small wonders

OH I am in such a rush - off to London again tomorrow for more work.  I just wanted to hurriedly put this down... its part of Louise Gale's Small Wonders monthly round up. 






Congratulations to YOU miss Louise and likewise Concetta.  I am definately feeling that 2011 is going to be a GOOD year! 
My accomplishments for Jan
-oh yes TAX return done and paid on time
- going to yoga twice a week (apart from the 1st week)
-applying to do Yoga Teacher Training
- taking the plunge and signing up for the DO What You Love retreat, I am so excited it definately feels like a stretch and as if something magical will come of it
- trusting the Universe
- doing Experimental Art ecourse again and getting stuck into creating and experimenting
- giving up coffee, alcohol and meat and cutting way down on dairy. cutting down on sugar, eating more green smoothies and healthy stuff.

theme was  -Poetry - focusing on the essential and beautiful, honing my thoughts, getting back into my yoga

Celebrating by going out with my friends and going out for some meals with my husband and son.

Feb aims....READY FIRE AIM! is my aim!!  and to continue to get the cash rolling in. decluttering. continue with yoga, continue with healthy eating.  continue creating.  devise a playgroup afternoon club and devise a workshop. set up my % savings to include 2 types of savings, play, education, give and 50% on essentials.

in all honesty

In all honesty I really wish I could do something to help my relationships at home go a bit smoother sometimes.  I am utterly convinced it is not all my fault.  However, it does seem to be some things I do or say that seem to cause great and totally unecessary rifts.  All this earning money and going on retreats is fantastic and its going so well.  I wish that somehow I could sprinkle the same magic fairy dust on tiny but obtrusive and snaggy stuff that is going on with my relationships.  I think I had better put a bit of thought and prayer and magic effort into this. 

Yoga was very creaky this morning. Oh my I was soooo wobbly!  And as for the 21 day challenge..... well I am STILL off the coffee, and that seems to have really stuck in.  And apart from one evening and 2 glasses of wine I am off the alcohol (though I think I may fall right off this one next tuesday on a planned girls tapas after work drinky) and theres been a lot less milk - well, no lattes and no cereal with milk has helped that.  Working with lunch brought in has meant that I have both eaten meat and cheese and a lot of sarnies.  To my credit I have also eaten lots of fruit, and steered clear of the abundance almond and chocolate croissants. So I have been doing better, but not really doing much of any sort of cleanse  - apart from the coffee, which I am really not going near.  The good thing about coffee is that there is always an alternative provided.  I have drunk tea instead.  Which isn't caffeein free, but hey.

Am on course for earning well and will be saving this years monies thus
10% Financial Freedom Account (to be used ONLY for investment purposes)
10% Play money
10% education money
10% savings to be spent money
10% give away money (good causes, gifts)
50% essentials (ie I will put towards the household necessities)

And Universe - please can you help me be less narky.  thanks

Magic Happens

A few days I go I wrote a post called Small Bummer.  I was bummed because I had not been selected for a 4 day Supergroup job  (which pays handsomely).  Late last night I got a text from my friend, cancelling the babysitting work I was meant to do on Friday. So I kind of thought I had lost out on another job.

But.... then, this morning I got a call from the Supergrouper people and it seems that one of the chosen chaps couldn't make it after all, so could I make it there for 1pm today, and do the whole job which is today, tomorrow and Tuesday and Wednesday of next week? Yes!  YES!!!!! I am in awe of how this has happened.  But very very grateful to the Universe who obviously listened. 

Thank you Universe.

(and very sorry to Kat whom I was most very much looking forward to meeting up with on Tuesday - I hope we can rearrange!)

Millionaire Mind

How do you prepare for a challenge? What I do is read up and psych myself up for it, then start taking action.  I have a few of books about... well they are kind of about manifestation.  Somehow though they often have different titles, they seem to be able the same thing.  Anyway.  Yesterday I decided that first and foremost I need to get my mind and heart in the right place to set forth on my quest.  To Have Both.  To go on this retreat AND have Hub back me up that it is a worthwhile outlaying of cash and that I deserve it.  The main way to do this is to SHOW how much money I have got coming in.  Generally when I make a focus of my ability to bring in cash,  cash comes in.  I need to step this up right now as you know.  So I was babysitting for a friend last night and I took with me a bag load of my books.  Some on which chakra to focus on, some more about positive feelings being the way to manifest, and some like how to get rich books.  I read the Yoga book first, and well, I am pleased to say that on so many levels i am very glad to be getting back into my yoga again.  If I am looking at getting my financial life together (along with everything else, as its all interlinked) then Yoga is a good thing,

Then J woke up and I had to go and  settle him down again as he was crying.  He didn't want me to go away and so I ended up sitting there on the bed while he fell asleep (and it wasn't an instant thing, I would creep off and he would wake up again, so I just decided to stay there for a bit)  So I was getting bored and looking around, and there was a bookshelf in front of me, and its full of my friends books.  I can't see everything very clearly so I reach in and randomly pull a book out. Talk about manifestation,  Its called 'The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind' by T Harv Eker and 2 of my friends have mentioned it to me recently.  Cool.  The right tip for an evening spent studying ways to improve my wealth generation!

