Wishing everyone a happy, prosperous and peaceful New Year for 2024. I have changed my header image for this evocative digital image by Robbie Shade of the place to be for Hogmanay – Edinburgh. It is pouring down with rain where we are on the Dorset coast as it has been for most of 2023….

… and here’s hoping for a peaceful New Year. My December Painting of the Month takes me further back than Christmas and the Nativity to a time when a reluctant young hero accepted what was her duty without fully realising the significance. Oh for such faith and hope! It also takes me back to a…

… and here’s hoping for a peaceful New Year. My December Painting of the Month takes me further back than Christmas and the Nativity to a time when a reluctant young hero accepted what was her duty without fully realising the significance. Oh for such faith and hope! It also takes me back to a…