Bicycles

Forgive the sketch but by way of illustrating my blog I just did a quick pic of a cyclist. Anyway I was out the other day walking to town and a swarm of fit looking guys swooped down the road in line on their cycles. I admire their fitness and stamina but personally wouldn't cycle on a road. The benefits of fitness verses risk of being knocked down by a car or lorry are too close to call for my liking.

I used to ride a velocipede when I was younger and roads were quieter. I used to have a job cleaning coaches from 6pm to 7am and in order to get to work cycled as it was about 4 miles. I made my first bike from bits I found on a scrap heap and it served me well for several years. No gears or anything fancy. I had a puncture one morning on the way home from work and rather than push the damn thing decided to abandon it in a garden and walk home. Maybe a bit short sighted but hell I was young and impulsive. I had to walk after that.

I didn't mind the job and had it for a while. Then a new manager came. He was short on man management skills and was in short, a knob. I complained about having to use ammonia (something that wouldn't be allowed now) inside the coaches to clean them. He said if you don't like it leave. Anyway I put up with him for a while.

The busiest time was once a fortnight on a Friday evening when the continental coaches had to go out. One Friday the other cleaner went sick and just as the coaches started to arrive to be cleaned out I walked up to the new manager and said,"You know you said I should leave if I didn't like it . Well I'm leaving goodbye." He was close to tears, begging me to stay. I smiled as I walked out, thinking every dog has its day.

My next bike I bought in Welshpool Sale for £6. I rode that to and from work. I eventually sold it for £8 a good return I thought. I also rode the police bike on duty about Welshpool but on the whole preferred walking.

Link KM

Scam - Microsoft Technician - Brad

The above painting is of Newport Pembs early morning with Newport Sands to the left of the picture.
The painting is sold.

Yesterday Alex called me and put a call through from "Brad at Microsoft". Now not much gets passed her and despite the few seconds she had to talk to him she added,"It's a scam!"

I answered the phone to him and the conversation went pretty much like this;

"Hi Mr Cox my names Brad. I'm calling from Microsoft you have a problem with your  computer."

"Really your Brad and your really with Microsoft? I am amazed you can be bothered to contact me out of all the people in the world with computers." (I didn't add you don't sound like Brad or any other American I know).

"You have a virus and you need to let me talk through some changes on your computer>"

"Well that's not going to happen, Brad."

"If you don't I am going to have to block your computer."

"Well good luck with that." I replied.

No reply.

He had put the phone down. Clearly a scam and not a very good one especially as it happens my PC is working better than it ever has. Oh, No who's just cut me off?!!"

Tenby Lifeboathouse and Harbour

Here is the completed painting of Tenby. I had a bit of a false finish. I had cleaned up washed my brushes cleared the palette when I noticed a small hair in the sky. I tried to lift it carefully but on this occasion part of the sky required re-painting, so I had to mix a match of the sky and do it again. Anyway all done now.

Next job pick up grandchildren.

Tenby Harbour and Lifeboat House -Stage one

I have started work on a painting of Tenby including the harbour and new and old lifeboat houses. here is the stage I am at presently.

Getting a clean light colour for the houses can be problematic if you aren't careful. Always work clean ie. clean brush clean mixed paint. Also if you are mixing with white to obtain a tint of the hue ie. a lighter version of the colour, this can alter the colour you want and will also alter/ reduce the chroma of the resultant mix. Titanium white is quite opaque and can be disappointing when used for mixing. I do use it and have not used flake white for at least ten years (it is highly poisonous being a compound of lead). I am not enthusiastic about mixing white although it is less opaque than Titanium white and I use it sparingly. Anyway enough technical stuff experience and a good book on mixing can sort out any problems.

Saundersfoot

I rarely use bought boards as a surface for painting. There are too many variations in their qualities.
The painting above was done on a bought canvas board. I had noticed over the weeks that the oil paint had sunk into the primer in places. I therefore had to set about the painting again today and re-work it.

Now the photograph is pretty dire but after a couple of attempts at getting the right light with reflections off the canvas surface I gave up and didn't even bother with photo shop to get an accurate portrayal of the values and hues. I have never really got on well with cameras. Anyway please take my word for it it looks fine in real life and I no longer have to walk passed it thinking I must do something about that.

Last night Alex and I went to the Scarlets and were treated to hospitality before and after the game by friends. Another good result and a pleasant evening out.

Horse and rider - Manorbier

I have been working on the above painting this week. It is a horse and rider on the sands at Manorbier. Manorbier has some nice surf which adds to the interest. It is not a large painting 12 x 9 ins unframed. I don't often do horses but they are a constant on the beach and it seemed it would make a nice composition.

Last night a lovely couple came to pick up their commission. They seemed very pleased with it with was gratifying as I had taken a good deal of care over it and I thought it had turned out well.

Today I am painting, the garage/workshop floor! A bit of a pain but necessary to do every so often to keep the dust down.

David Cowdry

We had two of the grandchildren yesterday. We decided to be creative and take them to see David Cowdry's Exhibition at Aberglasney.

The eldest who is 10yrs. was very interested, the younger more interested in her chocolate pudding for lunch. Anyway it is as always a great exhibition and good to see David. The exhibition is on until next Thursday 5th November.

As we came out of Aberglasney we came through the shop and Alex started looking at things picking them up and putting them down. The children and I looked at each other and went out to the car.

As we left her in the shop the eldest turned to me and said,

"Granddad is it a good idea to leave Nanny in the shop?"

"No probably not." I said, (a sentiment re-enforced when she came out with numerous boxes and bags 10 minutes later).

Later Alex spent a couple of hours with them making Halloween Pumpkins. So a creative day child sitting.