Another new month starting. Looking out at the Troodos mountain range from our garden brought back the time I and another friend with her parents walked and climbed up the lower slopes of Mt. Elgon in Uganda. My friends parents were into photography, and thought this would make a nice  day out trying to catch birds and wild flowers and scenery on camera. We walked along little paths, shuffled along little mountain rock ledges, and clambered over boulders where the path was no longer there. No real rock face climbing, they were safety conscious thank goodness! I would have fallen off at the start. Not that good with heights! We finally got to a plateau where we stopped for a picnic lunch and the usual dash behind a bush! African style! We then came up to a small stream where we saw a procession of men and young boys chanting and singing, making their way to it. The headman came over and with hand signs and some language to the guide and my friend's parents, who made sure us two teenager girls were shooed off with her mother. Yes, we had come upon a "coming of age ceremony". The young boys would stand in the river which was icy cold before the ceremony to numb a certain area. No woman were allowed. Later on that day we passed through a little village where much celebrations were going on. All must have gone well. The aroma from the cooking fires made us hurry even quicker to get back to where the car had been left.

                                                                           

                                                               

                                       Mum, me  and my younger sister.
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"Bird" is now taking shape. I have nearly finished him and will now start on the background.

this week I am meeting another artist who also uses pastel pencils. Looking forward to exchanging tips.