First signs of spring!

Just been out in the garden and seen the crocuses poking their heads above the surface on what is a delightfully sunny morning. Echoes of Robert Graves' Midwinter waking! I know that there is probably snow on the way, or more waves of the torrential rain we had the other day, but, in this time when everyone seems so beleaguered, one must be grateful for small mercies.

Despite the cold, I've managed to get into the studio quite a bit lately, and have finished five or six canvases in the Big Colour series. A couple are of scenes from my childhood in Rutland, a couple more are takes on Cezanne's Mont St Victoire and another is of Tuscan Hills in the dawn light. I've enjoyed doing them and hope they will be a centre-point for the exhibition I am slowly building up to. I have also embarked on on a set of drawings of Mark Lanegan, the bluesman, and am, at the moment, immersed in a pastel of him appropriately called Study in Blue.

On the writing front, the first tale in the 'Women's Book' is told, that of Clara, and the second, that of Violet, is evolving. Quite intense plucking these individuals from their obscurity, but they are both strong individuals and seem keen to drive their own narrative! The poetry is ticking over too, and I have performed for Poetry Can on a couple of occasions recently. All very nerve-wracking - but, at the same time, very exhilarating!

So, lots going on - and with spring on the horizon hopefully it's going to be a great year!