Dizzojay's Dean Dreams

 So, back in February, I mentioned that I was doing a picture of my God-daughter, Amy, competing on her horse, Enzo.

This picture has dragged on so long, mainly due to everything else that's been going on in my life, both from a practical point of view with me travelling here there and everywhere, but also from a mental point of view, because more often than not, my art inspiration switch has been well and truly set at the 'off' position for most of the last few weeks now.  And that's the main part of the reason it's taken so long, I've been dipping in and out of it when the muse has been awake, rather than trying to force it and produce something sub-standard.

But, I've finally finished it.  Amy is aware of the situation and has been just awesome, bearing with me, even though I missed her birthday (which was four days ago). 

This will be going in the post to New Zealand next week.  I hope I've done Amy and Enzo justice :)

This afternoon, I sent a quick Fb message to all my Kiwi chums just checking that they were all okay following the news of the big earthquake and the Tsunami warning off the east coast of New Zealand's north island.

New Zealand is a stunningly beautiful country but it does have some serious 'tude.  Think, the geological equivalent of a spotty teenager!

With typical Kiwi aplomb, they all responded, letting me know they were all fine; my friends near Wellington decided the earthquake wasn't worth getting out of bed for, and another friend from Napier bemoaned the fact that the quake had the audacity to wake him up for five minutes.

I said, 'think yourself lucky, my bladder does that every night', and he responded that the shake would have definitely got the bladder going.

I couldn't help but think yes, especially in all us Brits who live in a country with moderate climate, moderate weather, moderate topography and a tectonic landscape like a mobility scooter, who have never experienced a meaningful quake in our entire life!!!

Now, that would be the real Tsunami warning!!!

I grieve with the people of New Zealand.

This beautiful country, so far away, so peaceful and neighbourly; the home of my dear friends and my god-daughters, has finally suffered the curse of extremist terrorism.  And in Christchurch as well - a city which has already suffered so terriby through the forces of nature recently.

It was too easy to think that NZ was too far away, too harmless and un-controversial on the world stage to have to worry about this plague.

If I could hug an entire country, I would.