And indeed it is a very interesting book.  I have been reading it all day in my gallery job.  And am definately all fired up about some serious wealth creation!  One Idea I LOVE is that you have gotta think BOTH -  life not being either or, but asking the question, " How can I have both?" "How can I Do What I Love AND make a lot of money" or for me, "How can I go on this retreat AND have Hub feel great about it and support me whole heartedly in it"

And I like it because, it isn't all about being greedy or selfish to get wealthy.  It was about how to be of more use, to have more power, to HELP more people. So none of this depressing face reality or get harsh and selfish stuff.  But lots of the think creatively, take action (Ready, Fire Aim) and work it out as you go along.  Also it combines really nicely the whole, yes earn more money, but you also gotta save, and invest AND simplify your needs.  So for me it ticks  lots of boxes.  Am enjoying it.  One thing I also like is about money management.  It suggests you create a bank account for 'Financial Freedom" and you put in 10% of your income in there and this is used for investment purposes and buying passive income producing streams.  And you have a Financial Freedom jar in your house and you must put something into it daily, be it a penny or all your loose change or whatever.  To create the habit.  I like this. And then you also have a 10% which is PLAY money.  And you use this to spend on things that make you happy and FEEL Rich.  SO it balances your life and you don't feel at all deprived and likely to blow your savings.  Then he recommends 10% on long term savings for spending account.  10% for Education, 50% for necessities and 10% to your give account.  This he says means you can manage your money and be happy and be financially free on a much smaller amount of money than you thought.  And its worth setting up and doing even if you only have £1 a month to put in each account.  Just allocate something to it, and build up.

Anyway I am liking his thinking.  And I know Danielle La Porte somewhere said she liked naming her bank accounts with crazy outrageous and specific names... I want to set up an account somewhere called Financial Freedom Account.  I have in the past gone through long periods of saving 10% and it totally works.  (I also save 25% as I am self employed and I have to keep some back for tax). I definately want one of those jars in the house.  Cool.  And of course.  For me.  I am going to have a JAR for my Do What You Love Retreat fees.

I am also all psyched up for ACTION.  I have got a list of things to do. And I am doing them.  I did one today.  I contacted Dottie Angel to see if she would like me as a volunteer assistant on her retreat in Suffolk this summer.  Not only do I love her style and think I could be a good helper, but it is about seeing how different retreats work and meeting the artists/ craftspeople and workshop doers I admire. (another part of this books is all about learning by doing, getting involved, being there to see)

Day 8 and a challenge

Hey there folks.  Well its day 8 without coffee. And meat.  I slipped off the vegan wagon today and ate eggs (well Hub did take me to Bills for Brunch, so could not resist  - ooh sooooo delicious - and even Hub agreed that he wanted his life to be like in Bills as well!)

I also slipped off the no cake wagon and ate a home made brownie around at a friends house.  Again it was a case of it being simply rude not to! But you know, seriously folks I am doing really well.

Now.  I am going to tell you something.  I have registered at Do What You Love.  Its a bit naughty as I haven't yet proved to Hub that I can earn the money.  BUT I also wanted to make the commitment to going.  You know all that Once there is Commitment stuff.... 

I have spent the evening reading positive thinking books and books about how to attract what you want.  Usually when I really focus on things like this, it does have very effective results.  So I am committed to going on this lovely retreat.  And I am committed to earning the money to be able to go with the blessing of my dear darling husband.  I am also committed to making a living from creativity.  I will do whatever it takes to have a life filled with love, joy, dancing, creativity and art, good relationships and more than enough money to not have to look at the prices on menus when I go out / to fund the life I love to live.  I am prepared to work hard and think big.  Oh and I am committed to becoming a yoga teacher by the time I am 50.  And to still be teaching yoga when I am 70.

Dear Universe, Please can I Do What I Love?

Click here to visit Do What You Love.

Dear Universe

I firstly would like to thank you for coming up trumps with the Blue Dog Gallery job.  Most brilliant.  Cheers.

I was wondering if you might be able to help me out with something else?....

I would really like to go to the Do What You Love retreat in May.  Its a bit pricey for me at the moment, so I would love it if you could come up with some way of helping me out with achieving the funds necessary.  I believe that it will be a very, very good experience for me.

Click here to visit Do What You Love.

 Firstly,  for artistic reasons.  I totally would love to meet and work with Flora Bowley.  I singled her out from the Squam workshops journal (which I bought in lieu of actually going!)  as someone I aspire to be like.  She my Journalling my dreams pages here (its this one... . And seeing as she is American and normally only does workshops in America, it would be just so fab to be able to go to the workshop she is doing in THIS country this year.  It would mean a lot and I think I would really get a lot out of it.  See a review of her workshops by Kelly Rae Roberts here.  As you may know, Kelly Rae ran an ecourse called Flying Lessons (see button on my side bar for details, its now released as an ebook and is top banana)  I took Flying Lessons last year and it introduced me to a whole world of creative entrepreneurs (Amelia, Concetta, Maki as well as Beth and Louise)  and it started the whole, 'I want to go on a retreat / I want to start up a creative retreat'  seed in me. 

Click here to visit Do What You Love.

Secondly they are also running business development workshops for creatives like me.  It would be so fab to do the workshop with a whole bunch of similarly minded creative folks.  I think that both the workshop and the opportunity to mix with other creative business people would be really beneficial, and a real boost to my dream of earning a living from my creativitiy.

