Maureen Chlorine

Don't Look Behind You

2009-05-30T16:55:00.002+02:00

Well the cinco was a cuatro yesterday and Jordi the teacher is showing signs of cracking. He's like that at the end of every term but I suppose it doesn't help when he asks the others if they actually have taken their guitars out of their cases since last week and be met with nervous giggles. Pia the post lady picks me up now which is great because it is getting seriously hot to lug the guitar ten minutes down the road.

. And now begins the planning of a trip to Britain again as the last time I woke up with a lunatic tooth that now is out with the rubbish somewhere.

I think I'm moving

2009-01-12T16:34:00.002+01:00

http://spottydog-rosie.blogspot.com/

I'll be hopping back and forth for a bit. I hope you join me at the above link to spottydog.

Spotty Dog

2009-01-11T11:51:00.005+01:00

We can dance into eternity, dance into eternity.

Trying to record some guitar playing but the usb ports don't work on this computer and the ancient laptop doesn't want to play. Booger. I posted once on youtube but that must have been when I could plug in the ..oh no...wait. I did it on the camera!

Anyway, I might move to a different webpage on blogger and if I do it will be called "Spotty Dog". The newer blogs have more bells and whistles and I can never have too many of those.

Tight Spot

2009-01-10T15:40:00.002+01:00

Thunder, lightning, torrential rain, lights out, shivering, small dog. Mind you it's snowing everywhere else. Not bothered...it's Vongole night!
This frog has been following me for a week.

Have a glass of Yellowtail (shiraz) while you listen to this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1ulBs41kmc&feature=channel

Red Dancing Shoes

2009-01-09T11:20:00.004+01:00

I got red shoes,
red shoes.
To dance, to dance,
the blues away.

Do you want to dance with me?
Choose your shoes,
sure and free.

What am I doing dancing at eleven thirty in the morning? It's raining. It's freezing. I haven't even seen a human for a while...

The above done in Corel Painter Essentials 2. What I really want is Creative Suite 4.0 but it costs like a sqiddley million pounds. It's still raining.

Here's a link to the past..which I stumbled across...that's what happens when you go to art college in Edinburgh.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZxJbZdCbcU&feature=rec-HM-fresh+div

Red shoes but belonging to somebody else.

2009-01-06T16:04:00.003+01:00

Oh, oh , red shoes on my mind now. What kind? What kind?

Still stuck with Photoshop 6.0 which is great, don't get me wrong, but it's not even compatible with brush downloads from Deviant art.

By the way, anyone out there know how to send large music files without having to fill in endless forms, or subscribe or become a member of something?

Reflections

2009-01-05T16:06:00.002+01:00

Guess who didn't know there was a reflection tool in the text maker in Photoshop? I promise to be smarter this year.

I was served raw prawns the other night. Mental note to wear my reading glasses when not dining at home (which is not often).
"Oh," says the hostess, "I thought you just defrosted them and served them with a wedge of lime?"
"Er, you cook them first though," I say.
"You do? We always serve them like this."

Having done a little research on the web I discover that I have narrowly avoided death yet again (toxic poisoning)...the closest possibly being landing upside down in a hot air balloon on a Belgian motorway ...or the time an arabian sheik offered my brother a pile of cash in exchange...for me. That was quite scary, actually.

Nicolas

2009-01-03T18:57:00.003+01:00

I have to thank "Timbobig" for completely unknowingly giving me this idea after reading his blog. That's the beauty of the web for me...such unexpected things happen.

Party Season

2009-01-03T15:55:00.004+01:00

Artrage 2.5. You can use the glitter tool to make fancy dresses or stencils to put the waves in Maureen's hair and Bryony's frock. Melanie wears a dazzling number bought from the local charity shop. Smart lady. All three are looking for suitors.

Red Shoes

2009-01-02T10:49:00.002+01:00

Ultrafractal 4.0 and Photoshop 6.0. I've done the lyrics...you do the music.
Here's a link to Mr Jaroussky having fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ-VsKB_tNw

There's a television advert that was on over Christmas that I cannot get out of my head and it's driving me nuts. A room full of shiny clothing and these huge women going "D'ja wanta bargee doo ya, doo ya, sixty fer a fivaaah, doo ya doo ya, wanna bargee?"
Arrrrrrgggggggg!

Hunted

2008-12-31T15:21:00.005+01:00

Ultrafractal 4.0 up and running again. Make a fractal...cut out shapes...paste them onto a background...think, that looks a bit like an animal...and crikey, that could be a human following him...
http://www.ultrafractal.com/

Or I could say...I've designed this especially for you to herald the zodiac sign of whatever it is that has cloven feet and to welcome you into 2009...but that would be me just making it up.

Mr Jili Pollas

2008-12-30T15:08:00.003+01:00

Here's a really fine example of a gentleman with a peach of a spirit. This fellow hauls rocks and paving stones from wherever he can in order to partake in his hobby called "Let's block the path and hopefully the old lady with two walking sticks, the man with Parkinsons, the tentative joggers recovering from heart attacks, the runners and the cyclists, and anyone just possibly not looking at their feet because the sea is so beautiful...falls over and breaks something."
He actually does this on a daily basis. The first passerby of the day clears it up. Today it was my turn.

He must have a very sad life...or maybe he is just a jili pollas?

Idol

2008-12-28T15:37:00.005+01:00

Hooray! It's pouring with freezing rain. The village feels like an abandoned film set. The winter transitory folk sit smoking in steamed up BMW's and ancient Mercedes. Broken glass all along the port where the late-nighters forget what bar they are in.
I gave Patrick a collection of spices which I put in a big box along with a curry bible. Alice who used to be Frank gave him the same book. Anyway, here's the company. They do mail order and their spices smell like the souk in Bahrain. Fantastic.
www.spice-master.com
What's your new year resolution?

