Towy Valley

I have pretty well finished the painting of the Towy Valley above. I will go back to it and have another look in the next few days and add a bit of detail probably?

I was pleased to hear from Colin and learn that Phil and Gill also occasionally drop in on my blog.

There were a few instances over the years when I was professionally embarrassed. Many years ago I was teamed up with a Detective who was something of a character. He was an ex PTI in the Para’s and had a fairly robust outlook on life. A real good guy.

One day we were dealing with a burglary nothing more than someone having their house broken into and their meter emptied. Now these were admittedly a few years back in the days when an offence like that was investigated. A police officer attended, house to house enquiries were made and every effort made to find the rascal wot had dun it! Policing was intelligence led, but the intelligence was the Bobby behind it. Life was so simple then! It was also before the time of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, which had a big impact in policing some areas (and passed others by).

Anyway we had a good idea who had done this, as there were only a couple of active burglars in that area at the time. Although we had no other evidence we collected one of our suspects off the street. He was fairly conspicuous with an outrageous haircut and leather jacket I think it would not be unfair to say he was a punk.

We sat him in the CID Office. He parked his jacket on a chair and we discussed things in general, the beginnings of the Universe and where he had been that morning. He was adamant that yes he had done lots of bad things but on this occasion no he hadn’t done it. To be fair he was quite an amiable youth despite being a good customer. (To be honest I got on pretty well with most criminal types, which thinking about it now is pretty worrying).

He told us he could go out and maybe get information and let us know who had done it but it wasn’t him. This went on for a couple of hours. He stuck to his story and I was beginning to think maybe he was on this occasion innocent.

At this point our supervisor came into the office and asked what was going on.

He walked over to the miscreant and picked up the leather jacket looked at us dropped the jacket on the floor with a clang and thud, looked at us again, muttered something about dumb and dumber and walked out. The whole of the contents of the meter were in the leather jacket, which must have weighed quite a few pounds.

 We hadn’t searched him and the whole time the stolen money was just sat there.

The cheerful burglar now happily admitted his work stating he nearly had us.

It’s fair to say we took a bit of flak over that one.

Dawn over the Valley

The sketch above is one I did for a painting I have started today of the valley looking towards Llanarthne and Carmarthen in the distance. Not great visually in itself I admit but it is full size and has the information I want on it. As I have said before better to work out your ideas before you start painting.

"Dawn is a feeling
A beautiful ceiling
The smell of grass
Just makes you pass
Into a dream" (Moody Blues)


Well that was pretty much it this morning when I went for the first walk of the day. I was wearing my Berghaus fleece as it was still a shade on the chilly side when I started out. Walking in to the woods above the reservoir I could hear the woodpecker on the old beech tree and for a change I saw him in siluette. A dark outline with the bright low light of the morning sun behind him at the top of the trunk. A great spotted woodpecker hunting for grubs for his breakfast. As we got onto the top looking across and down the valley the sun was blinding coming up straight over Merlin's Hill. 
Yes the Moody Blues got it right! 


Talking about my Berghaus it is starting to fray on the edges I suppose I should take it back as I have only had it 25 years. In fairness it has been excellent and outlived half dozen cheaper fleeces.


We have two of the grand children now so I have to go rescue Alex.


link to Dawn is a feeling http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhW0C28dmD0

Broadhaven

The painting above is of Broadhaven and is one I finished last week. I know another sheep dog. For a change I used cerulean blue as my blue. Cerulean blue is interesting in that it is not one particular hue or at least it wasn't.
Its equivalent in Welsh would have been glas. It was initially a blue made form copper or cobalt compounds and had a greenish tinge. Latterly it is made from pigment and can be spelt coerulean. It can move towards viridian when mixed with a good trace of yellow.
Anyway Broadhaven is a nice spot and one we often walk to when stopping in Pembrokeshire. The walk from Druidstone along the coastal path is spectacular giving views across St Brides Bay and takes you passed an iron age hill fort.

New Bridge Carmarthen

Here is the painting I finished this week of the new bridge in Carmarthen.  It was a commission and has been painted very softly.
On Friday night Alex and I went to Big Bills in Llansteffan. Always a treat. We went with our friends Wendy and Simon. It was strangely quiet. Bill is renowned for excellent food and big portions at a reasonable price.
I had a Bass probably 2-3lbs cooked in Pernod. I had a starter the size of a main and cheese to finish I have struggled to eat since as I am still full. A very good night anyway.
Today we have been sorting out the veg patch. Tomorrow we are taking work to the Boathouse in Laugharne.
A full week ahead.

Walking the dog

The painting above is an oil I finished this week "walking the dog". Typical British weather. Bit like "Winnie the Pooh and the Day the rain came down". I have to say I quite enjoy rainy days provided I am wrapped up. I quite often include a sheep dog in a painting probably because we had one when we were first married. He was a right character. He was obedient and would walk to heel  and ignore any distractions. He would steal things however a Christmas cake or a joint of meat if left unattended.
At the time our neighbours were Pat and Clive. They were to all intents the perfect friends and neighbours. Similar age with twin girls. There was however one mystifying trait. Much of the time when the children were growing up I was away leaving Alex to cope with three children under 6 and also no car. She would herd them to school or the shops with children pulling in all directions while the sheepdog would walk tidily behind.
Now if this wasn't bad enough she would meet Pat with her twins who were so remarkably well behaved. We never understood how they did it. Our kids would be pulling in all directions like an out of control Catherine wheel. Theirs on the other hand would always be clean, polite and stand quietly by their parents. It was a complete mystery.
Anyway ours turned out brilliantly (eventually).

A Greater Being

The painting above of St David's Parish Church in  Abergwili sold this week. It is quite an appropriate picture today. Blue skies and spring arriving, the wonders of nature. Like many people I guess I wonder about whether there is a greater intelligence or being.
We recently went to Harlech for a break. I took my telescope having an interest in the universe. Harlech suffers form of light pollution to speak of and is ideal for observing the great expanse around us. I was disappointed at first overcast skies day after day, couldn't last could they? Yes, after 9 days I gave up it wasn't going to happen, but have faith on the tenth day blue skies glorious weather and forecast for a clear night sky. Great.
We did a ten mile walk had tea then I set up my telescope which took about 30 minutes. I then waited for the evening arrival of  Venus, Jupiter and the Great Bear. What arrived sea fog!
Yes I think there may be a greater being and they have a very wicked sense of humour.
Actually in our house there is a "greater being" her name is Alex after that comes Jac and somewhere below I am situated.

Anyway here is a link to Mr Blue Sky which is appropriate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2Ncxw1xfck

Abergwili

The above picture of Abergwili sold this week. This view hasn't changed a great deal since the Second World War other than the farm has gone that was on the corner. I have seen the same view painted by a German Prisoner of War in an impressionist style. Extremely well painted it was too.
Today I have primed a couple of boards and completed another oil painting. Now unfortunately I have to start tidying the garden. Its that time of year when I hear the sound of neighbours starting their lawnmowers. I eventually give up and follow the fashion. I wish someone would come out and say that long grass was better for the environment.
We decided to decline an exhibition yesterday. Although we did quite well last year and we were asked back I just felt our commitments were too much and we should be doing less.