Quiet moments with the Masters
One of the things I love about this city is that she generously affords all here the opportunity to slip quietly out of the bustle and noise of her busy streets, and into the peaceful haven of hidden spaces. Now, in the final period of intensive study at the FAA, days spent happily exploring the timeless city centre are few and far between. It has been a while since I have visited this part of the city, and it is a joy to rediscover the cloisters adjacent to the Basilica dell
"Without the water, the lilies cannot live, as I am without art." Claude Monet.
A glorious day landscaping upstream on the Arno in beautiful sunshine. Fresh breezes whip up the clouds and send birds up in rollercoaster flight. Peace comes with brush in hand, surrounded by chirruping birdsong and the sound of water gurgling over the weir. Cranes wait patiently at the waters edge, keen eyes searching for fish in the shallows, while some distance away fish jump - loud splashes teasing and coaxing their predators in different directions.
The challenges of
The overwhelming feeling every Spring..
Though it may take a week or two more for all the blossom and flora to burst through, there is no ignoring the excited chatter of birdsong and the carpets of daisies smiling in the lush green grass. What a difference a couple of days of warm sunshine make. Every heart is full and pumps a little faster, spirits soar to greet early swallows and house martins on the wing. New fluffy bundles of ducklings are proudly gathered and guarded on the waterways by protective parents. The
