This is me.

The last few years have been a struggle for me as most of you who read this already know. There have been times when I think I have it all sorted and then something happens that sends me back down into the abyss.

During the last few years, Rob's artwork has been going from strength to strength and has refrained from doing too many portraits of me as my self confidence is pretty well non existant.

But this week, following a few events that have seen my self esteem take a real knock, Rob decided to do a portrait of me. As he sees me...not as I see myself.

I suffered a gruelling 15 mins of photos where I felt so embarrassed and silly and just wanted to give up until finally the cat wandered over to me, broke my concentration and voila!! The perfect picture says Rob.

I can still see the tiredness, strain and depleted self respect in my face. The look that shows I am not a happy bunny. I can see that I am 2 stone overweight. But it is a good photograph.

Rob changed it to black and white and spent two sessions with pencil and charcoal, creating this.

I love it. It is the first picture of me from the last few years that I actually do like. I can't bear the camera being pointed at me these days. I freeze and consequently the picture looks awful. But this one is different.
So guys, this is me.