Sunday 8th Jan 2012

In view of the general futility and so forth, I took the morning off - barely a backward glance. Went to the market, chatted with friends, was relaxed and companionable. Met severally with three other artists - Garth, Jim and Kat - and didn't talk shop. Well, a bit with Garth.

The afternoon was spent painting, hacking away at the weird tulips with a palette knife (what a mess) fiddling with the feet of the horsefly (which I rather like) scrubbing at the violet behind the red nude, deciding that all should be left to dry and not leaving any of it to dry. Annie and Pete came to tea and afterwards I floated back to the studio, imperturbable. Made a steamed ginger and orange marmalade pudding for dinner and have eaten a load of it. Delicious. Beats painting.

Drawing tomorrow.