As many people know at times I can be a little bit of a cold hearted person,

and if not cold hearted then certainly cynical.

Like every other retail outlet we are besieged by people coming in collecting for various charities,

"good causes" or maybe just for the local boy scouts, as there seems to be this feeling that anyone with a shop must have lots of money. I suppose the thinking behind this is that if we have [collectively] all the things that people want to own then of course we must be rich.

"You've got what we want" = wealth.

Doesn't make sense to me but it does to anyone collecting.

Initially when we opened the gallery and "collectors" came in I thought it was the norm to hand over money or goods to help there cause, so even though it irked a little at times, I would try to help.

Eventually I realised that this was happening about 2-3 times a month and it started to annoy me.

Speaking to other shop owners I was made aware that I had obviously been put on the "soft touch" list.

I was advised that I should do what the others do and tell them to go away.

I now have no problem at all with telling any "good cause" collectors to "close the door on their way out". As a result I now rarely get bothered except for the occasional opportunist with no credentials and dressed as Superman coming in and telling me he is collecting for "????????", which amounts to himself. It works, it seems if you embarrass people enough they will give you money to go away.

So, having established that there is truth to the claims that I have no heart,

I will tell you of a recent episode.

It was past 10am one morning, I hadn't been open for more than a few minutes when

a well dressed man and woman walked in. 

"An early sale, could be a good sign for the day", were my selfish thoughts.

Then I noticed the folders they were holding as they approached the counter.

"I'm sorry, whatever you are collecting for I'm not interested. It's not personal but I won't give you anything", was my opening conversation.

[What ever happened to "good morning]?

"I totally understand how you feel but could we just tell you what we are trying to do"?

"No, I'm not interested. I have people like you coming in collecting for various things every week,

if I gave every time I would have nothing and have to start a collection for me and my family". 

"We understand this, and really do appreciate your position, but can we tell you what we are doing"?

"Thinks"[Wow these guys were really asking for it and I was going to give it to them].

"You must be having a laugh, what makes you think I have money or goods to give away?

You don't knock on the doors of ordinary home owners and beg from them so why pick on me?

Do I look rich? [I was wearing my usual jeans and T shirt]".

"I know that it must seem unfair to you Sir, but we are just trying to collect very special things".

"Thinks"[What they want some more? OK they can have it].

"I'm sick of people like you coming in all the time collecting for this, collecting for that, a new Scout

hut, a new playing field, new footballs for the local school, oh please support us we need your help.

I don't ever see you supporting my gallery".

"Thinks" [Boy was I telling them]

" Could we quickly explain what we are after, then we will leave"?

"Thinks" [Jesus, these people are really asking for more, and I'm going to give it to them].

"You want money? OK I will tell you where 3 local millionaires live just along this road, then you can go and bother them because I am telling you that you will get nothing from me, my heart is closed".

Thinks"[That should do it].

" We just need special things and we thought this was the best place to come to".

The conversation went on for sometime, back and forth. Too long for me to record.

Until.

My thoughts were, 'these people are really serious, they just keep turning the other cheek. I think they deserve to be listened to'.

"OK, tell me what it is you are after, but whatever it is you won't get it".

They then started to explain that they were collecting for research into male cancers, which for some reason receive very little funding but from which many men die.

Apparently it seems that male cancer research isn't too fashionable and most of the funding comes from charity work. It seems that the real funding goes elsewhere.

They talked for about 20 minutes and they captured my interest, mainly because they were so passionate [after all anyone who had put up with my deliberate rudeness must be passionate].

They explained that they understood that the public were bombarded by different charities and had become immune to them, so they had set out to try and raise as much money as they could in one day.

A day full of different events and culminating with an auction.

"We are trying to find things that money can't buy, then let people buy them. Different people suggested that we come here to your gallery".

I was flattered and yes without a doubt I had become moved.

Also, I am a male [Irene begs to differ], and a fortunate one. I am healthy.

