AUGUST 2023

TUESDAY 1.8.23

We are waiting for a call from Richard’s Haematology consultant which was thought to about 12.40. But at quarter to three he thought he had better get the car out as he has to go to Cheltenham General for another gastroendoscopy; he’s just doing this when his mobile rings and I answer and it is Mr Lush. I go out and call R who comes back in to take this important call. Really pleased as he says the results of the biopsy have shown that R has’t got lung cancer (or even asbestosis) but a re-emegence of his lymphoma which being a cancer of the blood can re-appear anywhere in the body. The first time he was diagnosed  it was at Stage 4 so was from his neck all through his trunk but this has only appeared in one place. He’s going to discuss it with a group of four other haematologists tomorrow and will ring R in the afternoon to let him know what they suggest. We both breathe a sigh of relief and he drives off into Cheltenham for his second endoscopy as they had been concerned that as the offending piece of chicken had been stuck in his oesophegus for two days that it might have deteriorated and affected the tissue around it. But luckily this proves not to be the case so he’s back home by about 6 and vows not to eat chicken again!

Start work on the commission which surprises Richard when he sees this new painting in progress on the easel on his return.

WEDNESDAY 2.8.23

Another call from Richard Lush having discussed Richard’s prognosis with his collegues. They decide that it could either be watch and wait (as lymphoma is very slow moving) or like almost five years ago when a small tumour appeared in his groin he could have the lung zapped by radiotherapy. So another of the colleagues, a radiotherapy consultant who says she can reach the small mass, will discuss this with R for him to decide.

THURSDAY 3.8.23

I’m now trying to finish the paintings well enough to be photographed for  the catalogue on Tuesday.

FRIDAY 4.8.23

Working intensly

SATURDAY 5.8.23

on the Seven Ages

SUNDAY 6.8.23

on Tempus Fugit

MONDAY 7.8.23

on the Ark

TUESDAY 8.8.23

R takes photographs of Les Pommes Magique and All in the Balance to add to the eighteen other paintings that he’s already photographed and a list of their titles and sizes and sends them via We Transfer to the Gallery. Tiffany e mails back saying she’s “…LOVING the selection… thank you.  Such strong narratives captured in such a unique way.   So many ‘winners’ as Matthew would say...”

Stay up until 5am finishing off the triangular painting All in Balance….

WEDNESDAY 9.8.23

…which Richard photographs and sends off to the Gallery. He also posts his first three versions of the maps to London to be transferred to vellum - they will then be couriered up to Scotland where filming starts next week.  Nathan is now asking if Richard feels up to doing a final one on vellum for the film’s finale.

Lovely e mail from Hiroko as Masa had told her that Richard has had a few health concerns

Wednesday 16.8.23

On the final run working on Talking Heads to be reproduced on the reverse of the invitation card. During the evening Richard notices a large box in the porch; how very kind of the American puzzle firm Pomegranate who specialise in using artists’ paintings, to have sent me ten 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles wearing Lot 28, especially as it is all done through the Bridgeman Art Library. I think this must mean that the last one they produced, a newspaper painting, must have sold well.

Work right through the night but feel pleased and relieved to have finished Talking Heads, which Richard photographs after photographing his maps to send to Nathan.

THURSDAY 17.8.23

It’s a relief to have all the photographs of all the paintings with the gallery and therefore with their designer Strule, so decide to have another bash on the three pieces for the RWA, which need to be delivered on Sunday.

Lovely e mail from Dr Margus in Estonia, who would have liked to have come to the exhibition in October but unfortunately can’t make it though is keen to see the works as soon as possible.

FRIDAY 18.8.23

Meet John and Richard over at the studio where he is giving me some advice on a particular frame, before we all set out to Cirencester for the charity garden party in aid of Cobalt and LINC in Jackie and Laurence Llewelyn Bowen’s beautiful garden. We’re a bit late as there were road closures en route. There is Laurence standing just inside ready to greet us and along comes Jackie too. They are both looking very tanned as they have recently come back fro a month in Spain. Shortly after I’m surprised to see Sheilagh Ferrel who tells me she has just been looking at my paintings at Wallace’s house so I’m needing to do a double take as I assume she has come with Martin. She points out where Wallace and Martin are and it seems that Martin had arranged for her to get off the train at Banbury and Wallace to bring her along with Jane. Just as I’m making my way up to where they were sitting a smiling man in a panama hat leaned out and it’s Andy of Andy and Sue, who is sitting opposite him under this long open marquee. I’m just going round to greet her and Martin etc when a very nice young man who I had noticed standing to one side when I was talking to Laurence, tells me that I awarded him a prize at Gloucestershire College about ten years ago and that he works as a graphic designer  for a company that deals is web design, marketing and graphics where he has recently become head of department and the slightly older man, Mitch, is his boss. He has designed all the material for LINC  for the garden party. Mitch is accompanied by his wife and they tell me they used to have a market garden but decided to make the move and set up this marketing business. It’s lovely to see Sue, Andy, Wallace, Jane, Martin and Sheelagh and certainly adds to the garden party experience. I also meet Julia the head fundraiser from Cobalt in person and she and her colleague Kirstie are going to come to the house to discuss an art event to celebrate their 60th anniversary.

