Four days into the new year of 2023 and I’ve made it back into my studio.

I’m illustrating a children’s book. It’s a project that I can get on with now since I’ve lost my job. The idea has been in my mind for a couple of years and that I took seriously in June 2022. Now I have the time to put it together properly since the idea is for a series of books, not just a single one.

Illustration is unusual for me since I prefer more “serious” painting. Illustrating is a particular skill that I need to practise much, much, more. I’m trying to make the pictures look child-like in the hope that they will appeal to pre-schoolers.

I have also been able to do some music practice. My kids (grown up) are so good at presents. They know me so well. Over the course of a year, they have augmented my recorder collection from just three to six. I feel very lucky and I’ve picked up on a pleasure that I had set aside for a while.

It’s still early days yet after losing my job, just two weeks in fact so I’m still trying to get to grips with a new routine and to be productive in a different way but I need to set aside time, perhaps in the early evening to do some playing. I just need some new music now!

That said, I need to paint my rooms upstairs. The ones that were recently given lovely warm ceilings. I actually like painting but haven’t been able to as Christmas got in the way. It seems to have got in the way of everything. I’d really like to start this week if possible. It’s all down to me. I have the time now!