daily work

A selection of pictures of daily life since the Snow Went: at last the snowdrops and new hellibores are coming out (5 February). Art-wise I've been painting Fred Daw (my children's great-grandfather on the Daw side) as a schoolboyo about 11, from an old school photo. Fred had been sent to the Lake District to live with relatives after his mother (Susan, who I'm also painting) died to pneumonia in 1905. He was one of her 1o children: others were already inservice (2 sisters) in London, 3 brothers were sent to Canada, 1 very young sister went to live with a half-brother who was already married with a 5-yr-old daughter.

I've also done the St M's spring programme for families poster, and organised a clothing collection for the homeless, and tired to organise the Hodge office with some help from Spike. Looked out old photos of Uni days (Newcastle University quadrangle around 1971!) and brought baking back onto the menu (bakewell tart, yummy!)

The cats continue to relax and await warmer weather.