Hi Maureen hope your fight for your centre is going well and hope you have a good rest over Easter...HAPPY EASTER mind all that chocolate

Am new to this - what a great site. I am painting away here in the midlands in Ireland and also finding it hard to locate a group so will definately start one myself, there is one not too far away but get the feeling it is not open to new people. We moved here from Dublin 4 years ago so still not "local". what great art you have in England and so many workshops and holidays. i went to wales last year to one of David Bellamy's courses and it was wonderful. Am going to Burren painting centr here this year - all plein air which is great. David Bellamy also insists on sketching outside unless the weather is really bad and what a difference it makes to your paintings. Is Patchings worth a visit ?

We are trying Hubby's saving so we have plenty of money to spend...we both want to do London big time...funny how you can live in a country and know so little of the beautiful places...my Brother went to uni in London in the 60's and we were always going up but I spent all my time in the Abbey looking at all the tombs of the people I had read about wonderful...have been to the Tate...our problem is the old dog and the Mum-in-Law...the old dog gets separation anxiety really badly she's 13 and Mum-in-Law nearly burnt the house down today with the microwave...she put a piece of pizza in for 30 minutes the smell is awful...we have a spare by chance so it's a change over...it's funny how these things creep up on you if we leave the dog she'll just die and the Mum-in-Law will burn the house down...but we are looking at solutions we really need a good holiday other than the usual tropical in winter you know Bali and our preference Phuket Island Thailand...but there's only so many Buddhas you can look at...It would be lovely to catch up with every one all that art to talk about...so hopefully either late this year or next year...LOL Patsy XXX

Yes it would be so nice and your picture is so very inviting..........

Yes Max it would be wonderful if we could really meet some of the lovely people here. It's so much easier face to face. I found a long lost cousin recently through, 'Friends Reunited'. We have sent messages through the site and spoken on the phone. Today we met for the first time in 48 years and we spent about 3 hours having lunch together with Himself & cousin's wife, talking family & experiences over the years. There's a lot more to say so we will keep in touch, hopefully, for ever. It has brought such pleasure and faces etc., have been brought up to date. NOW PATSY, you really must let us know when you're coming back and we'll try to arrange a convention somewhere. Don't let it be too long though, we're not getting any younger. Sorry you can't find a class, have you thought of trying to find like minded people nearby? It happens over here, an initial meeting in a pub or a cafe for discussion about a meeting place. If you can find a place like a church hall or a little used room in a pub or school etc., enquire about rent etc., split the cost evenly between the group and off you go. I don't know whether this is helpful or not, but begin by putting a notice up in local shops etc. Let me know. Thanks for you participation in trying to help uswith Durban House.

Well when we eventually make our trip back to Old Blighty I will definitely try to meet up with some of the marvelous friends I have made here...I can't find a class at all here...they used to do night school at one of the local high schools but not any more...the local recreation centre used to run classes but the council closed it down against the locals protests...my conspiracy theory is they will sell the land for building houses...our suburb has good schools and it is built out and the council will make a fortune on the land busturds...the one I phoned about twice but no reply this time so I'm not begging...there are 2 others but the prices for little are exorbitant...one I know from local knowledge is a bit clubby...I just want to join a reasonably priced painting class with some people in the same boat and a bit of a chat and a laugh...not too much to ask...Maureen I have put my strong protest in to the site you gave me and I will do another later as you give us the news...it looks an interesting site will be worth a troll through

Wouldn't it be nice for all of us to meet in your coffee shop to have a chat & reminisce........ there are some lovely people on this site as you say. Good luck with the heritage centre.....we wish you luck.We had the same thing here with our adult collage but was overuled by our council & they moved it to plymouth university & a lot of people lost their jobs.......doesn't it make you spit?...... It sounded a very interesting painting session with chas wood. We envy you going on the waterway course in the summer.......let us know how you get on.