It's a big year, I need a challenge and not just a New Year's Resolution type of challenge! I know I'm only finding this halfway through the month but better late than never. It's a great idea and I used to 'brain-drain' every morning when I was following The Artist's Way, in my own kind of way, so now is a chance to do it again.
'That little boy came from me. I still find it hard to believe. He sits opposite me now with smiles in his eyes, tapping his toe and licking his lips as he watches an episode of Pingu on the DVD. It's as if he understands exactly what they are saying as he giggles every now and then. My little boy, growing up each day. I love you and all of our discoveries that lie ahead. Let's go and explore that world now!'
Wednesday, 16 January 2013
Sunday, 6 January 2013
Moving on
I've been away from here for a while. Life became quite hard there for a moment, it was dark and not just because we're in a small cottage with neighbours that park their car right up to our window...
Making a big move out of the city into the country is bound to have an affect on you, even two years on. I thought I had a handle on it but maybe I didn't quite have such a tight grip.
So hello there 2013 - I'm taking hold of you very tightly and am going to run, run, run!
Making a big move out of the city into the country is bound to have an affect on you, even two years on. I thought I had a handle on it but maybe I didn't quite have such a tight grip.
So hello there 2013 - I'm taking hold of you very tightly and am going to run, run, run!
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Wallpaper Strip Part 7
Gosh, I totally forgot about the Wallpaper strip! But do not fear, it's back. This is the one where we go into the bedroom. Oh prepare yourself, it's another corker. It's also been so long since I blogged about the wallpaper, that some things have had to change, like the wallpaper. That's another post waiting to be posted.
So here it is, the bedroom wallpaper, as papered by Jam's grandad many moons ago. If you have been keenly following these wallpaper posts, you'll note that the border here is the same as the border in the living room.
It's odd how there seems to be a snail trail all across the wallpaper, we haven't seen any snails, unless they're a certain kind that can't be seen by the human eye, but that would just be weird.
So here it is, the bedroom wallpaper, as papered by Jam's grandad many moons ago. If you have been keenly following these wallpaper posts, you'll note that the border here is the same as the border in the living room.
It's odd how there seems to be a snail trail all across the wallpaper, we haven't seen any snails, unless they're a certain kind that can't be seen by the human eye, but that would just be weird.
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Settling in and Peace Night
Just as I thought I would be spending more time writing, I seemed to stop and find myself totally immersed in the whole country - baby - new friends and new business thing. Quite frankly I've been too exhausted to bring you along on the journey so far and I sincerely apologise, but hope I can make up for it. I'm sure the new wallpaper strips will amuse you and the strange customs will enlighten you, at the very least...intrigued? Well...
It all started when I decided to go along to a 'Peace night' at what has become my favourite and indeed almost only shop I frequent in Wellington - Nurtured by Nature. An ethical and organic shop, with an acoustic cafe and complementary therapies and really lovely staff!
People were invited to come along and read a poem about what peace meant to them. Not a great number of people turned up, but we all sat around a table and shared our poems and thoughts. It was a magical evening. A real mix of people and interesting ideas. I did something for myself that evening, breaking away from the world of caring for my little family, I found my voice again and used it.
This is the poem I wrote - it needs to be read out aloud. It's all my own work, please contact me if you want me to come and perform it along with some other gems I've written, that can even be sung. We sang this at the gig, but that's another post...
Peace of my Land
Agro! Agro! Agro!
I grow vegetables in my garden
Peace Peace Peace
Peas, broccoli - purple sprouting, courgettes and marrow
War! War! War!
Watering my garden every day brings such
Peace Peace Peace
Sweet peas, marigolds, forget me nots
Army
Ah me cabbages have been eaten by slugs
Sudan
Sit down and let me tell you all about it
Israel
It's really a bad year for runner beans
Iran
I ran after the rabbit that nibbled my salad leaves
Nazi
Now see the way the artichoke leans
Afghan
I've gone and re-potted all the house-plants
Religion
Really gently opened out the roots
Soldier
Sold you some of my best tomatoes
Jew
Do you remember your first fruit?
