Not really a blog just blethers

After spending a wonderful day viewing castle X we had bought the book, done the tour and seen it from every angle. We scoured the tourist shops for a little something to remind us of our nice time, something to look back on in years to come, something to show to others and tell of our good fortune. We couldn't find anything. We didn't fancy a plastic castle or a stick of rock we didn't want a bumper sticker. So we painted it. Now we can admire it forever, a lasting memory. you could say Frustration started this web-site.	Apologies to viewers of the web site, who may find it a bit cranky. Being a hard up artist, I had to make it myself. I do find the whole process a fascinating challenge, and it certainly has evolved lots since I made my first web site eight years ago. However it is all time away from painting and painting is my primary interest.
Not quite a blog more just blether's if you would like a mention on here send in an e-mail or use the contact form
sisi our cat she is 21 years old now. A bit of a cheeky look on her chops.	Next painting project. I saw a photo somewhere on the internet with this castle and the Forth Bridges behind. I didn't even know it existed. On our last trip out we had a look, it's only 20 miles away. Blackness Castle on the south banks of the Firth of Forth. From the angle I took this you can see Rosyth Dockyard behind. I couldn't catch the bridges. We will have to return when we have more time and climb the hill behind where we were to catch the view we want.
A couple who were attending an art exhibition at the National Gallery were staring at a portrait that had them completely confused. The painting depicted three black naked men sitting on a park bench. Two of the figures had black penises, but the one in the middle had a pink penis. The curator of the gallery realized that they were having trouble interpreting the painting and offered his assessment. He went on for nearly half an hour explaining how it depicted the sexual emasculation of African Americans in a predominately white, patriarchal society. In fact, he pointed out, some serious critics believe that the pink penis also reflects the cultural and sociological oppression experienced by gay men in contemporary society. When the curator left, a Scottish man approached the couple and asked, "Would you like to know what the painting is really about?" "Now how can you claim to be more of an expert than the curator of the gallery?" asked the couple. "Because I'm the artist, I painted this picture," he replied. "In fact, there are no African Americans depicted at all. They're just three Scottish coal-miners. The guy in the middle went home for lunch."	If a man speaks in the forest, and there is no woman around to hear him ..... Is he still wrong One afternoon, a wealthy lawyer was riding in the back of his limousine when he saw two men eating grass by the road side. He ordered his driver to stop and he got out to investigate. "Why are you eating grass?" he asked one man. "We don't have any money for food." the poor man replied. "Oh, come along with me then." "But sir, I have a wife with two children!" "Bring them along! And you, come with us too!", he said to the other man. "But sir, I have a wife with six children!" the second man answered. "Bring them as well!" They all climbed into the car, which was no easy task, even for a car as large as the limo. Once underway, one of the poor fellows says, "Sir, you are too kind. Thank you for taking all of us with you." The lawyer replied, "No problem, the grass at my home is about two feet tall!"
A Hawaiian hospital has restated its rules on pets after a man took a horse up in a lift in a bid to cheer up a sick relative with his favourite steed. Man and beast were stopped by security guards only after reaching the third floor, after apparently passing through the lobby unchallenged. The patient was allowed to see them but it turned out to be the wrong horse. read more	my mum and dad's silver wedding anniversary on the 27th wow sixty years Wallace Monument to get upgrade BBC
I have been asked a couple of times for these lyrics, a bit of nostalgia but still a song that stirs the emotions: Flower of Scotland O flower of Scotland When will we see Your like again That fought and died for Your wee bit hill and glen And stood against him Proud Edward's army And sent him homeward Tae think again The hills are bare now And autumn leaves lie thick and still O'er land that is lost now Which those so dearly held And stood against him Proud Edward's army And sent him homeward Tae think again Those days are passed now And in the past they must remain But we can still rise now And be the nation again That stood against him Proud Edward's army And sent him homeward Tae think again	while I am at it here's another: Scotland the Brave Hark when the night is falling Hear hear the pipes are calling Loudly and proudly calling Down thro' the glen There where the hills are sleeping Now feel the blood a-leaping High as the spirits of the old highland men chorus Towering in gallant fame Scotland my mountain hame High may your proud standard gloriously wave Land of my high endeavour Land of the shining rivers Land of my heart for ever Scotland the brave High in the misty highlands Out by the purple islands Brave are the hearts that beat Beneath Scottish skies Wild are the winds that meet you Staunch are the friends that greet you Kind as the love that shines from fair maidens eyes Far off in sunlit places Sad are the Scottish faces Yearning to feel the kiss Of sweet Scottish rain Where tropic skies are beaming Love sets the heart a-dreaming Longing and dreaming for the homeland again
or a wee bit o Rabbie Burns stirring stuff Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled, Scots, wham Bruce has aften led, Welcome tae your gory bed, Or tae Victorie! Now's the day, and now's the hour See the front o' battle lour, See approach proud Edward's power Chains and Slaverie! Wha will be a traitor knave? Wha will fill a coward's grave? Wha sae base as be a slave? Let him turn and flee! Wha, for Scotland's king and law, Freedom's sword will strongly draw, Freeman stand, or Freeman fa', Let him on wi' me! By Oppression's woes and pains! By your sons in servile chains! We will drain our dearest veins, But they shall be free! Lay the proud usurpers low! Tyrants fall in every foe! Liberty's in every blow! Let us do or dee!	Am always interested in other outlets. If you have a shop in a tourist area of Scotland and would like to try a couple of paintings of local scenes. *** If you are a budding Scottish artist needing a gateway to the world, let us know. *** If you run a Clan Web site, a clan castle painting, should feature in your shop. * due to popular requests we are looking into getting some prints of selected art works made available for sale. * If you have a painting you think may be painted by us we keep extensive records and would be happy to supply full history and details.
We went to the vintage car rally at the Scottish Bus Museum a couple of weekends ago. Smashing stuff, I was wanting to see and study steam tractors in action but they only had one static display. However the old buses were magic. Took me back to my first holiday as a child. It was 1958 and we got the bus from Dunfermline to Fintry where we stayed in a caravan. There was only 1 bus a week through Fintry and the local's all waved to us as we passed. Hmmm....ideas for a future painting.. lovely old bus.	snippets from emails..... Hi Peter, Your two lovely paintings have arrived! They are in good condition (thanks for packaging them so well) and I'm anxious to get them framed and hung. I will be checking your web site now and then to see what new things you might post. Keep painting, Brenda ( Ontario ) Hi Peter the more I look at your painting the more I think it is exquisite. I used to be a fine printmaker (mainly sugarlift aquatint and dry point)............ Cheers Maggie ( Pennsylvania ) Hi, I liked the picture, I've been to Dunottar before and I felt it captured it well. ............ Cheers Lucia ( Scotland ) Oh Peter and Rosie The paintings have just arrived and they are beautiful, perfect they just.............. Will be back, Paul ( Adelaide )
Hi Peter, The painting arrived this morning and it looks absolutely stunning!! Once again, thankyou so much, I really appreciate the hard work. Have a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year. Kind regards, Hi Peter and Rosie I just have to say it was my fathers birthday yesterday, the 15th and we had a big ............when he saw his present he just sat and cried ....he remembers it just as you painted .......I cannot thank,,,, Shona ( Gibraltar ) Well peter I spent hundreds of hours researching my family tree and am just burstin to show everyone what I achieved but like family snaps its a bit selfish. now when we get visitors they all comment on my beautiful painting and the talk turns to Scotland and before long I get all my heritage out - great eh? am I wicked June name changed usa got print number four now and the collection is really looking good, everyone's commenting ...... Bill ( cafepress prints ) Good morning Peter, Wanted to let you know that I am now in possession of the painting and I am absolutely delighted with it, and I know that J.. will be. Thank you for all your help, and I hope that you and your family will have a lovely Christmas and a very happy New Year. K.... (England)	Duties of Wives! Three men were sitting together bragging about how they had given their new wives duties. Terry had married a woman from xxxxxxx , and bragged that he had told his wife she needed to do all the dishes and housework. He said that it took a couple days but on the third day he came home to a clean house and the dishes were all washed and put away. Jimmie had married a woman from xxxxxx. He bragged that he had given his wife orders that she was to do all the cleaning, dishes, and the cooking. He told them that the first day he didn't see any results, but the next day it was better. By the third day, his house was clean, the dishes were done, and he had a huge dinner on the table. The third man had married a Scottish girl. He boasted that he told her that her duties were to keep the house cleaned, dishes washed, laundry and ironing twice a week, lawns mowed, windows cleaned and hot meals on the table for every meal. He said the first day he didn't see anything, the second day he didn't see anything, but by the third day most of the swelling had gone down and he could see a little out of his left eye, just enough to fix himself a bite to eat, load the dishwasher, and call a handyman. thanks for that one Wendy