Two Pals

2008-12-25T11:10:00.000+01:00

Two buddies in the tree.

Is there one near you?

2008-12-23T12:57:00.003+01:00

Happy Christmas to you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCrP73vnSu8

Christmas Angel

2008-12-22T15:03:00.003+01:00

Alice who used to be Frank arrived back from America via Heathrow and Barcelona. A quivering wreck of her former self...it took three of us to get her dog into a car to go back to her home. Paco and Mari turned up as well and Mari patted me on the head...why? Why have people all my life patted me on the head or stroke my hair, like I'm a dog, or something?

The Christmas tree is up...well...sort of... leaning to one side really.
Cycled along the shore for the first time in ages because of the dreadful weather. I spoke to the old man who used to run a restaurant and the old man with the zimmer frame who sits by the Port gave me a butterscotch sweet.
The campsite is full of Dutch and British all sunbathing.
Christmas spirit in the air.

The Land of Adalid

2008-12-20T11:37:00.003+01:00

Yoohoooo......Download a demo of Artrage 2.5...then buy it!! Honestly, this software is a terrific way to feel four years old again. Remember the first box of coloured crayons? I had lost my version in the computer clean-up but I emailed the company and they sent my registration key straight away. Just buy it. It's great value.
So, there's one more thing up and running again.
I'm dying to put up the tree but it appears to have grown roots through the bottom of the flower pot.

You want to get up and dance too? I suggest this....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii00t3O03h0

Duck and Cover

2008-12-17T19:02:00.000+01:00

And here is one I made earlier...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nWswKsCWuU

Christmas Bargains

2008-12-17T12:01:00.004+01:00

The computer situation is dire. I am balanced on the heel of my right foot, surrounded by cables, headphones, wacom tablet, pen, brazilian jungle, parrot feathers... and in desperation an "ocean breeze" candle burning to get rid of the smell of dog which is invading everything. We are going to try and wash the nine stone culprit today and I pray she doesn't get pnuemonia before her owner returns from her foreign forays.

Babies are Tricky

2008-12-16T11:13:00.002+01:00

This is a rough sketch of an idea from a comic book that I'm making. My hands are dropping off with the cold...

Played dreadfully in class yesterday. My teacher actually asked if I had not had any time to practise last week! He liked the Christmas bottle of wine though, ha, ha. Nothing like a rioja to soothe the savage brow.

The Right Colours

2008-12-15T14:23:00.002+01:00

This is what it's supposed to look like. Guitar class this afternoon. I love this time of year. The Polivalente is full of very excited little people in ballet tutus and cowboy boots. The theater doors are flung open and the stage alight with prancing and clumping dancers. The mothers hang around outside smirking with pride.

Here's a link to a take on Mary Poppins that you mustn't show your children.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T5_0AGdFic&eurl=http://monsterologist.blogspot.com/

I came across this via Jessica Violet who has linked to me today but I'm not sure how to link to her...

I am the keeper of...

2008-12-14T16:31:00.004+01:00

This is an old cartoon which I've posted before (click on the image to enlarge it...if you want) but crikey my computer and files, CD's everything in a big mess. I'm reinstalling all sorts of software but can't find half my stuff.
I'm also getting really cross so will shut up and direct you to a piece of baroque guitar. Even if you don't like the music it's worth a look to see absolutely beautiful craftsmanship in the making of the instrument. Makes me drool looking at it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfVZRevRKv8&feature=related

The First Date.

2008-12-12T11:38:00.005+01:00

I honestly didn't plan on drawing this dish. I don't even know what it is. Suggestions anybody? Ha, ha, maybe not....

Here's a link to one of my favourite groups. I bought the CD. It's well worth it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE0lwsh9FT0&feature=related

Three Degrees

2008-12-11T10:20:00.003+01:00

Freezing here but here's a link to my favourite pianist on Youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UubeYRbGYH8&feature=channel

The above are scans done with Pilot pen and watercolour. I don't know why the bottom one is greyscale.
The sky is the colour of cobalt blue stained glass.

I am a Reindeer

2008-12-10T10:42:00.003+01:00

The poor people who are staying in the house of Alice who used to be Frank have given up and are heading back to Britain today. During their brief stay they have endured...getting lost on the motorway and flagged down by police, freezing rain and wind, a massive tooth infection, three visits to the doctor and virtually everything is closed here because Spain shuts down in December.

The above is on nice, handmade paper by http://www.khadi.com/ I haven't actually finished making cards yet. Getting a bit late.

'Tis the season to be rilly jolly.

2008-12-09T13:33:00.003+01:00

I'm having to revert to some quite old software until I get the computer situation sorted out but Essentials Painter 2 is actually very nice.
It is bucketing with rain. Arthur and Holly snore on. The house is beginning to smell like kennels....eeerrggg.

Born to be a Dancer

2008-12-08T11:22:00.002+01:00

The colour is all wonky on this one too. Everything is wonky at the moment. Here is a Milonga that is not wonky. It is enchanting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeX6zfTsT1A

600

2008-12-07T12:26:00.001+01:00

I have not smoked for six hundred days. I am brilliant and I didn't think I could do it. Twenty three thousand cigarettes....scarey.

How the Venus de Milo really lost her arms.....

2008-12-06T12:51:00.004+01:00

(written by my father about when he lived at Oakley Court)

Replying to my wife, you told us that you were intrigued by the story of the Venus of Milo. We have kept some relevant notes, but above all the memory of Mr.Olivier telling us this bit of history is still fresh in our minds.