I promised that I would try to find something for them.

About two weeks later I met the artist/author Jackie Morris at a large art event.

I have known Jackie for some time and what I had learnt in that time is that she has a large heart.

So knowing she had the immanent publication of a new book I approached her with a plan in mind.

I told her of my visit from the "beggars" and how they had broken me down and moved me with their 

obvious passion and good intentions and explained that I wanted to do something.

To be precise, I wanted 'her' to do something to help 'them' and which would give 'me' all the credit

Those weren't my real thoughts but that is what it amounted to.

I asked would she do a unique illustration in the frontispiece of her unpublished book so that it could be auctioned.

Without a pause she said "OK, but I might not get it done until tomorrow, so come and see me before you go home". [The event was on for days]

I did return to see her many times and on each occasion she was signing her different books for the many fans that had come to visit her, but I didn't see any sign of "my" book illustration happening.

At the end of the event she explained that things had just been too hectic and that she would have to post it on to me.

"Don't forget, it's important to me", I told her.

A few days later I received an email from her telling me that she was far too busy and wouldn't have time to fit something like that in.

I was stunned, this wasn't like Jackie. Sure I know it was asking a lot and maybe I had asked too much at a time when I knew she had a lot on her plate, but this wasn't the Jackie I knew.

What could I do now I had no plan B?

Two days later as I was sitting doing paperwork when the postman came in [he had called earlier],

"sorry I forgot this", he said handing me a small parcel.

"Hhhhmmmm, wonder what this is".

Of course it was the book from Jackie, complete with a unique illustration at the front and signed.

Something money couldn't buy. Something only one person would ever own.

I had forgotten just how well Jackie understands my volatile nature and how I have no time for artists that consider themselves more important than the rest of the population.

How she must have laughed, I bet she was hoping that I would call and have a "rant" about

self important artists [then she would have laughed more].

What can I say?

A lovely gesture from a lovely [and far too busy] woman.

I feel humbled by her generosity.

As a result on September 22nd a very special book, a true "one of a kind" by a special woman will be auctioned and with luck raise enough money to make a difference to the lives of many men.

All of the time that I had been travelling [enjoying myself] and collecting various different works it

had been very much in my thoughts that there was an exhibition to set up on my return.

However this was not going to cause as much stress and panic as the usual show,

the reason for this is that all of the exhibits had been delivered well in advance of the opening.

In the past on some occasions we have had work turn up the day before

[even on the day] the opening, to say that this increases the stress would be something of an understatement, as a result I will often be sitting here at 2.am the morning before

still typing out the price list, the excitement of this wore off some years ago.

This time it was very different.

The very last of the art arrived here with two weeks to spare, what is more amazing is that the

three artists involved all live in France, so the logistics,

the packing and shipping was even more involved than what is normal.

What a refreshing change it is to be involved with artists that understand that you need their help to

create a successful exhibition.

So returning from my trips I was excited at the thought of preparing the new show.

The invitations were all printed so it was an enjoyable period setting up the exhibition and even

having time to re-arrange things until we were completely happy.

I have decided that I prefer this to doing it the day after the opening.

The three artists involved are, Melanie Bourget, Louise Gardelle and Christine Amelie Petit.

Sculptor, potter and painter.

We have shown work by Louise ever since we opened 7 years ago and it seems strange to see that she now has a loyal following here in the Suffolk countryside. People come in occasionally talking as if she is a good friend and we have requests for news of fresh pieces every week.

Melanie is new to us although we have had a few pieces on show for a few months to create

interest in her sculpture.

Christine, approached me after plans for the exhibition were already in motion.

It seemed the obvious thing to invite her to be included in the event, luckily she agreed.

For a while in my mind the exhibition was titled 'Three French Hens', in fact all my paperwork

and computer files have that as a heading.

Fortunately before the invitations went to be printed Irene became involved so we opened a show

with the title 'Trois Femmes Francaises'.

