This week I handed in my notice at school in so that I can devote more focussed time to my painitng in the studio. This was not a sudden decision, but we've had a bereavement this year and it really makes you take stock of your life. Of course, this does not mean I shall never teach again. It's just the six-day week in a boarding school has been doing in me head and has been exhausting. And that's only been part-time teaching. Now I can balance my work loads more evenly, between freelance teaching, painting, printmaking, sketching and galleries. At least I have the support of a very loving and tolerant husband.