Dog time. A weekend with two Border Collies for company. They soon had us jumping to their routine, which had the usual priorities. Food, cuddles and walks. At night they slept on either side of the bed to ensure there was no escaping them and they would not miss out. 
Studio busy with the start of the summer holidays. Changing a flat wheel for hopeless tourists. Smudged windows. Longer hours. Comments that make you smile. ‘At 86 my eyesight is very poor but I’m captivated by your paintings. They don’t look like a ‘blank wall’.
Thrilled that one of my paintings is hanging in the newly renovated holiday apartment at TH8. Colours of the forest painting vivid against the walls.
Moon, a shimmering reflection in the waters of the lagoon. Fires ragging through the forests, driven by the same winds that I battled against on my ride up Phantom Pass. The bicycle hoping over the corrugations.
By mistake I ordered the XL replacement fire-basket for the Lotus Grill. It takes a heap more charcoal and turns the placed grill into a roaring monster. Superb for steak, but needs careful regulation for something like lamb. Perhaps the teflon grill sheet will be the solution? 
‘Hint of Mauve’, Oil on canvas 20cmx20cm. From a photo by Veronica of the hibiscus flowers in their garden. Striving for the simplicity of Japanese flower paintings. The composition based on an antique Japanese screen, so I had a good idea that it would work. Even on such a small canvas. I was a tad more concerned about the background colour, again based on a Japanese screen, with the soft flowers.

Runners rage at the pedestrian bridge in the quays. Strava, record breaking, segment interrupted by the bridge raising to let through a fishing boat.
Unpretentious food, full of flavour, at the Twin Palms at the St James. It’s not cheap eating, and the portions are a tad small, compensated for by an interesting inexpensive wine list. 
At the waters edge, with views across to the heads and the lights, sunset is certainly the best time to book a table. The evening light allowing one to enjoy charm of white linen and country hotel comfort, without being distracted by the touch of shabbiness.
Short staffed, service was maddening slow and it would have been good if the Chef had spent more time outside the kitchen keeping us updated.
Summer, and the agapanthus flowers are spectacular. Mum’s summer garden, the inspiration for a painting dominated by the white agapanthus flowers against a blue sky. The blue flowers on the plumbago and miniature agapanthus, a pathway across the painting.