Break and Decoration

A truly lovely and optimistic day despite the appalling Edinburgh drizzle doing its best to dampen the procedures and lower spirits. They were not to be lowered today. Took the bus in to allow wandering and started with our meeting at Pagan Osborne in their lovely offices on Queen Street; whipped off my dodgy green knitted hat (made by the cook on the Buddhist meditation retreat I attended two years ago; treasured possession) before entering and tried to look as professional as possible when rain bedraggled and feeling scruffy due to the bizarre decision not to wash my hair this morning. Meeting ended talking about renovation of New Town houses and their curvy doors, which was the greater part of the time as all we really needed to do and know was over in a few minutes. Hand over passports and address ID, sign some paper and confirm that 1st April is a practical start date (Yessss!!) and that was that. All we have to do is wait with optimism that the survey doesn't reveal anything too hideous and we.. are... go.........!!!

Already booked a guy to sand the floor as he did our back room and was so laid back and cheap that there was no other choice. How cool is is going to look.. had a shifty at the Farrow and Ball shop for paint on our travels today as well. Great, despite wanting to head-butt a 'workie' who watched me caressing paint brushes and observed that 'they're all the same and you should go to B&Q.' Obviously likes his walls with added hair. Muttered that I was an artist and rather liked brushes, but left of the expletives I wished to add. Far too nice a day for picking fights with morons.

Checked out the Flaubert Gallery in Stockbridge; nothing particular caught my eye apart from a couple of gorgeous drawings by Blythe Scott. Looked her up tonight and just love all of her paintings; amazing colour, light, pattern... and they are architectural, which is so not usually me. Hoping, hoping we might get to show some in Bon Papillon; I'm looking in earnest for painters and ceramics for the kick-off show and for the rest of the year; be good to get an outline of what I aim to do before it all gets crazy and my mind is pulled in all directions.

The other really good show we saw today was Alexander Fraser, at the Scottish Gallery. Freakishly similar to what I have been mulling in my brain for my own development; still life based but with amazing flights of fancy and imagination developing across the canvas. Muted but stunning colour and humour too; in a good way. Find it very hard to believe I haven't seen any before; maybe I have... but not often. He is RSA, RSW, so must have been in some of the shows I have been perusing over the past years, surely? Great show and lots of it too; whole top floor of the gallery, which is usually split into two.

Now thinking of dinner and a movie after playing with our new jigsaw, priming up canvases and booking our so, so much needed break to Amsterdam. Can't believe it's been a year and a half without a trip abroad; this will be an amazing wee time for us in the few days leading up to 'renovation'; get some more good ideas too no doubt. Pack the cameras and sketchbooks... and a damn good pair of walking shoes if I know Stu like I know Stu.....