musings on today

I have to say am most excited by the expression ideaporn and how totally turned on (ideawise) I got about the talk of technology and humanity of virtual worlds spilling over into reality and technology's interpretation of that reality and how it all inter effects everything.  The way we are.  And how artists were interpreting that. by making real world pixellated sculptures or the finger paintings that mimic the finger marks we make to do something specific on an ipad.  Cool and interesting stuff. Also the whole talk and take on futurology v nostalgia and the oldification of stuff v the modernisation of stuff and the genuine hankering after the new, real and authentic creative stuff that comes at the forefront of now.  The blank page stuff.  the stuff that comes out of imagination and is creatively new, not some rehashing of the past in some hackneyed way.  On the journey (in virtual idea land) I discovered some music I like (apparently already old and on the way to being establishment fodder   - but seriously who cares if you like it) and finally up against Bill Drummond.  WHen I say up against him.  He is merely mentioned in a blog article. But I am astounded by how he features in my key interested and cultural things and has done since he was involved with Echo and the Bunnymen, and how he loved Iceland.  And the KLF (1987 What the F**K's going On) blew my mind, back in, er 1987.  I wonder if it is all coming full circle. Or about to spiral off again.  Who knows.  But its exciting to discover things you find truly fascinating.  Discussions and musings on very interesting, to me stuff.

Yesterday I had a long chat with my old friend M (with whom I loved Echo and the Bunnymen AND the KLF) and it was good to chat to an old friend who understands all sides of me. Many sides anyway.  We are going to collaborate on making 2012 a year in which we take the income up several notches and being valuable.  I have set my figure at £36,000.  Its not massive in terms of millionaires and so on.  But it would make me very very happy to hit that figure.  In a way, its a figure that would mean that I could look after our family.  If need be.  Not that I want to be the only one bringing in the bacon.  But for mine own sense of worth, the idea that I am capable of that, means something to me.

Of course I really currently have no real idea of how I can do it.  But that is my marker.  And lets just see.

A key component of this, is, getting uncomfortable.  OR feeling it.  Getting used to going outside the comfort zone.  It means change and change makes you feel weird.  It might feel wrong. In fact without feeling 'wrong' you aren't actually stretching or growing any.  So wish me luck and courage my friends!

Another key component is building my community.  I have enlisted M into my inner circle on this.  And I shall be documenting it here too.  Me being uncomfortable.  Hmm should be interesting reading huh.

I like it as, in my Yoga Teacher Training, my teacher told me that you know you are getting on in your practice, not by how bendy you are, or how good at Asana you are, but in how well you can sit in uncertainty.  Which fits the whole out of the comfort zone sort of life.

SO to kick start my anti comfort regime.  I got out of bed early.  I did my Yoga practice this morning.  I got an hour in before anyone else surfaced.  Am pretty chuffed with myself for that small effort.  

stretch might thus be my word of the year.  Stretch up and out and go beyond.   Stretch and Flourish.  Bring it!

got my business cards....now how to talk about it? & other news.

So I feel kind of official now.  Though rather worringly a friend assumed that I was now some sort of "lady that does" in the way of ironing, cleaning and so on.  Hmm.  Don't know if I like that sort of assumption!! Of course its not like that at all.  Goodness knows I would rather find someone else to do that sort of do for me than the other way around.  Not that i'm proud.  I mean. If I had to, I would.  And its not that I don't do all that sort of thing for our house myself at the moment.  But you know.  I do dream of employing a cleaner.....

Its been interesting working out just how to talk about my new job.  Its not that straightforward.  Its not like, "I'm an Architect" or "I'm a Teacher" or some such other profession.  Or even, "I work in TV" or "I work in a Yoga Centre" which is things I have said about myself in the past.  Its not, of course, "I am an artist" which is a claim I do not want to lay by the wayside.

But hmm, what DO I do? Who is  a Person Who Does and how do I "Make Work Better".

