AWAY WEEKEND

I'm having a long weekend in Leeds - visiting Cathy and Jaemie.
Weather is set to be hot - so looking forward to visit to the industrial village of Saltaire and to see some of the work by Hockney.

FISHY ART

Why not check out my ART Gallery Blog www.apsgallery.blogspot.com
I'm currently posting paintings of fish - this is a clown fish - apparently!

LUNCH DATE

Looking forward to spending time with my youngest son tomorrow. He's travelling from Southampton to Hastings to visit his mum and will stop off at Brighton so we can have lunch together.

BIKES

It's the annual London to Brighton Bike Run today. It raises money for the British Heart Foundation.

In Brighton it's one of those days that the residents get frustrated trying to cross roads - the beach is full of picnicers and barbequers - all in lycra - and frequently looking very hot and red - at least they can cool off in the sea!!
I don't know how many take part , but they were arriving at 9am this morning - and its now 4pm and the flow of bikers is as strong as ever.

TELEVISION

Went to Steve's last night and had a few glasses of white. Whether it was the wine or the fact that I'm becoming a grumpy old man I'm not sure , but I watched TV. A game show called "Deal or no Deal" followed by "Big Brother" were on the menu. What do people watch this for?

I's not informative - it's not creative - why should anyone be interested in the petty details of a stranger's life? It was all worse than I expected so I've made myself another deal - Big Brother won't be invited into my home!

ARTY TUESDAY

Thought I'd plug my own art work today.

see www. apsgallery.blogspot.com

where I am currently posting art on the theme of

TREES

SUNDAY REVIEW

Surfing around the web I came across www.clampart.com I can recommend.

The site includes work by

NANCY BURSON - "guys who look like christ"

JAMES BIDGODD - "homoerotic imagery in the style of Pierre et Gilles"

JOYCE TENNESON - "flowers"

and

MARC YANKUS

FIRST SUMMER PICNIC

It's very warm and sunny with a cooling sea breeze in Brighton. Perfect for the first picnic of the summer. Derek is coming down from London to join Steve and me for the day. The perfect camp affair - champagne and quiche in the regency gardens of the Royal Pavilion. This is a painting I did of the site a couple of years ago.

I WAS WONDERING WHY .....

PEOPLE MAKE STRANGE FACES WHENEVER THERE IS A CAMERA IN THE ROOM ....?

ARTY TUESDAY

AM BACK FROM A LONG WEEKEND IN BELFAST
THIS IS A PORTRAIT I DID FOR MY MOTHER ON HER 80 TH BIRTHDAY
SHE DIDN'T LIKE IT BECAUSE IT MADE HER LOOK OLD !!!

BELFAST

Going to Belfast to visit Mum and my sister for the weekend so will be away for a few days . Next post will be on Tuesday 6th June. Managed to get cheap flights from Gatwick to Belfast - at £40 return one wonders how long these flights will be available and at what cost to the environment we leap into the air at every opportunity. I still find 40 minutes and £20 per flight just too too attractive!!

THURSDAY 1st JUNE

A new month and a fairly busy day ahead.
Need to spend a few hours in the charity shop this morning and sort out enough stock to last for the next five days. I go to Belfast tomorrow for the weekend to visit family.
Bills to pay before I go and last minute travel plans to Gatwick to make.

HASTINGS

Off to Hastings to visit Heather for the day.

ARTY TUESDAY

One of my paintings from 2002
Acrylic on canvas
Based on a photograph taken in Highgate Cemetry , London

BELLEEK

I collect fine parian ware from Ireland - Belleek is typically cream and so light it's almost transparent. It is made in Fermanagh , Northern Ireland and has a history with some pieces more than 120 years old and very collectable. Woven basket ware and tableware can attract prices approaching £1000.

SUNNY SUNDAY

THE SUN HAS GOT HIS HAT ON !

HOLIDAY WEEKEND

This should be a busy weekend. Steve has visitors (his daughter, son-in-law and 5month old grandson) - they're staying until Monday so Steve is staying with me for the weekend- so that will be fun!!!

FRIDAY !

It's Friday - the beginning of a holiday weeekend here in UK. So it's miserable weather.
I had to laugh at this picture - hope it cheers up your day!

GOOD MORNING - Not much planned for today : -

• ACUPUNCTURE at 10am
• VOLUNTEERING at British Heart Foundation Shop
• ENTERTAINING this evening

DA VINCI CODE

Went to see the film yesterday afternoon. I was impressed - not a GREAT film - but a good action/adventure movie. Sir Ian McKellen was excellent as the scheming Leigh Teabing. Paul Bettany beat himself up well as Silas but I kept expecting the lead Paul Hanks to compare life to a box of chocolates!
A faithful interpretation of the Dan Brown book.

ARTY TUESDAY

Called "BEACHCOMBING" this piece was shown in 2003 at an exhibition on Brighton Seafront. Acrylic on canvas.

