Lets start in Gosport, Portsmouth's long overlooked neighbour, which sits just across the harbour.  The cockle pond is a recreational area like many in towns all over the country.  This scene reminded me of another painted by L S Lowry with chimneys in the background. Instead I have tower blocks and the spinnaker Tower. We are going to be seeing a lot of that.

To get from Gosport to Portsmouth there is a distinctive green and white ferry that shuttles to and forth all day long. It brings us to the naval dockyard museum with some very famous old ships. But today we head past Gunwharf Quays shopping and into the old part of town where we get this view from the city walls again with the Spinnaker Tower in the background.

Back down at ground level we are in the Spice Island area of town, one of the oldest parts not flattened by the war.  The Spice Island Inn is one of many distinctive old buildings, completely with a wonky window I spotted only when I came to paint it.

Following the city walls we come to the vast open space of Southsea Common. Today there happens to be the annual kite festival taking place, and what a sight it is. The sky is filled with colour. and in the distance its that Spinnaker Tower again, and the distinctive blue and yellow Clarence Pier - which is so short, it doesn't reach the low tide!

And where better to spend a bit more time soaking up the atmosphere of the Southsea Kite Festival, than mingling with the crowds...