Peace Peace
Piecing together a potted history
Rioting! Rioting!
Writing about what peace means to me
War! War!
Walked across the neighbour's field
Peace Peace
Piss off my land, said he.
It all started when I decided to go along to a 'Peace night' at what has become my favourite and indeed almost only shop I frequent in Wellington - Nurtured by Nature. An ethical and organic shop, with an acoustic cafe and complementary therapies and really lovely staff!
People were invited to come along and read a poem about what peace meant to them. Not a great number of people turned up, but we all sat around a table and shared our poems and thoughts. It was a magical evening. A real mix of people and interesting ideas. I did something for myself that evening, breaking away from the world of caring for my little family, I found my voice again and used it.
This is the poem I wrote - it needs to be read out aloud. It's all my own work, please contact me if you want me to come and perform it along with some other gems I've written, that can even be sung. We sang this at the gig, but that's another post...
Peace of my Land
Agro! Agro! Agro!
I grow vegetables in my garden
Peace Peace Peace
Peas, broccoli - purple sprouting, courgettes and marrow
War! War! War!
Watering my garden every day brings such
Peace Peace Peace
Sweet peas, marigolds, forget me nots
Army
Ah me cabbages have been eaten by slugs
Sudan
Sit down and let me tell you all about it
Israel
It's really a bad year for runner beans
Iran
I ran after the rabbit that nibbled my salad leaves
Nazi
Now see the way the artichoke leans
Afghan
I've gone and re-potted all the house-plants
Religion
Really gently opened out the roots
Soldier
Sold you some of my best tomatoes
Jew
Do you remember your first fruit?
Peace Peace
Piecing together a potted history
Rioting! Rioting!
Writing about what peace means to me
War! War!
Walked across the neighbour's field
Peace Peace
Piss off my land, said he.
W9 Writers' Workshops
How excited was I to have an afternoon to indulge myself in writing. Jam was busy finishing off other projects whilst I was trying to get lunch sorted and then I checked the start time and it was half an hour earlier than I had thought, so we stepped up a gear and drove as fast as we safely could arriving just about on the dot, give or take a couple of minutes! Off they drove to have a father son bonding session up a pointy hill somewhere nearby and I skipped inside with glee.
Suse used to run these workshops up in London W9, and now she runs them from her place in Somerset. I went on one of her London workshops two years ago, almost to the day, and it was such a breathe of fresh air I'm suprised that it was two years ago. It was an exhilarating experience then and even more so now. As Suse put it 'like having a brain massage compared to what I normally do with my days (running round headlessly, being interrupted every 5 minutes... you know the sort of thing.)'
She cooked the most delicious apple pie for a tea break and I'm just making it now, so shall see if it turns out as good as hers! It was called No Pastry Apple Pie. And oh my word it's the best pie ever! Oh, just one more slice...
the recipe
Suse used to run these workshops up in London W9, and now she runs them from her place in Somerset. I went on one of her London workshops two years ago, almost to the day, and it was such a breathe of fresh air I'm suprised that it was two years ago. It was an exhilarating experience then and even more so now. As Suse put it 'like having a brain massage compared to what I normally do with my days (running round headlessly, being interrupted every 5 minutes... you know the sort of thing.)'
She cooked the most delicious apple pie for a tea break and I'm just making it now, so shall see if it turns out as good as hers! It was called No Pastry Apple Pie. And oh my word it's the best pie ever! Oh, just one more slice...
the recipe
Sunday, 25 September 2011
A quick reflective tea break
Hmm, I've been blogging for a while, but unlike those that do it every day and build up a huge following, I seem to do it less and less and it's probably only my sister reading this now. But we had words, not me and my sister, me and the blog. We decided it was time to stay focused and put some effort in. And not just in the blog, in everything. Having a child totally changes your life, obviously, point understood, but I'm wondering if it has totally stripped me of my ability to communicate and enjoy life. Where did that fun-loving care-free happy-go-lucky me go? I think I'm doing OK generally, most of the time, but it's nothing to write home (or here) about. I'm struggling with fulfilling my husband's needs, and he is struggling with our situation right now, yet I think we will come out of the woods soon enough and realise that it wasn't all that bad, these things happen, you get over it and work it out somehow. Communication is key and we haven't changed the locks yet.
