Bit of culture today – the Joan Eardley Exhibition at the National Gallery. This is ‘Three Children at a Tenement Window’. It was good. I do have a tendency to lapse into people-watching in these moments – Edinburgh is unparalleled on that front. I also liked the idea that she kept on painting the same things – Samson children and her cottage in NE Scotland – bit like Monet and the Water Lilies. I thought maybe that this showed a lack of creative imagination until I realised on reflection that I am about to have my 31st attempt at the Christmas sermon. And I don’t expect to get it complete this time either.