Phew.

Life is pretty full on at the moment.  It suddenly occured to me that I am pretty much  busy from the very moment I wake up to when I am finally tired at the end of the evening.  Yesterday for example I got up at about 7am and did the whole get Ted dressed and breakfast and pack lunch and off to nursery. I did a bit of urgent bill paying and checking the bank balances (not great, but at least I had got the refund for the car hire from easyjet) rushed off to meet my Yoga buddy - a mentor scheme connecting graduates of the school to newbies such as myself.  And then dash off to take Hub's laptop to the computer man I found (cancelling one I had already found first thing as this chap was recommended and half the price...) And then on Ted duty all afternoon, cook dinner and then do my Yoga homework (do the class I planned and write up my notes about it til 9.30pm when I am zoinked.  Today I started at 6.30am.  THANKS BUB for that early wake up call...... grr.  And I did the whole Ted up thing, and packed lunch for him and me, and I am off to run the playgroup, then off to the Blue dog (where I do more writing up of notes from my Yoga course and also reading the Getting Things Done book for my other job prospect, then back to cook dinner for Bub and me (Hub is ill) and then bedtime routine and then write up my yoga homework, print out stuff to get me up to Manchester for a supergroup tomorrow (I will be getting back home at about midnight.  OH GOD I am boring and tiring myself out by even typing all of this nonsense.  .......... yup.....  OK calm down dear......

Sorry for DULL DULL DULL post.  I think I just needed to get ALL THAT OFF MY CHEST. 

getting organised

So I am half way through the Getting Things Done book.  And I have got to the point where it suggests I take 2 whole days to create the system in my home and clear the backlog.  Normally I would skip this and go straight to using a few of the suggestions or tricks on a more ad hoc basis.  But this is something I need to learn and implement.  So I am thinking I am going to have to go the whole hog on it.  WOAH.

Getting Things Done - The Book and YOGA

I have just started reading the Getting THings Done book by David Allen.  And so far am loving it. I am delighted also to see that it totally has links with the yoga teacher training I am doing.  He starts off talking about 'mind like water' and the 'zone' which the place where martial artists and top athletes go on about.  And yes, its yoga.  Its where the mind body and action all flow together and its a great feeling, being totally immersed in the doing of something.  Total focus. Totally being present. Letting go of the mental chatter and all of that.  No focus on the breath though, which Yoga obviously does.  So it is different.  But still, it makes a lot of sense.  And then it has a practical solution to the whole mental chatter thing.  In a very down to earth sort of way. 

In my course yesterday the year 2's had been given a homework of doing 15 minutes of pranayama a day and reporting back as to how it affected them.  Mainly they all felt much better, more productive and calmer.  And it does seem like a good idea to spend 15 minutes of that time, we can waste thinking about 'how much we have to do and how we don't have 15 minutes to spare' clearing our minds and focusing on the breath.  Clearing the head before the day. OR operating without a shed load of mental chatter having a big old go at you all day. 

So.  Am now going to go and have a nice hot bath, and go to bed.  No more reading or writing on here or wandering aimlessly around the internet with no actual purpose!!


I have enjoyed my 'day off' from the 4 hour Body diet.  I have mainy indulged in cereals and milk in tea and coffee.  Not much of an indulgence really.  Back on it tomorrow. I think I will go for one more week and see if I can call in at below 60kg.  I was 58.7kg at the end of last week, which is down 2-3 kilos.  Not bad in 2 weeks.  No noticable difference to the tummy flab however! I am enjoying the mental discipline of it, and actually except for breakfast and the no milk in my tea bit am really enjoying the meals.  I am making these delicious salads with chicken and puy lentils, tomatoes, veg (various kinds) salad leaves and lots of homemade french dressing. Or chicken noodle soup without the noodles.  Breakfast is a bit rank though.  I miss my porridge.  The other thing I kind a like is how 'treat day' turns the everyday into this massive pleasure.  I am so enjoying a bowl of shreddies. Bananas are almost too sweet! Orange juice is nectar,  Ketchup is divine!  Its kind of nice.

RIght then.  BED TiME

an idea from etsy I liked

The Squid and the Whale by Chris Swain

can' t think where to note it so..  this is a good idea right?

