Monday

Much of Tony’s day today was spent looking after Yvonne. This has been without doubt the hardest week on Yvonne since this treatment started. The side effects of chemo are at times terrible and painful.

Tuesday

Tuesday, again, was a day spent far from the Art House. Instead, Tony took Yvonne and headed for the coast on what eventually turned out to be a fantastic day. Using the camera and snapping many photographs and a few sketches provided material for Tony’s upcoming commission down the harbour. Tony says every trip out an artist takes should be armed with a sketchbook and a camera stashed away in a back pocket.

Wednesday

A great morning spent in the gallery catching up with meetings and schedules. Ordered some frames for the new works. Weather is great and lots of lovely people popping into the gallery to say hi and ask about Yvonne. This has to be the best job in the world. Managed to get down to the plane for some video work. Hoped to fly but the weather closed in so took the sensible option so no flying today.

Thursday

Painting from home while Yvonne snoozed away the day. Plied with lemonade and fruit tea then left to snooze while Tony headed to his studio several paintings nearing completion for the latest series of works the beautiful game series.

Friday

Back to hospital to get painkillers and steroids to get Yvonne eating. Drugs seem to start taking hold quickly and improvement is immediate. Thank goodness: a quiet day of looking after Yvonne and painting.

Saturday

As usual, there were many, many people in the Gallery—friends and new faces alike. It’s always uplifting, says Tony, to have people milling around in the Gallery, enjoying the art that hangs from its walls.

Several families visited for the first time All had children who came in with long faces but with a little interaction. All  left smiling after successfully completing Tony’s quiz and winning some sweets as a prize. Interaction with visitors of all ages always reaffirms Tony’s view that art is and should be available for all. Even working with the young people we take on as Saturday staff you see them grow and grow before heading off to University and new lives. Tony says it costs very little to make a huge difference to young people’s lives and I hope they pass this on when I’m long gone.