Politeness is my forte

Off to my drawing class this morning. I was told off by Melissa for saying thank you every time she makes a helpful comment to me. She said I was obviously a polite young man. I said I still was. A lovely model we'd had before who was lovely to draw. 

Melissa is encouraging folks to use easels, and I enjoyed the sight of people struggling with the deckchair/octopus hybrids at the end of the lesson. Adele there, and I'm chatting to a few of the reg'lars now. It's a fun thing to be doing, I working disengaging my perfectionism and tutting at my own avoidable mistakes. 

Home to find Lorraine with Enzo, while Beth at the dentist. The little lad was perfectly happy and relaxed and occasionally smiley. I went for a quick walk, then Beth arrived with shopping.  Lorraine collected Maureen and Pat, then drove Maureen off to a knee specialist in Eastbourne. I sat with Pat, who promptly locked a cup of tea over the carpet, Beth and young Enzo Patrick. Nice to be hanging out with Beth, Enzo and Enzo's great grandad. 

Beth prepping some veggies with Enzo strapped to her, as he had chosen not to sleep today, till just before they went home this evening. Lorraine back and she made an enormous shepherds pie for everyone and batch cooked lots of lasagnes for Pat and Maureen too. After zooming out for another short walk, I kitchen portered. 

James arrived, and was given two armfuls of son. 

A nice meal. Maureen on talkative form, saying Lorraine used to do all the talking for Derek. And relating a dark tale of a former neighbour in Ashford, who had asked Maureen if he could come with her when she took the kids down to a nearby little river. Ominously, he was wearing baggy shorts. Once Pat and Lorraine were away from the table she told me with a shudder that the man was wearing nothing underneath, and you could see everything. She gathered the children and made off home as soon as she could. She never told Patrick about it, as it wouldn't be fair.  

Young Oskar had sent me a Tiny Desk Concert to watch from a group called Three Sacred Souls, which when L and I watched it, was smooth and beautiful, and slightly like Marvin Gaye. 

One of today's sketches. The line on the left of her body is all wrong, as is the placing of her features. Still she looks vaguely like a human I suppose.