Signing my Paris book

In Wombourne Sir Patrick said to my guests that he enjoyed seeing my paintings and books........
and I think that for the first time he saw the photographs which are exhibited in
The Photographers Gallery
in my book Malaysia Terima Kasih
He had written that he had hoped to see
my Exhibition in Southend on Sea
but was unable to do so.....

I have had the pleasure of reading what he has written also
and so I
very much enjoyed showing him some of my work
and signing this latest of my books
for him


......................................................................................


I hope that I will be able to welcome him to
a larger Exhibition of my work some day

Victoria's book A trip to Paris

My latest book
A trip to Paris
which was shown at my Exhibition in Southend on Sea
had its formal launch at Wombourne Council Chamber on 23rd May
my special guest was
Sir Patrick Cormack FSA MP
and I also welcomed Mary Bond who was the new Chairman of Wombourne Council


This book
which I wrote, and illustrated, when I took my nephew for a
few days visit to Paris for his 15th Birthday
is a very lighthearted look at that enjoyable holiday.......
when he and I discovered Paris, as a french student might
we went shopping, travelled on the metro, took boats on the Seine
spent time at Notre Dame........had dinner with my french friends...
and during all of this Jason spoke to many french people
and for the first time discovered his fluency in France
It was fun for us both
he told me that he was so happy to be seeing the real France
not just what the tourists saw
so I think that made me feel that it had been worthwhile
....................................................
and this book tells that story from Wombourne to Paris

Paris thoughts

This week I will be thinking of visits to Paris
made alone, working, and also a special one
which I made to take my 15 year old nephew
for his birthday
as the book which records that visit is
shown in Wombourne Village
and then I hope that it will be seen in Paris
by those who know me there
I made this drawing sitting in the Cafe
as my nephew crossed the square to buy cards and stamps
for his parents
He became quite used to living as a French student
would, which is what I had intended and I enjoyed this unusual visit too
Paris so delightful all the time, invited me to be interviewed by a television crew
and to share my thoughts on this City which inspires me to draw and photograph it every time,
just to keep it at the front of my thoughts..through my book and drawings I now share my Paris
in its romantic moods with those who read my words and see my drawings made, first, just for myself,
as always, but for all to see.........perhaps one day I will return ........

Oxfordshire Exhibition Woodstock Church

I had an Exhibition at the Oxfordshire Gallery in Woodstock,
where I was asked to be Artist-in- Residence

During those days I enjoyed conversation with visitors, and made drawings and paintings
of the view from the windows which overlooked the street,
and the lovely old church opposite Fletcher House
which houses the Art Gallery and Museum

My mother's name Fletcher aroused interest and speculation as to my
relationship with the original owners of this fine building,
now a visitor attraction for many overseas and local people

As I arrived to open my Exhibition, a coach outside was full of tourists
from New Zealand, I told them that the paintings which I had exhibited for Sir Paul Reeves
The Governor -General's opening of the Waitemata Arts Centre,
the pastels Pungas.. the tree ferns.. and The Beehive .. Parliament,
were a feature of this Exhibition of my United Kingdom and International Art

Ngaio Wellington

Ngaio Wellington where I stayed
as guest of a member
of The Malaysia High Commission
It is a very peaceful place
gentle and cool
sometimes sheltered from the winds of Wellington

It was a very nice visit
in all respects
Perhaps those who live there all the time
are used
to it
but I found it to be a real haven
of tranquility
I will show some of the drawings of this place at my next Exhibition

Exhibitions

I was talking to someone today about another Exhibition
and I had just scanned a drawing which I had done on my visit to Wellington
In that visit I was guest of the Deputy Prime Minister Don McKinnon..
later to become Secretary- General of the Commonwealth
at The Beehive..parliament..
where I met Dr Boutros Boutros Ghali, then the Secretary- General of The United nations
and we discussed my visits to the United Nations at the invitation of the New Zealand Government


I had a little time during those few days when I went also to meetings of
the United Nations Association
to make a few drawings of the small hills around Ngaio
with the houses settled into the
folds

Lunch in Hong Kong

When I was at school I had a penpal
in Hong Kong, and so I read much about the nightlife, the fascinating harbour,
the chatter, bustling streets, the trams, the Peak
and when I first arrived and stayed on Nathan Road, I was not disappointed at all

That visit was the first of many
I started a book on Hong Kong, met the Trade Development Board,
was invited to be a Member of the Foreign Correspondent's Club and spent many
hours there
in Ice House Street
Later I stayed at The Hilton, went out in its Yacht,
published a card of one of my drawings of Saint John's Cathedral and took many photographs and made drawings
in this unique City
I had met Sally Aw Sian owner of Sing Tao newspapers
I
met the Editor of the South China Post
Later I stayed at one Hotel which always stands out in my memory
The Mandarin
of all the hotels in which I have stayed I think that The Mandarin has a special charm
however I also enjoyed evening trips on the Star Ferry with the local people as they journied from one
part of Hong Kong to the other

This photograph is from the first visit when I went
to Chinese opera with two people from New Zealand,
ate in the floating restaurant
as many first time visitors do, went up the Peak in the train..........................