Blog

Time to resume friendships that were starting to develop in the fall, prepare for the shows and sales I'm going to do this year (Summerland Studio Tour, Summerland Art Club Sale, looking at summer show options, and Christmas sales), analyze past and ongoing sales at the two gift shop galleries that carry my work (Comox Valley and Summerland), frame new work created in Australia, and carry on with the two commissions that are currently in progress. Painting away in the world. ( One is a view taken from the photo of the old Queenslander below)

I'm trying to stay out of my garden which is looking great. The original owners did a fabulous design job and there is interest for all seasons. Spring bulbs (unknown to us as we weren't here last spring) are coming up in many places. We didn't have time in the fall to do a thorough garden cleanup, (neither did two years' worth of renters!) so now is the time to get at clearing up some of the debris. I have to watch that the gardening doesn't distract me from all the artwork I want to do!

Inside my studio I'm still looking for some base cabinets, on the outside I need to develop some signage for the studio tour in late May. There may be another open studio in late April so my time frame is shrinking, not expanding!

If you know of anyone who's got some old kitchen cabinets to get rid of they could have a new life in my studio! You can see how barren my floors are and I do have a lot of material to store. And since doing the printmaking course again I've decided I'd like to do more of that and am looking for a hand-turned printing press. If you know of any that are available send me a note! I found out that the one at the Shatford Centre is a huge mechanical beast, from Kamloops Okanagan University, that was so large they had to take the frames off the double door to get it into the building. It's obviously not suitable for my little printmaking ideas! This little print below is about 2" X 4" and I've done a couple of versions.

Now that I've got my camera card and thumb drive de-bugged and virus-free (at some expense, I might add--a lesson to travellers!) I can get my website updated with photos again. Speaking of technology, I'm still working on basic competency on my new smart phone and laptop with Windows. Even the teckies are grumbling about that operating system, I see! Learning to edit photos all over again! As well as a new filing system and retrieval process.

However, life is good in the northern spring--there is a bit of energy in the air with warming days. Although I'm missing the Aussie warmth & sunshine on my skin (not to mention all my friends and family there!)

The first week I got back was about 15-17 degrees (Celsius) but then it dropped to only 3-4 with negative temperatures overnight. And snow and ice pellets int he air at times--which doesn't permit sandals, shorts, or bare arms! This is the earliest I've been back to Canada in years and.,..I might stay Down Under for longer in future! That said, the crocuses are lovely and will be finished soon. I made a stab at painting some the other day but gave up quickly. I'll have to re-jig my composition and try again--or more likely move onto something else. The lake nearby astounds me with its changing colours, and the scenery around, although still bleak in early spring, remains dramatic. How did we get so lucky as to live here!

Closing with a last image of a print I did, inspired by our African trip last year: Hope you like it! It's a kudu, a

very secretive animal with legendary powers of disappearance. In this version of the print I've used the "Chine Collee" technique to applique Chinese rice paper with rice glue onto the print, to highlight the stripes the kudu wears on its back. They are lovely graceful and quick animals. Until next time, when more artwork will be revealed!

I've finally arrived in Melbourne for the last 10 days of my visit and must confess I haven't been doing much painting with the travel. However I do now have 258 books on my Kindle, and no time to read them either! I'm noticing that I really need time and space and silence to get into my painting, unless I have a structure (either a routine or a course registration) to keep me focused. Certainly I'm not one of those driven artists who get into the studio at 6 am, and work until late. Well, really I don't do ANYTHING that way! Probably the closest I would get would be travelling if there are long days to get somewhere.

However, there are more photos on my camera (which still needs to be de-bugged) and more ideas in my head, and I've been spending some time framing and showing works, selling some cards, and working on my business plan for the year. Looking forward to the studio tour dates, and mentally planning out my layout as I see other art studios in my travels.

Yesterday I had a look at a lovely setup a friend in Bundanoon, in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, is developing in her garage. I can hardly wait to visit her again next year & see how she's going. Her plans: a work area with computer station (her career is design and layout of books); a place for music with her piano; a place for sewing machines and materials, and an art area. She's a very talented woman, in many regards! The space is bright with windows on all sides, white open ceilings with beams, and a new concrete floor. Double doors will open out onto another landing, and she's got water and a laundry in a bump-out just to add to the convenience.