The reaction has been really good, with many people returning to look and to purchase.

I think that it is an exhibition that given enough time would be a sell out as "word of mouth"

is bringing new visitors daily.

Paul, the local hairdresser has told me that it is the talk of his salon, I am not surprised when considering some of the various hairstyles shown in the different pieces.

I look forward to him telling me that someone came in asking for a "Melanie Bourget no. 3" style.

This has been a fun exhibition from the very start and it still has a little longer to run.

The artists are professional, their work is beautiful, but the best thing of all is:

my French has improved.

"Au revoir mes amis".

It was only as I thought to write this post that I understood just how far behind I am with many things,

emails, letters, telephone calls, picture taking, web site updating, calls, etc, etc.

It seems that the daily life of just running the gallery has taken me away from more things than I had

imagined, I suppose that is a good sign as it means we are busy, busy doing many things.

This is also the time of year when I tend to do a lot of travelling, as there are interesting fairs, events and exhibitions happening all over the country.

So in a short period of time I seem to squeeze in a years worth of driving.

In theory this should be good as it means that I return with lots of new art plus also I should have lots to write about, telling you of the many interesting people that I have met and the places I have seen.

Somehow though it all just becomes a blur as one journey merges with another, in fact I often have to concentrate to remember where I have been. Of course this isn't helped by the fact that one 'Travelodge'

seems exactly the same as the last.

Maybe I'm getting confused, perhaps I have only stayed at one, who knows?

So I thought before all of my memories where erased I would just make a small mention of one trip

while it stays in my memory.

I travelled North, and as usual if the opportunity arises I will make this coincide with a stay at what has become my "home from home",

 The Green Dragon Inn, at Hardraw in Yorkshire.

It is a place that I am made to feel so welcome that at times I  have often driven 5 hours home with the door key in my pocket, this is usually because Mark the owner insists on having a "cuppa" and a chat about artists before I set off,

The quick coffee ends up taking an hour and a half by which time I forget I'm a customer, shake his hand, saying " see you in a couple of weeks".

It seems natural to leave with my own door key.

However on this trip "there was no room at the Inn", except for my last night before I returned home,

so for this adventure like many before the car was my bedroom.

But it was a bedroom with a fantastic view, 'Ullswater' in the Lake District.

To say that the weather had been bad in England would be something of an understatement,

while the rest of the World struggled with heat and drought here we were almost sinking in rainwater.

So after a day spent at a ceramic fair my evening and night was spent by the lake.

Although I have done this many times before it has never been like this visit, the area was deserted.

No campers, indeed no holiday makers. It seemed I had the lake to myself for the evening and night.

What a night.

I think that every conceivable weather change happened within 12 hours, as a result although I was able to witness some incredible changes in light, colour, mist, hail and rain I didn't take one photograph

until the following morning.

That morning started with rain, then sun for a short time then back to rain, then sun, then rain.............

Above is one of the early good periods. 

Luckily after another long day at the ceramic fair I was able to set off for home and a real bed.

The Green Dragon, of course.

Some of the treasures that I collected at the fair I will have to show at a later date or I will never

get this finished, but I will mention that I "bumped" into a fellow blogger at the show.

An American potter named Dan Finnigan.

It was a genuine pleasure to meet the real person, plus an added pleasure to find him such a real 'gentle'man. I do hope we meet again one day.

So, Green Dragon and 'comfy' bed. I was on my way.

I had forgotten that they were holding their annual "Gathering", which is an incredible, not to be missed Folk music event. I mean "real" folk music.

The kind where local farmers turn up, with their guitars, banjo's, accordions, flute etc,etc,

 sit beside famous musicians in the various rooms and all lose themselves in music.

How could I have forgotten?

This was the reason that they could only fit me in for one night, hundreds of people had descended upon this remote hillside inn, plus me.

