Thursday 25 May 2017

Norm a year or two back - clearly still active then!
My friend Norm Heberer, who lives in Georgia USA, was on the phone recently saying he misses my "walks" in Dorset. In truth, this blog is then for him, but anyone else can read it if they like.

Age, winter weather and weary legs have curtailed this activity somewhat - since February.
Notwithstanding wobbly legs, I must admit I am obliged to turn down appointments in doctors' surgeries and hospitals on Tuesdays because that is 'playing golf day' with my other friend John Wilkes. We do have a buggy in which to navigate our nine holes and Tuesdays always offer good golfing weather in Dorset and it is Ladies' Day at Wareham and not many men are as happy as we are to follow behind the ladies. We are very lucky; we never lose golf balls because we can still see them after we have driven them.

John Wilkes and buugy

I think Norm is surprised at my situation because he is older than I am and seems to spend much time in the gym and doing yoga. Gyms can be dangerous places, witness the fact that his wife Joan, doing balancing exercises, damaged her shoulder when falling off a chair. Having worked most of my life in the brewery world I have some knowledge of falling off chairs.

What do you do when you become old and a bit less mobile?  I paint, which is quite a pleasant hobby when things turn out right.

What do I paint? Anything as long as it looks real when it is done.


Here are some sheep. You would be surprised how difficult it was to keep them standing still all morning.








Landscapes can be fine,  here is Eyebridge at Wimborne in Dorset; spot the dog!





















People are not always easy, but here is grandson Jack with great grandson Harrison.















And here is Jake, golf professional at Wareham.
I rate this one of the best because his Mum thinks it is wonderful and when a mother thinks anything about a son is wonderful, perfection has been reached.












Finally, there is always a favourite of the artist. This is mine because we saw him at the seaside and you couldn't make up a picture with with one sleeve up and one down and one jeans leg up and one down.