And another aspect is that I do still dream of running retreats myself, I would love to go on one, to see how it is, to experience it to see what is good about it, what I would do differently or the same.  I would love to meet Beth Nichols and talk to her about her experiences of it and also other people on the retreat like Louise Gale, and no doubt others, who have also done other retreats about their experiences.

And lastly because I would like to support Beth in her new business venture.  I am so impressed with how she has got this all together and how amazing it all looks.

So for those reasons, and possibly more, I would love to have YOUR support dear universe.  Please can you help me find a way to go on this retreat?

Lots of love from Moyra

Click here to visit Do What You Love.

seeking vegan recipes....

Day 6 of no coffee.  And pretty much vegan eating and drinking.  I have not cut out tea with milk as I felt it would be just too much so I am drinking a wee bit of milk in tea, but that's it.  I have to say today I got major cravings.  I have been eating some sort of vegetable stir fry with quorn for several days now.  And I just really really wanted to chow down on some toast and honey, or chocolate brownie.  But I did manage to resist.  I am thinking that, if I really want to do this then I am going to have to think of some other things to eat.  So I have been wandering around the internet looking for tasty vegan healthy recipes that don't require a Vitamix or really totally out there kitchen equipment or ingredients.  I also think I may need to grow or buy some herbs.  Fresh herbs can really make a difference! The following that look pretty interesting.... The 2 recipes below are from a site called my edible advice

Makes 5-7 Pancakes

1 ½ cups thick rolled oats (certified gluten free, if available)

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda (aluminum free)

1 ¼ cups rice, almond, or hemp milk

2 tablespoons of melted virgin coconut oil

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 banana, lightly mashed

coconut oil for cooking

1.Grind oats to a fine powder in an electric grinder or coffee grinder. Place ground oats, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium sized mixing bowl and stir together.

2.In a separate bowl, combine milk, coconut oil, maple syrup, and mashed banana and stir together. Pour the wet ingredient into the dry and mix together. Be sure not to over mix the batter! Gently fold in the blueberries. Add more milk if batter seems too thick.

3.Heat skillet over medium-low heat. Add a little coconut oil to the pan and drop the batter by the ½ cup full into the pan. Cook for about two minutes on each side. Watch temperature very carefully to avoid burning. Add more coconut oil to the pan before you make the next pancake. Repeat this process until all the batter has been used.

Serve with almond butter or pure maple syrup and enjoy every delicious (and healthy!) morsel.

Minty Green Smoothie

Serves 1-3

1 ripe banana, peeled and broken into pieces

1 medium apple, cored and cut into chunks

1 ripe pear, cored and cut into chunks

1 lemon, juiced

2 to 3 cups filtered water

3 to 4 spinach leaves, rinsed

3 to 4 kale leaves, rinsed and stem removed

¼ cup fresh parsley leaves

2 to 4 tablespoons fresh mint leaves

1.Place the banana, apple, and pear pieces, lemon juice and water into a blender. Blend on high.

2.Add the spinach, kale, parsley and mint leaves; blend again until very smooth. Add more water if needed. 

Broccoli Pesto Salad

2-3 heads broccoli

1 cup spinach leaves

1/3 cup pesto

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp soy sauce

½ red onion, chopped

½ cup raisins, cranberries, or dried apricots

1 cup mixed sprouts

½ cup toasted pine nuts

½ cup feta cheese

1.Lightly steam the broccoli florets.

In a large bowl mix broccoli, spinach, onion, raisins, and sprouts.

In a small bowl mix together pesto, balsamic and soy. Toss over the vegetables.

Top with pine nuts and feta cheese. Chill well before serving.

ps there are pictures to go with these but the internet connection is really not allowing anything so complicated as uploadind images

thank you universe

So, the other day I asked for a bit of help with my work situation, having lost out on 2 jobs.  And today I got a call from the gallery with 2 days work for next week (that don't clash) and the possibility of more in Feb when they go on holiday.  Am very grateful. Thank you Magical Universe.

I have also via Kind over Matter, discovered a blog called, Zebrasounds its very cheery and lovely and because of its Love Project (check it out, its great) it inspired me to start a chat with a lady on the bus . I recognised her as one of the other mum's from Bub's preschool and was about to start texting but stopped and decided to say hello and start up a conversation with her.  And we had such a nice chat! It turns out she is a fellow creative, and is planning on starting up a home made kids clothes business, and may come along to a Likemind with me one day. 

I spent this evening watching Raging Bull as part of our Film Club.  Classy picture, beautiful, gruelling in parts (violence), amazing performances, sometimes a little too lovingly lingering, a tad indulgent (slow) but always made up for it in the beauty of its shots.  Every scene like an incredible photo. Not my favourite film though (Singing in the Rain, Citizen Kane both better in my book)

p.s end of day five without coffee.  virtually no milk. and no meat. and no cake.  I rock.


p.p.s thank you, again, Universe, your help is much appreciated.

what are my dreams

I am not going to be answering it all here, right now.  I am still discovering what some of them are, and adapting as I go along anyway. 

One thing I do rather too desperately desire is not for me, but for someone else.  I would like my Hub to eat better and to lose weight for specific health reasons.  Because this is not in my control and I am totally into health food and he is totally not this has lead to friction. 