If you have any good studio ideas, suggestions, or recommendations of ones to visit, I'd love to check out some more studios. The places where people create, and are inspired to create, always inspire me too. Organization and logistics are important to me so I'm especially interested in tips in those areas. I saw a gorgeous potter's studio in Buderim Queensland that was very efficiently laid out, and had a great rolling table with shelves that fit exactly underneath the countertop.

Another task I've been thinking about is signage for the studio. There's an idea in my head about a hanging piece of curved driftwood representing a creek, with a swimming trout carved in it, and maybe some stones inset, as a visual for "Trout Creek Studio". Just the creation of that will be a piece of artwork, 3 dimensional, that I can play with for a while.

Meanwhile, it's time to start organizing my own possessions, getting my trusty little car ready for storage, and having last visits with cousins and my aunt and uncle here. You never know what's going to happen over the course of the year until I see them again--life is precious and so are the elder generation. Once the 80s hit you know the time is limited--and it's important to make the most of what there is.

On that note I'll leave you, until next time!

As I write I am so thankful for all the great things I have in my life--friends and family who live in the most beautiful places, and the willingness they have to host me and share their lives with me. Currently I'm in a lovely beach town called Terrigal, just north of Sydney. After the events in Queensland I'm very happy to be back in New South Wales, where the weather is just a touch cooler, the air a little drier, the sea a little fresher. And all that flooding really impacted the water in Queensland, so I never set foot in it, or had the slightest desire to paint it!

It was great to stop in beautiful Byron Bay, Australia's most easterly point, on my way south. I took a break for lunch and spotted about 15 dolphins resting off the shoreline. The water beckoned but I made do with a couple of quick paddles and continued my drive south to Urunga, just south of Coffs Harbour, where I did get into the water and have several lovely walks beside the water, and to beaches. Urunga's lovely boardwalk and the V-Wall walk at Nambucca Heads are a couple of my favourite places--although then I headed further south to Old Bar for a beach walk there, and to Umina Beach for walk there, and ...well, I just can't make up my mind--these are all in the top 10 for sure!

I've got a few more days here to enjoy before I move on to Sydney (which must be the most beautiful city in the world) and have some plans to get a bit of painting in during this time. The old Queenslander house painting is still in progress, and I've been playing with the sketch a little more by adding some ink accents. I'm not sure if I'll get it finished in Australia or will be taking it home to Canada to work on yet. Sometimes it takes a while for me to get a result I'm happy enough with to share. I've also been working on my business plan and tasks for stepping up with my art when I do get back to Summerland. Lots to do to get ready for the studio tour starting in April.

Meanwhile I'm enjoying summertime down under--hope you're enjoying wherever you're at in your life too.ometimes I just have to pinch myself to check if this isn't a dream.

Hi from Bundaberg, Queensland which over the last week has become a disaster area due to the aftereffects of a cyclone, which included tornado damage and major floods. I came to the library hoping to get some belated photos uploaded, but the internet isn't handling anything very well in town, apparently (which is what I discovered at my friend's place where I have been safe and dry throughout the whole affair--thus the library visit!) So, no photos, sorry, only commentary!

It has been another amazing week, after a non-eventful journey from Bellingen to Buderim, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast just north of Brisbane, and then in the rain north to Bundaberg. That was the start of the storm, which went on all last weekend. It dropped 500 mm (that's almost 2 feet) of rain in about 72 hours, and the winds were so high that at one point I'm sure we were at the edge of a tornado. That was Australia Day, when I was trying to celebrate 5 years as Australian. Needless to say all festivities were cancelled!

My hosts had water pouring in from a gutter that was blocked, and lost one big tree on their property as well as numerous branches. That was nothing compared to the tornados that hit the local beach town 15 km away, Bargara, and a couple of other coastal spots. And then came the floods--the local Burnett River peaked at 9.5 metres above its usual height and 7000 people were evacuated from homes--many airlifted from their roofs by the Australian Defence Forces who were called in on this state of emergency. Lots of that happened on my birthday so I hope that's not foreshadowing the year.

I've never been in a disaster area before and it was amazing to see all the damage, as well as how the Australians cope, chip in, band together to help out, and generally care so well for each other. The mopping up has just started here as the flood waters recede, and while roads are washed out, many businesses in Queensland are devastated as this is the 2nd big floods that have happened in 3 years, and lots of people couldn't get flood insurance after the first flood, you can just see that they are all survivors and will work hard to overcome adversity. Not to mention that lots of work will be created to fix things up again.

