Mind, Body and Soul

Working full-time from home has greatly affected my "free-time," mainly because I never truly leave my workplace at the end of the day. Now I usually "poo-poo" some of the "spiritual stuff" but all the same I've decided to set aside three hours a week, for my Mind, Body and Soul.
Mind - Learn something new, or devote an hour to reading. Body - devote an hour to working out (zumba) and Soul - spend some time just drawing, writing, painting, playing music or just sitting outside and enjoying the space.
The main reason for my MBS quest is to find some me-time. It's far to easy to disappear into "work-mode" and not just enjoy the fact that I'm self-employed, and therefore can have some freer time.

So, my first aim in the "Soul category is to complete this painting;



This is supposed to be a picture of sunflowers (when I'm done) so far only the centre of the flower is completed, that's the trouble with oil paints, you have to layer them...or so I'm told. Which is why the leaves have no depth or shaping.
Now understand I have almost zero artistic talent...but you already knew that from my previous drawings...but I want to spend a few hours creating something for no practical use, just for fun.
This painting is also from my "spag-bol" period, if you can see the marks where I accidentally splashed the canvas with my tea one night. When I'm famous that will make it worth millions...if I remember to sign it.

(A few people have been having trouble leaving comments, I've smacked blogger around the room a bit and it's now allowing all comments again...I hope...click below and see if it's working or if I need to pound on blogger some more)

Me want!

I was browsing Ebay over the weekend, trying to find a leather bound journal.
For a long time I've wanted to start a "family history" book of the dead to be passed down through the generations to preserve the knowledge and memories of those who have gone before us. I have finally found the perfect book.



If you want to check this baby out, you can do so Here
So what if it's nearly £200 (ouch) with this book I can finally pretend to be in Charmed. (Please note you only need to click that link if you've been living under a rock for the past 15 years)
It's probably never going to be affordable and I'll have to find a cheaper, smaller tome for our memories, but creating a book to be passed down through the generations has made my 100 by 100 list. Sure I might need to also add, 'Practise handwriting legibly' and 'learn calligraphy' to the list if it's ever going to look as impressive as I imagine, but passing something like this down is important to me.
I don't want my future children (if they ever decide they do want to be born) to not have a tangible part of their past, and I also don't want to forget those who passed before us, they were an integral part of who we are now.

Dream snacking

Last night I dreamt I was in a queue for the best looking cake ever, when D's alarm clock went off and woke me just as I was finally getting a slice of the cake.
I woke up screaming NOO! and clutching desperately for the tail end of my dream.
Here is my artistic rendering of the awesome cake;

It. looked. wonderful.

D mocked me with comments like "I can't believe you dreamt you were queueing...that's so boring.."
I showed him though. I went out at 8:30am to a little bakery two miles away and I brought myself this;

It's no chocolate meringue cake...well at least not yet it isn't...and did I mention..they are all MINE

Workmen - things I have learnt

As you may recall my MIA-ness from last week was caused by workmen, and finally they are finishing up the job today.

I have learnt a few things from my time with them;
a) NEVER agree to them leaving to return in a couple of hours...they won't come back
b) They think leaving their toolbox with you is worth a day's pay...even if they weren't there to open it.
c) They always have some silly excuse as to why they didn't come back the day before or bother calling you
d) You will never be so quiet, or so tidy as when workmen are in your home
e) Suggesting to them, you don't care what the new light fitting is, so long as it is brighter than the current fitting, is the BEST route to take.
f) They will install the downstairs fire alarm in the stupidest place possible.

and most importantly;

I CANNOT USE MY OWN BATHROOM WITH WORKMEN IN THE HOUSE
This all goes back to 'Jeff's' Secret listeners comment** and is also the reason I used to shut D in the furthest room from the toilet with loud music and threaten him to stay put or else.
The workmen must think I had some bladder issue with the sheer amount of time I spent making trips to the toilet...never to actually 'use' the facilities.

Even worse, we've been quoffing massive quantities of D's home-brew which has made everyone into a walking whoopee cushion.
I've purposefully positioned myself in front of an open window, just so the workmen don't have to deal with me not being as "feminine" as I could be.
Hopefully they'll leave for lunch soon, it's been three hours and my internal organs are threatening to implode.

**You always have to be quiet as there are secret listeners every time you go to the toilet.

We've been busy...

For Christmas I brought D his own beer brewing kit, and we've finally been brewing it.


Can't you just see that on the bottles...whaddya mean no?

We've brewed 5 gallons of the stuff and have named it 'HolinDbrau' it's all ready to share with our friends this weekend and let them, as D put it "enjoy the malted delights from under our stairs." I'm not a beer lover but I like that it's mostly flat and very strong...makes a good beer shandy.

Masquerade Ball

I finally tick something off my 100 by 100 list.

The masquerade ball was wonderful! The people were friendly, the dresses gorgeous and the masks very fancy.
I met a kindred spirit, (D's Boss) when D asked me what I wanted to drink and I proclaimed (loudly) "RUM! I want to be a PIRATE...arr." Bossman then said "Aww I want to be a pirate too, and shared the sad tale of how his wife binned all this pirate stuff. Then a kid turned up in an alien costume and mask and we both went "I want to be an alien!" See guys, we're SOULMATES

There was a professional photographer taking photos through the night, he gave me his business card and said "I've taken loads of pictures of you, here is the website so you can check them out"
Oh yes, I am supermodel material....when wearing a mask.
Hence the partial delay as I wanted to borrow liberate my images!

So here are two photos we took, pre-drunkness


Yes I made D's mask, and how did I hear you ask, did I paint it? Why I painted it with BLACK SHOE POLISH. I am awesome. D's face didn't fall off so apparently shoe polish is a perfectly acceptable mask paint.


I altered my mask by cutting, gluing etc. and made the back of it, however the general outline already existed. But since I took four hours to make it "better" I class it as homemade


Now enjoy the professional pictures of the day, and excuse D's blacked-out face since he's shy.




Yes, we are walking like an Egyptian in the last photo.This is my favourite professional one that was done, think I might get a print of it for the dining room.

Apologies for the delay

I'll take this message down once we're sorted but straight out of the bank holiday clutching my pictures of the great evening in my grubby hands, we've had a power outage and will be cut-off for today as well, should be back to normal tonight/tomorrow can't wait to share the pics with you all!!!

Back soon!