This lucky ducky (rhyming already, cos She Is Poet) was in London over the weekend, and as part of her schedule of pleasures popped to the impeccable, plush, and positively gorgeous Vout-o-Reenee’s for a swift drink. In fact the drink was tea, for the proprietors of the property, Sophie Parkin and her delightful partner, who’s name I did not ask the spelling of, were being very busy and bee-like prepping the pictures for mum Molly Parkin’s 85th birthday and art exhibition this week.

The exhibition is a retrospective of the past sixty years of Molly’s painting. The icon still paints today, and this collection of mixed pieces surely has something for everyone. My particular favourites were some of the small self-portraits, like these, although the larger, vibrantly-coloured canvasses were also very striking, and there were several small, very delicate works that looked like they belonged in the museum.

If you’d like to attend this once in her lifetime (and yours too) event, please do get in touch with the venue to book in. The popularity of Molly Parkin and her wonderful work requires it, though you will have a couple of chances to attend a private view. If the date this Friday 10th February is full then another night may be possible. And you get to meet Molly, too!

I was also at the fantastic venue because of an International Dylan Thomas Day event that will be happening there… But, watch this space for details of that! And in the meantime, get to the venue and look at what’s adorning that space asap.