The transition from being a woman to a mother is quite an incredible thing. The love you feel as a woman for your man is something strong, uniting, passionate, exciting. Put a baby in the mix and those feelings are still there, but how compelling is that protective bond? That little precious being that relies solely on you for everything takes over, your heart and soul would move heaven and earth to protect and guide him. It's a totally different way of life. People you used to care passionately about seem to disappear into the ether. Not forgotten forever, just no longer in your 'now'.
That bloody cockerel!!! Why does it always go mental at this sort of time, just as the little one is sleeping, or at least trying to! Perhaps this is why the blog has been neglected, and the husband! I just don't get time to sit down and do anything without some sort of interruption! I'm in the middle of nowhere, idyllic and peaceful, baby sleeping, time to do something for me then that bloody shaggy cockerel starts. Have you ever seen a cockerel getting frisky with the hens? Poor loves, what did they do to him? He arrogantly struts around, cock-a-doodle-dooing, shaking his scrawny arse in some poor hen's face, I've a good mind to... (calm down Flora) ...finish my tea, comfort the baby, think about preparing dinner, hang the washing out, wash my hair, tidy up, do some filing, make some biscuits, wrap the birthday present for my niece... That's right, run around like a blue-arsed fly for a few more hours until Jam's home then put the baby to bed and have some quality time with hubby: without falling asleep!
A tea break is never long enough these days.
The transition from being a woman to a mother is quite an incredible thing. The love you feel as a woman for your man is something strong, uniting, passionate, exciting. Put a baby in the mix and those feelings are still there, but how compelling is that protective bond? That little precious being that relies solely on you for everything takes over, your heart and soul would move heaven and earth to protect and guide him. It's a totally different way of life. People you used to care passionately about seem to disappear into the ether. Not forgotten forever, just no longer in your 'now'.
That bloody cockerel!!! Why does it always go mental at this sort of time, just as the little one is sleeping, or at least trying to! Perhaps this is why the blog has been neglected, and the husband! I just don't get time to sit down and do anything without some sort of interruption! I'm in the middle of nowhere, idyllic and peaceful, baby sleeping, time to do something for me then that bloody shaggy cockerel starts. Have you ever seen a cockerel getting frisky with the hens? Poor loves, what did they do to him? He arrogantly struts around, cock-a-doodle-dooing, shaking his scrawny arse in some poor hen's face, I've a good mind to... (calm down Flora) ...finish my tea, comfort the baby, think about preparing dinner, hang the washing out, wash my hair, tidy up, do some filing, make some biscuits, wrap the birthday present for my niece... That's right, run around like a blue-arsed fly for a few more hours until Jam's home then put the baby to bed and have some quality time with hubby: without falling asleep!
A tea break is never long enough these days.
Thursday, 8 September 2011
How to (NOT) do a carboot sale
Carboot sales. They're all the rage, apparently. If you have never even been to one I suggest you get the local paper and find one, set your alarm clock for a ridiculously early time on Sunday and get out there, armed with small change, plastic bags and a haggling disposition!
The bargains you can pick up at a carboot are incredible, especially at the end of the day when people are desperate to get rid of their stuff. For years I have loved going to them and, like rummaging through the charity shops before they got all upmarket, it is immensely satisfying to find a little treasure in amongst the trash.
Being a seller on the other hand is a completely different story. If you're thinking of doing one, there are some great tips on this site that I recommend you look at beforehand. If you've got anything vaguely valuable you would be much better off trying to ebay it first, because you won't get much for it at the carboot.
