New beads for 2011

It's been quite a while since I bought myself any new Trollbeads and to be honest, it will be a while yet; my car brakes had to take priority. Still, I was very spoilt for Trollbeads over Christmas and my collection grew by four. That will keep me going for a while. I also came to the realisation that more silver beads is the key to easily customisable looks, so that is my next mission.

Left to right: Black Flower Mosaic, Issey, Black Silk, Cool Dusk

Mum's Radio Premier

I couldn't be more proud! We all sat around the computer this morning in Barking, listening to Radio Cumbria streaming live, for the world premier of Words Worth Hearing; mum's first broadcast radio play. I think it's terrific, but I accept I'm biased! So, included below is a recording (not the best quality - but I didn't want to wait for the CD they'll send later) and you can make your own decision.

 
Download now or listen on posterous

Words_Worth_Hearing.m4a (3765 KB)

Fireworks in Barking Park

I've lived in Barking for 10 years now and I'm embarrassed to say I have never been to the fireworks display, until tonight. And it has left me wondering why I've never gone before. It was a great night out. My three nephews loved it and I 'oohed' and 'aahed' with the best of them! Police presence was high which was both reassuring and worrying but I saw no incidents that needed them.  It was a very well run operation and the fireworks were awesome. And the boys verdict: Ted 60 out of 10, Marley 9½ out of 10 (so that he has room if he every goes to a better one, although this tops his list now) and Shay simply said 'I know, let's talk about our favourite bits...'

Sweet Temptation

I have been coveting these for some time now and until last month, had successfully resisted all temptation to buy. As you can see from below, my will power finally ran out! Something about the Trollbeads appealed to me. I looked at Pandora too but they just felt a bit too mass produced. They didn't appeal so much. Perhaps it is partly to do with Trollbeads being a Danish company - a little connection to my family roots?

I can see that this is a collection that will grow and grow, and at a minimum of £25 a bead, I'm going to be dropping lots of hints around birthday and Christmas time (I usually don't have a response to the question 'What would you like for....?). So here it is: my embryo collection - long may it grow!

Foreground right to left: Troll Tree lock, Milan, Grey Wolf, Florence

Right to left: Milan, Grey Wolf, Florence, OOAK, Mocha, Blue Bud Flower

Centre to left: Blue Desert, White Bubbles, OOAK, Blue Fizz

Et voilà, c'est fini...

Finally, the room is finished. It is lovely and I really think it was worth the wait. I am very relieved to be back to normality for sure but the memory of the inconvenience and stress fades fast.

The photos really don't do it justice!

Now We're Cooking!

For one reason or another this redecorate has been a very slow job. Last week the white base coat went on and then all progress ground to a halt. It's been frustrating, and living on my bed surrounded by clutter is now getting to me. Still, today the work started moving forwards again and I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel now...which is just as well since the sofa arrives on Monday!

White base coat goes on

The gas fire in place

The green goes on

Window frame painted white

A Day to Paint

Today was an excellent day. I spent the day painting with Jo. I tried out texture paste for the first time and I am very pleased with the result on my ploughed fields. My painting is not finished yet - I still have trees and sheep to add and detail on the stone walls. I should be able to finish next time. Jo also got very close to finishing her painting and it looks fantastic. Below are photos of our efforts and a photo of the picture that Jo's painting is inspired by.

Kate's painting - start of day

Kate's painting - middle of day

Kate's painting - end of day

Painting by Glynnis Carter

Jo's painting - middle of day

Jo's painting - end of day

Getting Plastered

For the last few years I have opted to alternate getting away for the summer and getting a room in the flat redecorated. Since I went to Spain last year, this year it was the turn of the front room for a makeover. It is the last room in the flat to receive proper attention since I moved in. Other projects are still on the cards - the double glazing is shocking and the windows will need replacing soon, but that is the next project.

So once again I am living with half of my flat stuffed into my bedroom and spare room and I am living on my bed. I have to admit that at the end of day four the dust and disruption is starting to get to me. Still, the plastering is now finished and the walls and ceiling looks brilliant. I can see that the room is going to look better and better from this point on.

Clearing the room on day 1

It's amazing what shelves hide

New socket locations

The chaos begins

Day 2 - the boards come down...

...revealing a large area of blown plaster

Plaster board is the only answer

Walls PVA'ed

Day 4 - The plaster goes on

It's goodbye to the rustic walls

New painting

I've finally started my next painting. It's been a while since I did my first one but I recently bought myself a starter kit and with the summer holidays nearing, I made a start. Below are a couple of photos of my progress. Tonight I finished my under-paint.

This time I'm not working from a photo but from a glimpsed scene in my memory. I'm going to try to make it very stylised.

New Cats

It's been a couple of months now since I brought home my two beautiful new cats. After losing Molly I gave a lot of thought to whether I wanted to get another cat and even whether I could handle having a dog. However, much as I'd love a dog it just wouldn't be fair of me to have one right now. So I decided on a cat, or two. I wanted a mum and kitten if possible so that they could keep each other company while I'm out at work. There was only one place I would get them from and that was the Celia Hammond Animal Trust; the charity that tried to help Molly.

So these are the characters I ended up with. I instantly fell in love with Luna - she was so sweet natured and trusting and obviously desperate to get beyond the limited space available at the rescue centre. She had three kittens; two classically pretty, fluffy tabbies and a very handsome, almost pure black (except for the tip of his tail) male. The fluffy tabbies had already been selected by someone else, leaving just the feisty male kitten and mum; luckily for me.

I brought them home the same day. They were already chipped, neutered, de-flead and wormed. Frodo took a while to settle in, spending the first week in and out of the smallest space he could find in the flat. Luna was much quicker to settle and seemed at home before the first day was out. Both are very much at home now although Frodo is still a little nervous around strangers. He is much quicker to get used to people now though.

The big test was bringing them both to Cumbria with me - a trip I did regularly with Molly. However they have been brilliant, in spite of the large scratch on my arm earned whilst trying to get Frodo into the travel box. Lesson learnt.

So begins a new journey then - I hope it will be a long one.

Luna

Frodo

An Excellent Little Widget!

This is a fabulous little gizmo that I've had on my blog for a while, but following my redesign (wider posting area to accommodate videos and photos better), it doesn't really fit on the side bar any more. So it is moving here, where it might just get a little less forgotten too!

Avatarize Yourself

Yes, I saw it, loved it and caught the bug! This is a little freaky but great fun. A neat tool to turn yourself into a Na'vi!

Frozen Britain and One Amazing Photo

I have never seen a picture like this. Ok, not too new to some places on earth, but I never thought I'd see the UK in such an icy grip as this one. I had to share. This incredible photo is credited to NASA (who else could get a shot like that!) and brought to my attention by my Second Life community, Tribe.