REMEMBERING BLANCHE, MAMAN

It was in 2001 on the 21st of August in London that Blanche, the beautiful, wonderful, unique individual who happened to be my mother, left this world. I celebrate her now and always. Below: Blanche in the 1940s, and in France with my older sister Annie and me.

And here's a slideshow I made in 2014 with some of Blanche's paintings. She began painting in 1994 and had her first and last exhibition aged 95.

A THANK YOU VIDEO

I've made a selfie video to thank you, whoever and wherever you are, for your presence here in my little corner of cyberspace. Here's the link to the video. I don't know if it will open right here or if it takes you to my Youtube page:

BIRTHDAY DINNER ON THE CANAL

This was the view from a table in the moored boat-restaurant on the canal in Maida Vale where I had a lovely birthday dinner with three close friends last night. If you look closely you can just about make out the stately procession of ducks which happened to be floating by when I snapped this shot. Obviously the parade was in my honour even if the ducks didn't know it. They were swimming too fast for me to get a close-up shot so I can't show you their facial expressions.

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY

I was born in Paris at midnight on the seventh day of August...never mind the year. What does a calendar know? If I ask the cosmos how old I am the answer would take too long to write down! Happy birthdays to me ad infinitum!

PREGNANT POSSIBILITIES

New painting: I'm always pregnant with possibilities

Acrylic on canvas board, 10 x 14 inches.

TEETH AND GNASHING THEREOF

Although in polite society one does not mention certain topics, over here I am allowed to mention anything I please, including d.e.n.t.u.r.e.s. If you know what I'm talking about you know what I mean. Back from my latest dental appointment. The difficult process of making new teeth (NOT implants) for my non-standard buccal/jaw structure is nearly done. A few more visits to my new brilliant specialist and my dental life will be transformed. Never in all my years of trouble and strife with fake gnashers have I encountered a dental professional like this. He gives his total attention to the most minute difficulties and knows exactly how to deal with them: with expertise, care, patience, no fuss and no bullshit. Why can't we have a Prime Minister like that?

Now I must sell quite a lot paintings or else run for prime minister in order to pay the rest of the bill.

DOUBTING

Taking my mind off the sorry state of news here, there and everywhere. Apart from the great news that Boris is on his way out, even if much too slowly.

Here's a new painting in a series that seems to have a life of its own. In this photo it looks darker than it actually is.

Yes we have doubts

Acrylic on canvas board, 10 x 14 inches.

A MESSAGE

Here's the latest painting, hot off the palette. I'll take a better photo of it by daylight tomorrow but it feels good to post it right now.

Got the message but can't read the writing

Acrylic on canvas board, 10 x 14 inches.