Exactly.  So far in discussion, we are NOT: trainers, advisors, coaches or consultants.  We ARE  mentors.  Apparently.  And we help deal with that whole "got too much work on to ever be able to finish it, getting stressed, losing focus, being swamped, working long long hours and dreading Mondays type stuff"  Yup.   We sort that stuff out.  And help people get some sense of control and focus and feeling on top of things again.  

I am indeed practising talking about it.  As I have been practising delivering it. Fundamentally I am very, very happy to be part of it all.  Its so interesting.  And its a company I just LIKE.  I like what they are about.  I like their ethos.  I very much like their rule that "nobody works more than 4 days a week" (I mean, how cool is that?) I like that they are about more than just work.  I like this too.  For example.

I have another practise session in November with the very talented and very busy Amelia.  Amelia has just launched her YEAR LONG experimental  Art e course  - which I am all signed up for and rather relishing as despite having done it twice now, I  have felt that there was always so much more to explore and do.  I am looking forward to being part of that online ART community for the whole year. (if you decide to come and join me, I have signed up as an affiliate so tell Amelia I sent you!)

OH And of course I am very much looking forward to meeting Lizzie who along with a colleague has signed up for a Accelerated Productivity session.  Which got me BIG brownie points being the newbie and all, I must say! Thanks Lizzie!!!!!

Another thing I have been doing lately is skyping with a bunch of ladies regarding the Spark Kit which is that e book that Danielle La Porte brought out and I bought when she was doing a special pay what you like birthday offer.  Its rather good, as is most of what she does I think.  And we ladies, rather internationally from Belgium, Holland and the UK meet for a skype chat and catch up  / support session every 2 weeks.  Its cool.  Cheryl, who I met at the Do What You Love retreat, and who is a very interesting and dynamic person, set it up.  Hmm.  I guess there is a lot more to say about this.  So I will leave that for another post when I have more time to delve into.

Not much more news here.  I am no longer ill, which is a blessed relief.  I hate being ill.  So boring to have no energy....

OH!  I have a Supergroup tomorrow, which is most excellent as I thought I was not needed. IN fact I had just deleted it from my diary.  I always put them in as definate, as some sort of wish that they will happen.  But just as I let go of it, I got the call.  Seems that I am the reserve they call at the last minute when someone pulls out.  I am not sure if this is a good thing (as in I am the person they call first) or a not so good thing (as in they obviously would have preferred someone else for some reason)... .... Actually I don't really think either of those things.  I know that they have demographic or brand user reasons for choosing people.  Or they may have wanted a different age or gender mix.  Either way, I have £250 worth of work tomorrow.  And as its last minute I am not expected to do anything other than think about the pre task work (breakfast recipe with cheddar cheese anyone? I am thinking a cheese and apple muffin or scone. btw)  AND I have the chance to practise talking about being  a Person Who Does some more.  I really LOVE supergroups actually.  Its just such cool work. Its getting paid for having ideas and hanging out with some really great folk.  It used to involve rather nice lunches as well, though lately these have just been sandwiches, which is a damn shame.  Never mind.  Tomorrow I am up early and out and away to London Bridge for the day to invent.  I love how random that is.

a day at channel 4

Yesterday I assisted on a group delivery of accelerated productivity with People Who Do.  It was great.  The team at Channel 4 digital really got it.  They were all game and had chosen to come along and do the course, so that was a good start.  It is, obviously, sightly more formal, when doing a group.  Not formal as in stiff and contained - there was lots of good chat - just more structured.  I am feeling hugely more confident that I will be able to deliver very soon.  And looking forward to it.  Am enjoying this new role.  And am going to get some fancy schmancy lovely new letterpress business cards soon too. 

Other than that I have been looking at my own busy schedule and seeing where I can fit in all the things I need to do.  I am getting frustrated about how it feels as if all household and childcare stuff is firmly in my camp, but complaining about it makes me a nag!  No good to anyone that!! 

I don't know quite how to tackle it at all.  Maybe get a cleaner??  I think when I start earning more and properly then this will have to be the case.  Until then I find it hugely difficult to justify.  I mean £21 a week (or there abouts? it maybe more?) is going on £100 a month and that is £1200 a year.  On the other hand... that makes it £10 a week each.  Which surely we could manage? Its a perennail and tricky issue this one!!

