Do you ever feel out of kilter with the seasons?

Like feeling sad and miserable on the sunniest of days?

In my garden, the thick wide ivy on the 10' high wall that was once abuzz with sparrows - as noisy as a cafe full of gossipers - is now vacated and silent. There are no more shrieking specks of swifts weaving acrobatically high overhead. No more bumblebees, honey bees, hoverflies or butterflies in the once powerfully-scented Privet tree - the blossoms are gone and the tree has reverted to green. But a worn-out, washed-out green.

True, the chaotic antics of bats can still be observed at dusk. And swallows are still on the wing, hoovering up the remaining flies. But there is a definite hush to the late-August garden. And an imminent change in the air - there's a hint of dampness and a nip of coldness to it. As the nights darken, Summer is gladly hanging up its coat, while Autumn is quietly waiting in the wings!

I have been almost 3 months in my cottage and I'm still nesting! I'm still stuck in Spring!

I've been planning a reconfiguration of my 'nest'. In a couple of weeks my joiner & crew will implement the plan. I can't wait to use the indoor studio!

It won't be a huge area - enough room for a desk, easil and trays of pastels. I haven't worked for 3 months. I feel like I've had my hands tied behind my back, while the season has been marching on.

I'm aware that I still have a commission to complete. I made a commitment to make a pic of choice for all 3 kids on their 30th. Daughter2 (youngest) reminded me that she will be 32 on her next birthday! So that pic is long overdue!!

In Inverness, I could muster quite a few reasonable excuses:

• studio garden shed was too cold;
• it was awkward having to run an extension cable to the convector heater therein (and then the enormous effort of winding it up again);
• the inadequate daylight 'cos of overhanging trees;
• the lack of room to move freely - as shed was also a general-purpose dumping-ground;
• the inconvenience of being too far from the kettle & biscuit tin;
• the very real threat of a huge Charlie-spider leaping onto my shoulder;
• etc.

Obviously these excuses have stood me in good stead for 2 years!!

Displacement is an easy friend.

Soon all to be redundant. I shall be working in my glass room, with dayight bulbs, heating, a kettle & biscuits at hand and everything around me like a crinoline skirt! Such luxury!

Not long to wait now. Then I shall wear my Summer smile and mosey on down to Autumn!