Anyway, I'm not here to give advice and information on carboots, I'm here to tell my story. So I'd better get on with it. I know you're busy and dying to get back onto facebook ;)
We packed up the car the night before, including blankets to put the stuff on with no decorating table to hand, a chair, guitar, lunch and a flask of tea. We'd been told that the carboot advertises as sellers at 10am, but most people get there at 7am. Blimey, that's a bit of a difference, we ended up arriving at around 8.30am and were one of the last rows of cars! There were about 500 cars! And even a bouncy castle!
Everyone parked bumper to bumper, with a little gap inbetween, and then whooooosh! It began. We laid the blankets down, took Bubbaboo out and Jam strapped him to his back, whilst I started emptying boxes and organising our wares, not sure what order I was putting them in, it was all so random, and people immediately started coming over and opening boxes and rummaging through them. We'd tried to work out what prices we wanted for things beforehand and conferred a lot and haggled even more.
It was quite good fun, even Bubbaboo loved it, he attracted lots of attention and 'ahh isn't he sweet' or 'what a contented little chap'. He was sitting amongst it all, banging spoons on ceramic pots, that then broke, but who would have wanted to buy that anyway?!
Of course, we took a guitar and Jam was happy to tinkle away, gathering customers. People even commented that it was very mellow and lovely over this end of the sale, what with a man rather loudly trying to sell his meat at the other end and you're not even allowed to sell food!
On the way there, Jam was getting excited about looking at all the other tut, I however was feeling a bit nauseous at the prospect of trying to get money for old stuff, some of which I wasn't really sure I wanted to give away, and the last thing I wanted to do was buy any MORE stuff! Jam was adamant he wanted to be able to choose two things to buy, I could only think of one thing, a xylophone for Rolypoly, but towards the end of the day, as people were packing up I had a quick peek at the stall next door and saw a large digit telephone suitable for my Mum and a wetsuit for Bubbaboo. I called Jam over and said I'd found my two items, Jam was chatting to the chap and suddenly the chap said, 'Mate, I tell you what, give me £20 for the lot?'
'What?!' said Jam, 'I couldn't possibly, and just as I was about to breathe a huge sigh of relief he said, 'I'll give you £30' - WHAT THE.....
'Look I'll meet you half way, give me £25, deal? Deal, they shook hands, I shook my head and started laughing or was that wailing hysterically? The chap had arrived with a van load of stuff, a wife and son, who was having trouble selling his football stickers and I dread to think what he told them, but he'd obviously had enough and just wanted to get home.
So we were left with more stuff than we had arrived with, no more customers to sell to, a little boy who was getting fed up and just wanted to feed and slightly burnt foreheads (just me and Jam, R had quite sensibly been wearing a hat and sunscreen).
The lady on the stall opposite was just as gobsmacked as I was! As were the couple across the way with a little baby too, they'd been chatting lots to us throughout the day and were considering changing their plans to try and help us but we assured them we'd get it sorted.
We were the last to leave the site. You weren't allowed to leave anything behind, yet the rubbish collecting man with van had said he would come back and take some of our empty boxes for us. So I was walking across the field to drop the boxes off and the female organiser was shouting across to me, 'You can't leave anything here, you have to take everything with you'.
'Yes, I know, but the chap with the van said he would take these for us...'
'You can't leave anything here, he's gone.' Total lie, because he was standing next to her... I carry on walking, she shouts out again, 'There are no bins here. You can't leave anything here!'
'I hear you lady, but I can't fit it in the car, so I'm just going to have to walk home with it!'
At this point the chap with the van comes over and says he will take it, I thank him profusely and want to stick my fingers up at the arsey lady but choose to be polite and shout a big 'thank you!' out instead, as I magically squeeze into the car and we drive off.
Obviously there's another part to this one, get back to whatever else you were doing, go on, shoo, I'm exhausted just writing about it!
The bargains you can pick up at a carboot are incredible, especially at the end of the day when people are desperate to get rid of their stuff. For years I have loved going to them and, like rummaging through the charity shops before they got all upmarket, it is immensely satisfying to find a little treasure in amongst the trash.
