A lovely visit to Chester yesterday for the Literature Prize Awards. Nice to see Chris Driver finish as a runner up, and spoke with script winner Andy Hayward, who I'd previously met at the launch of Go Sprout The Grain in Crewe Library last September.
Slept badly and awoke with stomach pain and a faintingly weak feeling of low blood pressure. It took many hours to feel anything close like back to normal. Despite this weakness, a manic day of work, first completing the underpainting to the large 'Crushed Are The Weak' painting. One of my finer underpaintings, executed in record time. My palette knife broke, new less than 12 months ago:
The previous one lasted 18 years. I'll not buy Winsor and Newton Palette Knives again, and will try an RGM knife next.
Today is also the official release day of the War And Nuclear Love EP, my only new release of 2026, and my 85th release since 1999 (including singles, not including re-releases/remasters/re-recordings). This also too some time. At times today I felt suicidally tired of life, but of course fought on. Now feel exhausted but happy. Next, must walk 2 miles to collect Heaven And Hell by Vangelis, then visit Deborah.
