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Hello Friends!

A long hiatus I know and to those few who know me I do apologise. My Art Junket turned into quite the adventure. As you know I was bound for places tropical with the spirit of Gaugin filling my sails and escape from the city on my mind. And escape I did into the sweet tropical airs. I sat beneath swaying palms, I sipped on cocktails, I wore my hibiscus shirt (kindly stitched by dear Norma Jean). The water was an aquamarine revelation, the greens archetypal, the sunsets led the way to heaven and the moon my guardian as I slept in a hammock, kissed by gentle breezes (and somewhat prey to mosquitoes). I shall never forget, on the evening of my arrival, wandering down to the beach and as my eyes adjusted to the darkness, the overwhelming sense of vitality as I looked upon the sand, the plash of the waves, the ubiquitous palms, the green hills, dark and full of life.

Not long into my trip I decided to hire a small dinghy and tootle around the bay. The sky was blue and the sea unruffled. I took a small hamper, packed for me by Mrs Piko, the hotelier, and ventured across the glassy inlet. The chicken and sweet pickle sandwiches (of which there were rather a lot and I admit I gobbled them all) conspired with the sweet pineapple juice, the flask of tea, the excellent fruit cake and boiled lollies to induce something of a soporific lull in the late afternoon and I dozed beneath the brim of my straw hat.

ALAS!

Somehow my barque had discovered the one small channel between the reef and the open ocean and I awoke beneath glowering skies, a fresh wind, the island a dwindling speck and no sign of other vessels nearby! Tomorrow I shall continue, but I am still weak and must rest...

Art Junket

My artistic engine is running very much on dross and fumes. I am sputtering along in my current milieu, devoid of inspiration, filled with ennui, dull in all my faculties, glassy eyed and pushing through life as through treacle. This seems to me terribly wasteful and I think I should go on an artistic junket. I feel the lure of all things tropical, palm trees and coconut fibre, sand and salty sea. So I went to Norma Jeans for a fitting (she is making me another coat), with this lure hooked firmly in my heart, which being the intuitive entity she is she was able to see straight away. A large and seemingly insurmountable obstacle to this junket being the conspicuous lack of pecuniary freedom. It was time to approach her Oracle once again, that marvellous tome, The Constance Spry Cookery Book. (For new readers I should note that Norma Jean practices an eccentric form of divination whereby, in trance state, she consults said tome for guidance).
So the lights were dimmed, the curtains drawn, the candle spread it's ancient glimmer, incense filled the air and Norma Jeans attractively shadowed lids began to droop over her dreamy eyes, lips parted and she began to flip the pages of Constance Spry's excellent volume. Did I see the candle flicker? Did a chill mist the air? Was there a little thrill up my spine as her hands stilled over a page and her lashes swept upwards? Yes, yes and yes again.
'This is the sign' she announced. Under the auspicious title Sea Fish, the recipe Filets De Sole Sylvette was revealed. A delicious sounding dish of fish in a creamy sauce. This Norma Jean said is proof positive that my yearning for tropical climes should be followed. The Pacific she thinks, and to be more specific, the French Pacific. Immediately I thought of Gaugin, that old reprobate, and his time in Tahiti. 'Tahiti. Oh yes' said Norma Jean, the last vestiges of trance upon her. 'Yes Tahiti is is'. The issue of funds remained unresolved but her parting words to me as I left were 'Remember, this is a very rich sauce'.
I went about my business, which that particular day included a yoga class led by Hugo. I am improving in the strict discipline that is Iyengar yoga and finding it very healthful. As I lay in a half shoulder stand my thoughts wandered back to the issue of funding my journey. And the answer came to me so forcefully I almost fell over. A rich sauce, a rich source... Of course! The Anonymous Patron.
So after the class I approached Hugo, the Anonymous Patron's seneschal. I mentioned the Patron had commissioned another video work from me and that I would like to undertake it in Gaugins wake, on Tahiti. After some days Hugo contacted me and the answer Amazingly was Yes! It shows great faith in my efforts and I am more pleased than I can say. There is a little tension with Xavier who seems to feel he should have been included in this whole venture but I explained this was really something I felt I needed to do by myself and that really he did have enough to be going on with himself. So I am in the full flight of preparing for my journey and Norma Jean is obligingly making me an appropriate wardrobe.

To Nose or not to Nose?

So, pertinent to yesterday's engagement ring related saga, Xavier tells me he has commissioned an old art school chum of his, one Rupert, to design it. We have an appointment to take High Tea with Rupert tomorrow and see some initial sketches. Meanwhile I went for a hair appointment with Norma Jean and she advises I do take that holiday I mentioned earlier and I think she is right. I am still a little heart sore after my failed romance with Ernestine and a tropical holiday would do me good. Norma Jean suggests I resolve the issue of my nose before I go. I am still undecided and I do encourage visitors to Vote in my nose poll. I have posted two clear photos of the state of my proboscis as it is. Should I undertake plastic surgery or not?
In other news the Anonymous Patron has commissioned another video work from me.

Drawing Grid

Here is my drawing grid done in response to other's fabulous grids from 'The Drawing Club'.

In other news I have decided to go on a little holiday. Somewhere tropical I think. Somewhere warm and balmy. I need fresh inspiration. Bruno, the Roly Poly Chime Ball, gave me a little ring to indicate he thinks it's a good idea. Xavier has been very preoccupied with Ariadne of late, which I suppose is all well and good. In fact I rather think there are some 'plans' of significance afoot as he has demanded my presence on a jewellery buying outing tomorrow and he was dropping all kinds of heavy handed hints that he may be about to propose! Actually I think it's a wonderful idea. Ariadne (featured above as part of the grid) is a lovely lady and very good for Xavier. I do rather miss him though. Ah well, life is change.