Happy Birthday, Millie! 21 today! 🤗
…our welcome occasional extra child when they were all little 😍, fitting in seamlessly with the M&M alliteration, and also given the fact that if one ginger stands anywhere near another, it’s automatically assumed you’re related.
Hope you’ve had a great day! 🥂
I should have known that a teenager who could write a catchy tune about Broccoli would grow up to write a showstopper about Marmalade 🤣
Also, I really think Tom Fletcher deserves AT LEAST (😆) a knighthood for his Paddington score. It’s so thrilling, touches ALL the emotions & is instantly familiar. We all know Paddington has the connections, so come on! Make the call!
And talking of crotchets… oh sorry, crochet.
When I watched Riley running on the beach the other day, it occurred to me that his big feet at the end of his gangly legs looked like crotchets 😆
48 hours in London Town.
Family, friends, food, fun & fantastic… featre 🤔😍 Can’t recommend Paddington highly enough - absolutely amazing; & the wonderful Royal Opera La Traviata production which I fear is due to be replaced by some ‘bold re-imagining’ involving boring costumes & a random chair or 2.
And, being Valentine’s Day, it’s the perfect day to share a recent commission for this lovely couple, getting married later in the year 🥰 - details removed obviously in case it accidentally goes viral 😳😇
Many of you will have seen this before but just in case you need to tick different options this year, here it is again.
Please tap for all options.
🤦🏼♀️
Two contrasting, consecutive nights at the theatre, from tragic to charming. La Traviata last night, for me, and then Paddington the Musical tonight with Phillipa.
Can’t help wondering if Our Lovely Bear could have saved Our Tragic Heroine last night with a marmalade sandwich….
Poor Riley 🤭
Preparing for my visit to Covent Garden next week to see Traviata (again!), just in case they need an urgent cover (again!).
I’ve got this 👊🏻
Alexa; play ‘Sempre Libera’ - I’m quite proud that it’s almost properly in time. Get me 🤣
With the news from Covent Garden that an untrained singer stepped in to Turandot & sang [most of Act 3, apart from Nessun Dorma & the end] from the wings while a woman wandered around playing Calaf, a timely reminder that I am ALWAYS prepared to step in to mime the role of Lucia, if need be 🤗
Well, this was a LOVELY commission, just delivered!
For an old friend, commissioned by her children, featuring all the lovely Labs they’ve loved through the years 💛💛💛
Maybe you *can* have too much of a good thing … 🤭
The Northern Lights (through Martha’s phone) in our BACK GARDEN!!
Incredible.
My mind is numb
I cannot think
I’ve looked for help
Beneath the sink.
I’m hoping that
A gentle plunge
Will help remove
The mental gunge.
It may come out
In one big lump
So brace yourself
For a giant thump.
🎶 It was only 24 hours in Newport 🎶 **
**36 in and around, more accurately.
12.01 am.
Happy New Year 🥳
[To be said in a Boots cashier-style kind of voice].
When my occasional third ginger child, Isaac, turns up.
This time on Boxing Day night when Riley was responsibly counting everyone back in; a duty inherited from Orly.
…and second…
A lovely French setting for this one 😍
And two commissions, fitted in just in time for Christmas.
First…
A little roundup before the year is out.
Firstly, my artist’s impression a local primary school Nativity, featuring a fully-bearded Joseph 😍
It was our first Christmas with Riley, and his second in his life, and I think he enjoyed it 😅
From the paper, the sausages, the turkey, the (smell of) Bailey’s, the funny shiny thing in the sky, new teddy, and comfortable places to sit, to sleeping it all off…
…till next year 😌
Party games.
Well, as December reaches the 20s, this may be a good time to thank everyone who’s asked me to turn their friends and families into illustrations this year, and to thank you for all your likes and comments, too. I really appreciate it!
From all of us, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Labrador 😍
Tick ‘YES’, Riley. We’ll back you up 😂
Sunny, amazing Naples, with all its history, wine, glorious music and food.
The cone may be gone but the traumatic memories remain.
A family Xmas tree for possibly the biggest family I know 😆 They’re not really dressed for the North Pole but let’s not let global warming worries spoil the mood… or the fact that the driver is a little young. Apparently that’s ok in the NP as long as it’s a Ferrari & they stop for Polar Bears.
