A bit of painting

I'm working normal hours now, No shifts. . .

So I really appreciate having proper weekends. I've been putting loads of miles in, on my bike and generally doing stuff. What I mean is. . . When you work shifts you have a lot of free time to do stuff, you have so much free time, you don't really do anything.



Seeing as the weather, this weekend, has taken a turn for the worse. I decided to do a bit of painting. I started this one last Sunday The base coat is a wash of Cadmium Red, then did the bottom bit with Yellow Ochre and White. and I left it until Yesterday morning. and added the Sap Green and White to the top bit - all Acrylics.
The splashes are Pillar Box Red gloss, (Left over from my front door). There are also some minor splashes of Pearlescent Volcano Red and Macaw Green Acrylic Ink.

I like it. . . Click on any of the thumbnails above, for a bigger pic.

I've just started another one

May The Fourth Be With You

I'm getting a bit obsessed with all this cycling.

I should have been doing the Trans-Penine this weekend, but due to work and money troubles, I've had to give it a miss. To make up for it I did quite a few miles over the weekend and discovered the joys of The Cheshire Cycleway. There are literally hundreds of miles of trails, bridle-ways and hidden country lanes, literally minutes from my doorstep. On both Saturday & Sunday, I packed my panniers and set off into the great unknown - well nearly unknown. . . I went to places I'd previously only visited by car. I found some tiny villages and Hamlets that look like they haven't changed in hundreds of years. For some unexplained reason I didn't photograph anything Yesterday. I DID take a few photos on Saturday, of the (almost finished) Dream at Sutton Manor again, but that was about it.
Today I had a lie in. My thighs have turned to steel and I think I had a bit of sunstroke. My head is beginning to look like a Malteser. . . When I finally surfaced at about eleven, the only cycling I did was to ASDA for the weekly shop. This is another excuse to get myself a decent set of panniers. The things I've got now can barely hold a loaf, without crushing it.
I made myself a sandwich and I watched BASQUIAT the movie by Julian Schnabel. I suddenly had the urge to paint again. So I've just spent the last hour creating yet another masterpiece. :)

I Failed the British Citizenship Test

As a prequel to St George's Day, I decided to take the Official British Citizenship Test.

It's full of really strange questions about Religion and obscure political events.

I Failed! LINK

Noodle on a Bike

Ste's little girl Nieve, has only been riding a bike for a couple of weeks. But she's got the bug big time. We went out riding on Saturday and she completed a FIFTEEN MILER with no problem. Then today she completed about TWENTY MILES without a complaint. She just seems to have limitless amounts of energy. If she carries on like this, She'll be doing The Trans-Penine with us next month.

Formula 1, Back on the BBC

I was looking forward to F1's return to the BBC. No ads popping up at the most inappropriate moments, and the new reg's making F! races, into actual races again. I decided against staying up to watch the GP, in the middle of the night. I turned on the telly at midday and caught the beginning of "The Politics Show" on BBC1 and within minutes I was told the result of the race.
The BBC will start coverage of the race at 1pm. But now I can't be bothered watching.

Coffee Schmoffee

Have you ever walked into Starbuck's or Costa, and been baffled by the amazing menu. All you want is a coffee. The only two you know of are Espresso and Cappuccino. You'd like to order something different, but you haven't got a clue? Well, help is at hand. You can see exactly what you're going to get in this handy little diagram. I still don't know what a skinny or a Tall are. But at least i know what an Espresso Macchiato is. And more importantly. . . I know how to pronounce it. :)

Diagram courtesy of: Lokesh Dhakar

Kate Swift Rest In Peace.

I only knew Kate for a short while, back in 2007-2008, but she made a big impression on me and everyone else who met her. I was really shocked, when I found out about her tragic death.

You were one of a kind Kate. I can't believe this has happened.