All things must come to an end and time waits for no man. I have been ousted from my outbuilding by my wife, and have been banished to the top of the house, which actually is more pleasant as I'll not have to venture outside to go and paint or cope with poor lighting.

My cousin popped by to help me design the new studio. He is a capable chap and works for a furniture design company - the plan is relatively simple and I hope to have some drawing to show shortly.. Our plan is to commence work at the beginning of November with a completion date by middle of December which includes new lighting for the room, worktops and built in bookshelves.

Early last month I travelled to the north of England to take in the RWC 2015, watch a couple of the games at St. James' Park and see family I hadn't seen for some time. Amongst all this my wife, Andrea and I were able to travel down to Leicester to see the new Visitor centre and the tomb of Richard III.

The visitor centre is really well laid out, with the ground floor set out with the events leading to King Richard's death at the Battle of Bosworth Field, whilst the first floor presents the remarkable story of the excavation of his bones.

Afterwards we walked across to the Cathedral to see his tomb. I really enjoyed the centre, even though I knew the story and I think it is fitting that King Richard's bones have been interred in Leicester Cathedral.

Surprisingly I didn't take that many pictures as I was engrossed in what I was seeing. However, here are a few of the better photos I took. If you have been to the cathedral and visitor centre it would be good to hear your feedback.

Things have been very hectic of late, they usually are. My wife and I have moved from one flat to another and I have had a career change, all in one month! Although I haven't been able to do any painting I have been able to take a couple of pictures of some my growing painted collection. I put this mob together to represent the Duke of Buckingham's entourage.

Well here are the pictures.




Finally I have just bought Bosworth Revisited by Glenn Foard and Ann Curry. I have taken a quick look at the book and have finished the introduction. It's going to make for an interesting read. I let you know how I get on.

Well I have just finished reading 'Richard III and the Bosworth Campaign' by Peter Hammond and my initial feeling from reading the book is that Richard really went out in a blaze of glory. It's interesting to think what drives a man when he has lost his wife and child. Not only had he lost his own family but his three brothers and his father as well. I suppose it was a sign of the times and we shouldn't put twenty first century ideas in the minds and bodies of those living and fighting at the end of the fifteenth century. Being a converted Ricardian I feel a sense of 'what if.' I think it was a sad loss for England. Richard had tried to establish so many positive steps in his short reign. His downfall was that he was not his brother, the late King Edward IV.

My next book to read is 'The Red Rose and the White' by John Sadler. The book promises to give a comprehensive account of the campaigns, battles and sieges of the conflict and it also discusses the men involved, the tactics they employed and the weapons used.