Worried about framing? Fear not, as this print works perfectly with the simple, but elegant RIBBA 11¾" X 15¾" from IKEA.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50161849

Each print is titled and signed. It's shipped in a hard-backed protective sleeve and sent priority airmail.

from Chriswain on etsy

why?

Why is it that when Hub goes away I feel this stupid urge to completely clean the house and do twenty tons of laundry.  I could do it when he is here. And I could do something else with my time, right?

at least will have fresh bedlinen though. . ... mmmm....one of my favourite things EVER.

Can't believe its Thursday tomorrow.  Only one day left to do my yoga homework.  And send a card to my mum.  And pay the accountant.  And take that pile of damn coats to the dry cleaners (I HATE MOTHS - not yogic I know!! but I HATE THEM!!!)

OH gosh and I need to create some flyers for the Dharma School art auction!

ANd I am cleaning?? WHY???

hello positive attitude

You went missing yesterday after class didn't you! Hmm, that's no good.  Time to find you again and get you going, because crying about stuff doesn't help anyone.  Maybe its good to get it out of my system.  Just a case of being a like a marathon runner doing the first few jogs, its uncomfortable and there's a long way to go before you have the stamina and capability of running a marathon.  SO.  Just got to get my head down and do a little bit every day.  Building up to a lot more everyday.  And everyone is going to benefit from that.

On the upside too, I had a great chat with Steve (a person who does) about me, and the business, People Who Do and the opportunities there.  Its nothing immediate, but he was very positive about our meeting, I can quote him as saying, "I have a good feeling about this" which is what you want to hear when you are essentially in a job interview type situation.  And I too have a good feeling about it.  I even talked about my ideal job being a futurologist or trend forecaster, which he said he would love to do too.  I like him a lot, as I like Curtis, the other feller whom I have met already.  I have a good feeling about it.  YAY.

So.  going to have a bit of yoga this evening. 

feeling overwhelmed

I just went to my yoga class.  Left feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the task that I have ahead of me in becoming a yoga teacher.  how can I teach if I can't do these poses? how? I know that it is all about going as far as you can go, and that is fine if you are a student, but I am feeling increasingly aware of how not near the 'final' pose I am and how I am definately not an 'advanced' practicioner.  and it makes me feel kind of sad.  I know that this is a Klesa, an affliction of pride and self and so on.  I know its about me letting go of the end result because this striving and falling short of the end result is all against the yamas I have been learning about.  It just feels like a disconnect and that even thinking about it or feeling down about it feels like a two pronged double not right.  And I just feel like a big fat glass of red wine. 

I also know the only answer is more practise.  I feel like one of the crap dancers on dancing on ice.  Like how am I ever going to pirouette or whatever when I can't even skate a straight line. 

change the outside to change the inside

I read something that has got me thinking.  In Tim Ferris 4 hour Body book (- this is the diet that Hub and I are successfully losing some weight on!)

He says, look at your life and write down all the things that you have accepted you are no good at.  And then write down a list of things that if you could not fail you would be exceptional at.

And there you have the way your world could be.


His philosophy is not change your mind  to change your world - or inner to outer, its change the outside to change the inside.

Its an interesting idea.  The idea that if you do something, specific and measurable to change your body (lost weight / gain strength / flexibility) which is something that is definately within your control, you will change who you are. 

I am happy with who I am.  Mostly.  But who's to say I can't do somethings better?   Bring on the ASANA practise!

Sometimes you just gotta try. 

Getting Stuff Done

How is this for a coincidence.  My new job opportunity requires that I read a book by someone called David Allen, called Getting Things Done and implement its strategy.  

Either way, I find it hilarious and weirdly magic that this is happening.  I mean. Its got to be a sign, right?  I do definately feel more productive having even had just that half a session of learning the system.  So I have ordered the book.  I will keep y'all posted on how it goes! 

Generally life is very good right now. Lots of things to look forward to, art business feeling as if it has a new push and energy to it.  And long term dreams and plans to work towards.

