I have been out fishing twice this week. On Tuesday I drove down to Lough Lene to meet someone delivering a new club boat for the lough. Obviously I had to road test it after delivery...Noel and I had a pleasant days fishing, I managed to get ten trout to 2.5lb (2kg+).
I was back to lough Lene yesterday fishing a team competition. Sadly I didn't catch as many, I did manage to catch 3 'keepers'(the competition was catch and release) and a couple of small fish that didn't make the measure. The rod average was about 2.5 fish so it wasn't too bad a result. The team (6 anglers) ended up with 20 fish, which was the third highest total, but our size average was lower and we ended up in 7th place. The days fishing was hard work, but my boat partner was a pleasant companion and we had an enjoyable day on the lake. I can't give you the successful flies because if you include the undersized fish we caught ten in the boat we both had three to measure and two undersized, all fish were on different flies! Yes, it was one of those days when you really had to work for your fish. To be honest though you feel good after the day when you manage to get a few in hard conditions. The team competitions mean you work that little bit harder too so you don't let your team members down. With the team competition you need to catch at least the average so that if one member does well you don't pull his score down, and try to catch above the average yourself to pull other members up. Therefor even one fish is important, every point counts.

I was out fishing yesterday. We fished a competition on Lough Owel. Noel managed to come third, I didn't! I had a good day though, my problem was all bar one of the fish I landed were just under the size, 5 between 12 and 12.75 inches with a 13 inch limit......aaaaaaaarrrrrggghhhh!
c'est la vie! I lost a good fish early on too...I am off to lough Lene on Tuesday, I have to meet a delivery man with a new boat coming from Galway in the midlands and direct him to the berthing point....I may even have to fish a little when trying the boat out..:)
I will be back on lough Lene again on Saturday fishing the Lexus team competition..we might do well there are 5 very good anglers fishing on the six man team....just recently I'm not sure about me...lol., but the competition will be stiff.
My garden pond is coming along nicely, I need edging bricks for the top of the raised wall now. I won't be doing much today though as I am off to the studio to do some painting today.

Here I am, Two weeks after my last post......Time has flown by! I have been busy with the Easter weekend and rebuilding my garden pond. I even played with a mini digger...lol....
The pond is not finished yet but it is almost there. I need to do some finishing and some planting. I will probably put fish in next week. Talking of fishing I have been, last week I took a trip locally and then up to the upper liffey. I have not done much painting, but I have been taking gallons of water out of my studio with two de-humidifiers, about 2 gallons every 30 hours.....I didn't realise my studio was so damp!, I am still getting the same amount two weeks later. The weather for the last two weeks has been glorious, sunny and warm. It is forecast that this will continue for another week too. I am enjoying it while it lasts, although the garden renewal is stopping me sunbathing......
I will try to post a little more often again, hopefully I will get back to normal soon.

I am in dire need of a DAYS FISHING! I managed to get the flyfishing kits for the kids prizes but have done little else since my last post. I pulled a muscle and haven't been able to do much.
I hope to get to the studio tomorrow, and probably will try to organise a days fishing during the week. Lots to do, and no time to do it. I need to learn to manage my time better...I seem to be totally dis-organised, I suppose that is one of the problems of working in isolation, you try to cover everything and manage nothing.
In any event I need to try and organise a few exhibitions in the near future.

I was up in the studio today, working away doing some small studies. After the day I am tired. I have an early start in the morning, a local shop has some fly rod & reel combos for sale at 39 euro, complete with line etc. I want to buy a few of them as prizes for the kids angling competitions. Most of the Kids fish bait or spinners in the competitions it will be nice to start them off flyfishing and at under 40 euro the club can afford to give the flyfishing kits away as prizes. The downside is if I don't get up early the rods could be sold out before I get them...oh well, no lay-in in the morning. I still did not get out fishing yet...
I want to work in the studio again tomorrow. I may get an hour or two's fishing in on Friday, but I have meetings on saturday so I will get nothing done.

Spring is back....for a while a least.

Yesterday was a lovely spring day, warm, sunny, almost balmy. Today is overcast again but the temperature is still up from last week. I am having a lazy day today, I was partying last night and as a result I don't feel very energetic.
I will probably look after my plants in the conservatory later though, they are looking a bit neglected. I am still getting new strelitzia plants germinating, and I have only lost two of those transplanted which is very good considering I am having to transplant the seedlings before they get true leaves ( I planted the seeds in shallow starter trays). Next time I will sow the seeds in paper or peat based plugs that can be put into larger pots without disturbing the seedlings. I have one strelitzia in bloom, and 6 flower stems still forming on the plant so I should have some seeds for next year too.
I have been busy painting some small studies this week. They went quite well. I should be fishing today, but I was not really fit to travel this morning, between the late night and the clocks going forward last night. I would probably have failed a breathalyzer test if I had driven so I erred on the side of caution.

It has got a bit milder today, but that is the only upside. It is grey and damp now.
I haven't been able to get the studio yet today, and as it is 4.40pm I will not get there now. It has been one of those days, little errands cropping up, go to do one and end up with another......I have to get some art supplies too, but I will leave that until the morning now also. I think I will have a lazy evening, I am tired now. I will finish posting here, check my emails and then settle down in front of the TV to while away the evening. I will have to go out with the dog later but apart from that I don't intend to be very energetic. I'm off to make a cup of tea....

Winter bites back.

So much for the spring warmth....we have had snow for the last two days.
The St.Patricks day festival fireworks had to be cancelled due to the high winds, as were ferry sailings. It is freezing cold.
Bah! Humbug....

Spring time is here...

Another week gone by, time is flying.
Tuesday's fishing was a bit disapointing....very disapointing in fact, we fished Blessington/Poulaphouca reservoir. There was not a sign of a trout. We did a bit of trolling for Pike too, but with no success.
I have not really done much painting in my studio, It really needed tidying up so I got stuck in to that. I was watching the rugby yesterday, the Irish team threw away the championship, that after throwing away the French match for the grand-slam earlier, it is a pity as the team were probably the best of the championships. Ireland beat Pakistan in the Cricket yesterday!!!
miracles do happen! but the team played well to get the win, not bad for the minnows of the competition.

I am feeling guilty for not doing any work, so I will probably be in the studio today. I need to keep working to keep the momentum up. Hopefully it will be a productive day.

I am looking out of the window at trees in blossom,Forsythia, cherry, acacia and magnolias. while in my ear the birds are singing away...spring is definitely here...I hope the warmth comes with it soon.

I have been busy enough in my studio, I have packed my painting ready to ship to the exhibition in Museu da Chapelaria, S. Joao De Madiera, Portugal. I will be shipping it off later. I have discovered that one inch thick aeroboard sheeting they pack around appliances such as washing machines and fridges is excellent for packing up canvases....and free to collect from electrical shops...

The weather has improved slightly, I hope it warms up soon though, I am really looking forward to travelling and painting around the country. Perversely this also makes painting other art difficult because your mindset is looking in other areas.. I have met with the local authorities arts officer, with a view to organising an international artist exchange programme based around Marlay Park, it may take quite a while, some things move slowly....

I am about to head off to the studio to do some more work now, I have sent some paintings off this morning, hopefully they will sell well and the gallery will be looking for more. I need to keep things ticking over as I am not looking for a Solo show until next year, and earning an income tends to help when trying to pay bills... I need a rich Patron or a few sales, I think the sales are the more likely to happen. I want to finish off a piece this afternoon as I intend going fishing tomorrow.....it's been a while since I have been.....