Charles had a work event in Amsterdam (a geekfest!) I went along too to pursue other interests. I had got everything pretty much ready for my exhibition which would be opening a week after we get back, so had a few days enjoying the delights of Amsterdam. My first morning I made a beeline for the Jan Six Collection where there lives the most wonderful portrait of Jan Six by Rembrandt. We had been to the house before but the portrait wasn’t there as it was on loan to a major exhibition. I really wanted to see it ‘at home’. I discovered there was no chance of getting in as they were booked up until October. I went anyway to see if I could see it through the window in the front, but was disappointed as the reflections cut out any view inside.
There were some Americans outside waiting to go in, I chatted to them and explained why I was there. When the door opened and their group started to go in, I asked if I could join them to the nice couple I had been speaking to. I don’t see why not they said. So I did, keeping a very low profile and not saying anything (which would reveal my English accent). I did get some quizzical looks from some members of their group but no one said anything. It is a private house and everyone leaves their bags phones etc in the cloakroom before the fascinating tour ending up in the room with my favorite Rembrandt. It is an awesome bit of painting. He looks such a nice man, kind and intelligent. I came away triumphant after thanking the nice couple who had kindly suggested I joined them.
Then went to Rijksmuseum, enjoyed the wonderful tulips and their splendid sculpture Iamsterdam, constructed in three dimensions which everyone loved posing on sitting on, sitting in.
next day went on a train to Delft, the route going through the tulip fields which was fascinating as they sped past, fanning out in myriad different colours. Managed to catch one photo which wasn’t totally blurred!
Arrived in Delft, very peaceful place, walking down the quiet canals wondering where everyone was, until I got to the Market place where it was all happening.
Then in a moment of madness decided to walk up to the top of the tower of the New Church (built in 1300s!)
Walked to the Oude Kirke (Old Church). For an old church it was incredibly light with stunning stained glass windows:
And to my surprise at one end a great exhibition of contemporary art which sat very well under the stained glass and was completely absorbing.
Afterwards, sitting outside a cafe with a cup of coffee enjoying the quiet canal in front of me and the great variety of architecture and gables of the houses opposite. 
I became aware of a glass cabinet right opposite me with a dramatic imposing figure dressed in vibrant colours.
The translation of the text:
On Muses: “The Muses are Ghosts, and sometimes they come uninvited” Stephen King.
It’s Spring, nature’s most creative period. Life resets and renews oneself. It’s an incredible creative force and the thing most associated with creative force is inspiration. Nature doesn’t need new sources of inspiration, because she is creation herself, but we humans need help to connect with that creative force. The form of this help comes in the shape of muses. With this in mind I started to visualize my own muse. What would she look like and what does she do to help?
I picture my muse to be a warrior, not the kind with wavy blond hair whispering soft words of motivation and not the kind who softly blows stardust over my face, takes my hand and leads me to creator’s Nirvana. My muse comes body armour with her sword on my throat ready to strike if I don’t comply. To do art is to do battle, to battle with your material and to battle with oneself. Hence I present to you my Samurai Space Battle Muse.
http://www.nanny=z-stardust.com
nannyzstardust@gmail.com
Before leaving for Delft station I walked up another canal to the basin which I think was the view Vermeer painted of Delft, I couldn’t quite work it out, I must look at Vermeer’s painting again.
The final day I went to a fantastic exhibition of Leonardo Da Vinci’s extraordinary inventions, constructed models of which allowed one to play with to see how they worked (most of them anyway). Spent two hours there, completely fascinating. What an inventive mind. There was no problem that he couldn’t solve it seemed, using weights, levers, pulleys, cogs and of course close observation of how birds fly, and dissecting bodies to find out how they worked too. How things work seems to be the key to the way his hugely inventive and creative mind worked.
Left hand picture is a model of his helicopter, right is a flying machine.
Then it was back home to make the last preparations for hanging my exhibition, with the help of family and friends. …..
A rather bendy panoramic view!
Jane and terracotta head of Schubert, sculpted by Bruce George, architect, portrait painter and sculptor, kindly loaned by his niece Vicky. Plus 4 paintings about Schubert’s Quintet D956. The book in the glass case was full of wonderful drawings of Schubert.
Painting the Music 