NO ROOM SERVICE,,,NO, NO, NO

     Besides doing the usual housework, yes housework, like changing bed sheets, laundry, groceries & cooking, and washing ceramic floors indoors and out, we have visited with other members of our family and friends here. But first, just so you don't think that we are in a luxury hotel ordering room service, let me tell you what goes on here.  (I'm not complaining mind)

       The windows with screens are usually open and the dust that blows in is a bit oily.  Not sure if it's from all the sea vessels, small, large and gigantic that travel in our bay or sail back and forth further out at sea, but always visible.  The small fishing boats, sail boats and power boats are in and out every day and since it's still early in the season, not all of them have even been launched.  The larger cargo ships are always on the horizon, sometimes closer, waiting to go into Freeport either to unload or return to port to reload before sailing away to unknown destinations like Sicily, Italy, North Africa and who knows where.  Their engines must certainly add a lot to the atmosphere, where eventually it comes into and around the houses.  After a two week period of on and off rain and high winds, everything outside was covered in limestone dust.   So, of course, sliding glass doors on the balconies had to be cleaned and also the metal railings of the balconies and their ceramic tiled floors.  My red geraniums look so beautiful on my shiny clean balcony. 

     The T.V. is mostly in Maltese which Mike doesn't understand, and I have difficulty myself especially when they speak very quickly.  We watched episodes of Seasons 1-3 of Downton Abbey almost every evening, and Seasons of Call the Midwife.  We're scraping the bottom of the barrel and have our own re-runs happening!

     So, back to family.  We have met with the only Uncle surviving, and all but one of his six children, my cousins, of course their spouses and their children.  We all met at my Uncle's brothers birthday.  My father's sister had several daughters and we have reunited with one of them again.  We have also connected with our friends Leli and Kitty who is brother to one of our London, ON Maltese friends and we didn't expect this, but others we know from London are also staying in our village for a holiday.  I was at a beautician's shop and while Mike was passing the time, bumped into them and stopped to have a coffee at one of the many cafe's on the seafront.  I haven't seen them in the 'town' as yet, but possibly on our walks along the seafront we'll meet them again.

     I have had two wonderful sessions with John Dimech and had a couple of breakthroughs.  John keeps encouraging me to not be fearful when it comes to experimenting.  Good advice I will work hard to remember.  Two of my small work are seascapes, something quite new for me. 

 

 With invitations to a Wedding and Christening events with the family and the unexpected additional expenses I am postponing more classes, but will definitely arrange to spend more time with John in his studio - somehow, sometime before we return.  I have two more classes arranged with C.S. Lawrence before having to make a decision where to continue with my art instruction.  With Caroline's group I did experience my first group plein aire outing and there is one more planned as long as the weather co operates.    We went to Mermaid Street in Senglea, my street & home town. How appropriate!  Such stricking views from there,.  Decisions, decisions....

 

one of our views across
Grand Harbour to paint

painting with C.S. Lawrence  & group on Mermaid Street
I'm tucked into the door way behind the easel & white shirt
 

 

 

Keep well and know you are loved...