This week he has agreed that I write a menu plan for him and he will eat anything I give him as long as its not entirely mung beans and doesn't involve shepherds pie, which he has a thing against.  No pressure then!  I am of course mucho delighted and I am going to be kind to him.  He just really needs to eat more vegetables and less fried stuff, less processed stuff and less stuff covered in breadcrumbs!  He already eats a lot of fruit. 

Anyway.  Hopefully this will happen and it will all be a great and pleasant experience for all.

And then.  perhaps one of my dreams will come true. 

I am on day 5 without coffee.  Tho I did drink some wine last night, which wasn't very healthy or part of any 21 day detox whatsoever.

day 4 still no coffee!

Likemind this morning was brilliant.  I met a man who is setting up a green business, advising folk how to get their houses insulated and save money on their household bills.  And then I met a lady who suggested I do pet portraits  - something I know a lot of portrait artists do but I have never tried.  And she seemed to really like my work too, taking a card and saying that she would also let some friends who had children know about my work.  And then I suggested to a young book binder and letter press print user that she do teaching workshops and sent her off with a list of the art workshops I know about. 

And I didn't have a coffee!

For Lunch Bub and I went to visit R and M. R and I are friends I look after M every now and again and as he is more or less the same age as Bub he and Bub are friends too.  It was lovely.  She has an amazing house.  And I have to share this idea of hers which beautifully solves the where to put all those great works of art you get if your child goes to nursery....  Photo uploaded soon.  Get a giant picture frame and inside it put a cork board.  And pin all the works of art inside it.  It looked great.

Am still not eating meat, mostly avoiding diary and drinking a sort of green smoothie.  Am now very hungry and gagging to scoff that wee packet of jaffa cakes over there. But am resisting!!

I am looking forward to meeting up with Kat from This Year I.... who has just started a photography business which looks FAB.  can't wait to meet up!

Hub's on Fire and I have managed 3 days without coffee

Well I haven't really hit the ground running with the work this year.  But at least Hub seems to be getting  a good strike rate this year.  Good stuff.  Go Hub!! Fingers crossed he gets so much exceedingly well paid work he gets all generous and buys me a place on the retreat as a present!!

On the plus side for me I am now on DAY 3 without coffee.  And I have had very very very little dairy (like 2 cups of white tea's worth) and I have eaten really healthy stuff. My snacks have been like nuts and raisins.  I even went out to Bills (oh I love it! I want my life to be like going to Bills!) and had a really super lovely brunch with one of my mummy friends - haven't seen her for ages and she is a week away from her due date.  So it was a bit of a treat.

So just for my own satisfaction really
breakfast  = porridge without milk, with banana, apple, dried fruit and seeds of various kinds + 2 cups of tea
brunch  = roasted tomatoes on brown chewy toasted bread with pesto + cup of tea
snack = green smoothie (banana, spinach, almond milk, quinoa porridge, raspberries, pumpkin seeds)
more snacks = brazil nuts and dried fruit + green tea
dinner = miso soup and bowl of veggies and quinoa + bowl of muesli with fruit.

So no work but good eating for me.  Tomorrow is Likemind.  Looking forward to it, but I must say the whole no coffee thing is really going to be missed there, given that they are always in cafes that do seriously good coffees.... ouch. 

Its not the full on Crazy Sexy Diet (which is things like kale juice and low GI fruit) but its pretty health food as far as I am concerned. 

small bummer

I just missed out on 4 days work at £250 per day.  Am gutted.  Nothing I can or could have done about it. its just the way the cookie crumbles.  Annoyingly I also (this month) missed out on the gallery job as they wanted me on Fridays, and I had already committed to babysitting on alternate fridays til March this year.  Am not lucking out on the work front in the same way I did before Christmas.

I have done 2 days without coffee, and also with greatly reduced dairy intake.  Mainly just in cups of tea.  And I haven't eaten meat. And I have had my green smoothies.  But I still was  hoping that i could have gotten a grands worth of work in 4 days.

I really want to go on the Do What You Love Retreat.  But I need to earn some money to do that. Its not a cheap chappy.  Looks great, and I love Flora Bowley's work in particular.  It all just seems so far away everything at the moment.  Just now.  It seems the other side of a big wall.  Where other people can go.  I love my life and I love 'my side of the wall'  But how can I justify spending £1000 on a retreat for  4 days? I guess I had sort of secretly hoped that by getting that job of 4 days work for £1000 it was a step towards being allowed to go. 

Please Universe, can you help me? 

day 2 success and fails

I drank no coffee yesterday and I reckon I can do the same today.  I totally forgot about sugar and ate 2 enormous home made biscuits round at  friends house.  And then today I ate cake at playgroup.  OOPS.  so much for my resolve.  I am drinking a green smoothie every day (so far!!) which I am pleased with.  Generally its a better diet than where I was at. I have spent too much time online wandering around vegan and raw diet blogs.  There is a lot of stuff out there that I would like to try.  And I now find myself wanting a Vitamix.

