Knowle Greswolde

Recently I lunched at The Greswolde Hotel in Knowle
near Solihull
with the Express and Star Newspaper television journalist Wendy Lloyd
who last year came to film an interview at my cottage
which is now on the internet
It was an excellent lunch and a nice time to catch up
with her
and I hope that sometime in the future she might find
some other of my activities of interest
Last time it was for the launch of my book
A trip to Paris

Worcestershire

Some years ago on one of my many visits from
overseas to see my parents
I made a series of drawings of local houses to add to the collection which I started
many years ago when I studied in Dudley my home town

The one here a family home in Kingswinford called itself Wayside...
which, as it sits on the main road
from the small town, to open countryside, my present home Himley,
location of the beautful Himley Hall, which I have drawn, in which I had a book launch,
also in which I had an office, and which daily, I visit to enjoy Capability Brown's chosen landscape
then Wolverhamption City
I suppose is appropriate
in some countries where I have lived, this would be a rarity
but thankfully in England many simple houses like this litter the countryside
making this Country unique in its attractions

Motor racing

I have enjoyed motor racing for many years and it was so nice to meet
Fairuz Fauzy Malaysian racing driver at
The Merdeka Malaysia Celebration
in 2007, when I was guest for lunch of
The High Commissioner
I was later his guest for a weekend racing at Donington which is not far from my home

Last week I invited him to my MALASIA DINNER AT
THE CIVIL SERVICE CLUB
on 11th March when my
special guest is
Sir Patrick Cormack FSA MP
who launched with me, last year my book A trip to Paris


Unfortunately for my Dinner, Fairuz is racing in Spain
but I will be seeing him soon at Silverstone
He sent to me photographs of his new Car
and he and his Manager Jon Beale sent their best wishes for the
success and enjoyment of my Dinner
I look forward to seeing him racing

Victoria and Adam

Firstly my Client, he and I, photographed by The Birmingham Post and Mail
leaving a private fim showing
I was Account Executive, one of my Clients being Moss Empires theatre owners
he appeared at the BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME
and I was the Executive handling its Publicity and Press Relations
...........with a central Birmingham Advertising Agency.....
Soon Adam became my boyfriend
and we dodged the fans every night
after his Show
In Sheffield we disappeared into the country

dining there with musician John Barry...He was the top popstar of the day, then actor,
He came to a film Premiere later which I hosted at The Savoy for a film and Cinema Goup
Acting was always his interest,
a very nice unassuming person
he loved my drawings and the music which I liked
which was not the pop music of the day
in fact until his first rehearsal I had never heard him sing
Adam Faith became well known on television as Budgie

Victoria at Himley at Christmas

HIMLEY......This picture at my home sums up how nice it
is to be peaceful and
comfortable in ones surroundings
as I am right now........
whenever I might feel so inclined
I wander outside to these beautiful
views of my favourite
part of England's ..centre.....
and a few hundred yards away is Himley Hall a
favourite walk and place to draw this elegant building
home of The Earls of Dudley

Civil Service Club French Dinner....and my drawings

The Club hosted a French Dinner and I Exhibited
some of my drawings from Paris, including
The cafe scenes
The Sorbonne The dancer and Dieppe

As ever the meal was excellent and a few people who I know came along, we sat with Marjorie who is a Committee
Member and listened to some of the French songs from my favourite films A man and a woman and
Parapluis de Cherbourg
reminding me of my days in the film industry when I hosted the best of British media at the Savoy for lunch
then at a film premiere of delightful film
from
France later that evening.................................................
London for me is always charming

DRAWINGS OF MY CHILDHOOD PLACES

My third book DRAWINGS OF MY CHILDHOOD PLACES
also found a home in the main window of Fagins
which showed it at the MERRY HILL CENTRE DUDLEY
and in its other four shops in the Midlands
In the window my framed drawing of Saint Augustines Church
was surrounded by my books
and for four weeks those of other Midlands authors
I had a book signing meeting many people who knew the region and
appreciated my illustrations
It was an excellent start for the book
which like Malaysia Terima Kasih was exhibited around the world
by The British Council
and is in The United Nations
I personally presented it at his request to Dr Boutros Boutros Ghali Secretary General The United Nations
Drawings of my childhood places ......launched at Himley Hall Dudley............