New Zealand Flax

This monster of a plant obviously enjoyed the conditions in our back garden as it grows to about three metres high and across each year. It is cut back hard in the winter and still comes back strongly the next year.

I have started reading "Girl in a Green Gown" by Carola Hicks, which tells the mysterious story of The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck. He was a successful court painter in Flanders in the early 15th century. He worked for the Duke of Bavaria - known as John the Pitiless - unto, 1425. Van Eyck then secured a position as court painter to the third Duke of Burgundy ,Philip the Good, son of another John - this one "the Fearless" and grandson of Philip the Bold.

He was not the only court artist. A contemporary was Colard le Voleur, whose works included a two-headed horse, a walking. talking hermit made entirely of wood and a particular artistic triumph in the castle at Hesdin - cunning devices that sprayed water, soot and flour and which "wetted the ladies from beneath." Van Eyck clearly had to go some to rival that.