Tractor Barn coming to life

When we expanded the gallery we converted the old barn where we kept the tractor into 'flexible space' with the aim of using it for meetings and workshops. During 2009 we were so busy (thanks son) that we weren't able to dedicate the time to get the ball rolling. This year, things are starting to take shape; it feels good to see the space filled with people.

Last week the Moors and Coast Tourism Partnership held a networking meeting, and we have our first 'corporate clients' renting the space in a few weeks. Debbie has arranged course and workshops throughout the year, many by makers who are showing at the gallery (if you would like a place on Celia Smith's wire sculpture course you'll need to hurry - only 2 places left...)

It's a good feeling to be linking up with other businesses in the area - with the catering being arranged by Fine Foods of Yorkshire - the award winning deli in Easingwold. The more excuses I have sample their fantastic food the better!

Art of chocolate

Last week I headed out to Switzerland to visit an historic chocolate factory in the mountains north of Lake Geneva. A new centre dedicated to developing artisanal chocolates has opened in the top floor of the old factory and I am lucky to work with this team as part of my 'day job' as a chocolate scientist.

While there I had the chance to take part in a tasting session. What struck me most was not the flavours or textures (which were indeed sublime) but the amazing appearance of the pralines, truffles and chocolates. As part of my work I've made a few basic chocolates, but their creations showed a level of appreciation of form, combined with a mastery of the raw materials that goes beyond simply 'making chocolates'. Depsite being artistic creations, they were still designed to be eaten - and this touches on the long running form vs function debate. (I valiantly put such a debate to one side while sinking by teeth into yet another chocolate creation...)

Farewell to Spike...

The Lund will have a very different personality in the future, as last week we said our final farewell to Spike – our collie/whippet cross. He was out faithful friend for 14 years, and visitors to the gallery have been welcomed by Spike since we first opened four years ago (more enthusiastically in the last few months as he gradually became hard-of-hearing…).

He had a wonderful life, moving from the wilderness of the North Pennines, to rural Bedford, and finally having free range of Lund Farm into his old age. He will be greatly missed.

Northumberland Beach Holiday

Just back from a wonderful weeks holiday in Northumberland; our first holiday with our son. The back door of the holiday cottage opens out onto a wide expanse of sand, with the waves crashing close to the back door when the tide is in. Most days were spent drifting from breakfast to coffee to lunch and on through the day while watching the tides drift in and out. It was a very welcome break. Debbie spent time with sketch book, pen and paint, with the view from the kitchen being a continuing source of inspiration.

While we were away, I tried the boiler out on pellets (rather than wood chip) with the hope it would burn for a whole week on one hopper. As we pulled in back at the Lund following our week away there was a thin stream of smoke from the chimney – a big relief. We’ve also taken a bulk delivery of freshly chipped pine, still trying to find the best fuel for the burner. A balance between price, moisture content, chip size, and whether it’s in bags, bulk bags or tipped. This was tipped, and I still can’t get my head around how the driver managed to get such a huge tractor and trailer into such a small space.

We open the doors to the gallery again on the 6th Feb. The timing feels right; we’ve had time to redecorate, bring in some new and exciting work, have a family break and a ‘breather’, and return refreshed and ready to head into 2010.

… and the cabbages seem to have made it through the winter. Amazing.

Snow and a New Lick of Paint

Like many people across the country, we’ve been out with the camera capturing some images of the amazing snow and ice. This is our first Christmas living at the Lund, and it’s magical to have such a dramatic snowscape.

A lucky escape for Debbie… shortly after walking out of a shed next to our house, the shed roof collapsed with a suitably dramatic creaking, crashing, thud. The weight of snow was just too much for its old wooden frame – it was second hand when it arrived here many decades ago, so it's had a good life. Looking on the bright side, we’ll have a cracking view out of our front room when the carcass is hauled away…

We’ve taken the plunge with the roller and paintbrush over the last few days. Following four years of a white and grey ‘neutral’ gallery space, we’ve decided to warm things up with a bit of colour. White was the easy option when we opened, and of course it’s very traditional ‘gallery’ colour – but it feels great to be adding some warmer tones on some of the walls.

As for my veg - I am trying to be optimistic, but it will be a hardy cabbage that lives through this:

The snow might look nice, but as for many people it can also be an inconvenience. I was hoping to head on a roadtrip – picking up new work from the south coast, Bath, and Cumbria. But with the next wave of snow and ice heading in, it’ll be on hold for at least a couple of days.

With such a cold spell, I’ve been keeping fit by feeding the boiler with woodchip; it’s eating a full hopper every day. So I may be buying in some high energy density wood pellets for the next few weeks to make life a little easier.

End of Year

Only four more days of the Sublime Landscapes exhibition to run. Mixed feelings; it's a wonderful show, and a joy to spend time surrounded by such enriching work and so will be a shame to take it down next week, but I'm also looking forward to some family time with the gallery closed for Christmas.

With Debbie painting, running the gallery and looking after Finn, and with me working, the moments we can spend together are few, but precious. The next few weeks will be spent reflecting on an busy year, 2009, and looking forward to 2010.

And an important part of this is news that warmed our hearts - a holiday cottage on the Northumberalnd coastline that we have stayed in several times before has been refurbished and after several years off the market, is now back open for business. We usually stay in January or February to enjoy the empty but usually sunlit beach. Debbie takes paint and brush, and many of her larger seascapes have been painted on the cottage's kitchen table looking out over the epic panorama... Fingers crossed our booking has been accepted for Jan...

We visited a new gallery in York on Sunday - The New School House near the Black Swan pub. It's great to see new galleries in the area (for some reason York seems to have few considering what a beautiful city it is and how many visitors it attracts each year). The New School House is carrying some of the finest ceramics we have seen in the area - and we wish them all the success for the future...

In Deep

This is our first year living here at the Lund, and now, moving from Autumn through to the beginning of winter, we are learning some more new things...

Like the fact that, when it rains a lot after the leaves have just fallen from the trees, then the pond outlet gets blocked, it floods. Then the water starts to back up the inlets to the pond - which includes our sewage biodigester. So I spent much of last night, in the dark with a big stick trying to unblock the pond outflow. But it was worth the effort - when I finally found it and cleared it it was like a huge gurgling bath emptying for a couple of hours... fantastic noise!

And with the leaves falling, the colours change in the garden. The bark on the beach trees has finally turned bright white, showing up the contrast with the red dogwood...


But mainly, at the moment, it is just the gray and brown of rain and mud!