I did do my experimental art coursework.  And loved one bit and found myself not so engaged with another bit - and amazed at what others managed to do with it.  Goes to show.

getting into gear

So its January 18th today and I am getting more and more motivated for the year ahead. I went to a yoga class on Saturday and last night.  And it feels soooo good to be getting back into that saddle again.  I had to write a letter to Jim Tarran who does the Yoga Teacher training here in Brighton.  It was really hard, as not really knowing what sort of thing that they are looking for (should I let rip and get all passionate and gushing about Yoga? Or are they really looking for a kind of Yoga CV and a list of things I have done.  I think what I wrote was OK.  Whatever I am glad I did it and handed it to him.  At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if I don't get in this year.  I am just glad to be getting back into my practice.  I figured that if I am not yet ready, then at least this will start the conversation as to what I need to do, or what sort of approach they are looking for so that I can get in.  And its not the only Yoga Teacher Training I can do.  the ball is rolling.  I am very excited.  I mean if it is a lot of study, at least its in something I am happy to practice and happy to study.  I fear that I am let down by my own lack of self discipline.  I mean how many years have I written on my to do lists 'DO YOGA EVERYDAY' and um.  How many days have I actually done it.  In a way, applying to do teacher training is a way of making myself step up my game. We will see.

Aside from the Yoga, or maybe because of it, I also want to start eating better and cleaner.  Christmas is not a time to be thinking of Green Smoothies or Vegan diets.  But today I AM thinking of those sort of things.  I have been reading Crazy Sexy Diet.... well I have been looking at the Blog anyways... and I am inspired.  What I liked about it, apart from the inspiring GO FOR IT warm hearted wake up call of it, was that it suggests a 60/40 or an 80/20 regime.  Where by its not the end of the world if you have a cake or a steak.  Just to try and improve your stats as to the proportion of raw, green, veggie stuff you eat.  There is a 21 day detox / kickstarter, where you pick something to improve and - for 21 days you keep to that improvement.  Like for example you can start with 'no fizzy drinks'.  Or in my case... I am going for the no coffee.  oUCH for 21 days.  I love my coffee, but it gets to be a habit I start to rely on.  I am going to cut down on the tea I drink.  But I am not going to go hardcore and have no caffeine at all.  I know it gives me headaches, so am being gentle with that.  I also want to drink a green smoothie everyday and cut down on dairy.  So to that end, its no milk in my porridge and as many herbal type teas as possible.  I am going to have the odd cup of builders with milk though.  And I bought some rather yummy looking Almond and Hazelnut milk to put in my smoothies. 

With my smoothies, its just a load of soft fruit with some spinach whizzed into  it.  Sometimes I use apple juice, and today I made it with this almond and hazelnut milk.  I am going to start growing my own alfalfa sprouts, which are really easy to do and hugely cheaper than buying them already sprouted. 

And this with as much Yoga as I can manage to fit in.  I like doing 2 classes a week.  But its GOT to be at least one.  And I really do want to start doing something on my own.

SO here we go with another one of these challenges..... its 21 days.  Are you into trying it? 
(am going to come back and put the links in to this, sorry they aren't there already!)

what matters

“… in the fleeting time we have on this earth, what matters is not wealth, or status, or power, or fame – but rather, how well we have loved, and what small part we have played in bettering the lives of others.” ~ Barack Obama

just an idea

become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know

I just read this.  You know somewhere.  On Pinterest.   There are quite a few good ideas.  But this one really struck a wee chord with me today.  I sometimes shy away from enthusiasm. Sometimes I gush forth with it.  But not always. And goodness knows I am not the most positive or enthusiastic person I know.  And those people I know who are positive and enthusiastic. Well they are great fabulous folks who spread a bit of optimism and energy.  

fin de la semaine

Don't know about you, but I am tired today.  I have Bub and M (his age, looking after him here today) in the front room, and they are both slightly fractious and wanting to play with the exact same toy all the time.  Bub being unusually bossy and bullyish.  Kind of stressful.  Have resorted to a bit of after lunch TV for some quiet time and to do the washing up.  And to write this eh!?  phew time out!! They used to sleep for a while when they were little.  I miss daytime naps!!  I wish I could have one now!

I am looking forward to my Yoga class tomorrow. And thinking about what to do for Amelia's 3rd assignment this week.  No wonder I felt I had missed out last time, I had forgotten how much there is in there.  I reckon I could do the course again and still not have even tried all of the suggestions she puts forward.

Its paper play today.  I am going to be doing one or both of the following.  She does give more info than I have here, but I figured that its her course, so I don't want to give too much away.  I will share with you what I do though.

• cut outs
•  re-assembled book pages 

I have nearly finished my letter to Jim Tarran about Yoga Teacher Training.  And I am half way through making a laundry bag, which I promised my cousin about a year ago.... what total unfiinished business is that. She offered to pay me as well.  But I don't reckon I can charge her I have taken so long about it.  It won't even take me long!  Why did I dilly dally?

I have 2 and a half hours with two 3 yr olds who are not playing nicely.  What are we going to do?

art play

I had a splendid time creating a House on Fire for my Experimental Art course.   I layered chalk and paint and charcoal and pencil and crayon and used fingers and brushes..... got really into it.

I have learnt also that I do need to STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER as I can, if not supervised, waste untold amounts of time faffing bout on t'tinternet. 

