I remember distinctly the day my mother told me I was too old to do handstands... I was twelve... I felt crushed... Devastated... It was like I had grown up overnight without any warning... If only I had been warned in advance... A date set... I could have filled my quota of handstands, climbed more trees and swung on more swings... But one day it was acceptable and the next day not... An obedient child always, I listened to my mother...

I have now reached the 'fuckit' age... I really really don't care what people think so have recently had a ball...

I've climbed trees...
I've swung on swings...
I've done a handstand or two...
I've run through golf course sprinklers under the stars...
I've splashed and sploshed in every puddle for years...

In other words, I've had fun...

My children came home for Christmas... It was an absolute delight... I forgot how nice they actually are... Fun, entertaining, polite, respectful, with a delightfully dirty humorous side - and very very loving...

How lucky I am...

However, it's hard to turn creativity on and off...

From studio time to 'mom mode' is not so difficult - but from 'mom mode' back to studio time is another matter....

Except when you have a muse to tempt you...

Thank you Nicholas...

And the best part is when I say "Please can I take a pick of you like that", he says 'sure mum' with the bestest smile ever - and then gives me more to work with...

On the easel this week...

Revisiting an early artwork always invokes an emotion (either horror or delight and anything in between)...

Coming face-to-face with "The Rat Race" today - done about 12 years ago - produced a feeling of melancholy, remoteness and intrigue... I remember doing the research, the thought process behind it, as well as the actual painting thereof... But it was another me and another life...

It was the very first painting that started the Men at Work series - which I still currently do - but has been evolving over all this time...

Interestingly and inexplicably, it remains unsigned...

Rat Race - 91x152cm

Detail... The rat images were taken from my very own pet rat, Roxy Rattex... She roamed freely in the kitchen but was most often with me...

Detail... Climbing the corporate ladder...

When I retire my painting shoes, they don't get a fancy watch or a golden handshake... It's more like a precious glass box for valued service... It's the least I can do...

Thanks for the memories - good and bad... Two and a half years...

The virgin version before they were used and abused...

For good service... RIP...