As mentioned previously, it has been my misfortune to be called up on jury service yet again! My problems started on the first day, trying to convince the court official (despite having a letter form my accountant) that an artist does earn money and that I was entitled to compensatory expenses. I think it would have been easier to complete the twelve trials of Herculese!! However, eventually, after summoning the top brass my form was duly approved… Being locked in a room with dozens of other bewildered members of the public felt like something out of Big Brother where we were all waiting hopefully for eviction. It didn’t help to observe all the pseudofed packets lying around on tables. Living an isolated life, I usually manage to stay clear of coughs and sniffles. Being called to jury, I was dismayed to hear my name called out in front of the accused as I was sworn in. (I hope he didn’t try to Google me) Revealing that you’re an artist to fellow jurors is a mistake. Someone had a laptop and was soon looking up my website www.timfisherartist.co.uk. When it came to summing up time, guess who was volunteered to do all the drawing on the flipchart!! Halfway through, I was struck down with what I thought was just a mild cough, which gradually turned into something much worse. Aching and shivering, I was pleased to be released a couple of days early as there were no more cases. Come the new year, I’m still feeling the after effects of flu just as we are plunged into one of the worst winters since Peter Breugel and the last ice age. Feeling low, and not wanting to paint, I decided to embark on producing a series of instructional DVD’s. I am now plunged into a incomprehensible world of incompatible file formats, tape v digital, wide screen v 16:8. Trevor Lingard, who incidentally has just written a brilliant article in this month’s Leisure Painter has kindly given me some useful tips in postioning the camera so that you see the work and not the back of my head! and so my efforts start. Painters On-Line now offer a section where videos can be posted, so to cut my teeth and get used to all the stuff, I have decided to make some short films. Please have a look at my efforts and let me know what you think.