If your idea of heaven is being left alone to paint, check out the landscape painting weekend to be held from July 6th to 8th at Lavistown House, Co Kilkenny. The tutor for the weekend is Lesley Fennell and all you have to do is hand over £90, relax, and paint to your heart's content. Good food to sustain you throughout is included. If gardening is more your scene and you've only one day to spare, garden creator extraordinaire, Daphne Levinge Shackleton, will host a day on herbaceous perennials on July 28th when there will be an opportunity to buy plants from the Shackleton collection. The day costs £40. To book, contact (056) 65145 or e-mail courses@lavistownhouse.ie