I know it's been a while, but I've just just got back from a holiday in Norfolk, and what a great time I had there. Given the summer we've had I was thrilled that we only had two bad days in the two weeks we were up there. Getting out and enjoying the coastal walks, the Africa Alive Experience (Safari Park), fresh air and excellent food and drink did me the world of good. I'm back, refreshed and fully relaxed. Life feels good.

You might ask how it was I could spend two weeks away from home given my ongoing medical needs. Here I've got to pay tribute to the team at James Paget Hospital near Great Yarmouth who I had prearranged to visit before we set off. Their team, just like team in GWH, were very happy to see to my needs while I was staying in the area, and that gave me a real sense of confidence that I would be in safe hands while I was away. As a thank you, me and the missus gave them a tin of Quality Street, and they seemed gobsmacked! I had to explain that without their help, I couldn't have had the holiday.

I had intended to do some painting while on holiday, and put my paints, brushes and paper in the kitchen ready to come with me, but left them behind. So, when I was up there, I bought some more...but I was so busy I never got the chance to use them! All is not lost, because I took a lot of photos, and I will be using them to paint from now I'm back.

Today is my first day back in Day Hospice, and I hadn't realised quite how much I would miss it while I was away. It's been nice to catch up on my mates again. They're a good bunch, and I really think of the patients, volunteers and staff who I see on my weekly visit here as genuine friends. We've had a lot to talk about.

It has also been good to get painting again. Today I've worked on a landscape painting of a bluebell wood, which I am painting for my sister. It's from a photograph of a favourite place of hers, and I really hope she'll like it. She's my older sister, and she lives not far away in Windsor, and we meet up whenever we can. In fact, last time she came over to see me she came on one of my Day Hospice days, and had forgotten that I would be there. Rather than go home, she and my niece and her son spent the day shopping in Swindon town centre, then came to see Jackie and me! It was a great surprise, and we were both really pleased to see each other.

I had promised to say a little bit about my painting. I first started painting a few years ago, when I did some oil paintings on a Saturday class over at Bloom's Garden Centre. I really enjoyed that, but didn't have the time to devote more time to painting. So I was really pleased when I came to Day Hospice to discover that there were art therapy sessions, and that I could spend time with Susie, the art therapist, developing my skills and 'chilling out' whilst I get lost in the painting I am doing. I have painted quite a few pictures of boats and harbours, and that's probably because it reminds me of growing up in Weymouth. So while I am painting, often I am reminiscing too.

The painting I have included with this entry is the second one I did at the hospice. It's in a bit of a different style to most of those that I have done, but it is on the wall in the corridor at the hospice, and it has received a lot of favourable comment from people who have seen it. I am very proud of it, and I am pleased that others like it too. I thank Susie for her encouragement in bringing out different styles in the painting I have done here.

That's all I've got time for today...we're expecting my son and his wife for the weekend, so I've got a busy few days ahead. I'll put my next blog entry here next Thursday.

Take care until then, Paul