My Escape Vehicle

Image from Heather & Ivan Morison

When I was six, or thereabouts I used to spend a long time, building an Escape Vehicle  out of Lego.  I am not sure where I got this idea from, but it may have been a book or a film, the origins and name of which are currently lost.  I have a vague recollection of having seen a film where a family need to drive across a desert in a bus or truck, to make their escape, and they had to carry a lot of stuff with them.  This was the essence of my Escape Vehicle, it would be able to go long distances and it would carry EVERYTHING you might need.  Indeed my Lego versions were towering edifices on wheels and generally had kitchens, dining rooms, bathrooms, bedrooms and possibly dance rooms and so on.

Fast forward many years....... I have, for a while had a fantasy that I would travel about the place in a concerted horsebox.  It would have wooden walls and a stove in it.  It has varied in that sometimes it is my travelling art studio. But essentially, the converted horsebox dream is there.

Today I found a beauty.  I like coming across them on the internet.     Its actually an art exhibit made by Heather and Ivan Morison,  It is based on the original New American Gypsy "Escape Vehicles".  There was also an interview with one of the original builders of such machines.  But it was the name.  Escape Vehicle.  I knew that idea.  It had been with me for many, many years.

image by Heather & Ivan Morison

Until that moment I had no idea I had been dreaming up my "Escape Vehicle" since I was six.  It was kind of a funny feeling.  Omygod.  That fantasy has been there for a LOOOOOOOOOONG time.

Check out the article I read, along with some pictures of the Escape Vehicle.  Not my Lego version.

http://www.morison.info/talesofspaceandt.html

Getting Stuff Done: Creating My life

“In life, you will become known for doing what you do. That sounds obvious, but it’s profound. If you want to be known as someone who does a particular thing, then you must start doing that thing immediately. Don’t wait. There is no other way. It probably won’t make you money at first, but do it anyway. Work nights. Work weekends. Sleep less. Whatever you have to do. If you’re lucky enough to know what brings you bliss, then do that thing at once. If you do it well, and for long enough, the world will find ways to repay you.”
We have these brief lives, and our only real choice is how we will fill them. Your attention is precious. Don’t squander it. Don’t throw it away. Don’t let companies and products steal it from you. Don’t let advertisers trick you into lusting after things you don’t need. Don’t let the media convince you to covet the lives of celebrities. Own your attention — it’s all you really have.” 

Jonathan Harris wrote this.   its part of an article called navigating stuckness.    I read it today forwarded to me via Curtis James

I am an artist. I am a host. I get stuff done and create my life. 

Surrendering. Best laid plans.... of me.

This Easter seems to have been a catalogue of plans not going according to plan.  People have been ill and visits postponed and cancelled and then it rained on days when trips to the park were laid out.  And just lately my trip to Suffolk and then on to Cambridge was curtailed by a sick child.  What can you do.  The weather, sickness? Its nothing I can control.  However on the upside some other things, not planned did happen and that was nice.  I went to London with Bub to visit my brother, I caught up with friends who were camping at Wowo in Sussex on the way back.  Today I have been able to tidy up the garden some what.  And spend time doing yoga and writing this.

This morning I read a friends post on facebook which was Surrender = letting go of what we think should be happening for what is actually happening.

That's been my lesson this Easter Holiday.  In many ways.  I have also learnt to step back a little from trying to over engineer other people's relationships.  I can't make other people do what I think they 'should' be doing.   I am letting go.  Its hard to let go entirely and I still felt awkward.  But I didn't get utterly upset.

All is good

And my son is not ill any more.

What is.  is.  

new habits - I got an app for that

I am rather excited that iphone has an app for my tracking new habits obsession.  Its called http://habitlist.com/ and you create a list of the habits you want to form and the frequency you want to do them e.g 5 minutes meditation (at least) every day.  or eat something raw (every day) drink 8 glasses of water... go to yoga class (every week) etc.  and it keeps track.  you have to tick em off every day. and or every week.

So,   doing pretty well. 

Am so loving it!

Its my new favourite app.  What habits would you put on your list?  Daily? Weekly?

agreements with Morgan

aim for Clocktower Yoga  = 10 people per class
contact at least 3 businesses from that list by the end of the week re the trial class and pass offer
finish the Officreche Blog post
wording for the flyer. 
Morning pages every morning (writing first thing to prevent early FB use)
time any social media to max 10 mins
read a book at the end of the day
try a screen free day
give myself deadlines
look for a new part time income stream
follow up for PWD calls.  Set time in cal.  (discuss with Ian re holiday childcare)
make a CV (hmm, not sure of purpose of this yet)
Find Karen's number in my emails and contact her re a visit.


Progress as of Wednesday
we got 9 people yesterday YAY.  But no one came today. BOO
I finished the Officreche Blog and send that off
Have been writing rather than doing Facebook in the mornings.  Not a full 3 pages as I tend to get interupted by a small child.  But its good.
I have definitely been wasting time on FB much less.  But not entirely.  Worst thing is last thing at night.  And I just noticed when I wrote out this list that I said I would read a book last thing at night.  So there is something I need to start.
I have been racking my brain for a part time income stream and I haven't come up with anything yet.  I don't really want to work in a pub or a cafe.  I want to do something other than that.  Morgan has  got a part time job as an artists model.  Not a nude one.  She really enjoys it.  I would like something I enjoy, that is relaxing and earns good money.  I guess Sunday would be a good day.  Or maybe Friday afternoon or something like that. 
I haven't sent the emails re Clocktower Yoga offer either.  Still things to do by the end of the week!