December 2004

Christmas was good. Quiet, but good. After a cold and grey Eve, the day itself started with a thick, icy frost and clear skies and bright sunshine. AfterI had delved into my stocking and opened the little presents from Father…

I went to see the new film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera last night. I love this musical – it is one of his best, and certainly the last good work that he has done;…

It’s become an annual event for us – a magical way of bringing forth the festive season. Salisbury is an attractive city on the most ordinary of days; at Christmas it shines supreme with modest, yet beautiful twinkling white lights…

I don’t think Pepper is really aware yet of what lies before him tomorrow when *the carry cage* comes out of the cupboard, although he has been lifting his head from feigning slumber to lift his eyes and cast suspicious…

After yesterday’s success at self-portraiture, I thought I’d give it the family portrait of my brother and his family one final go. I’m much, much happier with the results. Go Thomas! Go Thomas!

I’ve previously talked about the 2004 Griswold Illuminations Prize. This year’s entry is such a sure fire winner I felt it necessary to give you the extended edition of the display. See how they’ve got their neighbours in on it…

I’ve been making chocolates this morning, getting my fingers covered in brandy-chocolate truffle mixture. During this the computer was perched on the armchair where Pepper likes to sleep. Which has meant that he had to find another place to curl…

I always try and do some Christmas shopping in the late afternoon and early evening – not because I want to do shopping – but because I love the magic and beauty that is beholden in an attractive town with…

This, is certain to win. I came across it whilst walking back home through Bicester from the bus stop, after the work Christmas meal in Oxford. When I first saw them at the end of a side street, I thought…

Mixed up the chocolate truffle mixture ready for the final creation of the majority of my christmas presents this year. I have also completed Self Portrait #4 – which I think is probably the most successful of the self-portraits to…

The idea is to give these as christmas presents to the people depicted, ie. my brother … the question is, on reflection is my second attempt an improvement, or do I stick to the original. Comments and critique gratefully received,…

This years Christmas cards are starting to arrive in earnest now, however I would like to pause here for a moment and give thanks, yes truly, appreciative thanks to British Rail. For if it wasn’t for British Rail and the…

Last night was weird. I dreampt that I was in an old, much negletted Victorian walled garden. A friend and I were busy frantically converting a Citröen 2CV into a JCB digger. Part of this included carefully calibrating some internal…

My first portrait of folk who I know. This is done from a photograph, as I am in Oxford and they are in Cambridge (and it’s a secret … sshhh!!)

Have I gone so completely stark, raving bonkers. Do I think that i am some artistic master?!! Fresh from my attempts at self-portraiture I am attempting a threesome picture of my brother, sister-in-law, and baby boy, which I intend to…

The point of no return…

Butterflies…

I’m still not sure about the eyes, but it’s getting there … I think…! In other news, I now have a half-century of home-baked mincepies…