Ha! Just received a Christmas card from Gill, marked:

'Jill The Coat Carter'

It comes to something when your friends have to sponsor your clothing. I must get famous then I could pay them back for my arms in cashmere.

It is winter and a good time for reflection. So, I have been thinking about all the people I would thank for being so supportive, insightful, inspirational and formative as part of my journey. So, whilst it is snowing outside and my Christmas tree sits bereft of any dressing as yet, I have just wrapped an artist's copy of my portfolio/photobook journal to send as a thank-you gift to someone special. I am posting this publication (wrapped in brown paper which is very significant), because this once upon a time tutor, along with other fine teachers, had to weather three years of my tears, tantrums, laughter, inconsistent, enthusiastic, mad and human wanderings of ideas, thoughts, actions and impressions. I was awarded, along with a fine gang of others, a leaving certificate which sort of said we were fit to take our art into the real world. And, I have done this, embarked upon an adventure which embraces the spirit of how we need to stay open to opportunities and changes of direction. So, I just wanted to be able to say, a big thank you, for all the wisdom, encouragement and tremendous support, I have received from all my teachers, present and past, together with artists, educators, agencies and friends, who have experienced with me a huge learning curve, along the way, a process which has enabled me and others to discover the key to possibilities.