08 04 2026

 Think the book illustrations are done - sent off a bundle, have to wait for comments and (hopefully) approval now.

Next trick is taxes. Family go tomorrow, if I can find and adapt last years taxes then I'm free to hit the easel on Monday.

Though I might take a day out somewhere. Would like to test energy after stent fitting but new drug regime something of a hurdle; made it to the riverbank today, exhausted! Guessing it takes time.

Considering that in 5 years and 3 months I will be 80, there's not that much left...

07 04 2026

 Got seven - seven!!- drawings done yesterday, by simply refusing to do anything else. Marvellous. Life goes easily on without my fussing.

Got the dentist this morning but plan a couple more before I must go. Maybe work this afternoon too .

04 04 2026

 Got six drawings off yesterday, despite an excess of chronofarge (new fave word, distress caused by computer bollix) Ronan, excellent local fixer, rebuilt one computer by hard drive and firefox, and we were forced to buy a new printer since the one that broke under guarantee has to go somewhere to be tested. I'm working now, having passed 2 deadlines. 

And guests arrive! Lucky I'm so well. 

28 03 2026

 Back from hospital, alive and actually well. Though battered and bruised... all that will clear up. Rather a sad time, I was in a room alone so no interesting people to talk to. And my nurse, sweetheart in many ways, took the piss out of my accent. Plus as usual (it seems) problems with paperwork and taxis.

Felt the difference immediately, it was like a knot undoing in my chest. though this is probably a fantasy. I do feel very fit - though washed over with fits of sleepiness. 

Wrote a review of Hughs book which needs deciphering from my notebook and typing up... pleased to have accomplished something. 

21 03 2026

Another in the Hommage a Kitaj series, charting the decline and fall... back to the hospital on Weds., not looking forward to it. But I'm assured by well-meaning friends that the acute burning wont be so intense since the abscess on the sinus has gone.

 

Finished the Irene singing a Healing Song to a Flamingo so if I survive there's only the Ascent of the Blessed to come back too. Got another months' extension on the maths book!! Which l really must get on with ASAP -

Curious that the hands in both pictures are in the same position, nearly

16 03 2026

 Still lingering. Did the hospital - working on a pic of that - mouth/tooth infection so they couldn't fit the stents. Battered and bruised. Not happy in general. But today managed to waylay my dentist and get an appointment for Thursday so maybe this can get sorted. 

Matts gone and I'm bereft. 

Should start on book, deadline looming, but want to finish a couple of pix and focusing is hard, I'm tiered. One artery has 50%effacity, another has lost 75%. That explains the constant knackerness then.

Off for a kip...

05 03 2026

 Trolling on... its not being ill - though it is- or having interventions that takes time, its the farfallue around it. Spend a deal of yesterday trying and failing to get my bon pour transport paperwork so I can be taken to the hospital on Wednesday and no doubt will loose a deal of time over the same issue today. 

And the rest.  My dossier is vast, in French and needs all sorts of responses. And shaving, for gods sake. Will have to sit and draft a timetable today.

Bob off to the UK on Tuesday where he's seeing many of his specialists and we discover our future. Neither of us wants to return to the UK but its not impossible that he'll have to.

On the plus side, my lovely brother Matt is arriving on Monday to look after me!!!

The deadline for the math book drawings is three weeks away so hoping all this will go easily. It will, of course... and maybe I can sneak in a few hours and finish Irene Singing.