projects that are coming up next year.

Monday 29.12.25

Robert and Toyah arrive for lunch, she looking bright and beautiful and he looking more endearing than ever. He’s stopped performing to concentrate on his archival work and seems all the happier for it. Perhaps with the huge stress of constantly being on the road lifted  and Toyah full of enthusiasm for her forthcoming autobiographical tour beginning shortly which will be quite intense with five performances a week. She tells me the book has almost sold out and that they have several million views to their channel. She’s also very excited about doing panels for the finale of the lights at Blackpool which Laurence approached her with. He’s also asked me if I might do some for the all woman team creating this year’s Blackpool Illuminations which I haven’t fully looked into yet. Over lunch, particularly when we serve the baked apples from the garden, she asks if we grow potatoes as well as apparently at the old mill she has grown a huge number and there is also an orchard with a variety of old English apple trees which sounds heavenly. It is such a joy to see them both and catch up as the afternoon flies by but it is dark when they leave on their journey home. .

Tuesday 30.12.25

Lovely thank you from Toyah which reminds me I need to start thinking about the four large light boxes (3m x 1.5m) to be displayed on Blackpool’s Golden Mile. We look through images of a lot of my paintings and try taking a vertical section from ones we feel might lend themselves, most being square or rectangular originally lose something in the new equation. So when I’m mulling it over in bed I decide that perhaps I should purpose create them

Wednesday 31.12.25 New Year’s Eve

I suggest the idea to Richard who tends to rather agree and volunteers to cut and prepare four panels 24 x 12 inches in birch ply which he carefully cuts with his Japanese handsaw so the wood doesn’t tear or rip. Then proceeds to prime them in cats of gesso. Meanwhile I do some work on the small Ark, one of the paintings for the Portland to take to Art London 2026.

A fitting way to finish the year when we were also able to contribute almost £60,000 to local charities and student awards thanks to all my wonderful kind and generous friends and supporters.