I was away!

Over the last two weeks  I’ve been away from emails and telephone calls. A friend of mine let me stay in his summer cottage in the Czech Republic. The place is  surrounded by woods and an apple orchid. It’s one of the nicest places I know. 

If you go out of the front door, you see apple trees, a meadow, hills with woods and a river. If you go out through the back door, you are immediately in the woods.

I love woods. I wish I could be paid for walking through woods. I could do that for hours. I could earn a fortune.

I walked, I picked mushrooms, looked at deer. It’s mating season for deer and they were everywhere. They made lots of noise in the evening.

The prettiest mushrooms in the wood you CAN”T eat!

Here are some  pictures of mushrooms. I took quite a few of them and when I came back, I found this old book in the cottage. It was published in 1924.

This picture is from that book.

I also did some landscape paintings. I love painting outside, but I don’t do it often enough these days.

I was also sketching and writing new stories.

It’s too early to say if they are any good, but I’m looking forward to work on these new ideas.

 One day a billy goat came to visit me and he tried to help himself with every flower and plant he could see.

I did write a story about him as well.

I had a great time at my friend’s place and I can’t wait to get back soon.

I came home only three days ago, but it feels like a long time. On Sunday I was at the Cheltenham Literature Festival. I did an event called “Book It! Breakfast with Petr Horacek”. Cheltenham is a well organised festival, the events are always well attended and the audience is great.  This picture was taken by Josie one of the mums there.

We all had a great time! Thank you Cheltenham for having me. The next thing for me is my Wednesday trip to Ewhurst Infant school in Surrey. I’m looking forward to it.