I had been reserved the best suite at the Inn, which is an indication of what nice people 

[Mark & Yvonne] are, but it was directly above one of the Bar rooms where the music was underway

as I arrived. The atmosphere is so good I was determined to enjoy some of it, but after half an hour and a pint of cider I decided that I was "just too tired".

I hated myself for giving way to tiredness and knew that I would regret it at a later date, but upstairs I went, showered and climbed into my enormous bed.

I forgot to mention that the rooms all have large open Fireplaces, there was one in my room and one 

alight in the room below, this meant that all sound travelled.

Still it wasn't a problem, after a night in the car I would sleep though anything, I did for a while.

I awoke,

It was two in the morning, the sound of a beautiful voice had crept into my mind.

Up the chimney came a woman's voice sing "Sounds of Silence".

For a few seconds I lay savouring it, thirty seconds later with trousers on [just] I was downstairs

witnessing this "magic".

That is the only way I can describe the event that I found.

A room lit by firelight, people of all ages playing instruments, violin, guitar, flute and voice.

The songs were all from an earlier generation, my generation.

The evening finished with a man singing a love song to his wife, they were sitting on a giant old Oak settle, barely illuminated by the fire.

He sang that he loved her and she sat twisting her hands looking at the floor like a young girl,

it was wonderful and I was so pleased to have witnessed this ending to the event.

The next morning when I came downstairs for breakfast it was as nothing had happened,

the inn was spotless and empty except for me.

As Yvonne said to me "it seems like it was a dream".

It was to me, but seeing that she was still wearing last night's cloths I imagine it had been a nightmare,

cleaning and preparing throughout the night.

So I left the "Dragon" with its crazy "No Hippy" sign

[you don't find many of them in North Yorkshire], and their waterfall,

heading North and East.

Once again travelling through four seasons in a day, I visited a glass maker and a sculptor and

I think the pictures show it wasn't a wasted journey.

But as they say that is for another day.

Plus loads has happened since.

Before I get any further behind with my journal I thought I had better do at least one quick post so that I can start catching up with events.

It feels strange having to record older events when everything since then is so fresh in the mind.

Whatever, here we go.

I deliberately have not recorded anything for a while and part of the reason for this was reflected in the last post, where for the first time I omitted to mention the name of any of the artists whose work was shown.

The reason for this is that I run a gallery, a business, and so far the reason for its success has been because of the variety, and quality of the work the work shown, from various artist/makers from around the world.

All of the time I am searching for different artists whose work I can fall in love with, as a result I am frequently amazed at the quality of the work we are so fortunate to receive.

If I find four or five new artists a year then I consider that a really good result, as I am only searching for the best and of course the best need to be convinced that we are good enough to show their work.

What I had never considered or worried about was that my BLOG and the web site are used as a shopping list for lazy [and I will add money grabbing] gallery owners.

Recently we have had artists that we exhibit approached by another gallery just a few miles away and this has made me aware of the foolishness of showing the art and naming the artists that we are fortunate to have.

So the last time I showed the different pieces of art that we have here I excluded the names of the creators.

For that I apologise to them and anyone who has a serious interest in seeing their creations, but it is something I may continue to do.

However, as with everything in life there are exceptions.

Most galleries take the easy/lazy option so I don't think they will be interested in this artist.

He is a man I met a recent art event, but I will hold the name because I am sure that "Lazy Gallery"

doesn't have it on their radar.

At this event I discovered an incredible 'Calligraphy' artist.

A Calligraphy artist and much more, I can only describe his work as paper sculpture and it is so different to anything I had seen before.

Alongside many other pieces that he had on display there was one piece I coveted.

The one above of course.

Apart from being so clever and beautiful it also carried a poem I remember from childhood.

I just "had" to have it.

I decided after a long deliberation that I would approach him and try and put a reason to him that he

should allow me to leave with this piece of unusual work.

Every time I found courage to approach him I found a queue of people waiting for autograph's so I would walk away with the decision to try later.

