You're twistin' my melon man, you know you talk so hip man ...

A happy 21st birthday to this painting i did of Portland St in Manchester. I worked over the road in Minshull Street and loved this row of mismatched buildings, happy days!

Give me something to believe in ...

2010 is turning out to be a toughie! I'll keep sketching while it gets better.

If you love the life you live ...

I'm working in my new Moleskine and pretending its not an object of desire that can't be tarnished with bad art. I like the way that the paper 'cockles' when you put water on it - not so perfect now are you, hmmm?... Beth has gone to Max's birthday party with all his mates, she won't be staying for the sleepover................

You took my dreams from me ...

Well that's Christmas stuffed back in the loft for another year! I saw the pile of boxes and thought a drawing would delay the climb up the ladder... I'm not scared of lofts, no siree... I fall off ladders. Did it in the summer pruning the climber on the wall above the kitchen window... spent the rest of the week walking around like an old man. Well an old man with a sore butt, I normally walk round like an old man. The boxes are safely in the loft, I'm now having a nice sit down and a cup of tea.

Winter winds ...

Merry Christmas one and all! I am so full and hung over... I made the biggest bowl of sprouts with Christmas dinner, I swear there were more left over than I started with. I put them on to boil around October and they were still hard when I served them up. Funny little fellas they are... who decided they would be good to eat at Christmas? All the very best to you during the festive hols, I'm off for a lie down...

Live as you dream ...

I'm listening to Beth Orton tonight, good stuff to paint to. I should be asleep but there is too much in my head. I need a memory stick that i can plug in to my brain and store data. About 2 mb should cover it...! I wish I could 'forget' all the stuff I know which is totally useless and learn some fantastic new things!

Above you, below me ...

It's wet and rainy here, the ponds in Sudbrooke woods are filling with water.

The paths are all boggy and suck your wellingtons off your feet. Fudge the dog doesn't seem to mind though, nor the aroma she gives off as she dries out in front of the fire. Yuk!

Just making memories ...

I'm still working on this series of paintings of Sudbrooke woods, I walk through them with Fudge the dog and the children so often it has left an imprint. Its in my skin. It changes daily depending on the weather, the light, the time of year. Moving to rural Lincolnshire from urban Manchester was the biggest change I ever faced. Not as dramatic in the old city centre, although in Manchester they liked to change the direction of the one way system, always good for a laugh!

When these memories fade, in my ripe old age ...

Having one of those pottering around days today, with a mooch thrown in when i fancy a change. The weather is doing the same, a bit of rain, some sun, nothing too challenging... I'd take the dog for a walk but shes asleep in her basket. A perfect Sunday.

Pull me through ...

I've not had chance to draw recently but have been tidying up my art studio in readiness (honest!) I've also let my journal lapse a little too, and dug it out ready to begin again in earnest. On the very first page I did this sketch from the opposite bank on Derwentwater in the Lake District. I felt it was appropriate to post it, in view of torrential rainfall in Cumbria and the many roads and houses flooded out. I love the place, especially in the rain but Lordy! not that much!!! Ironically, this is the very same journal that suffered rain damage at the bottom of my back during a storm whilst in London. Bit of a water theme going on here...

never go west when you know you should be headin' south ...

Another lovely VW... meet Flo! I dropped William off at school the other week and saw this wonderful piece of culture in the car park, hope Ms Toyne likes it :-)

All will be revealed ...

Here is the second ink drawing I did of Sudbrooke woods, this one was on handmade A1 size watercolour paper so I had to photograph it and didn't quite get the light right. I took a second photo of the detail underneath

In my dreams, I'm always strong.

I was listening to Mercury Rev and still get blown away by 'The Dark is Rising' It made me paint for the first time in ages. I've been down to the woods, just a few yards from the front door. There are some wonderful places in there with fantastic light and shade - I may stay with some woodland paintings for a little while, what do you think?

The sun is high up in the sky and I'm in my car ...

I was having a coffee in the sunshine outside Alexanders when this beauty pulled up, I took some photos to work from - not enough time to sketch it there and then! I want it!!!!

Back in the land of ink ...

I've not posted anything for ages! The warm weather has made me do all those garden and outdoor jobs I've put off for sooo long! Been out and about too... took William to a cafe for breakfast and he chose croissants with lots of jam! I had eggs, bacon, the whole nine yards! Didn't eat again all day! My favourite weekend food, yum!