This was the year we moved house and, consequently, all our artistic projects were put on the back burner. In addition, my 'day job', family matters and various business affairs conspired to take precedence over any creative ventures.

Even so, I managed to complete one painting and, at least, to contemplate ideas for future projects.

In the early spring, just prior to moving, Stuart and I escaped the mayhem at home (we'd just had the builders in) for a couple days in the Lake District. In September, we flew off for a few nights in Paris: Despite being bitten from head to toe by mosquitoes (an infestation of which inhabited our otherwise pleasant hotel room) it was a most enjoyable and romantic break. We went to Versailles on the Metro and, apart from the legendary good food and wine, we took in both the Musee D'Orsay and The Louvre: in the former, we spent hours just enjoying viewing the Impressionist collection.

In between these trips, we settled in to our new home, getting to know our new neighbours and area and capitalising on the exceptionally good weather by having numerous barbecues on our spacious and well-appointed patio.

However, after a while, we found that those things that had seemed fine when we first moved in did, in fact, need changing, renovating or even removing: So out came the inadequate and inefficient central heating; ditto some of the windows; a rather ugly fire-place; a badly situated magnolia tree that posed an imminent threat to the foundations...and oh yes, as for the kitchen...!

Warm Wishes,

Carmen