Back to reality

I am finally getting back into the routine of life at home once more, after having an amazing holiday for 3 weeks at the end of March. We went on the final leg of a World Cruise, which we had booked at the end of 2008 - the holiday was to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary later this year and to mark the fact that we have known each other for 20 years now!

Highlights of our trip included a visit to the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the Temple at Karnak in Eqypt and an unexpected trip to a papyrus factory where the technique of making papyrus paper was demonstrated to us - unfortunately we weren't allowed to film that. There were some amazing pieces of artwork on the papyrus for sale, we couldn't resist one of a Bastet Cat with a couple of cartouches either side which we had our names painted into. The cat is one just like this image which I found on an online Eqyptian Papryus shop.

One of the other highlights was our visit to Malta - an island that neither of us had ever visited before. We saw some stunning architecture in Mdina, especially in the old part of the town. We also went to a glass-blowing factory and were lucky enough to watch the workers making the pieces of glass ornaments, vases etc. There were some beautiful creations in the shop, which I took video footage of, but I decided not to buy anything despite my desires, as I really could have gone overboard in there! Lots of vases, bowls, plates, paintings with glass, several of which were in the style of artists such as Van Gogh, Monet and Cezanne.

Once we have sorted through our photographs I will post some of them here.

On the cruise, I joined the passenger choir, which I loved being a part of. Since I would be missing a concert back home with Hull Musical Society, I was chuffed to be able to take part in a concert on the ship one evening towards the end of the cruise. We sung "Ascot Gavotte", "Edelweiss", "Be Still, My Soul", "As Long As I Have Music", "A La Cart", "Moon River", "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho", "Flying Free", "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "The Drunken Sailor". The concert was filmed by the cruise photographer, but Keith (my husband) also filmed it and has since made a DVD of it - this is one of my treasured memories of the holiday.

I am now working towards some exhibitions during the next few months, trying to build up my collection of smaller artworks as well as creating some more larger ones - I have been painting another magnetic note-pad this morning and a trinket box, too. For some reason, since we got back, we have both been getting up at around 6 or 7am and going to bed earlier in an evening! I have also been doing some more work on two of the plays that the Youth Section are to perform in July - we need to start ordering some of the costumes and props soon, too! 

Right, that's enough for today, will try and upload some holiday photos soon.