As the day turned to evening I eventually joined the line of people waiting to talk with him.

At last my time came.

"What can I do for you young man"?

I won't tell you my exact words but they amounted to,

"can I show that piece in my gallery"?

He looked into my eyes for a few seconds then replied,

"of course you can it will be a pleasure".

We spoke much, much more and I left with for home with the paper sculpture for the gallery plus a glow deep inside for the pleasure of having met such a nice artist and gentleman.

It now hangs in the gallery and is attracting much interest/comments and it is giving pleasure to lots of visitors.

But, unfortunately for "Lazy Gallery" they will have to journey to Australia for this artist.

Dave Woods, a lovely man and a genuine artist.

Sometimes I really do pinch myself to think how fortunate I am.

I have just been reading wonderful post by a blogger called Dan Finnegan,

a potter who lives in America.

He has been telling a story about a small part of his life in daily instalments, 

it has been fascinating to read and has really made me think "this is what blogs should be like".

Unfortunately I haven't got anything nearly as interesting to write about.

Usually I have no problem with the writing it is the lack of photographs that stop me from blogging.

I'm one of those people who is still a child and needs pictures to make a good story.

As a little boy I was asked by a teacher "what are you doing with that book, you know you can't read

[I was a very late learner]?

I explained "I'm reading the pictures". That put her in her place.

So it still is with me I love pictures with a story, although now they are mainly in my imagination.

To write a blog I feel that I "must" have a pictures, so many a times I have wanted to write but have put off doing so because there was nothing to show with my words.

Today is the opposite I have pictures but have nothing of great interest to talk about.

My day has consisted of selling a few sculptures and a few ceramics, coupled with a lot of talking with the people who have come in to look at things.

I like it when people come in to look and talk, of course I want to sell different things but sometimes

it is enough to know that people enjoy looking at what we show.

Hearing someone talking about a picture or sculpture sometimes makes me look at things with a different eye, especially if it is something that is open to interpretation, but really I just enjoy having the excuse to talk about artists and their work.

I love the various art and I want others to share that.

I can't count the number of times someone has said "I just love this painting [or whatever]" and it has made me smile and I find that I usually say "I'm glad you said that, so do I".

Of course there are times when people will tell me that they "really don't like this work",

or I am often asked "why do you show this?  I really like these but I can't see how anyone can like that".

What they don't understand that although everything that we show can be really different in style

[eclectic is the word] everything is all connected.

The connection being my own admiration of the work or artist, we all have different facets to our personality and the varied work we show is just a reflection of my personality.

I like everything that we show in equal amounts, I must admit I have days when I love one thing 

above all others but that soon passes and I return to a state of contentment and pride.

Not pride for anything I have done but proud of the clever people we are lucky enough to represent.

Which gives me the perfect excuse for showing these various unrelated pieces that are here today.

They are all very different and you must appreciate that they are shown in different appropriate area's

of the gallery, not side by side as above.

Individually they are beautiful, well crafted and totally unique, but I couldn't tell you about them without a picture.

So until I have something more interesting to talk about, "just read the pictures".

Well our 'Grand Opening' is well and truly behind us now.

In fact so many things have happened since when I think back upon it now it seems almost a dream.

The opening day passed in a blur, it seems so strange to have put so much work into it [even up to the last hour before opening] that I have no distinct clear memories of what happened on the day.

I suppose it is a little like trying to remember Christmas day as a child, I can still remember the Eve but not the day.

It passed so fast, or seemed to although in reality it lasted for about seven hours.

Many people came, old friends and new [some travelling for hours] plus many of the characters and artists that have become a part of the gallery. Indeed it would seem strange now to imagine a life that they didn't take a part in.

I can remember snatches of conversation with different people which seemed to last for just a few minutes but I can't recall a day's worth.

But it happened and all seemed to be over far too soon.

Unfortunately I forgot to record any of the events on camera, I had promised various people that I would and I even had my camera behind the desk , but it was only when the day was over that I remembered that I hadn't picked it up once, too much was happening.

