Cheers
Many parts of southern England are a real mess, but our small bit of it remains unharmed; I guess mainly due to the Thames Barrier. Our friend Sandi’s home in Somerset is safe and hopefully our friend Jane in Richmond is also staying dry. I’ve heard that this is being one of the wettest winters in years; but compared to Marmaris I don’t find it so bad. I remember more rain in Turkey. Selective memory maybe.
This email introduces you to my friend Coleen. I met Coleen my first session at the Toynbee Art Club and we have been friends ever since. Half the fun of going on Sunday afternoons is the walk back and forth during which Coleen and I talk non-stop about our week or things we read or just stuff. Coleen has lived and worked in London her whole life so has loads of London bits to share.
Today we went off on a non-Toynbee adventure. Coleen cares for her grandchildren several days each week so her time is quite limited. But we had such a grand time that I know we’ll squeeze in at least one more date before Randal and I sail away.
Coleen chose today’s adventure taking us for lunch and a sketching session at The George! For a place I’d never been until late January, I’ve now been there 3 times. When we made our “date” Coleen planned for us to sketch the lovely balconies that line the outside of The George. I’d once mentioned that I wanted to draw outdoor spaces rather than people and The George would have been a wonderful subject. Alas, the weather didn’t cooperate. It was raining when we met and too chilly when the sun later deigned to put in an appearance. But no matter, we had a wonderful long chat and lunch and more chat and then we actually made ourselves sketch indoors. It was great practice and we had the entire upstairs room to ourselves.
Ru
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My friend Coleen We arrived before lunch was being served so just sat by the fire and dried our wet coats and hats. |
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Coleen behind the bar! We were the only ones in the Gallery room so when the bar man left I talked Coleen into posing. Coleen was game for it so I really didn’t have to twist her arm. |
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I finally have a large pad but didn’t manage to use it wisely. I might finish some shading as I do have this photo to refer to. The rolled up menus are too short too. And the angle of the photo isn’t the same as my drawing. Other than that…… |
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Rearranging the furniture to so we could have a photo standing under the portrait of Louis the #? |
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My big rubber barn boots. I’m sort of scrunching down; Coleen is tiny! |
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Lucy and Ethel, Laverne and Shirley, Rosemary and Thyme, Glinda and Elphaba; but thankfully not Thelma and Louise. I have been lucky enough to have almost a dozen women friends who, when I’m with them conjure up images of those zany women buddies. |
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Our very kind bar man who let us sit as long as we liked and laugh and sketch and then took our photo for us. |