Meanwhile I have started work on a commissioned painting of a beautiful old Queenslander built in the late 1800s. When I get photo capability I'll upload some images of the house, and possibly of my first sketches. I still have lots of prints to show you too, when all systems are working again. Hope it won't be too long before that happens. I must say I am grateful to be alive and unscathed by this event, and again realize what good fortune and friends I have around me.

Greetings from Urunga, near Bellingen in New South Wales. I had a fantastic week printmaking for the second year at Camp Creative with Seraphina Martin, a Sydney printmaking teacher. It was such a great week I'm thinking of coming back for the third year next year, with her. Then again, now I have a studio and some space, I've also been thinking of buying my own press and setting up in Canada. And then serendipity struck! I picked up my email and there was a note from an artist in the Okanagan telling me that Shatford Centre had a printmaking press that hadn't been assembled since its purchase last year. Looks like an opportunity to me!

Right now I'm discovering how technologically limited I am--or rather, how much I have to learn--as I'm struggling to upload my latest works to this website. Using a friend's Mac seemed like a good idea since I'm travelling without a computer, but I haven't quite got the knack on a Mac so have resorted to posting this quick update and will fill in some photos of the printmaking process and the resulting work a bit later.

We made 4 types of plates in the course, one of which was new to me. They were all non-toxic which means I'll be comfortable doing them back home, and will only have to source some of the plates (especially the solar etching plates) and supplies. I can see I'll be collecting more collage-like types of materials, including images, dried flat plant materials, interesting textures on paper, cloth and plastic items (also relatively flat) as well as wanting to obtain some old botanical, animal and insect plates for photo-copying onto acetate sheets. These items will feed very nicely into my attraction to collages and possibly to other work I'm contemplating as well!

All very exciting and I'm very happy to be spending some time in my favourite country this time of year. The weather has been much hotter than last year as you may have seen in the news, but I've been far from any of the terrible fires so far. Hopefully that continues as I work my way further north towards Bundaberg next week.

That's all for now, stay tuned for more work to be posted!

In some ways I'm sorry to see the end of this year--it's been the best one ever. Full of travel, new experiences, lots of friends and family and time with my wonderful husband, all over the world--a very hard act to follow! I'm not sure I'll ever in my life have another year like this one has been...and yet...maybe I could start dreaming again and think up more spectacular plans for the future!

Meanwhile, I'm starting to work on next year's "theme", as I like to call my plan for the future. Mulling around something like "Creating inspiring artwork" which will focus me on expanding my art career, and really working at it, more than dabbling. Getting my studio established and drawing customers, improving my website by installing paypal, and networking and establishing myself in this lovely new community we are living in, will be key in developing my action plans. That said, I want to have lots of fun too, and explore BC a little with our travel trailer before 2014 when we're developing a plan to take it across Canada.

Meanwhile I'm getting prepared to head to Australia again for my annual retreat and will be refining my written ideas about 2013, as well as doing a followup printmaking course in Bellingen again. So stay tuned for more ideas to come!

Since my last post I've done more work on my studio and had neighbours and local friends in for a little preview opening. Here's what it looked like nearing the day:

As you can see there was snow on the ground and the wood stove made everything cozy. I got a few Christmas ornaments out, as well as some lights, and with hubby's Christmas baking it looked quite festive inside!

I was pleased to show it off and even happier to sell a few pieces!

Now, the decorations are packed away and we're packing up ourselves to head down to the coast for Christmas and New Year's, before I fly off south until it gets warmer here...

Ending this spectacular year, I feel so lucky and priviliged to live where I do, and have such prosperity around me everywhere I look: friends and family, the beautiful places I live, play and travel to, the society that is law-abiding, civilized, and progressive and educated. Once you have been to some third-world countries you have a much deeper appreciation for how we live. That there are such basic needs still unfulfilled in some countries, in this day and age, is shocking, and I'll have to put that thought into my plan and see what I can do to make a difference. Suggestions are welcome!

With that, I'll sign out for a few weeks by wishing you & yours a very happy holiday season--relax and feel the love for those around you and have a great start to 2013!

