Two babies, a dog, a robot and Elvis

Back home again after my brief escapade. I had a lovely time at West Dean and the course with Julie Arkell was pure bliss - it felt just like being 6 years old again, and being given the time and space to just play (and eat far too many cakes and puddings).

So here are a few pics - this one is of the outside of the building (taken early on the morning of my last day, when I suddenly realised that I'd mainly shuttled between my bedroom, the dining room and our workroom, and hadn't actually been outside...)

The view from my window:

One of Julie's pieces:

My first effort, and all the bits drying together on top of the radiator (this course only runs in the winter, because they need the radiators on in order to get the paper mache to dry!)

Deciding what to take was a very tricky and time consuming business.

A very small knitted hat, made for one of a pair of very small babies:

Wasn't too sure how I felt about making a puppet, but I really liked the finished result. Middle daughter was also very keen on the dog when I took him home!

And here's Robot H22, an award winning hoovering robot.

I'm sure a psychologist would look at my creations and have a field day. A man who dreams of being Elvis in a house with sleeping twins and no sign or a mother/wife, a hoovering robot, and a tweedy dog. What does that say about me? Answers on a postcard please....

So, in conclusion, a brilliant, inspirational week in a room full of lovely women. My only complaint? The coffee - absolutely b****y awful. Many thanks to Julie who clearly recognised a caffeine addict in some distress and generously shared her own secret coffee stash.  

My final picture is one of Diane's donkeys. Diane, for whom the course came crashing to an end on the final day with some tragic news from home. My thoughts are with her and her loved ones.