Other than the art play (more of that to come! so exciting!) I have booked a table at Restaurant at St Pauls on Sunday for my brother's 40th birthday.  Me and Hub and Bub are going up to London to take Bro and his Wife out to lunch.   It got a good write up in the Time Out Best Places to eat Sunday Lunch and its certainly an unusual venue.  Not a cheap lunch for me.  But I totally and utterly value my brother and spending quality time with him.  And as I missed his big party... and also do not have any idea of what to get him for his birthday as he is richer than me theses days and has a very crowded and full house.  A lunch treat is a nice present.  Bub has written (dictated) a story for him, which I am going to make into a book.  And I am going to attempt to make him a CD of the 'songs' that Bub has 'written' on the toy piano Bro gave him for Christmas.  Bro is a musician, and is always giving us CDs. So it would be cool for Bub to give him one of his work, inspired by the gift he was given....

Poetry in MOTION!

WEll, my year has taken a while to get going.  I am still pretty much deaf in one ear, which is a most unusual and slightly isolating experience.  But I am fired up now.  Yesterday I made a life aim.  I am going to be a yoga teacher when I am 70.  I have plenty of time to pull it off I guess, but I went to my class yesterday.  It was fantastic to get back on the mat and I felt fabulous afterwards.  And I also spoke to Jim who runs the classes as well as the teacher training I am interested in doing.  I am now composing my letter of interest.....  I expect I will need to complete the minimum requirement of one year's regular practice with Vajrasati Yoga.  But its great to be on a path that is too big for me to imagine being able to finish.  Its a mountain I am starting to climb and it feels very right..

Another thing I have started doing again is my morning pages.  And kind of out of that, I am taking up the returners offer from Amelia and doing the Experimental Art e-course again.  The first time I signed up for it, life got in the way and I fell behind and felt I really didn't give it a proper go. 

Not this time, NO WAY JOSE!  I am going for it. 

I love the whole premise of the course, which is to get experimenting and creating outside of the ways you may habitually turn to, hence expanding your range, and also injecting back in the joy of playful experimentation, pure joy in creating. 

In September I was looking after my son full time and also, not unpleasantly I was offered a surprise holiday for free, which I took with glee, but really missed out of much of the course.  This time Bub is at nursery for 15 hours a week.  And while i do still have other stuff to do...... oh my I have more time....

The first assignment is up this week - so for anyone thinking about it  - come and join me -  its only just started - I love Amelia's style and energy (check out her brilliant arty blog 101 bird tales)  and I can whole heartedly recommend her e courses to anyone who might be wavering at the edge of their decisions.... Jump in with me!

She says its just one assigment, to be honest you could, if you wanted spend 6 weeks doing this first one.  There is so much to it.  So I am sure that she won't mind I share this little part of it.  I did some of the other parts last time so this time I am picking out this (and more if I can manage it....... Its part of the assignment one; creating a WILD SKETCH book (how cool is that?)

create a smoke scene: collage a small house from a magazine at the bottom of the page and above it do billowing smoke effects playing with graphite, pencil, charcoal, white chalk, inks etc, including finger-smudges, drawn swirls, waxy loops - greaseproof paper or tracing paper is great for this one!

So as you can see, as the fog of illness is clearing I am raring to head off into 2011.  I shall be keeping you posted on my Yoga exploits as well as sharing some of my Experimental Creations!! I am POETRY IN MOTION!!

xxx 

slow start to the year

Its been a somewhat slow start to the year.  Illness has really put a spanner in the works of starting afresh and all those sort of plans.  I am still really quite deaf in one ear and today I felt totally crap and had to go lie down on several occasions.  I hope that the antibiotics will kick in soon and give me a break from this illnessness.  This evening I ate lots of vegetable thai green curry and watched a DVD of AbFab.  Blimey Joanna Lumley is brilliant.  June Whitfield is superb.  The writing hilarious.  But Patsy is the heart of its genius.....

Anyway.  I do hope I am feeling better.  I keep thinking I am getting better and its all be wishful thinking so far. 

This year is my year of yoga. At least it will be once I get going.  This is one of the thoughts and dreams I have for this year.  Setting my intentions down.  Its a long term thing, but today I decided that I would like to train to become a yoga teacher.  I am investigating Vajrasati Yoga.  Which is a school set up by the chap whose classes I have been to around the corner here in Brighton.  I have been reading his website and so far it looks like the kind of thing that would work for me.  Massive long reading list.  Mind you that's just the start of it.  I also need to attend his classes regularly for a year.  I have been going for over a year, but sporadic would be the word for my attendance. So there's a start.  Go regularly for all of 2011 and then join the training scheme.  And start on the reading list.   But I don't mind if I am 50 when I graduate.  I mean, its not as if you ever really can finish learning with Yoga anyway.

So having missed my first class of the year today.  I am planning on going on Monday night.  And with Bub at preschool, I will have some other opportunities to practice.  Slowly slowly catchee monkey.

A small light came out of our conundrum dispute.  Hub spent a night of (fruitless and pointless!) worry about me possibly being stabbed in Hackney.  In which he panicked about how much he would have to learn if I was not here.......like all the household management... (and I have to say sometimes it bothers me how little he knows..... I mean, what if something does happen to me, how could he cope?) But its nice that he at least spent some time thinking about how much I do! And he has been super kind and caring all day. 

ill wins

sadly the ears brought me down.  am too bloody poorly to go anywhere.  so far today i am worse than i was yesterday. 

more ill. and a conundrum

So yesterday, I blew my snotty nose and my ears popped. like when you are landing on a plane sometimes.  only they didn't pop again and my hearing went and my ears kept hurting.  I looked up natural remedies on the internet and basically they all seemed to say, that when it gets to this point you need medical help.  So today I went to the Doctors and she said I had a perforated ear drum and lots of nasty looking stuff in my ear.  I am now on antibiotics.  I still can't hear.