In 1948 we found a flat to let which was not easy at that time and went to see the landlord, Mr.Olivier. He was pleased to find that I spoke French since he was of course French himself and he let us have the flat for 5 Guineas/week, half my income.

From time to time he invited us to join him for a game of canasta or just for a chat and one evening he told us his story.

"When I was a young man I was called to my uncle's house, as he was on the point of dying and wished to speak to me. He had a last request which I was to fulfill.

My uncle was the son of Louis Brest, who in 1820 was French Consul on the island of Milo, an Ottoman protectorate. He called me to his bedside and asked me whether I had seen the Venus of Milo in the Louvre. Of course I had and I wondered how that could be important to his last wish. He then told me that the pedestal bore an inscription stating that this famous statue was offered to the nation (France) by the Marquis de Riviere, ambassador in Constantinople and by Dumont d'Urville, commander of a French man-of-war. My uncle commanded me to go to the Louvre, have this inscription blotted out and have his father's name, Louis Brest, inscribed instead. Needless to say I thought he was a bit ga-ga but I was willing to promise anything. However I asked him to tell me why.

His story sounded rather like a typical Marseilles invention. Apparently whilst Louis Brest was consul in Milo, his gardener used to dig up bits of archeological remains from time to time. One day he came to the consul and said he had found something that was perhaps worth seeing and indeed careful excavation revealed the magnificent statue. The consul had it cleaned and set up the the entrance hall of the consulate for everyone to admire. Well all kinds of people went in and out of the consulate and it soon got round that this statue was exceptional. One person who visited the consulate was a Greek archeologist and he was quite agitated when he eventually left. The next day the Greek ambassador arrived and admired the statue, then he said that this was of course a Greek statue and should in due course be sent to Athens where it would have a place of honour in the museum. My grand-uncle prevaricated, he thought this would not be possible, he would have to consult the French government to whom "the request should properly be forwarded. As soon as the Greek had left he sent a courier to the Foreign Office in Paris, explaining his dilemma. By return he was told that on no account should he allow the Greeks to take possession, a ship of the French fleet happened to be cruising in the Mediterranean and would be instructed to call at Milo to take the statue back to France.

A few days later or rather a few nights later, burglars, hired by the Greeks, broke into the consulate and despite a struggle in which the arms broke off, the consular servants could not stop the thieves carrying away the statue. It was loaded onto a Greek merchant ship in the harbour and this was due to sail the following day. However early in the morning of the following day, the French battleship sailed into the harbour, blocking the entrance. It trained it's guns onto the Greek merchantman and told them, surrender the statue intact or sink to the bottom. Dumont d'Urville, the French commander, did not mince his words. The consul's problem was how to resolve this stalemate.

Now, the Greeks wanted the statue, a Greek relic, the French wanted the statue, a French find, but in fact the island of Milo was under Turkish rule. Louis Brest was a good friend of the Sultan in Constantinople and got in touch with him for help and for a ruling on what should happen. With true eastern diplomacy the Sultan pointed out that the statue had been discovered in the grounds of the French consulate, that in international law these grounds were French. He had a firman (document) drawn up, dated 8th October 1820, in Turkish and Greek stating that under the circumstances the statue quite evidently belonged to France and that if the Greek did not surrender it immediately they would incur his great displeasure and so it was that the statue was transferred to the man-of-war named 'ESTAFETTE' and transported to France.

Now, my dear nephew, you will understand why my father's name should be inscribed on the pedestal and not that of d'Urville. He did nothing except sail his ship as ordered whilst my father was the discoverer and avoided its loss to the nation by his diplomacy. With that my uncle sank back and looked at me. What he evidently saw was a look of disbelief and he hit a small gong to summon his servant :"Jules, go to my desk and at the back of the bottom drawer you will find a rolled up document, bring it here and show it to my nephew". There indeed was the original document drawn up by the Sultan in Constantinople. I was to take this with me to the Louvre and arrange for my uncle's will to be fulfilled.

Eventually I did go to the Louvre and told them my uncle's story. They were of course most interested, particularly when they saw the original document. They wanted to buy this since it proved the real history of the discovery, but I refused to let them have it. It was mine and I intended to keep it. As a compromise the Louvre agreed to make an addition to the inscription on the pedestal, mentioning Louis Brest's part, but they would not erradicate the name of Dumont d'Urville...............". And that is the truth of what happened way back in 1820. "

This time it was our eyes which registered mild disbelief and Mr.Olivier soon dispelled this. We were sitting in his library and he drew back a small curtain to reveal a stout steel door to his strong-room. He went in (without us!) and brought out the original document in Greek and Turkish, giving the Sultan's edict, together with a translation in French. The translation dated back to 1919, authenticated by Heron de Villefosse, curator of antiquities at the Louvre.

This was an exciting story and it is a pity I cannot reproduce Mr.Olivier's delightful mixture of English and French with a nasal Marseilles twang.

Later my father in Switzerland, having read my letters about the affair, found several articles in the local papers giving different accounts of the discovery. He contacted Mr.Olivier and later Mr.E.Miolesco in Istanbul to try and get more information, but without much success. Finally he wrote to the Journal de Geneve giving them our story and stating that, on a visit to England he himself had also seen Mr.Olivier's document.

I enclose the original newspapers of 1951 giving different versions, the last one, dated 26th August containing my father's comments. You will note with pleasure that he refers to Oakley Court 'chateau' as Little Windsor. We would of course like you to return these papers to us in due course for our own archives. I have also made a copy for you of a letter written by Olivier to Miolesco who had requested sight of the firman. I would suppose that the document is now finally lodged with the Louvre.

If you have a good raconteur on your staff, I am sure this would make a pleasant bed-time story in the bar. I personally believe Mr. Olivier's account as the only true one, the embellishments may be his but the basis is indisputable.