Yesterday I came home and complained about the cutlery not being put away and the bin not being emptied.  I do recall how it drove me MAD when Hub used to come home and do that very same thing.  And poor Hub had managed to actually mop the kitchen floor, clean out a cupboard and go to the dump with the garden debris.   Having said that it drives me mad that if I don't do it the cutlery thing after washing up it overflowing and there are no spoons in the drawer.  And the bin is always left till the bag breaks (when I am trying to empty it).  grrrrr

And the other thing that really pissed me off this week, was that for months, a year even - my plan to move Bub into the spare room to commandeer the back box room as my studio hit a set back on Monday.  I  was blocked on it for ages, because it has been nice to have a spare bed.  When Hub gets a cold, he snores really badly, so I would sneak off and sleep somewhere else.  But since I got rid of the mattress (because it took up the whole floor in the 'studio') I realised that I had no where to go!  And the other night I ended up camped on the floor because I needed to sleep!! My solution idea was to get bunk beds for Bub.  On Monday I measured for where the bunk beds ought to go, and there is just not enough room for them.  The only place they can fit is in the middle of the room which is just not very pleasing.  I regret getting rid of the double mattress, which I could have left in Bub's room and have been fine for a while....

Sometimes progress means letting go of something.  And I realised last night, that bunk beds will mean I won't get to snuggle in with Bub any more.  He is nearly 4 and we are rushing him into these bunk beds when, had I just stopped and thought for a bit, he could have had that double mattress for a while more and if Hub did snore, I could have snuck in and slept with Bub.  It would have been fine. More than fine.  It was something rather lovely and I will miss it.

Anyway, we have ordered the bunk beds from a chap who goes to Ikea for you and assembles everything. Worth every penny I reckon.

Today our handyman is round ticking LOADS of things off the to do list.  Doorbell will be working consistently, the oven door will shut again, that light Bro gave me for Christmas will be up, the towel rack is up, the bathroom door knob wont fall off every time we use it, the ugly satellite dish will be gone, the hooks are up to hang a curtain over the doorway when guests sleep in the new 'guest room' (sofa bed in the living room....)

The inside of Bub's new toy cupboard will not have big holes in the wall and Hub will have a new shelf inside the wardrobe to put his jumpers on (and there will be room to put the spare bedding in there).  There will be a nice 50's hook rack on the back of the door to hang up coats and stuff.  The powerpoints in the bedroom will no longer be INSIDE the wardrobe (why was it like that??)

Oh and we will have a mains water tap INSIDE the house.  All good.

How to be OK with Not doing something. Oh and trip to London.... more of that later

My 2 practice session ladies have got back to me.  I love getting these messages, about how things that have been dangling for years being annoying, are now ticked of the list.....

For J, she has sorted the headboard in the guest room and vac packed a whole load of clothes to go to the loft to get rid of a chest of drawers she hates, that and getting the curtain pole sorted in the bathroom at last.

But I also heard back from M, who left me saying she felt overwhelmed by the amount she had to to do. The whole 'overwhelm' thing - well, what I do is meant to help with that.  I certainly felt light and clear afterwards, as did J.  She said things like 'everything is doable' where as M did not.  She seemed more overwhelmed than before.  I was a bit concerned.  But I got a text saying that she LOVED her little black book and was flying through stuff.   She didn't do 2 things that were in her diary to do.  I made sure that she rescheduled them.  Theory is this.  If someone arranges to meet you, say, on Thursday, for lunch.  And they don't show up.  It pisses you off right? Its rude and annoying and you are cross with them for letting you down.  However, if they call on Wednesday and say, Sorry, something has come up, can we rearrange.  It may be a bit annoying, but its OK.  Shit happens, right?  SO Same goes for an arrangement you make with yourself. If you just blow yourself out, you end up pissing yourself off, and getting angry, and its all wasted energy.  But if, you reschedule whatever it is.  That's OK. You are making a decision.  Its a conscious act and you are still responsible and feel in control. 

