I would have been over sooner but the laptop died last Friday and it’s taken 6 days to get back on-line.

I’ve been to Australia and have a sister living out there - so I think I need to post my sketchbook of Australia into the Travelsketchbook blog - and then I can give you all my tips about things to do! I was thinking about starting to get my “backlog” posted and this is the most wonderful excuse………

I’m not in the least bit surprised you’re on a list, your blog rocks, but you know how I gush about it already.

I have to apologise I went to read your email today (a day late) and appear to have deleted it, though an un-erase type thing may uncover it in the bowels of my disk. Having skim read I recall one part was re. the book collab. Looks like you’ll be EXCITINGLY busy in March, and the run up to March, and given that I’m not doing great just now I’m happy to sort out something on your return, if that suits. I’m hoping some dry or mild weather will tempt me into my storage to hunt out suitable works for the project. Some may need a bit of tweaking, I bet I’ll get all anal about it and try to make them ‘better’ thus ruining a good few before learning the lesson. Ha, I know myself well.

I’m wildly envious of your trip to the wedding, how fantastic. I’ve wanted to for years (couldn’t afford family reunion in the 90’s when 250 of the highland/aussie emigrators from my mum’s side of the family met up and had a whole heap of fun).

My friend Nikki lives in Fitzroy, Melbourne. She’s a photographer and comes from Wick (or Thurso? I forget) so I’ll ask her for some art venue tips that might appeal if you make it that way. My best friend is also from Melbourne, but lives in Finland now. She used to tell great stories of how arty a place it was, great cafe’s, galleries etc. I love the thought of you meeting with bloggers and maybe doing some art work there, that would be the best!

Oops, this has got a bit long. 4am and I still can’t sleep. Got a hideous shop sign painting favour to do for a friend who has given me the worst materials to work with but expects an instant and glorious sign returned in days. Hope she’s not holding her breath.

Anyway, well done and sorry not to have responded sooner to your mail, yesterday was my first day of walking out the house and I was a bit floored by it. Today was better, wetter, but better.

Now, why am I here?… Ah yes, thats it, I wanted to tell you about another list of favourite blogs (and, incidentally, how I came across your site) - Art News Blog is one of my regular reads, it’s awesome. I don’t know if you know about it? but if you do not, you should. Start here -> http://www.artnewsblog.com/2008/01/list-of-art-blogs.htm
you’re at the top of the list of blogs for 2008.

peace
Mikie.x.