Ruth took me over to the big Bunnings Store at Lakehaven. It became impossible to paint or draw with all of the table tops and desks groaning under the weight of things needing a home. Paint tubes, papers, electrical goods, palette knives, books and cameras all over the place.

We grabbed two sets of  “Trade Quality. Handy Shelf” 4 shelf metal storage Units. These were $22 approx. each. They are rated at fifty kilos with a proviso that it is evenly distributed. I would not be keen to try that much weight. They are fairly thin and use a lot of little tricks to give them strength.

Putting one of the shelve units together was easy with the biggest problem being my exhausted state and all the nuts and bolts. I have not seen so many on one project for a very long time. With that one up there are holes appearing in the clutter and it is impossible not to feel good about the possibility of making some more drawings in here.

After checking out Bunning’s we wandered over to Toukley and had a coffee. I needed it. Bunnings is a gigantic and an awesome place to wander in but a little while on my feet on the concrete and I am in hell even with taking lots of pain relief. We stopped at a cafe on the end of a group of shops across the parking lot for the Coles supermarket. The cafe has been there for years but in the last few weeks has had new management. The new management seem dedicated and keen. They make a good coffee and excellent hamburgers. I had not had a hamburger in years and as I said they make good ones.

All that walking has crippled me the next day and I awash in pain. I have managed again to prop myself up in front of the computer and pour a few words out but ouch! Not much else is going to happen unless I including going back to bed and reading a book.

I grabbed Cry of the Curlew by Peter Watt from the little Halekulani Library here at Budgewoi a few days ago. I love that little place. It is run by a dedicated group of women and has a great  collection of books. They manage to keep the shelves full of fresh things to read. They are keen on books and always have something to add about a book or author and they provide a great service for those of us who are not really able to get out to the bigger libraries around here. It is one of things I really like about like about Budgewoi. It has a lot of hidden treasures like this to give warmth to our lives. Strong community. I have missed that as an air force brat and then later!

The book is about Australian stuff from the colonial days and the story has been rivetting so far. I have the next book as well. It is around here somewhere but right now I am knackered and have no desire to add it.

After the Cafe we went over to Artist World. Like bunnings it is another little piece of heaven for me. I don’t get much money on this pension or I would haunt this shop when ever I was well enough and I guess I still manage to haunt it a little bit.

The owner is easy to deal with and has developed a good tight knowledge of the materials she is selling. It is a pleasure to chat with her over something I am buying or plan to buy. Over the last few years her stock has grown until she has almost everything an artist could want and probably a lot more than one would expect from a coastal town like Toukley.

She had a huge range of canvas on stretchers this time we went and it is obvious she is plowing much of the profits back into her stock. Nice to see.

She has a website so I am adding a link here (link to Artist World) Call it a recomendation if you like. She has put together a good range of stock and if you are in the area needing art supplies you can be reasonably sure she will have something you can use. Things I notice she does not have that a very few might want….. Rolls of loose canvas and loose stretcher making materials. Paint Pigments and possibly lino cutting materials although I do get them from her sometimes. You might want to phone and check for print making and etching materials before you drop in if they are what you need. You probably need to travel to Eckersley’s in Newcastle for them. She even has some of the big easels in the range. I would have to rob a bank to get one while on a pension but I can dream!

Decided to add some Payne’s Grey to my palette as I have never considered using it and I want to open the range of work I can do by playing with some new things now that I have a bit of a rally in strength and intellectual stability.Grabbed some cheap bristle brushes and things I have forgotten this morning. Uck the painkillers have started to dial in and I feel like throwing up. I hate this bit!

The painting mentioned in other places throughout the blog “Hunting Part” touched some part of Ruth when she saw it so the idea of working another level of paint will be dropped and it will stand as finished. Another finished painting. I Have not made it through a painting in several years. Must be a good sign. It feels like a good thing!