The Prime Minister has commented that he views access to a fast broadband connection as important to home-owners as electricity, gas and water. But isn’t that just a bit-over-the-top? We all take access to the internet for granted now and, when we can’t get a mobile phone signal, curse the network provider but the digital world is still a very young one and it wasn’t that long ago we managed fine without it. The digital revolution was supposed to make books obsolete and shops just showrooms however, things haven’t turned out like that. People like to shop, it’s a leisure activity and part of our culture and books are treasured possessions which will never be replaced by a screen.

There is no denying however that the internet has become a major part of modern living and has added positively to modern life but what we must not do is rely on it to fulfil our lives. We must still get out there and interact with people, express ourselves through our actions and embrace challenges that this amazing world offers us. These actions define us and broaden our outlook or put it this way – who would you rather sit next to at a dinner party, someone who spends all their spare time sat behind a computer screen or someone who gets out there and lives life to the full?

One of my absolute favourite things to do is to while away a few hours in a gallery, soaking-up the creativity and craftmanship used to create stunning images and objects. I usually grab these infrequent opportunities between meetings in London however, I have just visited a brilliant little summer exhibition at Barnacre Gallery in my own village of Wargrave in Berkshire. In the grounds of a gorgeous house set on the banks of a tributary of the Thames, Kirsten Jones has set-up several little studios and potting sheds to display some of her own work as well as several other artists from around the local area. It’s amazing how much talent is under your nose! Really nice paintings bursting with colour and optimism – If you are anywhere near I urge you to pay a visit – It’s on until 25th May and is open late until 8pm on Thursdays and Fridays.

Full details can be found here www.barnacregallery.co.uk

Everyone seems to be obsessed again with the new series of The Apprentice. Is it me or is this format getting a little tired? – Surely by now they could have come up with some new ideas and moved it on a bit and why do they pick the biggest bunch of no-hopers? – Must be just to make good telly or is it?!!

My beloved Southampton FC are on the edge of financial ruin, can they be saved? Can they stay in the Championship? I have my fingers crossed…

Hi

Along with the re-design of my website, or should I say the DESIGN of my website, I have instigated a blog to log all my thoughts, research and inspiration. Here I will post new research I have undertaken, glimpses of new projects, information about my creative partnerships and and inspiring photography or design I come across that I would like to share with the world.

Watch this space..!