Michael Gage

Each 15 x 15cm, acrylic on canvas.

Each acrylic on canvas, 15 x 15cm.

I'm very proud that some of my pictures from Cuba have been featured on the Urban Sketchers website.

I begged Great Aunt Dahlia to tell me the next part in the story of how Grandma Lily met Grandfather Scutter. "So Grandma drifted out to sea, and was caught in a storm -- Did she survive?"

"Well, of course, she survived, you silly Bob Tail Rabbit," said Great Aunt Dahlia. "If she hadn't survived, you would never have been born, and I'd be sitting here talking to that empty plate."

"The storm tossed Lily out of the punt, and she fell into the cold water. Further and further she fell, until she reached almost to the bottom of the ocean."


"Lily swam around looking at the fish and the shells and the rocks. She told me she even saw a merbunny."


"Then in the distance, she saw a hollow rock -- a cave -- and in the darkness, she could see something glittering."


"Cautiously, she swam into the cave, and do you know what she found?"

"No; what?"

"Treasure, that's what she found. An enormous treasure chest overflowing with the most beautiful golden carrots that you can imagine."


"Oh my! Did Grandma take the treasure, and become rich, and live happily ever after?"

"Well, Bob Tail Rabbit, life isn't as simple as that. Oh dear, all this talk about carrots has made me hungry again. Now, didn't I mention something about an empty plate?"

"I'll get you another slice of cake..."

There's another update over at the burrow... In which Bob Tail Rabbit finds out more about how Grandma Lily met Grandfather Scutter.

You might remember that Great Aunt Dahlia was telling me the story of how Grandmother Lily met Grandfather.

"Go on," I said, passing her another slice of carrot cake. "Grandmother Lily was drifting on the river in a punt all alone. What happened next?"

Great Aunt Dahlia brushed the crumbs from her whiskers. "Well, Lily tried to call for help. She shouted and waved, but a little rabbit in a little punt is a very small thing indeed, and no one noticed her."


"'Oh my, oh my! Whatever shall I do?' she cried to herself. By now, she was quite cold and hungry, and shaky with fear. So she pulled the picnic blanket over her, and lay down to rest.


The punt drifted on down the river. Suddenly, Lily woke with a start, and looked all round. There was nothing but the cold water below and dark clouds above. 'Oh my, oh my, I've drifted out to sea.'


'Bless my whiskers, there's a storm heading this way!'

And before she could do anything, the wind blew a great wave across the sea and snatched up the punt. Lily clung onto the side as they were tossed into the air, and --"


"Yes -- go on, Great Aunt Dahlia. What happened next?" I cried.

"Just a moment, young Bob Tail Rabbit. I think I could manage another slice of that carrot cake, and then I'll tell you."

Look out for the next episode, coming soon.

More landscapes of Ashdown Forest, first stage.


Acrylic on canvas, each 15 x 15cm.

It's one inch in diameter. I've taken this picture by scanning the badge, so the colours don't look quite right here (in reality, they are a bit lighter), but you get the idea.

All the rabbits in the burrow were very excited this morning when we received an invitation to a party. "Fancy Dress To Be Worn," it said. "Come as your greatest hero!"

We all rushed off to decide what to wear, and then showed the others what we'd chosen. I was first.
"I'm going as the cleverest rabbit I know: Michelangelo Bunnyrotti."
"I've chosen the most beautiful rabbit in the world," said Clarissa. "Marilyn Bunroe."

And my friend Nigel Floppyears said, "I'm going to be the bravest rabbit that there ever was: Napoleon Bunnyparte."

Finally, it was Naughty Kitten's turn.

"Who are you going as?" we asked, as he disappeared behind the screen.
"I'm going as the greatest and cleverest and most beautiful and bravest cat in the whole wide universe..."

"Who's that?"

"Me!"