It’s a wonderful event and Laurence, Jackie and the team of volunteers from both charities have worked extremely hard to make it both picturesque and entertaining. I buy an exquisite delicate autumnal floral wreath made with seed pods, feathers etc.made by the Cheltenham ladies flower group who meet at the Pump Room once a week to make these delightful creations which in this case are donated to the LINC and Cobalt funds. Laurence is so entertaining when he announces the raffle prizes, many of which are again made by this wonderful group of ladies. The world would be a very much lesser place without all these generous spirited individuals donating their time and effort. Speaking of whom, I meet Liz Giles and her husband; she is the voluntary treasurer of the Friends of The Wilson but also for LINC and prior to that did five years at the Holst Birthplace as treasurer. That really is a job entailing a lot of time and skill - and very much more than just organising the annual reports.

It’s great fun and a bit like having a party within a party as we are a group of nine friends, the other six of whom all go onto a pub afterwards whilst we make our way back getting John home only just in time to see Michael his son, arriving for the weekend and I’m back in the studio working on the three works for the RWA.

SATURDAY 19.8.23

Continue on the three works that R is going to deliver to the RWA tomorrow….

SUNDAY 20.8.23

…only to discover that the tailgate of our Land Rover Discovery wouldn’t open so after half an hour of frustration in trying to coax it, he sets off just with the two smaller works.

MONDAY 21.8.23

Recommence work on the square commission for Japan. It’s always a bit harder to rekindle after having worked so intensely on the paintings for the exhibition and over the weekend those for the RWA.

TUESDAY 22.8.23

Working again on Professor Masa’s commission

WEDNESDAY 23.8.23

Proofs for the catalogue arrive but have to wait until Richard is back from his appointment with his consultant radiotherapist to discuss the way forward and a treatment plan for him to treat his lymphoma which although it is not in the rest of his body has manifested itself in the pleural sac of his right lung, which is fortunate as if it had been to the left protecting his heart could have been a problem. The tumour is however quite close to his spine so they will make a mask to keep him perfectly still and to protect the spinal column. It will be a series of twelve consecutive weekdays of half hour treatments each of which will have ten minutes of radiation in 10 second blasts (whilst he holds his breath each time). He feels much happier now it is decided what is going to be done.

We go over to the studio to compare the proof with the actual paintings and spot that two of the proofs are missing. I write notes next to each and they are just slightly too dark and too cold - not enough yellow in the inking.  Richard puts them back in their long triangular box and cycles them down to the Post Office.

THURSDAY 24.8.23

Royalty statement comes from the Bridgeman Art Library; interesting to see that the Italian newspaper La Repubblica have used one of my newspaper paintings and the wonderful French publisher Leon Art have used an older painting of an Ark in their book on boats and also a swimming pool in a book on the seaside. It is a wonderful series that uses art to teach children either French or English as well as about the subject.

FRIDAY 25.8.23

Continue working on Professor Masa’s commission. Seem to have made  considerable progress today.

SATURDAY 26.8.23

The second set of proofs arrive the colours looking much better and just The Little Shepherd still too dark. Since we couldn’t send it back next day Special by Royal Mail because it was too long we decide that Richard should cut it down (with the Japanese saw) and trims a little of the white border from the edge of the proof sheets which luckily this time includes the two that have been missed off before - The Island Hare and the Butterfly Blue and Tempus Fugit. He then cycles down to the Post Office with it and luckily this time it is able to be returned by Royal Mail, Special Delivery - last time it had to go Parcel Force 24 which actually took 48 hours.

We set out in the car on the journey for Blunham in Bedfordshire, a belated birthday visit to my sister Gill. We were originally going on the actual day, Tuesday but decided to postpone as she’s had  virus the week before. It’s so lovely to see them and the come out to help us carry in the raised bed herb planter, in each of the herb compartments we’ve put a coloured cyclamen. Gill is looking very pretty in a blue and white dress.

SUNDAY 27.8.23

Today is Nathan’s birthday so it’s with great delight that we receive an e mail from him saying ‘thank you’ for the big box of presents. He’s been staying up the coast at Appin and had been over to the island of Lissmore. He sends us some very beautiful photographs including one of Bea wearing the tartan ribbon we had wrapped his presents in and says he’s looking forward to reading the books. It is such a relief that the gifts got there on time because although we had sent them special next day delivery, Oban is in an area where that cannot be guaranteed. Delighted to hear, when we speak a little later in the evening, that Gill’s card and Henrietta’s had also arrived in time.

Mix up a large jar of a dark ground to paint over the white gesso that Richard has already applied three coats of to Paul’s two large commissioned canvases and frames.

MONDAY 28.8.23

Working intensely on Professor Masa’s painting as he and Keiko will be going back to Japan later in September.

TUESDAY 29.8.23

Richard’s appointment arrives for his pre-radiotherapy scans and making measurements, mask and tattoos - it is next Monday. We’re really impressed that this is only one month on from his appointment with his lymphoma consultant where this was first broached and just over a week since he saw the radiotherapy consultant.

WEDNESDAY 30.8.23

Been working hard on Masa’s second commission.

THURSDAY 31.8.23

We go into Cheltenham for the funeral of our lovely friend Beverley Hodson, a high flyer in life she went from Blackheath High School to Cambridge where she got a first in English ad captained the University women’s tennis team. She had a variety of jobs including at the National Theatre, head of retail at H Smiths and the same at Boots as well as being on several boards including the NFU and the University Council. It’s lovely to see all the very kind carers who all became friends, all visibly distressed at losing her but full of wonderful anecdotes of the things she got up to like ‘phoning the fire brigade on numerous occasions - so they had to disconnect her ‘phone as they would have had to make a charge if they were called out any more. She also went walking so the police had to search for her and it was one of their drones that found her. As you probably realise she had dementia. She loved shopping and they all agreed how appropriate it was that her OBE was ‘for services to retail’. She was clever, beautiful and always well turned out.