Any REME or Air Corps interested in Army paintings drop me a line.
A wee bit Scottish humour: A pregnant teenage girl phones her dad at midnight and says: ' Can you come and get me? I think ma water has broken ' ' Okay,' says her dad. ' Where are you ringing from? ' ' Fae my knickers tae ma feet. ' A guy walks into an antiques shop and says: ' How much for the set of antlers? ' ' Two hundred quid, ' says the bloke behind the counter ' ' That's affa dear, ' says the guy. ' Aye yer right! ' replies the bloke. After announcing he's getting married, a boy tells his pal he'll be wearing the kilt. ' And what's the tartan? ' asks his mate. ' Oh, she'll be wearing a white dress. ' A Glasgow woman goes to the dentist and settles down in the chair. ' Comfy? ' asks the dentist. ' Govan, ' she replies. A Scotsman in London is having trouble phoning his sister from a telephone box. So he calls the operator who asks in a plummy voice: ' Is there money in the box? ' Naw, it ' s just me, ' he replies. ' What ' s the difference between The Rolling Stones and an Aberdeen sheep farmer? The Rolling Stones say: ' Hey you, get off of my cloud. ' And an Aberdeen sheep farmer says: ' Hey McLeod, get off of ma ewe. A Glasgow man - steaming and skint - is walking down Argyle Street when he spots a guy tinkering with the engine of his car! ' What ' s up Jimmy? ' he asks. ' Piston broke, ' he replies. ' Aye, same as masel... ............................................... Wee Shuggie was in his garden filling in a hole when his English neighbour peered over the fence. Interested in what the mad man was up to, he politely asked, 'What are you doing there, Shuggie?' 'My goldfish died,' replied Wee Shuggie tearfully without looking up, 'and I've just buried him.' The English neighbour was very concerned. 'That's an awfully big hole for a goldfish, isn't it?' Wee Shuggie patted down the last heap of dirt then replied, 'That's because he's inside your bliddy cat'.
Stop Press: I have been trying a slightly different approach with my next lot of paintings which will be posted on-line shortly. This time I have chosen to paint a few landscapes from the victorian era. This was an exciting and romantic time, when with the help of writers and poets like Rabbie Burns and Walter Scott, Scottish art first started to become popular.

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