So tomorrow is my brother's 40th birthday party, in Hackney, in London.  My parents are going for couple of hours.  I feel I really should make the effort to go.  Bro has said that I can stay at his house (I have keys and he has a spare room) and Hub says that if if I stay he will be unable to sleep with worry about my safety (wandering about Hackney at night time).  I find it infuriating that I should not be staying because of Hub's threat of his not being able to sleep through worry as I feel his fears are - not unfounded - but excessive - I mean my brother and his wife live there and have not been stabbed in several years of living there.  And I am not afraid of being stabbed.  I am touched that he cares of course.  It is nice that he gives a shit.  On the other hand, I am also actually ill.  And deaf. 

I am thinking (as I write) that I could go and leave when my parents do.  Hmm.  Its a shame.  I kind of fancy a wild night on the town with the (not so) young trendsters of Dalston.  However.  I think the being ill factor might not be good for that neither.    Boo. 

I dunno.  Is Hub wrong to worry so?  Am I wrong to get so annoyed?  little bit of both maybe.

Poetry and cold hard cash....

So am beginning to feel more human again (though still immensley fuggy headed) and after a wee brainstorming new year resolutiony step it up etc meeting with the Hub last night, am feeing really quite focused. 

However the finances are in a bit of a state.  Christmas cost SO MUCH.  I admit we just stopped thinking about it and, talk about unconsious spending....  And just the car hire was a fortune....  And I just have no idea how I managed to spend so much on food.  Considering I can manage on £200 a month... I spent, um £321 and then £150 and then £97.  There were some presents in with this, and we do have lots of food left over.  But even so.....

Hence, this morning, I got all the cash we have in the house, counted up all the coins (big container!) and notes (I did a lot of cash work before Christmas) and took all cash off Hub.  And he now has £50 spending money.  To be accounted for next week.  And I paid all the credit card bills (food and car hire) worked out what money we have left in the account ( well I am nearly at that point, anyway) so we know where we are.  We have plenty of cash to buy food with for ages.  All back to the keeping strict track of things here.

Poetry

I have this word thing going on in my head.  I know quite a few of you out there are choosing a word for the year. 

Stuck as I am (was?) in indecision with this one...... I wrote a reply that somehow came up with an answer as I wrote about my inability to choose one word....

This year's word is

Poetry

It holds beauty within it, and romance, and it is also a challenge, to edit, hone, focus and also, to choose words wisely.


Thank you Universe (oh And Concetta) this is my word for the year.

Yoga for Life

Last night i started reading a book about Yoga by Donna Farhi.  It hit a nerve.  I really am so looking forward to getting back into it in a bigger way than I have for some time.  About 6 years ago I used to be teacher manager at Triyoga, which is a massive yoga centre in Primrose Hill, London.  As part of the deal I got Yoga lessons for £1 and I went every lunch time and it had the most amazing effect on me.  I learned a whole lot about Yoga and the different styles of it and I just loved it.  I have to admit that I am proper evangelical about how amazing Yoga is.  Its so brilliant for you.  And the more you do it the more amazing it gets. 

And yet, I haven't really done much for a long time.  Obviously I don't have lunch hours with £1 Yoga classes in the same building anymore.....But I do have a little more time, now that my darling Bub is going to preschool.  And I just keep thinking about - well - how I want to be when I am proper old.  And I want to be a Yoga old person.  Strong, flexible, upright, open minded, compassionate, alive..... 

Speaking of preschool.  My Bub's first day today.  I am such a proud proud Mummy.  He is so very cool and clever and sweet.  He loved it and, hey, maybe they say nice things to all the mummies, I am sure they do, but I was totally and utterly chuffed to bits at how confident he was and how interested he was in everything and how he loved it there.  I am really pleased with my choice.  It was almost a non choice really, as I didn't go and see any others and none of the others I put his name down for, even got back to me.  But I love it there.  Its small, no more than 12 children at any time (today there were only five of them) all of the staff are trained to a good level (Preschool doesn't have to have 100% Qualified staff) and I like them all.  It has a great vibe about it.  My little boy.  So pleased with himself, 'Going to School like a big boy'

On the downside, I didn't call the Gallery back in time and the days work tomorrow afternoon has gone to someone else.  Not only that but they are looking for someone to do Fridays  - Bub's day off and the day I have arranged to look after M (3 yr old boy, son of a friend of mine) DAMMIT.  But am just hanging on to the idea that The Universe is ON MY SIDE and that there is a good reason for this.  Ideal outcome is that they call back and want someone for Sundays instead.  On going.....

You never know.

Tuesday todo list

Bub had his first day at preschool today.  He seemed to totally love it and was outgoing and chatty and joined in and was not at all bothered by me leaving him there.  In fact he did not want to leave!

Other than that, I feel almost human again so I have a shed load of things to get on with

Mainly cleaning.  and tidying

But also putting stuff in the loft.
thank you letters /cards
get hair dye and touch up roots
bread flour (to bake bread!)
make stew

New Year Wish List

This is not a list of resolutions.  Its a list of things I wish will come true in 2011.  I have done this most years and the best thing about it is looking back at the end of the year to see how many of my wishes came true.  Its never all of them.  But its usually a gratifying number.  And how lovely to know that wishes really do come true.

