Last Classes and the Grand Exhibition

Despite the navigational charts looking promising, with our route to Portland changing from purple to green, the sea, if anything, has been worse today. With a deep swell, and large waves, we’ve been treated to great lurches throughout the day, threatening to spoil everything.

It didn’t prevent me from holding my final two classes, however, and our grand exhibition this afternoon went off without a hitch, with much appreciation and gratitude being expressed by students and fellow passengers alike. The paintings looked spectacular when plastered along the whole length of the corridor outside the craft room, and with Barbara and Jackie (the other two crafters) exhibiting in the Craft Room and Christine the Creative Writing Tutor exhibiting work from her students alongside, the atmosphere around the Columbus Lounge and corridor was bursting with creative energy.

In the words of Mary Poppins and Bart Simpson, my work here is done. The rocking has continued into the evening, making packing a chore, and everyone looking forward to dry land tomorrow. The arrival time at Portland keeps getting put back, what with the 4-hour search and rescue delay, and all, so with a two hour coach drive from Portland to Bristol and a 5-hour drive home to North Yorkshire to look forward to, goodness knows what time we’re likely to get home…