Yours sincerely,

External Brain Drive.

2008-12-04T11:46:00.003+01:00

Oh,oh......computer reformatted...the software for my favourite drawing programme remains stubbornly hidden somewhere.
I have toothache which mysteriously always happens around this time of year even though I had a checkup a couple of months ago.
Alice who used to be Frank has gone on holiday and left her very, very large dog here. She has a lovely personality but sort of smells of stale Chanel No5 and have you ever tried shifting a nine stone dog from the middle of the road when she decides it's time to sit down?

Here is a perfectly beautiful piece of playing, musical instrument, piece of music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvfwRQ4Fisc&sdig=1

Second Day

2008-12-01T11:30:00.003+01:00

On the second day of Christmas my bubba sent to me Two Purple Gloves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n9hbYwZZqk&feature=related

Bet you can't get all the way through this without stomping feet or perhaps even getting out of the chair and stomping.

Moosik Shower

2008-11-30T13:41:00.004+01:00

On the first day of Christmas my bubba said to me.."You wanna moosik shower with me?"

Sit back and enjoy...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJp8UvNGxI0

Fish out of Water

2008-11-29T13:25:00.004+01:00

Looks like the computer will possibly be running properly by next Tuesday in which case I can plug the tablet back in. Meanwhile I'm supposed to make back up copies of everything which is impossible because the USB ports are not recognising memory sticks, camera, wacom tablet and every time I put a CD into the drive the computer restarts....eeerrrggggg.

I've got to start making the Christmas cards. I have borrowed a guillotine, I have the paper, I bought what the lady assured me was gold glitter (to add the tacky bits) but it turns out to be for cosmetic use. It sticks to the skin beautifully but not paper. I now have nice, glittering gold hands.

It's Above You

2008-11-27T16:11:00.003+01:00

Cycling around the corner in a zennish state of mind to be confronted with the horrible guy in the next street with his equally disgusting, fat, boxer dog careering towards me like an enraged bull. Everybody on the street loathes this guy and his dog. They must have been away a few months because I had almost manged to wipe the ugly couple from my brain. When the French family on the other side of the street are here they carry a big stick with them because of this guy.

Anyway, here's a guitarist I like.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUMjwVUQO3Y&sdig=1

Christmas Shopping

2008-11-26T11:51:00.003+01:00

I bought some really nice Viking fibulas last year (turns out they were Finnish) from a very nice fellow from Germany. So this year I thought I would get some more...they were super reasonable prices. So I sent an email asking if he still sells because I couldn't remember his seller name and I got an email back today saying he's in rehab. Don't know what to make of it. Hope he gets better is all I can think of.

Timbobig, the only blogger I follow, has pointed me in the direction of Glen Hansard who I never knew about. A great discovery for me.

Here's a link. He's buzzing from the other side of the universe.
Apparently he offered some very good advice. If you ever face an insurmountable wall, turn to the opposite direction and start walking and eventually you'll go right round the world and come out the other side. This makes sense to me and I wonder if my usual approach of trying to dig under it may be completely up the wrong street.
enjoy...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqSB51x8Wh4

Dotty Bird

2008-11-25T11:48:00.003+01:00

This I did in CS3 Illustrator and with the Wacom tablet but the main reason I posted is so you can see this levitating orchestra. (If you need cheering up or anything).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9CHfxzNPO0

Purile? Yes, as a matter of fact, I am.

Sounds Like...?

2008-11-24T16:11:00.003+01:00

I downloaded Adobe Illustrator 4 today. It's wonderful but this old machine doesn't recognise the Wacom tablet at the moment so I hope I can get it fixed before the trial runs out.

Or Like this...?

2008-11-23T18:49:00.001+01:00

Talking

2008-11-23T16:39:00.004+01:00

I may have posted a bit of this image before? It's from when I had the demo version of Adobe Illustrator CS3. Honestly, it was great...for sixteen days. Now they have a new version out CS4 but crikey, it costs about sixty squillion quid. I know the software can do a million things but what about us who are not students or companies? I would even do artwork for free for Adobe if they gave me a version at a reasonable price. Hello? Hello, Adobe? IIlustrator CS4 are you listening............?

Here's a link to an internet friend who makes wonderful, genuine stained-glass lamps. He's a jolly good cartoonist too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apMVB3zk0vg

In the Rain

2008-11-22T13:11:00.003+01:00

If I were a bird I would take a running jump off a mountaintop today. The clouds are scudding across a brilliant, blue sky. Leaves are yellow-flashing through the air. There's shadows dancing on the glass door...my guitar case just fell over..... the police closed the main road yesterday because there were tiles blowing off the apartments and smashing onto the cars.

Forgot the Link

2008-11-21T13:19:00.002+01:00

I forgot to put this link in. Fabio Federico. Quite honestly I forgot to breathe while I was listening until my snake brain kicked in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VbEDYICLQo&feature=related

Out There

2008-11-21T11:42:00.003+01:00

Well, Adobe Photoshop 2 has perfectly nice brushes.
Arthur is howling which means the massage lady next door has a client.
Henry, the neighbour on the other side has taken off in the dead of night as he always does at this time of year. His new wife hides in the house all day and absolutely everybody in town thinks she is wanted across Europe. For what? Nobody knows. Something to do with boats. And everybody knows she was married before she snaffled Henry and she never divorced and the reason she married Henry is because he's already had two heart attacks and he owns lots of apartments in Germany.
See, it's all happening here. The wind is still roaring.