It is a shame to have no pictures because I don't think that we will be opening many new galleries in our lifetime,  plus I had promised various artists that I would record events and I do regret that I have nothing to show them.

I mention the work that went into opening the gallery, a lot of this work was done by many different artists living and working in locations far from us, and of course without their help, commitment and involvement there would have been no gallery to open.

I suppose thinking back on the day most of the time my thoughts kept returning to them,

in fact it would have been impossible for that not to happen as questions were being asked all of the time about a particular piece of work or the artist who created it.

I wish that they could have been here [some were] to talk about their art, but then again maybe it was best for me to boast of their achievements for them as I know many are far too modest.

Still it would at least given me more time to concentrate on the 'wine tasting'.

There were many pieces that have now left us for new homes, one really unusual piece was sold "twice" by mistake [whoops, my fault] and another was the cause of an argument.

This was the unusual Reliquary with the silver spoon that I posted a little while ago.

A couple came especially to purchase it and couldn't understand why it had sold to someone two hours before, as they explained to me "we came especially to buy that".

What can you say?

Anyway, the following day and all those that followed I knew that I was on borrowed time before someone called and asked "have you any pictures of the opening"?

That day was today.

As I haven't instead I have taken a few pictures of different area's in the gallery as it is today.

With many different pieces being taken away [due to the distance travelled by the purchaser] the 

exhibition pieces have now been spread throughout the gallery, which at the moment is in a constant state of flux as we keep trying different pieces and paintings in different areas, still trying to get a feel for how the place and the work shown will look at its best.

We are getting there but it is still early days.

The pictures are of nothing in particular but of spaces and things that caught my eye this morning.

I think that I may have mentioned before that I am easily distracted.

So although it had been my intention to show some RELIQUARY pieces that have been arriving,

I got distracted.

For some time now I have been intending to put some beautiful pictures on the blog of different

artworks that have been "tucked away" for our opening, but with so much happening in a short space

of time this has never come about, until today.

I have mentioned the amazing paintings that we have received from the French artist Anne Bachelier.

Well to my great delight she has created another 'Reliquary' painting for the opening,

at the moment it still lives in France but tomorrow it will be on its way to us.

This was enough to have me excited, but my good fortune doesn't stop there.

I have been corresponding with another French artist,

Christine Aurel-Petit.

She has sent me a book of her paintings that I love and which are very different to anything we have shown before. Today she has said that she will try to have two paintings here in time for our opening.

To say that I am excited about what will be on show would be something of an understatement.

I can't wait.

Unfortunately I do have a tendency to think that everything on show is mine, and it is with mixed emotions that I understand that it isn't when pieces find new homes.

But, for a moment in time everything is mine.

So I will look forward to receiving "my" new paintings.

The gallery opening is going to be a little unusual for us, as normally it is an "exhibition" that we invite people to but this time the invitation is almost for two events.

The RELIQUARY exhibition plus the opening of our new space.

Because at last we do have "space" this means that everything will be different.

So even though the exhibition will be under way it will also give people, who usually only attend exhibitions a chance to see the varied art that we show on a daily basis.

This is the reason that I am showing the art above.

Only the painting by Anne is specific for the exhibition, the others are things that I have held back

plus of course the new paintings by Christine.

Two of the above are by another female artist.

Jane Lewis.

Someone who creates the most magnificently disturbing pictures that I have come across,

for me it is immense personal pleasure that at last a few pieces by her are upon our walls.

The last picture is equally unusual.

'The Angels of Salthouse' by Alan Page.

Salthouse is a location in the county of Norfolk, and the church exists as in the painting.

The meaning of the host of Angels surrounding the church I don't understand.

But it is said, that the graveyard is very large and extends towards the sea which means that there is space for many lost souls within it.

Who knows? I don't care I just love it.