Its all about feeling just as OK with what you are NOT doing as with what you are doing. 

I also had follow up from PWD re how my second training went, and basically a lot of what I talked about with M was part of another workshop they do about planning.  I feel kind of able to cope with that too then.  AP (accelerated productivity) is about the stuff that can get in the way of proper planning.  It clears the way, it clears your mental pathways too.  Its a declutter. 

Oh its late.  Grandparents (Hub's mum and her husband) are staying in Brighton and were here this evening.  I Have drunk again!  ooops hic!  And an early start tomorrow too.  Oh and here I am wittering away into cyberspace!!

And I haven't even mentioned where I went last night!  I have to say that I am certainly managing my Artists Dates these days.  I took myself off to London last night to go to the BFI.  Yes, very cultural.  Get me.  My friend Ellie has curated a season of films by the late Maya Deren.   It was pretty cool. 

My second practice session

Ah, trip to Suffolk.  How lovely.  Back in the Blue Dog today. And its a proper scorcher.  Hotter than summer was by far.

I did my second training yesterday.  Not so straightforward as the issue was more that my friend needs to prioritise what she needs to get done more than get everything done on her list.  She has a lot on her plate, juggling 3 children as a single mum, a part time job  (that needs full time hours to do it in) and hampered in it all by a lack of funds.  All slightly catch 22 - the things could get done quicker (less relying on help from people) with more money, which would give more time, but at the same time, more money not possible as she needs more time to invest in order to progress her ideas to make more money.  Essentially everything needed a bit more discussion to get to the root of 'what would this look like if it were ticked off the list'  I mean, how exactly do you know when you have enough money? and what is the first small step to get there, well that's a big question isn't it.  And where out of all the demands can you find time to be creative, which is necessary for your soul.  Yup big stuff

However there were some key points that will hopefully be actioned this very week.  She needs to up her income, and she decided that and extra £500 a month would really be good.  And today she is doing a car boot sale, and on Thursday she is going to spend some time matching a creative project with funding.  Something that she does all the time for other people.  How hard it must be to be paid as an administrator, and you are an artist, and you hire other artists and pay them good money to do projects you have helped them get funding for.

And with 3 children, who expect their mother to drop anything to sort out what ever it is that they need sorting, and not quite enough room in the house for all of them (one of her crucial projects is to literally build another bedroom onto the side of the house) another of her problems is ring fencing time to focus - on anything reallly.  Though she has already managed to carve out Mum's Chi Gung time.  Which I think is pretty awesome (note to self: Moyra's Yoga Time).  And we discussed that if she give each of her children some dedicated focus time with them, she might be better able to get time for herself to focus.  Also discussed was getting up earlier to get the Chi Gung time in before school.  And the thorny issue fo getting 3 children who are now 9, 12 and 14 to help more around the house, without that in itself becoming a bigger project that takes up all her time.

She really liked the inbox to zero.  And she got the idea of contexting your actions.  Hopefully she will be able to be a little more streamlined and less cluttered in her life and her head because of this.  I am checking in next week to see how she is getting on.

I did struggle to get through all the stuff she brought with her, so I hope that she manages to complete her task and get a clear path ahead.  I think this needs more support.

moving forward

So.  Miss Blog.  Miss Get Stuff Done on a quest to achieve my dreams. 

How is it going? Well, yes, pretty good. 

Still no studio.  STicky Sticky bit.  Thing is, what IS it that is stopping me? Its the silly fact that when my husband snores there will be no where to go.  Since we have had this house, there has always been a spare room, and hence, a spare bed, and when Hub snores, he does it nice and LOUDLy.  bless him.  And I sneak off and sleep SLEEP (I love sleeping) somewhere else.  Bub is now in the 'spare room' and his little bedroom at the back is meant to be MY STUDIO.  But is now the spare room.  We have had visitors of late, and its better them being in there.  BUT.  my studio.  Its a sticky point.  And it requires a DECISION.    The solution at present seems to me to be BUNK BEDS.  Great idea.  Bub has a bed and if necessary I could crawl into the other bunk as and when.  And SLEEP. 