Well, now I've finished my Christmas shows all I have to do is get my new studio/gallery ready for a private opening in 10 days. The first part of my hanging system was installed today, my paintings are back from all their travels (well, except for the ones that found new homes at the sales!) and the wood stove is working just fine. I still have to pinch myself every once in a while to believe that I have my own big studio, just a short walk from the front door! I'm really enjoying the time I spend in it, although I've hardly painted there, just done some matting and framing of pieces to get ready for my shows.

I was really happy to sell the larger canvas wrap of "Faerie Woods" (left) and got lots of admiration for the limited edition prints on paper. One of my little hand-done prints sold as well, and my new credit-card reader worked beautifully at the last sale, on my new smart phone (which is truly outsmarting me, I have to say!)

Both sales went well and I had to re-order business cards--the new ones have a little map on the back with my address and went over really well in the Vancouver area craft sale. I'm hoping to see lots of traffic next year, with the studio tours and my own customers from the Vancouver area. What a nice day it would make, touring in the beautiful Okanagan Valley--wineries, orchards and art studios! Put the studio tour dates in your calendar--May 25 & 26, and November 2 and 3, 2013. It would be great to see you in my studio!

As the weather gets colder I can hear Australia calling me, and look forward to my annual migration starting January 1. I'm also starting to get prepared for my print-making workshop in Bellingen--images are running through my mind and I'm dying to see what they look like as prints! This year being my 4th experience with print-making I'm starting to get better ideas of what will work well--stay tuned!

My smart phone and smart lap-top (on Windows 8) are giving me lots of challenges and I think I'm being dragged into the new decade! Hopefully I can adapt and make good use of the advanced technology they afford me. At some point in time I'll be more efficient, I hope!

This little print to the right is the one that got sold at the Coquitlam sale--it was nicely framed. I'm finding that good presentation (ie, framed or at least matted) makes all the difference to selling. My great framer, Lyn Thomas of Lynton Studio in Maple Ridge, is sorely missed here in my new location. I had to stop into her studio while in Vancouver to pick up a huge stockpile of mats for my upcoming work. She is a gem and I'm not sure I'll find someone so reasonably priced here in the Okanagan.

Well, that's about all to report for the day--I hope you're happily getting ready for the holidays and thinking about what you want to create for 2013. We've had such a fantastic year--I don't think there will be one to match 2012 in my lifetime. Big dreams came true, and I'm just enjoying living them. Maybe next year I'll set my sights on something else but right now, I think I have things just like I want them! Aren't I fortunate. The moon and the stars have aligned.

Just a quick report on what I've been up to lately and what is coming in the next little while. My first show in the Okanagan, Santa Presents in Penticton in early November, went very well and I was pleased to hand out so many business cards that I've had to reorder more! With luck they will arrive in time for my next show, next weekend as I return to Coquitlam Christmas Craft Sale where I've got some loyal customers and have done very well over the time I've been showing there. I'm just in the process of purchasing a smart phone and hope to get a credit/debit card payment system going for that sale. If not, I'll be ready to use it in my studio opening process.

Speaking of which, the studio is coming along and tomorrow I'm planning to start installing my hanging system. Most of my paintings are currently wrapped to transport to Coquitlam, but--if I don't sell out!--I'll be wanting to start hanging up the ones that make the journey home with me. It'll be interesting to see how my layout works, and if my options for matted prints and cards works out to my satisfaction. I'll also need to find some cabinets--I'm thinking someone's got an old kitchen with good bases that I could use--and whether to organize some plumbing for a sink and countertop. Hubby has suggested that I put a microwave out in the studio for some snacks and tea, and the wood stove is keeping the building beautifully warm. Right now we've got some local walnuts drying out there too. There are lots of trees around, in parks and on empty lots, that no-one seems to care about. I'm sure they're all organic!

I've got some new banners and one is just perfect for fixing on the building, near the door. For more formal signage out on the highway it's a bit of bureaucracy and a lot of rules, according to some other local artists, but I'll see what I can do. Meanwhile I've put a bit of a map on my new business card order.

I was really happy to get a commission to do the biggest painting ever--ink and watercolour of birch trees, approximately 3 feet by 6 feet! It's going to take me a while to plan that out, get some larger brushes, and practise working up to that size.

The plan is for it to look a bit like this painting, that was sold to a happy customer in Ottawa at the first public show it went to. Because watercolour paper only comes in sheets of 22" X 30", I'll probably do it as a diptych or tryptich (2 or three separate sheets that can be hung together). My plan is to make each piece function as a separate painting, as well as line up together on a single wall. The wall is 11' long so I have lots of room to work with!

