2008 was not a very productive painting year, with a lot happening in my family. In March of 2009, I went for an audition with many others for the "New Signatures" exhibition. I was informed the middle of April that I, with 20 other artists, had been successful. We were leaving on the 6th of May for the UK to visit our daughter and son-in-law. I was able to complete 3 of the required 10 paintings before we left. It was a wonderful visit to our children. We went with them for a week to Wales, staying in a 400yr old farmhouse near Tywynn. Wales was so beautiful. I took many digital photographs to use as references for future paintings. In London we went to see the two special exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery of Constable portraits and also the work of Gerard Richter. We arrived back in South Africa on the 24th of May. I was so tired from doing and seeing as much as I could with my "English" family, that I needed a week to recover. Then it was back into my studio to continue with the 7 canvasses still required for the exhibition. I had to allow enough time for the paintings to dry. It is winter here at the moment and at night we experience below freezing temperatures. It is one of the reasons why I opted to use the Windsor and Newton water based oils as it does dry faster than the conventional oils. The opening night on Thursday 23rd July, was something of a difference. At 6.15pm, as the people were starting to arrive, there was a general power failure and so the exhibition was opened by candlelight. It remained dark, with only candles for some light. (Here at the moment it is dark outside by 5.30pm.) There were many visitors to the gallery, enjoying talking to each other, and also enjoying the delicious soup,breads and sherry on offer. Many people said that they would be back in daylight to view the paintings. The work on exhibition was a wonderful collection of very different styles and subject matter by the 20 participating artists. I like painting to a theme and used the Cape (South Africa) as it was where I lived as a child. I have loaded some of the paintings that I have done for the Alice Exhibition.