I feel my yoga practice is not as - its not getting enough priority.  My homeworks are scruffy and shoddy (certainly by comparison) and I am not taking up the advanced courses or the whole day workshops, which I feel I need to do.  And even my methods of study are messy and haphazard and all over the place (the others have these lovely grown up neat folders..... am a shambles by comparison)

other than that I found this

  A Horse box you can stay in quite near to us in Sussex.  I dream of a converted horse box.....

sinking into dreaming

am getting more dreamy.  am also realising, understanding, getting it better, the idea of sinking into dreaming. 

I dream of being a fairy
I dream of being understood and supported in my relationships
I dream of work that pays well and allows me to be totally honest and true to myself
I dream of being brave and strong and of being a good leader
I dream of coconuts and warm sands
I dream of being an artist above all.
I dream of travelling companions up for adventure
I dream of saving my parents home with vast amounts of money

moving forward on various plans

Bubs' room (last year) but its still his room.  And I want it to be my studio.  So this is a before shot!

Last year I worked out a plan for studio space in our house! LAST YEAR!!!!! AND WHAT HAS HAPPENEND? yup NADA! Again, why? what is it that held me back?

The plan was /is  to move Bub into the guest room - and use his box room for my studio..... and first thing was to get black out blinds made for the guest room - no point putting a small child into a room that has light blaring into it at night and early in the morning, right! SO I started making the blinds, and got half way and stalled.... and stalled.  Its not that I couldn't do it. its just that it confused me and I didn't do it because of that.  And eventually I met someone who makes roman blinds. So they are now done. (still got to collect the damn things and put them up in the room, then have to get rid of a double bed and 2 double mattresses, which requires a van... or paying someone....or maybe there is another solution I haven't thought of yet...) and getting the single bed down from the attic, and painting it...

But for some reason a big stumbling block is asking Hubby.  WHY?!! really, just because sometimes I feel I get shouted at about things, its not like that always AT ALL!!!  I had got all stuck in my head that it was wrong for me to want that space for my studio because Hub earns 85% of the household income and he needs an office....

Bubs room (last year) before shot (soon to be my studio)

The guest room (still is) Soon to be Bub's room. 

Yesterday I was talking to a friend, an artist, about studio space, and she was saying, don't you have any room at home?? and so when I told her my plan she was like DO IT!!! He won't mind! Say you need it!! You will earn money from it!! etc

So today I thought about it, and it does seem daft to be paying £40 (ish)  a week to get some studio space, when we have the room at home.  SO I asked Hub. I suggested that we could make an office for him in the bedroom, put some shelves up and make it neat, and I would take out ALL my creative (very messy!!) stuff (yup there are piles of it lying around!) and put it in Ted's old room and have that as a studio!  And he could have a nice neat office in the bedroom (we need to be able to shut the door to it so Bub doesn't wander in when he is on the phone or whatever......... And he LIKED the idea.  So am all fired up AGAIN.


AND I have found a travel agent re looking into the cheapest and best way of getting to San Francisco in October.  They are going to get back to me.  Funny but even though I have had 'permission' to go, I have held off looking at flights or booking them... slightly scared! why?? I don't know.  But there you go first step taken. 

Isn't it daft how half the things we want are just there for the taking, if we would only just take that first tiny step towards it?

portrait commission

I am really pleased!As an experiment, I put 2 portraits up in an Artists Open House run by a friend of mine, just so they would be on display, and left my cards there.  All my cards went, so I guess there was an interest (mainly grandmothers apparentlly - good to know!) and I was kicking myself for not having left a visitors book so that I could contact people who were interested.  But I got emailed, and I got a commission!  WAHAY! This is proper someone I don't know at all.  I am really pleased.  Actually there is one more, but its landscape and I can't seem to get it so it faces the right way around.... hmm technical skills lacking...

up in the clouds

ooof

I am rather pooped.  Flew back from France on Friday to go straight to my yoga teacher training, then Hub said he would drive to Suffolk that very evening, hadn't unpacked yet so just thought YES go for it, so we packed up my paintings and some portraits and a few cleaner clothes and hotfooted it up to Suffolk.  Spent 2 days helping my folks do their Suffolk Open Studios. Exhibited my work.  Got some good feedback and met some interesting people, as well as some old friends, also caught up with family.  Stayed up too late and drove back in atrocious rain and bad traffic.  Have got some lovely pics.  But too late to do anything about them now.   more later!

creative play

I just found this.

