Have you ever been out in a gale force wind so strong you have to lean into it at 45 degrees? That was me, on a church roof in Fleetwood surveying the vandalism of a beautiful Victorian painted stained glass window. I moved a piece of perspex that was banging against the window and nearly had my arm ripped of as it tried to launched itself into the air. The caretaker, who was on the roof with me seemed to take it in his stride. “We get a lot of wind in Fleetwood” he informed me, “Well known for it!” 
What a busy four weeks we have had! Travelling the length and breadth of the country several times: I have spent a day with the Year 2 children at Dovers Green School in Surrey making stained glass in the classroom and developing ideas for a new window to celebrate 50 years since the establishment of the school. The children worked very hard to draw their ideas for the new window which I will use as inspiration for the new design.
Also spent time at a local historic house, Smithills Hall where I gave a demonstration of stained glass making at the August Bank Holiday Garden Party then returned last week to run a course to make a stained glass suncatcher. The Bolton Museums Service commissioned me to put on the craft course in the beautiful 
surroundings of the Hall using the ‘Dome Room’ as a temporary
classroom.
I had a lovely day out in Criccieth, Gwynedd, Wales to discuss the restoration of an imposing grade 2 listed hotel. The front elevation boasts some wonderful leaded lights in the arts and crafts style which are in urgent need of attention. I took time to sit in the brilliant sunshine on the beach an gaze across the bay at the ruins of Criccieth Castle which stands on the rocky headland. Then returned home via the mountain roads around the foot of Snowdon, what a sight. Stunning views across the lakes and valleys up to the highest peak in the country.
T hen just this week we have been to on the road again working at churches in Shropshire, Bradford, Leeds and a fabulous historic church of St Mary & St Nicholas, Compton, Berkshire to protect the valuable stained glass windows with traditional woven mesh wire guards. Then today Stephen and Carl are over in Liverpool to remove some domestic stained glass windows for restoration and encapsulation into double and triple 
glazed units.
No time to sit still, must get ready for our stained glass course tomorrow for our intermediate students who will be finishing their creations during the day.