Straight Hair

2008-11-17T11:39:00.002+01:00

Must be full moon or something...the wind continues to howl...I have a lot of things I am supposed to be doing right now and am in major diversion activity. So, here's some magic playing by guitarist Gaelle Solal. I will never reach such technique but it's good to have dreams and anyway, I'll just plod on and maybe in twenty years time....ha, ha...OMG I'll be 75.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rbVCgFT5JQ&feature=related

2,3,4....

2008-11-16T12:50:00.002+01:00

I think the whole world is on ebay today. Thought I would buy something medieval like a coin perhaps for a possible Christmas present but it keeps redirecting me to Tibetan gem encrusted daggers which I am not interested in.
Blowing a gale again.

Strange Child

2008-11-15T12:30:00.002+01:00

Here's a link to a brilliant animation called "The little girl who was forgotten by absolutely everyone...even the postman." By Katytowell on Youtube. I wish she lived around the corner! The person who invented the little girl, that is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLz1xyFMMCQ

Playing with the motion button in the above drawing.

I often pass a jogging lady when I'm on the bike by the seafront and we always exchange "holas" and today I bumped into her on a street and we said "hola" and she asked if it was too windy on the beach and I said yes (this is in Spanish) and I ask if she is French and she says no she's English and German. And then there's that pause when two english speaking people realise why are they speaking to each other in Spanish. Anyway, it was funny and I'll certainly meet her again.

A 20 euro note flew out my pocket as I was cycling down a steep hill but I actually saw it on the way back! I had to climb down a ditch and over a metal fence to retreive it from a pile of rubbish. Watched the whole time by a man with a bucket skulking in a doorway. I wonder what he thought I was doing?

And, I just finished a ten hour render of an animated fractal using the demo version which is a new version of the one I have and it's just finished.....so now I have a very nice yellow , unanimated square with "evaluation copy" all over it. I'm going to upgrade anyway. Ultrafractal 5.0.

Balloons

2008-11-13T15:26:00.004+01:00

One and a half hours queuing in the police station in Reus this morning to collect a piece of paper. Panic attack crawling across the floor trying to get its hands on me. It seems strip lighting plays a big part in my panic attacks . Anyway, now I'm wrecked but I did go to a wonderful shop that is so crammed with fancy dress costumes and bolts of material that it is difficult to walk down the aisles which are about 40 cms wide. Bought six handmade buttons.

B is for....

2008-11-12T16:12:00.003+01:00

But you have to listen to this version of Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Francisco Tarrega and played by cyrloud o Youtube. He makes his tremelo look as effortless as patting a dog.

The "B" is Times New Roman font and filled in from an old drawing of faces.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5Mso2mdt1A

Restaurant

2008-11-08T15:05:00.001+01:00

And make it snappy!
Not my own joke but it's going to be an idea for a Maureen cartoon. The perfect date. Ha, ha, not.

Moo Cat Too

2008-11-07T15:27:00.002+01:00

That's odd. It's a red cat really. It's got to be the way I saved it?

Crass Stupidity

2008-11-06T17:17:00.004+01:00

If I were a cartoon I would have smoke coming out my ears today. I saw, for the first time, the paperwork needed in Britain, for a Home Information Pack, which is a delightful scam the government there has invented for getting money out of people when they sell a house. I cannot believe the stupidity of some of the many hundreds of questions. How about this...
Bathroom fitments...please mark Included, Excluded, None.
Taps, Plugs, Soap and toothbrush holders, Toilet Roll holders

and in External areas...
Water butts
Clothes line
Dustbin

Television and telephone...
Television aerial (in another part of the questionnaire it asks where is the television aerial)
Radio aerial.

Apart from the fact that I am mad at the idiocy of a person who would quibble over a toilet roll holder etc, it's a huge scam, an utter waste of printing and paper, an appalling waste of the seller's time, the buyer's time, the estate agents, the solicitors. And what a SAD, SAD reflection of what Britain has turned into.
AND; AND:::::A British estate agent here in Spain actually stabbed a guy to death two days ago over a house deal. What is wrong with the world?

I've got to find some nice music here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQJMbFDX4Dk&feature=related

I mean this is the link...

2008-11-05T13:03:00.003+01:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0cMue2j9uw

The link in the previous one is to a very funny cartoonist on Youtube called "cartoonage.de".

ABC

2008-11-05T12:44:00.003+01:00

This morning a fellow came to collect twenty year's worth of rubbish which I had piled up for him. It is oddly exhilarating to be freed of ten meters of binbags full of broken things. Now the house is virtually empty and I much prefer it this way.

Now I carry two keys and one is for the padlock on the bike.

Here's a link to Paulo Sereno who everybody should hear. I've linked to this clip before but it really makes me happy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seLmdSomuiI

In a Spot

2008-11-03T18:15:00.002+01:00

Playing around with lighting effects. Looks a bit computer generated to me...which it is. Paint shop Pro.

Night Letters

2008-11-02T15:33:00.003+01:00

You know if you left click on the image it will make it full size? I didn't know that for years, ha, ha. This is another negative image.

It's raining . The street is asleep outside.

Nightflight

2008-11-01T18:35:00.002+01:00

Woo Hoo. Put the colour illustration in negative mode and all sorts of mysterious colours come out. Now I see it like this I think it could make an oil painting.

Anyway, I don't like it being dark at seven in the evening so here's a link to an astonishing oud player that I came across on Youtube. He's the kind of musician that makes you think he has a direct connection with the universe and via his playing you can see it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZXRnCIxN7c

Halloween

2008-10-31T10:50:00.005+01:00

I had to play a rabbit in the production of Peter Rabbit when I was seven. I was the smallest rabbit in the class so they dressed me in the only white costume which made it acutely uncomfortable to stand out in the crowd. When I was twenty six I played Snow White, only because I was painting the set and used to stand in for rehearsals until they found a real Snow White. But they didn't find one so I had to do it. I was smaller than the teenage dwarves. Ha, ha.