Other sticky issues are getting the spare car key cut.  These things should be easy and simple, right? And here's me with my super efficient list of '@errands' or 'things to do when out and about' and so far I been into the key cutter place twice to no satisfactory result.  grrrr.  They haven't got the key base I need, but they can order it, oh they need to know the make and year of the car in order to order it.  Am now waiting for them to call me to let me know that they have it in their shop. 

But you know,  I can't complain.  I do have computer back up now.  Hey, its only been 2 years.  I also have set the Sainsburys credit card to pay off the whole balance each month.  YES much better.  I have cancelled 2 credit cards I don't use and have reordered other itty bitty admin stuff. 

STILL.  lessons are being learnt here.  Yes I am freezing the cashmere and wool stuff to kill the moth eggs, yes my wardrobe has been thoroughly cleaned.  Yes I am a tidier person.  BUT dreams, Moyra, DREAMS.  I dream of being a painter.  Who owns a campervan / converted horse box.  And what about Ibiza and San Francisco?  And  my successful thriving portraits business.....  It all requires more work.  As does the YOGA practice.....


I am thought, very much LIKING the People Who Do stuff.  I like being a consultant.  I like the system.  It works and I like how it helped J, and how she got it.  And I like how it got her to throw stuff out that she was hanging on to for no good reason.  And I am liking the huge decluttering that is happening through my life.  Tidy is good.  And its staying tidy too. 

I am clearing up the ground level, ready to fly.......

remember
yoga / income generation / declutter / holidays

teaching productivity

On Saturday I went up to London to teach my very good friend the principles of Accelerated Productivity.  When I arrived she had amassed a VAST pile of stuff that was bothering her, piling up files, and folders, and brochures, and old work and college notes, and a long list of things that weren't as she wanted them to be.  From photo frames that didn't stand up, to tax returns that hadn't been done for..... way too long.  It was almost a whole room

So we got stuck in.  And I think she got it.  She really got it.  At the end of the day.  Her bed was cleared, everything had found a place (a lot of it was in the bin!) and she had a clear idea about what her next steps were on everything.  And where to find those next steps.  Her inbox was empty.  She had several key things entered into her calendar.  I think she was quite amazed.  It was hard work, but it was very satisfying.

"I can't belive its all been put away.  I was expecting to rearrange the piles a bit.  I think I was expecting a time management prioritisation techniques, not that it was lacking in that, but I was really pleased to be able to put it all away, that everything has a home.

I feel like I have achieved so much  - even though I haven't really done anything yet.  I know what to do and where it all is. Its like everything is doable, from building a new house to getting a tax disc for my bike, the next step will be taken.  I have to admit I feel clear, and by the time you arrived this morning I was quite stressed out.

It was nice that there was the reward at the end (wine!!) I felt I deserved a treat."

From my point of view, I think I got it all across pretty well.  As she was a good friend, if I backtracked and had to re say some bits at a later point to clarify, she didn't mind at all.  I was knackered by the end of it all.  It required a lot of concentration, pulling her back to focus on what she was doing, and what her decisions were going to be.  Its a clever system.  You basically do all your thinking at the front end.  So that the doing becomes easy and lightweight.  And trackable.

Anyway, I will be checking in with her in a week's time to see how she is getting on.

On a personal level.  I am definitely more on the case.  It was lovely to get back to actually doing some creative stuff yesterday (I am trying to post a picture, but its just not going through right now).

ah, I am tired this week, I have actually got a lot going on right now.  Ah, but there is no rest for the wicked, or for mums who are trying to set up their own income streams!! Speaking of which, I am in the gallery today.  And I have had time to do some research for my art business.  Hence, I have signed up for (yet another) e course.  I waivered.  But I was hooked.  Cleverly its with Beth Nichols  - she of the Do What you Love art retreat (and blog and website and ecourse) and Kelly Rae Roberts, whose Flying Lessons e course so influenced me last year.  Yup, its not cheap, but here we go.  Its a business expense isn't it.  And goodness knows I just need another course on my plate!!  If you are interested its called Hello Soul Hello Business.  And they promise that if you don't earn the money back in increased sales you get your money back.  ooh they ARE clever. 

