I had to have a negative COVID test to be able to fly interstate in Australia (Victoria to Queensland) on Tuesday.

I knew that there would be a wait, and was prepared to sketch. I initially did a quick sketch in a fountain pen, then a second one.

I realised that I would be seeing the back of the same people for the entire wait. People did not come and go. The queue was in a laneway, so they just shuffled forward a bit at a time.

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It was an hour to queue. I also did a slower sketch in watercolour pencil.

And I had a book to read.

The test result was negative.

I will next be sketching my travel clothes as I pack. It’s been a while.

There was not a lot of sketching last week, as I prepared for a local Christmas Market.

I did not take any photos on the day of the market set up. There was an official City Council photographer, but I am not sure if I will even see those photos,

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Here is a link to an article that talks about all the different artists on display and photographs of the works. Much better than I could describe.

It was a beautiful day for being out and about in the gardens. There were lots of tourists and people walking in the gardens, as well as locals who came to visit. A steady stream of people visited and it was so lovely to chat to them.

Below are photographs I took as I set up at home in practice to see how to lay the cards and books out on the trestle table on the day, I did not have a table, but knew the measurements, so I cut a large roll of paper to size. This preparation meant that I could set up quickly on the day. Then I had to pack it all up. I have not had my books on display before, only cards, so it was a bit of an experiment. Books are very heavy to carry, even in a suitcase with wheels. Fortunately, it was local.

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With this, life seems to be returning to some sort of normal.