Atom.com: Funny Videos | Funny Animations | Upload Video Clips

Enjoy the link to Misfortune Cookie.

I fell in a Hole

2008-10-30T12:09:00.003+01:00

I dropped into the optician's on a whim this morning and it turns out the spectacles I wear for drawing and playing the guitar are designed for somebody else's eyesight. This probably explains why I haven't been able to see for the last two years. The optician here thinks my persciption must have got muddles with another person.

Come to think of it the reason I gave up lacemaking was because I couldn't see the intricate side of it. Hey...this may open new doors. Maybe guitar playing will improve if I can see again? It sort of creeps up on you this not seeing stuff and then you get used to things being fuzzy. So it came as quite a pleasant shock when he turned a dial in front of my eyes and everything swam into focus.

Here's a link to Piazzolla Tango Suite Nymero 1.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7-XWVgYO3w&feature=related

Now that's playing!

Comic Book

2008-10-29T15:33:00.003+01:00

You know, I have no idea how I made such perfect boxes but I think it must have been in the demo version of CS3 Illustrator. I have just realised that most of my artwork is not big enough pixelwise to print. Oh well at least I'm still breathing.
An internet friend in Chicago has sent me some of his music today which is perfect to set drawings too so I'm all excited about that.

What to say?

2008-10-28T13:36:00.002+01:00

I have just seen the latest Apple Mac, 24 inch screen, NVIDIA GeForce 8800GS, 4GB memory. It is amazing. You could build a house around it.

It's bucketing with rain and Arthur refuses to go outside.

I'm going to do some drawings for the little kids who take music lessons in the Polivalente. That will be a laugh.

I have so many ideas at the moment I don't know where to start. I want to do a kid's book but I have about five different themes going on in my head.

Ladies of Letters

2008-10-27T13:57:00.002+01:00

I met a very interesting Dutch dog with its owner on the beach this morning. It looked like Tintin's dog Snowy. The owner was pretty interesting too.

I shall draw "Indie" when the computer situation is all sorted. Brilliant sunshine today and I'm supposed to play Leo Brouwer's "Estudios Sencillos No. 6" all the way through by memory this afternoon. I can do it at home but in class.....?

Ghoulie Season

2008-10-26T15:26:00.003+01:00

This is amazing! A Telefonica man turned up this morning and fixed the internet. I am in awe. Thank you, Gods.

Still waiting.

2008-10-26T11:27:00.002+01:00

So...I took the old laptop to the new compùter shop and they set it up to get the internet after I had installed the good old Telefonica CD. Now it works in their shop but not in my house. "The router is probably faulty," says the computer shop lady.
"But it's brand new, " I say. "It's never been used."
"Well...(light shrug)...that's Telefonica for you. Nobody uses their routers."

The sea is cobalt blue and two lone figures swimming today.

Still waiting for Telefonica

2008-10-18T11:29:00.002+02:00

The fifth call to Telefonica ascertained the fact that thy never actually listen. "You're waiting for a new modem? You ordered it nearly a month ago? No, sorry, no record of that...well, of course we are still charging you 80 euros a month for not having the internet.
The computer shop returned the computer having replaced the graphics card which fried in the storm but now it doesn't recognise the wacom tablet or the printer or any of the USB ports.

Raging rain again and I'm back in the real estate office using a friend's computer. Sirens wailing. There's lots of car crashes here when it rains.
I think I might actually be fed up.

Went to guitar trio yesterday and a pianist joined us. I just plopped sweat everywhere because it was hot and my guitar is heavy after twelve minutes slugging it down the road in 26 degrees and 80% humidity. The air conditioning wasn't on in the Polivalente. Guitar teacher had a headache. Maybe everybody is actually fed up?

And Waiting...

2008-10-12T10:18:00.003+02:00

I'm sitting in a Real Estate office which is empty because it's Sunday. Not that anyone is buying anything nowadays.
George the neighbour must have been out partying last night. He's left his car parked in the middle of the road. There was a weird couple looking for his wife yesterday. There's always people looking for George and his wife. Maybe they sell imaginary boats or something?

Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain.

still waiting for a new modem.....

2008-10-06T11:13:00.001+02:00

...and waiting...and waiting.....

Bleeerrrrg

2008-09-24T11:16:00.002+02:00

I'm sitting in a cybercafe...why? Because my computer blew up in a thunderstorm, and the modem, and the telephone.........................
I am hoping I have not lost a year's worth of artwork.

Mouse by the Sea

2008-09-21T13:01:00.004+02:00

The "wave" option in "Distort" in Paintshop Pro....makes....waves.

The town is full of Germans today. The French are packing their bags and heading back to their cities.

Guitar class starts tomorrow. Hooray. Everyone who teaches at the Polivalente is always in a terrible flap when the new terms start. Lots of people flying around clutching sheets of paper.

RGB

2008-09-18T10:49:00.008+02:00

There that solved that. You have to make sure it's in RGB mode for showing the right colours on the web. CYMK must just be for printing. 55 minutes until the haircut......

Dog Basket

2008-09-18T10:49:00.004+02:00

Hmmm... I guess I shouldn't have saved in CYMK format...or I am possessed? Demons are dancing in the West End Park.

The school run has started in which I play no part. The mothers this year are unbelievably aggresive. Their monster trucks come barreling along the road leading to the school. One driver, one passenger in each enormous block of metal and plastic on wheels. I know for a fact that it takes no longer than ten minutes to walk from where all the blocks of flats and most of the houses are. But the problem is in the stupidity of the school for having no lockers. The kids can't leave their books or sport stuff there and because it is a school for kids aged three until twelve they can't physically carry their gigantic backpacks.