guests from Aus

Hmm the no alcohol and lemon thing slipped a little with visitors arriving from - the other side of the world.  Last time I saw N and G, one was the same age as Bub is now.  N is now Dr N Phd.  Go her!  And when I first met her nearly 20 years ago, she was a nanny, doing housekeeping and a bit of clothes mending on the side.  She's gone far, not just in miles but in her academic career.  Impressive.

Ah but its good to catch up.  I can get back on the hot water with lemon again, but I can't see my old friend again for a long time. At least she does get to travel through work (she's on a whistle stop tour of European Universities and friends and family) so we might get to see her again soon.  And Bub is gagging to visit Australia (and Africa and India), mainly to see the animals of course. 

I am gearing up for my first practice session of Accelerated Productivity. My guinea pig will be my good friend, Bub's godmother, JW.  She is actually pretty organised, but she loves this sort of thing and wants to see me anyway.  Plus if she likes it, she's the best saleswoman and trumpet blower.

Wish me luck.

Little changes are adding up to a big difference

Its the second day I have woken up and drunk a cup of hotwater with lemon instead of tea. One of the things I have taken away from my Accelerated Productivity course is the idea of being a bit more disciplined.  Not a lot, just a bit.  And how this can affect big changes.  I guess its like the idea that once your house is clean and tidy it is easy to keep it so.  And then from there, if there is no more procrastinating to be done in tidying up, then you move on to the to do lists that are really going to make a difference.  And discipline in terms of, well, lets just do that NOW shall we.  Don't be putting it off or to the back of the pile.  Just go ahead and do it. 

One of my long term goals has been to be 'the kind of person who eats clean food'  In its extreme form, this involves being vegan and only eating organic and alkaline foods sort of thing.  You know, a lot of raw flavoursome stuff with no nasties in it.  I ackknowledge that I am most likely not going to be that full on.  But given that I have been waking up sluggish, and to be honest the week of wonderful Frenchness (wine, bread, cheese, meat, pate.... and more wine) was gloriously enjoyable.  It did take its toll.  I cannot drink that much and keep healthy!  Good for holidays, but bad for body.  Lots of little niggly things, like coldsores, hmm nice, which only crop up when I am run down, appeared afterwards.  As did 2 kilos of extra blubber around the middle.....

So day two of hot water and lemon.  Famously a yoga way to start the day.  And also alkalising.  Which is the new health buzzword on the block.

Day 2 of a avocado, water and hemp protein smoothie for breakfast too. Mmm nice (not that nice actually - but filling and on diet)

And nothing 'bad' til after noon. 

And I am down almost a kilo.  Impressive huh.  Just one day.  And I feel good.  Maybe its not just the lemon thing.  Maybe it is also the proactive attitude.  The idea that I am actually doing something about it.

Oh and I can say I am being immensely tidier too.  Little things that have been hanging around forever are being picked up and sorted through.  Book are going back into the shelves as I see them  - just that small sort of thing.  Its not much, each little thing, but it is all adding up to a rather pleased withmyself me.  And yes, I do feel better.

Life post Accelerated Productivity

I haven't posted for ages!  I have this new spinky spanky email account which allows me to email from a People Who Do address.  But its all based in google and I lost my password.  AND AND blah blah.

I expect you have all forgotten who I am!   Well, it was for me anyways this bloggy.  Its my personal personal personal blog. 

I know I keep muttering about a new one.  And I have plans. For a portrait blog,  for a full on art one.  And all.  And it will happen. One day.

For the mean time.  Here I am.

I also went away and a most beautiful if calorific time in France with friends.  Hub stayed home, but you know, some Hubs would complain and insist that I stay home too.  But mine lets me go on holiday even though he doesn't want to!

So in case you missed the last post.

