Squalls and Ambitions realised

Spent a very squally Edinburgh day in pleasant, if cold and wet style, visiting galleries and continuing the vast task of learning how to set up and run a business. I remember my mother, a teacher, telling me how it was often a case of reading one step ahead of the kids, and that is very much my experience with the company formation. It is hard not to see the whole great picture, get scared and hide under a rock; better to focus on each detail at a time and try to 'read ahead' of the tasks required.

Speaking of pictures, had a positive experience amid the hailstorms on Dundas Street, visiting the Braewell Gallery to view the Peter Howson and Joe O'Brien show, alongside two Ingrid Nilssons hanging in the back room. Strange when ambition becomes reality; I had always nurtured the ambition of having my paintings hang in a gallery on Dundas Street, which I used to mispronounce when I first arrived in the city and which seemed to be the centre of the art hanging universe. It still is, essentially, so to have two of my pictures up there is pretty meaningful for me; the fact is however, that the reality is less of a pinnacle and more of a prod on to potentially greater things and achievements. Never do to rest on one's laurels, no matter how comfy they may be. Please note the Howson in the background of the picture; to share wallspace with someone of his calibre is a true honour. Also a couple of great pieces by Vicky Mount, who I have discovered in the last year and respect a great deal.

We also took in a couple of shows at the Scottish Gallery: Geoff Uglow's moody and moveable semi-abstract portaits of Barra and the very different but awesome Steven Appleby's 'Islands'. Great contrast of shows; upstairs the vast acreage of fluid colours (eye-pop yellow, washed out ochres and greys, biting cobalt turquoise) and down below the chuckeworthy and beautifully penned works of someone who I have always admired for his singular vision of the world and its domestic details.

As darkness descends it is wonderful to have some company for a change; it has been a lonely few weeks and I have often felt the weight of too many decisions and little shared support. No-one's fault, but it reminds me that we will soon be in the stronger position of acting as a team again. Stu is reading a book on Amsterdam, which we visit in a couple of weeks for a very, very well earned rest. Roll on Rijksmuseum!