I am having my bi-annual haircut today. I do not like hairdresser salons although I like a new hair style but the whole experience is akin to the dentist. I just want to run out screaming. But when I get home I make excuses to walk by the mirror for a day.

Another New Hat

2008-09-15T12:17:00.004+02:00

Blowing a gale and the beaches completely deserted now. The sea is the colour of sapphires today.

If you like the weird and wonderful then this link is for you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9ZiZ9p2aDo

I hadn't heard of "The Real Tuesday Weld" but I love the dark humour with the music.

He didn't have a leg to stand on

2008-09-13T14:26:00.004+02:00

New breed of tourist in town. The women are the colour of chestnuts, have impossibly spindly legs and are wearing designer shorts and shirts. They all walk around with their hands casually placed in their pockets and some have very, little, furry dogs which are a big relief after a summer of the usual rottweillers, dobermans and alsatians that the city dwellers bring with them.

I can't, I'm all of a Whirl.

2008-09-12T17:05:00.004+02:00

Blowing a gale here.

Here's a link to a terrific animator.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHzN125pVoE

I am making a steak pie with puff pastry but I have no flour or mushrooms or any clue as to why it's writing in italics and now it just switched back........

TOXIC CANDY

2008-09-11T15:51:00.004+02:00

Here in Spain I always know when the owner of a T-shirt with an English slogan...doesn't speak English.

This morning I saw an old, little, white-haired lady ambling along the seashore. She rocked from side to side as she placed one leg in front of the other. But her shirt proclaimed otherwise. She is, in fact, TOXIC CANDY. I've got to put Maureen Chlorine in such a shirt.

Come on down Moon Alley...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVN-wgQrxXQ

Cat on a Wave

2008-09-10T15:23:00.002+02:00

A different light in the air. A changing of the sky.

Here's a link to a harp guitar. I would love a shot on one even if it made me look like a dwarf. Honestly, you'd have to be six foot to play one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vocEYP0NsI&feature=related

doodleoodle

2008-09-09T12:16:00.001+02:00

Turn the speakers on...if you want.

Colours?

2008-09-07T18:22:00.003+02:00

Well, I don't know what is going on. These are the right colours.

Help !

2008-09-06T18:51:00.002+02:00

I don't know what I am doing wrong? I didn´t do this in Illustrator but it´s uploaded in inverse colours again.

Raining in Spaining.

Moo Cat

2008-09-05T15:32:00.003+02:00

Aaah! Maybe it's changing colour because I didn't save in the RGB mode? This is actually the inverse colours of the original.

The beaches are virtually empty now but I did see a person doing yoga in the most amazing way. When I passed him yesterday he was breathing like a fish out of water but today he was pulling a foot over his head while standing on one leg.

The New Hat

2008-09-04T12:06:00.003+02:00

I've posted this link to L'Arpeggiata before but I bought the CD and it still sends shivers down my spine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm2ZIZXna0A

Alice who used to be Frank came for a steak last night. Arthur went into a royal snit because Alice brought her very large dog which makes Arthur feel...well...small.

I haven't actually checked...

2008-09-03T13:05:00.002+02:00

Whether there are any rude words in this because I uploaded just using a miniature version of the drawing.
My number one fan this year is very pleased I sent him a drawing so that makes me very pleased so today is better than yesterday!

Here are two guitarists I came across. Wonderful music (although a bit echoey) wonderful playing. It must be great to be so in tune with another player.

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=DlqsUSZyL6I

There you go...

Getting really cross now

2008-09-02T12:37:00.003+02:00

The world is driving me bonkers today.
1. Why did my last post post itself while I was typing?

2. Why are the words in blue up there?

3. Why were there little bugs in the pearl barley when I got home?

4. Why is the car battery flat? I don´t care. I don´t drive.

5. Why is there an underground water leak somewhere under the concrete by the gate outside?

6. Why can´t I upload a picture right now?

7. Why am I still wallowing in self pity?

8. Why are the two French families on the other side of the street sweeping their spotless drives all morning? Why do they come here to their summer homes and then never do anything except sweep and wash cars? Except for boules which they play every day at six in the evening.

9. Why can´t I even draw today?

10. But I did narrowly avoid decapitating myself with a mandolin string yesterday.

Birds of a Feather

2008-09-02T09:32:00.002+02:00

Home! Hooray! Mytrial

Hooray

2008-08-28T13:33:00.002+02:00

On the road again....hooray......it's rained for the last two weeks here in the lakes and I'm out of here................one more day to go.

Leaving on Unfayreair

2008-08-12T14:52:00.004+02:00

Guess what I am doing tomorrow? I can hardly wait...Hopefully I'll be back in about two weeks and with luck, less.

No train strikes in Britain as yet, but I just got an email telling me it's raining like stair rods. I'd better go and look for a pair of socks.

Squeeze

2008-08-09T11:01:00.003+02:00

To be sung to the tune of "She''ll be coming round the mountain when she comes."

I wish I was an orange on a shelf.
I wish I was an orange on a shelf.
If I was an orange on a shelf...
for breakfast I would squeeze myself.
I wish I was an orange on a shelf.

Speech Balloons

2008-08-06T16:22:00.003+02:00

It seems to me that once you export from illustrator to Photoshop it really compresses the image a lot. I've got to get the hang of keeping it to the original size. Fine for the web but not for printing.

Alice who used to be Frank made a paella yesterday.

Flying Jinjars

2008-08-05T14:30:00.003+02:00

Presenting....well, I'm not telling you because it's going to be a surprise. Illustrator has got me flummoxed but I'll get the hang of it eventually. Anyway, presenting Jinjar and his dog Arthur. I say no more.

They put out the fire but I was shaking there for a bit.