Other than these shows I've been thinking about my next printmaking course in Australia in January, and what images I'm going to work with there. Dramatic contrasts of light and dark, and interesting shapes and forms, work well with this form of art. I'm hoping to make a really great plate that I can use as a logo or card in future, too.

I've also met a few local encaustic artists, and I'm getting interested in working with that medium. Encaustic, which is a form of collage and colour embedded in wax or resin, is a form of mixed media that uses shapes, other items as well as colour, and seems to me a step towards 3D art, from the usual 2 dimensional that I work in. I wonder where that path will lead me?

Well, It's getting late and I have a big day tomorrow, getting some new technology at a "Black Friday" sale. I usually totally resist shopping, and particularly spending money on electronics, but it's time to get into the modern world with the smart phone (no doubt it'll be smarter than me!) and a new laptop so take some of the pressure off this old PC (I think it might be about 8 years old now!) that is on its last legs. I'm not sure that the new laptop will make my art show up any better on-line but hopefully it will make my blog posting more efficient!

So, I'll leave you now, hoping the run-up to Christmas has you thinking of all the wonderful people in your life and what makes them happy, and how you can contribute to them. (That last thought must be courtesy of Deepak Chopra's 21 day Meditation Challenge which I've been participating in for the last couple of weeks.) What is your gift to the world??

I see that I am falling behind on my blog posting schedule! Never mind, better late than never, and I've been very busy behind the scenes of my website.

Where to start? I guess with my studio development!

As October has raced by, I've gotten the floor restained to my satisfaction, as you might see from the photo. The wood stove in the back has been hooked up & tested today, as the weather is getting cooler. I sat out there for a while, looking around, trying to imagine some furniture--what and where? It was almost toasty! I noticed the ceilings are a lovely 9 feet high, which makes the studio seem even bigger than the 600+ square feet.

The banner I use for my outside sales fits perfectly under the window so I've ordered a couple more...just 'cause! and I'll be looking for more cabinets for storage. Last trip to Vancouver I brought back a hanging system which needs some finishing before I can hang it up. I hope to get one panel done before I leave for Australia January 1. The rest will wait until I get back, when I'll be really getting the studio into shape for the 2013 Summerland Art Studio Tour weekends.

I was delighted to be welcomed into the group of artists that has been organizing 2 years of studio tours, building an event that I will be participating in next year. The weekends were set at the meeting last week--May 25 and 26, 2013 and November 2 and 3. Promotional flyers with maps and addresses will be out early next year, as the studios are open most of the year, in some cases (like mine) by chance or by arrangement, with a focus on the 2 weekends where there are demonstrations and goodies for visitors. I hope to add value to the group and encourage lots of out-of-town friends to come up to the Okanagan for those dates. More on that in future postings!

Of course, in the meanwhile, I'm getting ready for my first sale this year, this location--"Santa Presents" in the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, this weekend. It's sold out (for booths) and is apparently well-attended--and I'm most excited to get out there in this new community. Come on out, and bring your friends, 10-5 on Saturday, 10-4 on Sunday!

And of course, my 2013 calendars (left) will be available until they are sold out. They've been going really well, with the biggest sale being to a local realtor who got 10 last year and has increased his order this year. They're $12, if you would like one or more, come to a sale or let me know and I can pop them in the mail.

This year I've again got a wide range of works in them--watercolours and ink, of course, some drawings of animals, a collage and a couple of original prints from my printmaking course last January.

I'm looking forward to seeing how my prints are received at the two sales I'm in before Christmas--they are small and well-priced and just the thing for a little Christmas gift as they are easy to get framed.

I have been getting some painting done, along with all the other things--and I thought I'd give you a preview of something that I've been working on. I think it's coming along nicely--it's source is an autumnal walk in the woods in Milton, Ontario, a couple of years ago. I've been looking at the photo for a while and decided to use a creative technique that is a little abstract/impressionistic in style.

I haven't thought of a name yet, but it's getting close to the time! If you have any suggestions let me know.

Meanwhile I've ordered my first canvas wraps of "Faerie Woods" and they've turned out fantastically--so I'll order some more for the two Art Gallery gift shops that sell my work, in time for their Christmas galleries.

