I spent a WHOLE week priming and painting MDF.
I listened to one and a half audio books – over 20 hours……
I had intended to paint every little shelf and surface.
Then I realised how physically awkward it was (like not being able to reach the back of the shelf whilst balancing on the ladders). Plus the calculation of how long it was going to take.
So here it is, tidy and uncluttered for the very first (and last) time!!
I did it! 6 modules and an essay since Friday – its my own fault for falling behind so I’m not complaining.
In fact I feel as if my brain is rejuvenated. Its wonderful.
I have to wait until September to start more archaeology or history courses – there are so many to choose from. Oxford University are doing Indian Art, Romans in Britain and Islamic Art and Architecture. I’ve just completed Ritual and Religion in Prehistory and hopefully gained my 10 CATS points. I hear there maybe a Prehistoric Art module coming up. I want to do them all.
Leicester have these modules; They are longer, being 20 CATS points.
The Prehistory and Medieval units really appeal. Am I doing this for myself or towards a degree? Not sure. I do wonder if I should have read humanities and not science at university 20 years ago. I am a chameleon liking science, humanities and art. Or maybe I am just interested in everything????
Over the summer I’m going to complete the History of Art Diploma – that's harder because there are no deadlines. The subject matter is fascinating and not at all hard. I need a deadline.
I like challenging my brain – its been in hibernation far too long (since childbirth I guess).
So, here is my scrapbook from France. I didn’t have time to sit and write long entries or to sketch or draw. Those days also disappeared with childbirth. Guess they will come back all too soon. I had fun with the Pogo printer, Sizzix cutter, double sided sticky tape and a concertina sketchbook (Seawhites). Before I went away I gave the pages a wash with Brusho inks in in Leaf Green, Yellow and Turquoise.
Chateau and garden are stunning. I can’t wait to get back to France.
Meanwhile I am busy studying like mad to catch up before my course deadline. See you all in a weeks time when I’ve read everything, made notes, uploaded notes, discussed in the discussion forums and written an essay!
The boys hated the colour scheme in this room, I loved it.
I know I have my beautiful new studio but well, I could happily have this at the bottom of the garden.
I love knot gardens and roses. So this was a perfect combination.
This will be the last but one post of French pictures and yes I must show you what I came home with – and my scrapbook too.
Castelnaud houses the Mediaeval War Museum – perfect for little boys. We drove up a very steep and very narrow road, parked, walked down a steep hill and then back up. In 32 degree heat. It was a bit much…. (Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun……)
Well worth it for the views.
Then another day we headed into the Museum Of Prehistory. Wow. A subject close to my heart and complementing my university course on Ritual and Religion in Prehistory.
One night we had dinner in the campsite restaurant – I had flash cards (kindly supplied by Margaret – thanks!) to say no wheat, diary and meat. The waitress understood, shame the cook didn’t. I was very ill that night.
The boys enjoyed piggy-out puddings.
I ordered, and surprising myself, enjoyed, a black coffee.
One of the final days was a visit to the Bayeux Tapestry – which of course is not a tapestry but an EMBROIDERY!
Wonderful to see it “live” after seeing so many pictures and recreating a (very) small section for C&G work.
Any C&G Part II (Diploma) Embroidery Student will recognise the symbol on the town trail.
A visit to Normandy would not be complete without a visit to the D Day Landing beaches. In contrast to the Somme area it was quite hard to imagine this touristy, seaside area as a centre of a major battle area. Though once on the beach you could feel and hear the history.
Though we didn't expect the area to be such a beach resort it seemed to have been this way before the war and as DH said, they fought so that it could be a tourist beach again with freedom and liberty.
We should all be thankful.
Another wonderful place in France – Roque-Gageac on the side of the Dordogne River.
Everywhere we went there were fields of poppies. These are my favourite flowers – I was so happy to see them everywhere and to see so many!
