Wherever your life takes you in 2014 I hope that you enjoy the journey - wishing you health and happiness,
Jan

Wherever you may be this Christmas, (and I know that some of you are a long way from Nelson Lakes!) I hope that you have a safe and Happy Christmas with friends and family. Try not be bogged down in commercial hype and festive stress , having loved ones  with you is the very best present you could ever wish for , and it really doesn't matter whether you're eating turkey or sandwiches - enjoy each other. 
 Thanks for listening to me over the past year, I hope that you'll stay in touch in 2014 and that it's a great year for you.
Jan

We've just returned from invercargill where my Man and various friends were racing their classic motor bikes in the Burt Munro Memorial races. The weather was atrocious and although I had my paints with me it was tempting just to shelter in the warm car. But one of our friends persisted in asking each time he wheeled his bike past 
" have you found anything to sketch?"
Eventually he embarrassed me into rugging up and venturing outside . The bikes themselves are interesting - but as per usual , I'm drawn to the old rusty ones rather than the huge chrome monsters . And the riders. Oh my goodness! The riders of the old rusty ones often match ! Not counting the brave soul who only has one arm and one leg (and yes, he was racing)  , there were old boguns , old hippies, lots of grizzled beards and long hair..... I sneaked about with  my camera taking furtive shots. I got a wonderful one of a rider with long grey hair and beard flowing , flames shooting from his BBQ (cooking his breakfast) ,cigarette drooping from his mouth while he gazed lovingly at his old BSA - I can feel some portraits coming on. 
The Southland gales were roaring across the track and tents were providing shelter for riders and bikes ,it reminded me of sideshow tents at a circus! Here are a couple of the sketches  - Team Velocette waiting for something to happen. So my challenge now is to build some paintings from my reference material - watch this space.....