Our friends, Stephen and Janine, live in The Lake District. Even more interestingly, they own the house where Arthur Ransome lived towards the end of his life and from where he wrote the wonderful children’s book, “Swallows and Amazons”. At least, I’m sure it’s wonderful, judging by the first chapter (thought I had better read it as our friends own the famous house now). Their house is set within the rolling landscape overlooking beautiful Lake Coniston, the inspirational setting for the story.

Our friends intend to let the guest accommodation adjoining the main house, and Stephen has asked me to come up with a suitable logo to put on mugs and place-mats, that sort of thing… for sale to the visitors. Hence, I’ve been drawing and PhotoShop-ping Arthur Ransome all day. The funny thing is that the author reminds me greatly of my Granddad Barnes. I said to Chris, “I rather like drawing Arthur – he looks just like my grandfather.” Chris took a look at my drawings and said, “He looks like everybody’s granddad!” What do you think? Does he look like your grandfather?