This year I wish
I find a brilliant weekend job that is flexible, fun and well paid
My family has excellent health and good luck
We have designed and installed a new kichen.
We get new sash windows
We have knocked through to the kitchen and created a fabulous social space in our house
Hub and I do extremely well financially
I get to do a Supergroup at least once a month
Hub and I write and I illustrate a childrens book and it gets taken up by a publisher
I get illustration work
I do a yoga class every week and do some yoga practice everyday and really get back into my yoga.
I go on a yoga retreat
We go to Port Elliot Festival in a camper van.  And tour around visiting our West Country Friends
I have a blast at the UK blogger meet up
I go to Do What you Love's artistic retreat and gain masses of inspiration and contacts from it
We go to France to visit V, O, A and T (so want Bub to meet T, his age and French....)

The rooms are sorted so that Bub gets a bigger bedroom, I get a studio and Hub gets office space
We get new blinds for the bedroom and downstairs
The floor is insulated
We get a big kitchen table and have lots of great dinner parties
I find my vocation
I meet up with those friends of B's who do exciting work creating communty spirit
I find a way to teach creative thinking and I get paid for it leading to greater things in everyway
I get involved with the Hanover Zocalo and meet everyone in our street, forging some new and great relationships
I learn how to use photoshop
I practice my portrait art and do many portraits, both for practice and for sale.
I am prepared for Christmas with my portrait business
I put myself forward as a portrait artist for competitions in local charities and schools
I set up the baby boot fairs as a way for me to earn some money but also to raise money for the Hanover Centre and to promote recycling in the community
I reduce my waste
I meet some one amazing who can help me find the paid work of my dreams
I stop working for pocket money payment and find a way to earn big
I win the lottery
We get a massive insurance payout from that whole getting our car written off thing.
I visit C & A in Ibiza again
I go to SFO as part of my job and get paid to go and also get to hang out with my friends there
I get work that pays me remarkably well and takes me to Paris
Hub and I go to Paris on a romantic break
Hub eats a great diet and loses weight and scares prediabetes away away away.
Hub learns to swim
Somehow I manage to pay off the mortage
I win a camper van in a competition
I have beautiful white teeth
I have complete new sets of bedlinen and towels
We get our cupboard fixed by the washing machine
I declutter to the extent that I feel I have actually managed to declutter
I meet up with Amelia and Concetta and some of the other Experimental Artists
I get into Art School
WHen I look back at 2011 I sigh and think, wow, this was the year things really took off for me
I have the feeling of being powerful and centred
I find and use my voice
Happiness and joy and dancing and feasting with friends
I make space and time to experiment with my creativity
I make and eat green smoothies regularly and feel the vitality of doing so
I practice my Ukele and I can play several Christmas songs /  carols by next Christmas (3 at least)
I am fully prepared for Christmas, I make cards and send them for example.  I also want to make presents for people. 
I get mani pedi's at least once every 2 months
I have a massage at least once every 2 months
I eat 5 a day
I do well on ebay and have a sideline business buying and selling stuff
We get a beautiful head board made
We get upstairs carpeted and downstairs floor mended and beautiful.
All the walls are stripped and sanded and made good and papered and repainted.
We get the loft converted into a splendid new room and move the bathroom upstairs and create an office / den in the bathroom with a whole utility room and extend the kitchen.....
I set up a tiny artists retreat with FABULOUS people and its a zinging life changing event for everyone who goes in a good way.
Bro and M continue to find communication and happiness and peace
I learn to make bread and make it often and well
I wear fabulous clothes (inc great aprons)
I have more red in my hair......
I am slimmer around the waist and go down a bra size (I need tips on how to not be an apple shape!)


My words for this year are Excitement Yoga Honesty and GO

oh am sodding ill

I have been hit with the worst cold.  Its a classic, my whole head hurts, violent sneezing, lots of coughing and sore throat and ears and nose.  Its like some sort of payback for not being as hungover as I deserved to be yesterday.  Another day not leaving the house, and another day in my dressing gown.  And I was meant to be doing a spring clean on the house. So basically its like the New Year has not started yet.  At least its not started on a good foot.  More of a The house is a mess, I feel dreadful, not even really quite cleaned up from Christmas. What can you do.  I am seriously hoping that today is going to be the worst of it and that tomorrow I shall simply be snotty and able to function on flu tablets and get the week / year rolling.

I guess there is something about enforced bedrest that gets you gagging to get going.

christmas went like this

well I was going to post the photos... but they wont appear in the uploader thing even though they are actually there.... another time maybe.

Its New Years Day and I have to say that I have got off very very lightly considering the mixing of drinks I did and the fact that I waddled home at about 2.30am.  OUCH.  It was so fab to actually socialise in Brighton.  This is probably the first party that Hub and I have gone to together.  It was round at a friends house who have a wee daughter the same age as Bub.  Bub was a star, despite being actually ill, he got dosed up on Calpol and stayed awake and happy until nearly midnight (aided by the 2 hour nap he had had in the day).  I can't quite believe how OK i am feeling.  I shall probably crash sometime this afternoon, but til then I am cooking a massive ham on the bone for dinner and making leek and potato soup too. 

Luckily there are no photos of the party last night.