Here's a piece played on a renaissance style guitar. This really makes me want one...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bpTOSbMNl8&feature=related

Forest Fire

2008-08-04T12:04:00.002+02:00

Scareyyyyyyyyyy. Helicopters flying overhead, sirens wailing. It's so hot it prickles the skin. There's a big fire up the road. I hope it doesn't come here. These fires happen every summer and are so scary. I'm just in diversion activity here because I am terrified of fire.

Flying High

2008-08-04T11:12:00.002+02:00

This is what I am listening to as I draw today...

Phillip Sear...pianist extraordinaire...

I see things when I hear this music. I was thinking yesterday about that line in the spooky film when the kid says..."I see dead people."
Well..."I see people that were never alive in the first place." Ha, ha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSsFoR0j0cg&NR=1

Ginger and Arthur

2008-08-03T16:55:00.003+02:00

The tourists are mental today. There are a million dented cars parked around town and people frying on the beach.

Here's a link to Paulo Sereno. I love his guitar playing...I wish I had got to do the pictures!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0cMue2j9uw

Still...I might do some of my own.

When do I get to do the Tantrum?

2008-08-02T15:17:00.003+02:00

Och, I'm just mental....I'm not saving right in Illustrator. This is an angry orange really. It's too hot and I do not want to go to England. We are going to see Paco and Albert play tonight. Alice who used to be Frank is coming too.

Green Bird

2008-08-01T12:49:00.003+02:00

I am puzzled by Adobe Illustrator CS3. It changes the colours after I have saved. I know it's something I am doing! Oh well, there's only sixteen days left of the trial anyway.

I tried to get some cash out of the hole in the wall in the bank entrance yesterday but my card was rejected. "Excuse me," I said to witty and wonderful lady behind the desk. "I think there may be a problem with the machine?"

"No, there isn't. It's your card."

So I watched while one of the local policemen tried his card.

"Fock," he says. "Fock, fock." At least the Spanish equivelent which is joder and he stomps off.

Then today Patrick takes my card and the same happens. The bank lady said it was the fault of my bank in Scotland. So I ring my bank who say there's nothing wrong with my card and give me the number of the fraud squad. I ring them and explain and they instantly have access to my account and say..."No, nobody has been accessing your account. Everything is fine. Oh I just hate dipping my feet into the real world.

Airplane tickets booked. Arrgggg. Now I'm getting mad..........

What do they Eat?

2008-07-30T13:30:00.003+02:00

I was actually drawing a ballet dancer when one of the twins emerged. She and her sister are called Gentlydead and Darklydead. Apparently one of them has also had twins. These people have been hounding me . The time has come BWAHAHA. I'm going to do a comic strip.....honest!

Here's a link to a cheerful piece of guitar music by Cesar Amaro.
http://www.livevideo.com/video/Montevideana61/95AE272F33234C6686D6292D0FBE1F96/volar-to-fly.aspx

Pianist Cat

2008-07-28T11:51:00.002+02:00

I forgot to put the link to this piece too. It's an animation about a lamplighter cat who has the heart of a pianist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecI-ApTJPKI&feature=related

Cat and Frog Bra

2008-07-28T11:25:00.003+02:00

'Dear Ms. Wirth,

Your recent design of the unique yet pleasingly "Bold Frog and Cat Bra" has come to our attention and we would like to place an exclusive order to be included with our new Autumn collection at Harrods, England.'

Here's a beautiful piece of animation...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCa98MrZztI

Do I look like I want to be a bunny?

2008-07-27T11:59:00.004+02:00

This disgusting child has many possibilities. He positively yelled to get out of the wacom tablet and into the real world. I think he's here to stay.

Big fiesta on town last night. The beach looks like a major football match took place in the night. Empty bottles absolutely everywhere. Two dazed looking security guards listening to a radio at the beach bar.

The beaches are still empty. What's happening?

Waiting for the Music

2008-07-26T13:55:00.003+02:00

These people came out the wacom tablet completely unexpectedly. Who is that guy on the bottom left? And a devil?

I see Britain is preparing to go on strike as it always does just before I am due there. I feel genuinely sorry for the ones that want to leave but can't but I am delighted Glasgow voted SNP.

Here's a link to pleasanter thoughts. Karin Zhou is six years old in this video of her playing the piano. She's lived before!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBFR231Ogck

Enjoy...

Beastie

2008-07-25T15:29:00.002+02:00

Sometimes even I don't know these things are lurking in the wacom tablet.

Here's a link to an ethereal piece of piano music. The musician is Phillipe Sear and I think he plays in a magic, other worldly way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK0qPfDKb08

The local Spaniards are now getting fed up of the tourists because now you have to queue everywhere for everything. In fact the bolder of the spanish ladies plodding around Intermarche say things like.."When are the fockers going to naff off?" Well, that's how it translates into english.

When I cycled back from the beach I discovered they had closed off the entrance to the main road and there was fresh, steaming hot tarmac blocking any possibility of crossing. A Peruvian roadmaker lifted my bike onto the main road as I almost got squashed by a huge machine and I had to climb over a pile of rocks to retrieve it. They dug up this same road at this time last year.

Ode to Joy

2008-07-24T13:04:00.001+02:00

Ha, ha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpcUxwpOQ_A&feature=related

Adoration

2008-07-24T12:43:00.002+02:00

Still playing around in Adobe Illustrator CS3 and not doing great so far. This should have a fetching blue border around it. I'm not sure how to flatten the image. I've tried flatten, group, merge but while I've been doing this I've had a great idea for a children's book!
The postman chucked my latest batch of books from Amazon over the gate. I am lucky they were not stolen.

Paco and Albert are doing a gig in Zaragoza this evening.