The American poet and journalist William Cullen Bryant once said that Autumn was the “year’s last, loveliest smile” and even though I adore the season’s vibrant colours, collecting horse chestnuts, the fallen leaves and the welcome appearance of the humble mince pie, I haven’t really had much to smile about lately.

Since September I’ve been tormented by the ‘Tooth of Autumn Present’ and although the pesky molar and I finally parted company last week, I’m now haunted by the ‘Tooth Ghost of Autumn Past’ which has had a severe impact on my daily cookie fix and has also kept me away from the studio lest I scare off any of the fellow artists with my wild look!

It’s probably something of an understatement to tell you that I’m rather glad to see the back of September and that of the month before when my father died suddenly and even though I had walked away from our painful relationship some time ago, these last few weeks have been rather challenging to say the very least!

BUT can I have a drum roll please for MY websites are FINALLY published!