It is beautiful, very simple yet it is easy to get lost for a long time staring at it, and becoming part of it.

So Above are:

Anne Bachelier

Christine Aurel-Petit

Jane Lewis

Alan Page

"Kids, what are they like"?

Those 'wizzkid' youngsters at Blogger almost stopped me writing this.

They used to say "if it ain't broke don't fix it".

To someone like me, it now seems it's a case of "lets **** it,  just because we can and they pay us".

Which is obviously a sign of my age or their admittance that it wasn't very good before.

Anyway, lets give it a go,

although I'm not going to use any of those fantastic new templates and stuff,

they weren't there when I needed them, and having to "make do" then, I will continue doing so.

Back to the real world.

Which of course is not true as I do appreciate more and more that "my world"

is not really the "real" world and for that I am very fortunate, and I never forget or cease to think

"how lucky am I"?

With the fast approach of our opening exhibition things are becoming a little bit fraught, and I confess

at the moment I just can't imagine how everything will be completed and ready on time for 

June 10th.

But, somehow I just know that it will be.

This is only because there are people involved who I know I can rely on, and that is a blessing.

Getting the building finished, decorated, and ready to hold an opening exhibition is a "full on"

experience, but, at the back of my mind I have had the concerns that I might be let down by artists.

Why? You might ask.

Because I haven't had enough time to correspond with them, and to remind them how important this is to us as a gallery. Normally I would be in contact with all artists involved in an exhibition to discuss

and plan things, but this time I have had no time to do that and it has concerned me.

I need not have worried.

Different artists from around the world [literally] have been in contact and at the moment there is a wealth of beautiful artifacts on there way to us.

In fact they are not all "on route" as some arrived here today.

Margaret Brampton delivered her beautiful, gentle Reliquary's.

Some in my opinion the best she has made, although she has never made a bad one.

In all honesty, Margaret was the biggest inspiration behind our opening exhibition.

I am not only a great admirer of her work but also her 'blog', where she spends more time promoting the work of others rather than her own.

That is a rare thing, and I have been the lucky recipient and reader of her trips to different museums,

where she photographs the wonderful creations she admires.

Her words, work and photographs inspired this opening exhibition.

From her inspiration I became excited and that excitement took me to many destinations around the globe, and to my amazement I found many artist who were creating Reliquary's.

As a result I have had lovely conversations with people that I have never met but who are creating incredible art that can only be described as a "Reliquary".

One such person is Sim Taylor who arrived today with his sculptures.

I will talk more of him and his work when I have photographed it, but I fear that no photographs will capture the "magnificence" of his creations.

But, more later.

So not only did I have the arrival of Margaret and Sim's work in one day, I also had confirmation that

other pieces of art were on their way from France, America and even Alaska.

Not bad for a gallery in rural Suffolk, but not something that I take lightly at all.

These are "world stage" artists and I consider myself very, very fortunate.

So the work above that doesn't belong to Margaret is by three different artists.

Anne Bachelier, the French painter.

Anne to my great amazement and delight asked "could she contribute a Reliquary painting"?

I'm still getting over the shock and delight of such a request.

Another is Daniel Essig, the famous and so incredibly talented "book maker" from America.

His work has long intrigued and delighted me, so to think that some will be on show here is such an

incredible personal pleasure. Plus he is such a nice man.

Lastly, but by no way least is Stephen Godfrey.

A ceramist who lives in Alaska.

The very thought of showing an artist from there, "here" in rural England leaves me feeling numb.

Although it is hard to find much of his work on the Internet, everything that I have seen I have loved

and it became something of a personal crusade to track him down and to ask him

"would he be involved"?

He is.

Today he told me that after the snowiest winter on record spring has at last arrived, the trees are budding and the snow is melting from the trails.

He attached a picture of one of his favourite places 'Matanuska Glacier'.

Even though here we have had a hot English summer's day I find it moving to think that we are all so close and connected by the love of and the creation of art.

Thank you.