Long Time No Blog!

It has been a long time since I last updated my blog but luckily I have been away on holiday for the last three weeks and so been missing the oppurtunity to blog. So three weeks in France two in Brittany and one in the Charente.The weather wasn't brilliant and it was very tiring but it was so nice to get away on our own for a few days.

I enjoyed my first visit to the Cote Sauvage and maybe find ourselves going again next year. But for now it is back to work again. I have a book I am working for Cico Books 520 illustrations and have a few editorial jobs that may or may not happen but I am busy now until september starts.

Finally at home

At last I have settled at my wooden desk again, pens and paints at the ready, and work to be getting on with or at least I think I have. My studio is taking shape, maybe not the shape that I would like but at least some sort of shape. I will post some pics of the new house when i get settled and maybe when the sunshines again.
Having moved has probably made me more unsettled because again we are putting down roots while for the last 7 years we have been moving and intending to move so I have always felt transiant(is it spelt like that?). But now we have settled i feel concerned and have been feeling nostalgic for the days gone past. Maybe unpacking boxes from 7 years ago also makes me feel a little strange as life has changed so much since then and the emphasis on things is so different, what with a family and getting older. I would so much love to capture some of those feeling and passion for life and art I had as a student, the willingness to learn and try new things, the inspiration you took from the most simplest of things.
So if you are feeling the same way too let me know maybe we can have a beer and wander down memory lane.(if only I could put that on a map)

lost in cyber space or not!

Sorry to all you readers of my blog but things have not been running smoothly with my internet access and so havent been able to catch up on my blog. I have been promised broadband again by the end of this week so maybe i will be able to fill you all ib then, so sorry until I get back on line properly. Michaelxx

Wembley Bound!

Well the football season is nearly at an end, for some it finished 3 weeks ago for other it never really got started but for West Bromwich Albion we have one match which will define our season. Win and we are in the Premiership, and everything has been worth while:-)))) Lose and we might well have ended the season in 16th place because we will still be in the championship and have another season to work hard to get out of it again. Admittedly we will win more games score more goals and be higher up the league in the Championship but its not the Premiership now is it????????
On another note we only have about three more nights living in this house before we move it feels wierd moving again but it has nearly always seemed more like a hotel than a home as we have always thought that we would be moving on soon and that is what we are doing and very very soon!
So lets hope for a fantastic couple of weeks witha WBA win and a easy move down the road.
mx

The BLOG goes live!

Today has been busy, well busy for me, a trip into Central london, two meetings and a new project to start. WHAT! I hear you say I thought you were moving soon? Well I am and looking forward to sitting in my new studio working away on my new book to illustrate- SEWING IN NO TIME by Emma Hardy. I am looking forward to it as it will give me something to get my teeth into and also it will take the worry out of getting any new work in while i move and holiday ( and do the garden and start that DIY and do some sewing!) But today is is also the day that my blog will go live on my website thanks to all at www.pageworks.co.uk who have worked very hard and at great expense to themselves to get the website up and running especially as the Baggies are leading 3-2 in the play-off semi-finals. Thanks boys and Fixx

Balearics! to you mate!

So I have been asked to do a set of maps of Menorca, Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera to you that is a whole load of Balearics! But as the weather changes again to rain it will be nice to think of the warm sun on those lovely Islands. Not sure how i am doing them yet but something in the style of the Spain map for Value Retail.

My car is still at the car hospital about to fail its MOT and cost me more money but the house purchase is all on track so cardboard boxes at the ready and a load of old paper.

No new work coming through yet so i sit and think Balearics.

Where in the world today!

Well that is a question i ask regularily, Where in the world am I today? Well in fact having spent yesterday in Llangollen (artistically that is) doing a map for someones wedding invitation, This morning I find myself in the Balearic Islands courtesy of Traveller magazine and Spainish tourist board. Not sure yet how I am doing these maps but I will get a better Idea at the end of the day. After that I am back to the uk to find out about local produce from around the UK for Asda Magazine. After that I am not sure.
Good and bad news on my Car it is finally being repaired with Audi paying about 50% of the costs but still going to leave me 2 grand out of pocket. We have exchanged on our house last week so will be moving in about 4 weeks, yikey that soon.

For the petrol or should i say diesel heads amongst you here is a picture of my engine :-(