Being a seller on the other hand is a completely different story. If you're thinking of doing one, there are some great tips on this site that I recommend you look at beforehand. If you've got anything vaguely valuable you would be much better off trying to ebay it first, because you won't get much for it at the carboot.
Anyway, I'm not here to give advice and information on carboots, I'm here to tell my story. So I'd better get on with it. I know you're busy and dying to get back onto facebook ;)
We packed up the car the night before, including blankets to put the stuff on with no decorating table to hand, a chair, guitar, lunch and a flask of tea. We'd been told that the carboot advertises as sellers at 10am, but most people get there at 7am. Blimey, that's a bit of a difference, we ended up arriving at around 8.30am and were one of the last rows of cars! There were about 500 cars! And even a bouncy castle!
Everyone parked bumper to bumper, with a little gap inbetween, and then whooooosh! It began. We laid the blankets down, took Bubbaboo out and Jam strapped him to his back, whilst I started emptying boxes and organising our wares, not sure what order I was putting them in, it was all so random, and people immediately started coming over and opening boxes and rummaging through them. We'd tried to work out what prices we wanted for things beforehand and conferred a lot and haggled even more.
It was quite good fun, even Bubbaboo loved it, he attracted lots of attention and 'ahh isn't he sweet' or 'what a contented little chap'. He was sitting amongst it all, banging spoons on ceramic pots, that then broke, but who would have wanted to buy that anyway?!
Of course, we took a guitar and Jam was happy to tinkle away, gathering customers. People even commented that it was very mellow and lovely over this end of the sale, what with a man rather loudly trying to sell his meat at the other end and you're not even allowed to sell food!
On the way there, Jam was getting excited about looking at all the other tut, I however was feeling a bit nauseous at the prospect of trying to get money for old stuff, some of which I wasn't really sure I wanted to give away, and the last thing I wanted to do was buy any MORE stuff! Jam was adamant he wanted to be able to choose two things to buy, I could only think of one thing, a xylophone for Rolypoly, but towards the end of the day, as people were packing up I had a quick peek at the stall next door and saw a large digit telephone suitable for my Mum and a wetsuit for Bubbaboo. I called Jam over and said I'd found my two items, Jam was chatting to the chap and suddenly the chap said, 'Mate, I tell you what, give me £20 for the lot?'
'What?!' said Jam, 'I couldn't possibly, and just as I was about to breathe a huge sigh of relief he said, 'I'll give you £30' - WHAT THE.....
'Look I'll meet you half way, give me £25, deal? Deal, they shook hands, I shook my head and started laughing or was that wailing hysterically? The chap had arrived with a van load of stuff, a wife and son, who was having trouble selling his football stickers and I dread to think what he told them, but he'd obviously had enough and just wanted to get home.
So we were left with more stuff than we had arrived with, no more customers to sell to, a little boy who was getting fed up and just wanted to feed and slightly burnt foreheads (just me and Jam, R had quite sensibly been wearing a hat and sunscreen).
The lady on the stall opposite was just as gobsmacked as I was! As were the couple across the way with a little baby too, they'd been chatting lots to us throughout the day and were considering changing their plans to try and help us but we assured them we'd get it sorted.
We were the last to leave the site. You weren't allowed to leave anything behind, yet the rubbish collecting man with van had said he would come back and take some of our empty boxes for us. So I was walking across the field to drop the boxes off and the female organiser was shouting across to me, 'You can't leave anything here, you have to take everything with you'.
'Yes, I know, but the chap with the van said he would take these for us...'
'You can't leave anything here, he's gone.' Total lie, because he was standing next to her... I carry on walking, she shouts out again, 'There are no bins here. You can't leave anything here!'
'I hear you lady, but I can't fit it in the car, so I'm just going to have to walk home with it!'
At this point the chap with the van comes over and says he will take it, I thank him profusely and want to stick my fingers up at the arsey lady but choose to be polite and shout a big 'thank you!' out instead, as I magically squeeze into the car and we drive off.
Obviously there's another part to this one, get back to whatever else you were doing, go on, shoo, I'm exhausted just writing about it!
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