A couple of other activities: Hiking and enjoying beautiful Giant's Head that can be seen from our balcony:

Here's the view from one time up there--certainly worth the hike, and worth a stab at painting too!

And the other thing I've been painting--not so much fun!

Walls and renovations--as can happen when you move into a new place!

There will be a few more of those type of things to paint but I'm doing my best to hold them off and play with the watercolours!

Anyway, hope you're enjoying the last two months of the year, and I'll try to find time to post between "Santa Presents" and my next sale, in Coquitlam, November 30 to December 2.

Happy trails until then!

Well, I'm not sure if you can call it "settling" yet but I'm knuckling down and working on many fronts to create my new life as an artist in Summerland. Today I was excited to get a call from the prime mover & shaker in the Summerland Studio Tour group. This weekend is one of their two annual open studio tour weekends and I will be out & about meeting the local artists and checking out their studios in case they have any great ideas to incorporate into mine. Tomorrow I'm going to paint with one of the Summerland painting groups, and Friday I will check out the other one. I'm also going to join the Summerland Art Gallery and put some of my work in their gift shop, as well as apply for their annual Christmas Art Faire. Then I need to create a whole bunch of new work for all the events that are coming!

Happily I've gotten most of the floor of my new gallery prepared and can start setting up some working space.

Remember, this is what it looked like a week ago? (That's my mom inside, by the way.)

Well, I found some tinted concrete sealer and am quite happy with how it turned out, although I still need to have hubby help me move the few heavy things that were masked off, and tint/seal those smaller areas too. I'll post some photos at a later stage of development.

I talked to the previous owners, who built the house and shop, and apparently this building was prepared to have water lines run to it! That was an exciting discovery, although I haven't yet developed a plan for completing the plumbing. I'm toying with the idea of a toilet, along with a sink and cabinets, in case I want to hold art classes in the building in future. In the meanwhile I'll get the basics started in order to be ready to get on next May's Summerland/Trout Creek Studio Tour.

Meanwhile the warm weather we had through September has come to an end and the wind today blew in temperatures that are about 15 degrees cooler. I had some sheets on the clothesline and they are now wrapped so hard around the line that I can't reel it either forward or back. The line comes off our top patio and is about 20 feet off the ground so I guess those sheets will have to stay there until my husband returns this weekend. Won't he be surprised!

I've also got some work going inside the house, where I intend to have a small gallery space in a front room which needs some wallpaper removed, repainting and re-fixturing. More work for the better half! I'm glad he's retired so he can help me with some of the heavier work involved in ramping up my art career...think "building studio", transporting artwork to shows, providing tea, coffee and sustenance to the starving artist (and perhaps to gallery visitors and students?) How can anyone say they'll have nothing to do if they retire?

Meanwhile the garden calls--the grapes are ready to pick and press for juice, the orchard behind is covered with apple bins, some full and some empty ready for pickers, and the flower beds are still growing weeds. The numerous trees planted by the builders, 20 years ago, are starting to drop their leaves and there is a lot of yard work to be done! No rest for the wicked, they say, and I must be pretty wicked!

I've started to sell my 2013 calendars, and they are going fast.

This sketch of a bushbuck from South Africa is on the cover, and the rest of the calendar is the same style as previous years--a little desk calendar with a new painting each month, that you can sit beside your computer or on a table as you go out the door (or come in, for that matter).

I managed to get a good printing price so I can sell them for $12, which is less than last year. They fold up nicely for a 5" X 9" envelope, which costs $1.29 to mail within Canada (or $2.10 for 2), so they make a great Christmas gift for any of those globe-trotting friends and relatives you have. This year I have paintings, prints, a collage, and drawings from Canada, Australia, South Africa, and from inside my head too! Email or phone me if you'd like to arrange to get some before they are all sold out.

I am so excited to be in an environment that is so beautiful and so friendly to artists--there is a great community of creative people here, and the rest of the residents are welcoming, helpful and seem so much more relaxed than the run-of-the-mill city crowd I used to belong to. I seem to have more time in the day when the longest it takes to get anywhere is 30 minutes, and most places are easily accessible in 10 minutes or less. Although it's still early days, I'm pretty sure we're here for the long run and we're going to love it to bits for years!

Until next time, hope you're having as much fun as I am, creating your life every day!Life is a beach!