Costa arrives in Hartley Wintney

Hartley Wintney has gone up in the world. There is now a Costa where the wine shop used to be. To some this is not such a good thing since it a large chain takes business away from local people. But I love it. Just a quick sketch on a sunny morning.

 

Grumpy Jack and Happy Holly

 

This afternoon I took Holly and Jack for a walk (they needed it-cabin fever and all that). It started to rain as usual and Holly decided to go on the swing with her brolly. She looks very lady like. Holly is looking over my shoulder and has just remarked she looks 'very British'. Jack was in a right grump and really did not want to cooperate. I decided to sketch them both since their body language and moods could not have been further apart!

 

 



I sketched this in the tent on the morning of Aug 17th. We had just experienced the night from hell. Winds were so extreme; JB reckoned they were a force gale 8. There was a tent down the hill from us with its roof totally ripped off. The camp manager, Brian said they had to clear away loads of collapsed tents; he said one tent had blown over from the neighboring campsite. My notes with this sketch read, ' Sitting in the tent all morning. Its gale force winds and hammering down with rain. Many tents have collapsed and people are going home. But not us. It's pretty scary so I'm drawing the corner of the tent to take my mind off the weather'.

Note: Both sketches did not scan so well but I thought I could take advantage of darker areas and make them part of the artwork by photoshopping a little!

 

The day after going to Barnstaple we managed to make it on to Woolacombe beach, but it was cold and started to rain. JB and I sat huddled under waterproof coats watching Sam and Jack dig, oblivious to weather conditions.  It was also interesting to watch this chap wriggling out of his wetsuit.

 

 



It's bed time and all I can hear is Jack playing his electric guitar. I go up. 'Listen to this Mum', he says.  I watch him standing in his grubby socks amongst a mass of wires which take up most of his bedroom floor .  A quick sketch captures the moment of my youngest pretending he really is a rock star performing to a large admiring audience- although I am admiring and proud. But now it's definitely time for bed!

Seagulls in Devon and Chickens in Hartley Wintney

 

 

This very quick sketch was drawn when we went to Barnstaple. The weather was very wet but did clear up by the afternoon. We were able to eat our sandwiches in a small garden just beside the church in the middle of the town. There was another one of those crafty seagulls on the lookout for a tasty snack, namely from us down below. He was pretending not to look at us but we knew better.

With birds on my mind I couldn't resist sketching another 'cheeky chicken'.  I used a dip pen which is why you can achieve the thick and thin line in one stroke.

More Airfix at inappropriate times

'I just need to stick this bit'................'But it's time for bed Jack!'

The Phoenix Pub

This is where JB goes to have a beer. It is in fact on the other side of the village from our house, so quite a walk there and back. But no other Pub will do; this one is the best one in the village. The old cars outside are from the vintage car garage which is to the left of the sketch. They use the car park at quieter times of the day to maneuver all their kit around.

On New Year’s day lots of vintage cars from quite far around meet at the Phoenix for their annual 'get together'. Andy, the publican lays on a special menu including homemade soup, chili, burgers and steak sandwiches which is served in the car park, so you can eat and ogle at the cars all at the same time. Of course the kids love it, especially the fizzy drink and burgers.

Tired Jack and an accident

A quick sketch of Jack slumped on the sofa after a busy weekend. This morning Jack and Sam played tennis for what must have been at least four hours.

At the time of writing this blog there are two ambulances on the A30 at the bottom of our garden attending to what looks like a big accident which has only just happened. I heard a massive bang.  I've just been to have a look and the car has gone in to the hedge on the opposite side, totally crumpled. They were loading someone on to a stretcher. Since we have lived here, there have been three fatal accidents on Star Hill in two years. I would be very surprised if there was anyone who has survived in this one. Very sad.