Wild disarray

It's so good to be back in The Shed after a week or two of gallivanting and I spent some time last week working on a piece influenced by some sketches I made in April/May this year, when the goosegrass almost seemed to take over the hedgerows in a great verdant tangle. I've been mulling it over for weeks - so time to get on!

I was after that confused, entwined dark underbelly of the hedgerow. . . . . what I seemed to create (to start with at least) was definitely a sense of muddle, with virtually 'unreadable' prints.

In an attempt to smooth out this jumbled state I resorted to trying out different colour combos,

with varying degrees of success.

I came back to it today with slightly fresher eye, and re-visited the sketch book for colour references . . . .

and now feel that I'm heading in the right direction.

 With a little time to reflect - well who knows . . . .

Hectic Hong Kong

I've just returned from a week in Hong Kong (Mr B was working and I tagged along) so yesterday was a bit of a shocker 3 degrees after 32!! At least in HK I knew it wasn't me . . . it was hot!

Staying in Causeway Bay, the view from our room looked out over the Happy Valley Racecourse. By all accounts Hong Kong's gambling-mad populace wager more money per meeting than at any other track in the world.

Crossing the water to Kowloon on the busy Star Ferry makes you very aware of the energetic and hectic nature of Hong Kong. Although now I'm putting these photos together I notice I've managed to take shots that are almost people free, it looks calm and quiet - nothing like the reality which is busy, busy, busy. Think pokey stick and ants nest.

HK harbour is famously known for its junks . . . .

. . . there seem to be multitudinous ferry services.

Clock tower near the cultural centre and random sculptures. 

Kowloon Park's sculpture garden. 

Signs like this are everywhere.

Looking at the night cityscape from Victoria Harbour.

A little dragon looking over Central (with Kowloon across the water) from The Peak. 

The flower market in Mong Kok, colourful, bright and vibrant, with stalls and shops lining the entire length of Flower Market Road. 

When tired of Central's hustle and bustle Hong Kong Park is the place to be - children play in the fountain,

but even from the oasis of the park a mix of buildings is always visible.

The roof of the aviary in Hong Kong Park, which houses an improbable mini-rainforest with flowing streams, lush plant life and exotic birds.

Buildings crowd in wherever you are on Hong Kong Island

Looking down on the t'ai chi garden, where we spent a very relaxed morning.

We had time before our flight home to spend a few hours in the Museum of History. Telling the Hong Kong story, it attempts to record the 400 million-odd years since HK emerged from the primordial mud. Seems to end some time in the 70's . . . .

A Hoklo child's collar (the Hoklo are considered a separate ethnic group from the Cantonese, living and working on boats all their lives - boat people), embroidered with animal patterns and decorated with small mirrors, bells, beads, sequins and tassels. I intended to find out more about it, but time ran away with us and we suddenly found ourselves running for the door and our cases.

A short "week" in Pembrokeshire

Life is full of contrasts, I'm sitting in Heathrow waiting to fly out to Hong Kong, making time to blog about last week spent in Wales.

I've just spent a fab few days in sunny Pembrokeshire, yes sunny Wales! We had such a great time last year, that when Mr B had a few days holiday we decided to revisit the wonderful landscape that is, Pembrokeshire.

We found a lovely little cottage, where we could bring two excitable young dogs, to chill out for a bit - http://www.underthethatch.co.uk/dolaumaen -


A comfortably converted barn, complete with sunny terrace and stone circle.
Where the land meets the sea it opens up in widescreen, all wide-open skies and wheeling gulls.

It's all a bit Enid Blyton, for those old enough to remember the famous five, beaches, castles, mountains and picnics, of course we swapped the ginger beer for a glass or two of red!
A touch breezy at the top . . . .
Picnicking along the Pembrokeshire costal path. By the way, I was feeling pretty brave as it's a sheer drop just where the grass (in the photo) runs out and I don't really have much of a head for heights.
I do find the Neolithic fascinating, so many tantalising glimpses into our distant past, but never really 'knowing' the reason behind, say, a stone circle or the marks we might find cut into stones. I like the mystery that attaches to humankind's deep past, and as a consequence I often find myself visiting such sights.

Carreg Sampson - http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=1527 - silent testament to our forebears.
And of course, I didn't resist a return visit to Pentre Ifan.

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