"We all have a story to tell that is uniquely ours and a way to tell it like no one else could. Creativity is part of who we are at our deepest level, and when we access it we reveal a piece of ourself to the world. To access our creativity takes an open and often lighthearted attitude; we need to look at life as if we've never seen it before.

Creativity is a kind of play, and play, as Albert Einstein once noted, is "the highest form of research." Through play and its creative qualities, we learn to express our most authentic self and discover who we really are. We make contact with the places in us that we usually avoid, and open ourself to the myriad experiences of life.

As adults, many of us have lost touch with our creative and playful side, bowing to the perceived gravity of families, careers, and daily life. But the desire to create remains in us, calling to us from our innermost depths."

It means a lot to me.  Its actually part of the blah for a series of workshops on offer.  But I am thinking that it is more about how I want to live my life.

I LOVE being in that present moment of creative exploration, at the edge of discovery with joy in my heart.

Light hearted.  Oh YES/ 

bit of an upheaval

Missed flights eh. We were sposed to be in France right now.  Visiting friends in the Alps.  Ah well, life gets in the way.  And at about 1am it was very clear that we were not going to be getting up at 4am to be getting the cab out to Gatwick.  Luckily I had the presence of mind to change the flights and so Bub and I are going to go out, actually tomorrow night now.  Hub has to go to Manchester to work so was going to have to fly back on Monday night anyway.  So it was a massive disappointment on Friday night but now its OK and Bub and I are still going to France and Hub actually in all honesty didn't really want to go anyway. 

Hub and I have learnt that really he doesn't like travelling much, but seeing as I do love it, we are OK with me doing it and him not.

So.  France tomorrow night for me and Bub.  Its easier in a way as we are not going to hire a car and there are fewer days so no baggage in the hold and beause its just us two, we are going to stay with our friends instead of renting out the appartment around the corner

secret trip plannning (OK not so secret)

Oh, did I mention.... I am planning a trip to San Francisco.  I was browsing the workshops done by this lady (Flora Bowley really rates her so I reckon she must be good) and it just might might might coincide with my trip.....

rocking.  that would be so utterly and totally Mondo Beyondo....

"Self-expression and Spirituality in the Painting Process" San Francisco, CA, weekend Oct 22-23, 2011.

With Michele Cassou and Cathy Williams. For beginner and continuing. 10am to 6pm. Fee: $295 before August 1, 2011 $345 afterwards. At CCE Painting Studio, 300 Chenery St. SF. To register select from these options: email Barbara at thepaintingstudio@sbcglobal.net or call her at (415)333-9515   Or register online with paypal:

"Self-expression and Spirituality in the Painting Process" Los Angeles weekend workshop, Dec 3-4, 2011.

With Michele Cassou and Gwinn Anderson. For beginner and continuing. 10am to 6pm. Fee: $325 if registration before Sept 1, $350 afterwards. At the Living Arts Studio of Los Angeles. 711 East Hyde Park Blvd. Inglewood, CA. 90302. Website: http://www.lalivingarts.net Email: gwinnalderson@gmail.com To register select from these options: email Molly at info@createatcreate.com or call her at 323-668-0680   Or register online with paypal:

clearing some space

Its clearing time at Mondo Beyondo.  Its all about creating some space for the magic to happen. Chucking out the old, to make way for the new.  It doesn't matter what it is or how you do it. CLEARING.  feels good.

This morning I went along to the first training session for the People Who Do. It is very cool and very thorough.  Like going through ALL your crap and various to do lists and all the places you store stuff and lists and inboxes of various kinds (bags, car seats, by the phone, the calender in the kitchen, everything.....)

And I have to say I am fired up to sort out the backlog. True to the original title of this blog, I am going to Get Stuff Done. 


And decluttering is definately on my list.  I have a lot of it to do. 

Today a whole LOAD of old magazines went out into the Hanover recycling system.  Basically they are on the street.  People take stuff if you leave it out.  All sorts of things go like that. Yesterday an old iron went.  I actually picked up my new iron from a box on the street, and put my much crappier one out there and someone else obviously thought, hang on an iron I desperately need one of those.... its a good system.