Fairholme

This was the home in Bideford, Devon that my mother grew up in with her two sisters and two brothers, and that I remember from childhood holidays, as it was in 1960. It was a large rambling house with secret staircases, cellars, pianolas, beehives and grapevines. There was a snake pit in the garden that had adders and grass snakes in it, and a coop for the chickens, and acres to play in.

This watercolour must have been commissioned as it was painted close to the house, so the artist must have been known to the family, and there were other of her paintings at my parents' home.

The artist was Doris E Luxton, known as Grace, who must have been local as she painted many watercolours in Bideford, Westward Ho! and around. Her paintings are now very collectable and were then on sale at the Granville Studio in Bideford. She was married to Major AR Caughey and in later years lived in Cardiff, and she died in hospital in Exeter on 20 December 2009 at the age of 101.

L.
21.2.2013

Blip #920
Consecutive Blip #005
Day #1060

Backdated backblips:
Wednesday 15 August 1984: White Cat (posted 20 February 2013)
Friday 17 May 1985: Robin And Lizzy (posted 20 February 2013)
Sunday 2 June 1985: DJ Lizzy (posted 20 February 2013)
Monday 24 June 1985: Robin Goes Outdoors (posted 20 February 2013)
(I have finished working through the Calne 1988-1998 card box and have begun going through one labelled Cats)

Lozarhythm Of The Day:
Johnny Marr - Upstarts (2013)
I enjoyed hearing Johnny Marr guesting on this weekend's Mary Anne Hobbs BBC 6Music breakfast shows so I have chosen a track from his new solo album.

One year ago:
Silbury Hill