I am now an organised person.  Well, I do most certainly feel more organised.  Its not that much has massively changed, but I now know where I am at.  AND to be fair, I have tackled the ugly monster that was the VAST pile of receipts in 2 box files.  I have sent off 2011 accounts (for year ending april 2011 for those who think I am actually doing my accounts in the future...) which is pretty massive.  And to give you some sense of the scale of this. My personal accounting year 2011 actually runs from 1st May 2009 to 30th April 2010.  I know, its complicated.  And I am considering changing it.  But that is how long ago I had receipts from.  2009.  And you know what I am pretty much there with my 2012 receipts entry as well.  Just my share dividends and interest to go - as for some reason this runs the same year as the rest of anyone elses accounts and i won't have the figures until April 2012.   And just to be truly shockingly organised.  I have actually done some receipts entry into my 2013 accounts.  yup.  get me.

I have also
tackled and sorted the understairs cupboard (monumental!)
sorted through Bub's toy over spill (kind of cheated a little as there is a mashoosive bag of unsorted STUFF in the loft.  But hey)
And.  Oh.  That's it.  Oh yes, kept my in tray at empty.  I think I need a 'glory list' of STUFF I HAVE GOTTEN DONE ALREADY.  Because there are things every day.  Little things, like collecting the bulbs for the kitchen light, taking those tops back to Fat Face, posting the thank you notes and also the gifts, talking through my list of items to discuss with the accountant (all those years and I didn't know I could have put in a proportion of my council tax...) found someone to take on the playgroup after the people I had already found let me down, set up 2 appointments for practise sessions for accelerated productivity, bought tickets to see both Gillian Welch and Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares (been wanting to see them for YEARS) met the neighbours (after a little drumming up of support for the Zocalo Brighton) Hung some pictures of my folks in the hall way. Got the boiler fixed. Cancelled a credit card I don't use, reordered one I had lost, got the list of NHS dentists in Brighton, bought and organised my husbands birthday presents (got him a kindle as we are getting overrun with books here) and cake, registered as an organ donor. Sold a shed load of baby clothes (weep) cleaned the car out on the inside, hoovering and all....  oh hum etc etc.  as well as the usual work in the gallery go to a few meetings etc.

I feel as if I am doing a massive clearing.  Ready for the future.  Getting rid of all the dead weight things I don't need any more. It is in the words of many north americans, AWESOME!!

So can I say that Accelerated Productivity (Getting Stuff Done) works. And so does having Bub back at preschool.  Lets face that fact.  WOW I have time to do stuff. 

The next tranche of things is going to get more tricky.  I am clearing the runway so that I can get my studio up and running and start doing some portraits and art work.  And I need to be disciplined about scheduling in more YOGA.  Watch this space!! 

Being Done by People Who Do

Accelerated Productivity.  WOW.  I have to say I feel immensely organised!! It was  a WADE to get through all my notes to myself and things I start up doing or wanting to do, but it has been done.  Processed.  Simplified.

check this.  I have inboxes at zero (and a method, which is simple as pie) of managing them. My calendars and my iphone talk to each other and sync up and I have this super little moleskine which has all my projects listed (currently on the go) and all the back burner projects (soooo many...) and all my 'to do' lists are actions and are grouped into contexts.  @computer  @errands  @YogaTeacherTraining... etc.  So if I randomly think of something I must ask my yoga teacher at class, I can make a note of it and remember to ask it.  Or when I talk to the accountant I have a comprehensive list of all I need to ask him.

I am all set up with a clever little application

I do now see the point of the project files and am hankering after the filing system in which to put all my project plans, as sometimes my planning gets a bit muddled up with my next actions.... but setting this up is in my lists.

It really does feel very clever and ORGANISED.   Get me.  I have to do a weekly review,  without fail, or the whole system collapses.  But I am very motivated and for the next week or so I will have People Who Do on my case about this.  Of course life has it that I am away on holiday again next week.  So the major part of this accelerated productivity will kick in come September.  But hey, watch this space. 

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.....

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?