MONDAY MORNING

I'm determined not to mention the weather today. Even though it's miserable I wont say a word. It can rain and blow as much as it likes no mention is going to be made here. I don't have a fixation about this continuing winter - it's not affecting my life at all!

A SUNDAY IN MAY ......

A Sunday in May shouldn't be like this - it's cold wet and windy - more like late September. In defiance I'm wearing shorts ( indoors) and a thick jumper!

SATURDAY MAY 20 2006

The windy weather continues .....
Got this from a friend by e-mail.
Seems a good idea !

Windy Day

IT'S A VERY WINDY DAY!

GUESS I WONT WEAR MY HAT!

THURSDAY MORNING

Am feeling under pressure to be wittty with my entry today - can't think why I should be but I suppose I imagine a large audience out there waiting with anticipation for my daily gems of wit and humour - so here goes with the latest news in my life --

I DE-FROSTED THE FREEZER OVERNIGHT!

SELLING ART

This was painted in 2001 - it is in acrylic on canvas (about A4 size)- and based on a photograph taken by Tom Comte (?) to celebrate Sting's 50th birthday.
I've put it on E-Bay to see if I can sell. Wish me luck!

A dull misty day this morning - have preparations for Charles who is coming for supper this evening - SAUSAGE HOTPOT !!!

ARTY TUESDAY

Thought you might want to see some art work from the past.
This piece was part of an exhibition in 2003 at The Fishing Museum on Brighton Seafront - acrylic on board.

SO STARTS ANOTHER WEEK

Monday morning again - the weather matches the mood - looking forward to a more relaxed week than the one just gone.

Information share

Just came across the work of Anthony Goicolea a 30-something year old photographer/artist from NY. Worth a look - but be warned some images are disturbing - so have your breakfast first. I love his drawings.
LINK : www.anthonygoicolea.com

MORNING AFTER

It's the morning after a Saturday night - it's dull - a bit like my brain - and I feel a bit hungover . Last night was a late one - met up with friends and went to see the Festival Fire show - about 20 thousand people turned out to see the fabulous display - not as good as previous shows but when the sky is filled with light and seems to be a painted canvas and that is held there for minutes you are left in wonder ans awe.

FESTIVAL FIREWORKS

The main plans for today are

1. Updating profiles and blogs
2. A couple of hours as volunteer at charity shop
3. Have evening meal with Steve
4. GO TO FREE FIREWORK DISPLAY TONIGHT

Tonight's show is by the same group that was responsible for the Paris 2000 show and recent Olympic events - they also did a Golden Jubilee event here in Brighton a couple of years ago - it was astounding then so I'm looking forward to tonight.

One Day Summer

Weather forecast for today is good with lots of sunshine and temperatures up to 22. However, tomorrow it's all change and we go back to more "normal" spring weather - so I'll make the most of the day.
Friends who came last night seemed to enjoy the meal I prepared - a difficult combination to cater for - Gemma has got multiple food allegies and Ash is an occassional meat eating Hindu - so I opted for vegetarian fare - unfortunately Gemma doesn't do vegetables - but this is what they got if not eat --

• Avocado with warm pak choi and grape salad - Ciabattas and olives
• Purple potatoes and yellow courgette in whiskey and butter sauce
• Stir fry asparagus, pepper and mushrooms in honey and corriander sauce
• Thai fried rice with hot chilli and tomato sauce
• Chocolate brownies

We had a good evening - Ash read our palms and was amazingly accurate with a hit of humour. Thanks for the advice, Ash.

Have a long time friend ,Derek, coming to Brighton for the day from London today - It's the "Streets of Brighton" event today and tomorrow and with the good weather predicted we plan to take to the town and watch the street performers - details on tomorrrow's entry.

Another bright and sunny morning in Brighton - my window sill has already been visited by a pair of bullfinches, a robin and the usual tribe of blackbirds and doves. Robins are cheeky birds and very territorial - standing their ground against larger feeders.

Am entertaining friends this evening so market shopping to do and food to prepare.

GOOD MORNING

Good morning and welcome to my first daily post.
Brighton is looking bright and sunny this morning with a forecast which looks good for a warm second half of the week and weekend. HORRAY!!
A session of acupuncture to look forward to at lunchtime - otherwise household cleaning ready for visitors in the next few days. Deirdre is my acupuncturist this is a portrait I did a few years ago - I've been seeing her for treatment for about seven or more years.

WELCOME

Welcome to my new blog - especially all my readers from

www.tagworld.com/peterspence1

Posts will be made almost daily on this site

TESTING MY SKILL

I want to see how easily I can write a daily entry with photo

and coloured text.

Seems to be going well.

If it is this simple I will probably switch my daily entries to this site.

Learning - learning - learning

I think I've worked out how to get a picture into this blog!!??!!

It worked - I've even managed to get a picture into my profile - back later for more

Learning the ropes

A first attempt to set up an artist's blog with images.