been a-thrifting

Earlier this week, Luu and I did our weekly food shop, and then popped into a couple of local charity shops.  There were lots of treasures, but only three for us.  This suitcase, which has been on the thrifting wish-list for a liitle while, although we did ponder, should we? do we really want it? But for the princely sum of just £2.00 and with some '80s Snoopy stickers it had to be.  Luu is going to use it in her room for storage.

She also bought this linen top, which she will wear as a dress, destined for those hot days, which are on the way back...

 

And the third item?  A 1990s road atlas for 40p, destined to be chopped up as backgrounds for some more of my pictures.  I've a couple I'm working on at the moment, I should be back with them later in the week...

a running update

I've just found this post, that I actually wrote on the 12th April - and then left it floundering, as I had no photo to go with it.  So, I thought I'll let you have this, and then I'll update you a little more...

I haven't told you about my running lately, have I?  To remind you, I'm training to do a half-marathon later in the year - gulp...

At the moment I'm following these podcasts, and they're really, really good.  I'm just about to start week seven.  Which means that I start with a 5 minute brisk walk - followed by 25 minutes of running and then another 5 minute walk to cool down.  I did the same session on Sunday, with Mark and Phoebe along with me - on their bikes, and I did it!  I amazed myself when Laura, who talks you through the podcasts, said at 24 minutes - you've got a minute left, if you can, why not run a bit faster... and I did.  From my quite ploddy jog, I upped the speed - and ran.

So, with Laura's help - I should be able to do 5km in another couple of weeks, at the moment I'm doing about 4.2km.

Anyway, since then, I've been building on my time and distance, and last week completed my first 5km, in about 40 minutes.  I was SO pleased.  To be fair, I did it along our local cycle path and canal, so it was fairly flat.  But I wanted to achieve that milestone. I'm now back on the footpaths, so that means some hills are involved, and I'm working my way back up to 5km, and beyond...

Since I've started running, at least two people I know have started running, using these podcasts.  Because, if I can do this, anyone can.

April stuff

Sorry I’ve been gone for a while.  Here’s a brief round up of some of what I’ve been up to…
We’ve had this little one for a year

I turned another year older.  And so did Mark.
We went away to Cornwall for 5 days, just before Easter, and enjoyed the fabulous British weather, and had a great break.
We went to St Ives…

To Porthcurno beach…

To Mousehole..

And to Geevor tin mine museum

There’s plenty more, but I don’t want to get you too excited with too much in one post…

Tuesday Play

It's the Easter holidays around here.  So, today, Phoebe and I had a quick shopping trip out.  Then came back to do some art, based on the She Art course that I did.  Mine's finished, Phoebe's is still a work in progress.  Then we watched Harry Potter.

a bit more arty stuff

A few more of my pictures following the She Art class


I “collected” the quote on the first one when we went to the eden project last autumn.  I think it was a “what I wish I’d known when I was at school” quote.  How true, and I wish I had known it…

This next one I’ve done for my sister’s birthday, I hope she likes it…


I’m trying to move these towards “my style” – not sure if I’ve quite got it yet, but I’m enjoying the journey

…and another hobby

So, I have another hobby that I haven’t told you about.  This one is totally outside my comfort zone.  It doesn’t involve a creative bone in my body.  There’s no paper, no glue, no fabric, no wool, no paint… and definitely no scissors.
I’ve started running.  Those of you that have seen me in real life, or perhaps just had a tiny glimpse of a blogged photo, will know that I don’t have a runner’s physique.  I have been heard to say in the last few weeks, that the last time I probably ran, was for a bus, in 1989, and I probably missed it…
So why have I started?  Well, I had a conversation at a family birthday celebration at the end of January that, briefly, followed this train of ideas

• my brother’s two brother-in-laws both ran the Birmingham Half Marathon last year
• my brother, while he was in hospital,  said that he would run it this year
• he thought that they would forget this conversation
• they didn’t
• Paul’s sister-in-law also got roped in
• then they asked me

Obviously I dismissed the idea, and had another slice of cake.  But, after I got home, the idea played in my mind.
Could I? 
I did a bit of googling, and decided that it is do-able.  I have until October to go from sitting on my lardy bum, to running 13 miles.  The next morning, I put my trainers on, went to our local cycle route, and walk-jogged for half an hour – as suggested.  And, you know what?  I did it!  it was –3.5 that morning, with a beautiful thick frost, and I managed to go faster than my usual gentle stroll.
I’ve since found a series of podcasts, called C25K, that are really helping.  I have an intermediate goal of a 5k run in June, and then the biggie, the half-marathon in October.  I’ve registered my interest in it, and I’m telling more people that I’m going to do it, and you’re next on my list of telling people… 
I will be asking for sponsorship closer to the time, probably for Macmillan Nurses, but I’ll do what Paul wants – because that’s why I’m doing it, to raise money for the cancer charity of his choice.  And, don’t worry, I won’t be in anybody’s face asking for money, that’s not my style.  But, if you think you might sponsor me, let me know, and I’ll get back to you later in the year…

she art workshop

Want to see what I've been up to this week? I've been getting messy with this workshop.  And I'm having a ball!!  Learning lots of techniques, and being inspired by a fabulous group of artists in the She Art Community.

I've been following the techniques outlined in the lessons - but I'm already starting to feel my way towards what is more my style.  I'm sure I'll have more to show you in the future.  But, if you fancy having a go, there are some tutorials on Christy's website, and I believe the workshop is running again soon.

I'm off now to get my bags ready for Saturday's 12 hour cropaganza at the Bromsgrove crop, with 3 classes being taught by Kirsty Wiseman