Helping with the Hatton Gallery Friends meetings. Also going to visit the marvellous exhibition at the Laing Gallery in Newcastle concerning John Martin. Great paintings, lovely to look at and each on such a huge canvas. Just realized how many paintings have have done recently. Went around Redesdale the other day, the vast wild and windswept area is a painters dream. If one cannot get inspiration there there is no hope. Not many villages, hills and valleys with so much variety. It was a sunny but cold day, but the springlike feel was everywhere. Now the weather is going to get colder even snow tomorrow. Such variety makes one adaptable and brings colour and breathe into one's life.