Tuesday 31 October 2017

Day Thirty One - The Month that Was.

Photo of the Day:



Art Prompt: Own Choice


Raven in Flight

Gosh it is the end of the month already!  It really does seem to have zoomed past ever so quicly.


Looking back at October....

At the end of September I made a goal to clear my sewing studio by the end of October, thinking that having whole month I should be able to achieve such a task.  Well I failed - although I am going to try not to look on it as failure, but rather progress as so many other things have also happened over the last month.  I have made real headway on getting some actual treatment for my existing pain and also the pain that has plagued me since April.  Whether this treatment will work, is yet to be determined, but I am hopeful and that is a step in the right direction. Because of this I have had MANY trips into London which of course take up time.   I HAVE started clearing my studio, but to the outsider it wouldn't be at all obvious as it is still a complete mess in there, and now our dining room is a mess as well with stuff I have sorted to sell!  Perhaps it will be cleared by the end of November?

Over the last 21 days I have made 13 Ebay sales which amounts to 24 items, so that is progress in itself.  I also have a pile of boxes and bags that I need to take to the charity shop which I hope to do this week.  I have more items to list as well and hope to get them done in the next couple of days.


I managed to take part in the 'Photo a Day for the Month of October Challenge' on Flickr.


Here is a mosaic of days 1 - 30, with today's photo being at the top of this post.




I have also completed the 'Every Day in October' Art Challenge, although this has been a bit more difficult to keep up with.  I went back to art, but have to stop while having my acupuncture treatment as unfortunately this is on the same day.  I will try to find out if there is another group I can go to on a different day.


A Mosaic of Days 1 - 30 with today' picture at the top of this post.

I have quite enjoyed this challenge, although some of the prompts were really not my thing.  As someone who doesn't 'do' Halloween, quite a few of them were orientated towards that.  All pictures have now also been added to the appropriate day as I had missed uploading some.  Some of these I am not at all pleased with, others I am.  But the whole idea was just to go with the prompt, not take too long over it and I think I have achieved that.


'We' have started stripping the wallpaper off the walls in our master bedroom, and hopefully that will be fully decorated by the end of November.  We have had to change our plans slightly as we were going to get someone in to do the whole job, but due to my medical expenses, we have had to change that, so now hubby is doing the stripping and prepping of the walls and the painting and we will get someone in to do the wallpapering, IF the price is right.  Otherwise it could be along time before it is ever finished!  Of course doing this has meant that now the lounge is full of stuff that we have moved out of the bedroom!  So I hope we don't have any visitors for a while as the house is quite frankly a mess.  We have also had the floor measured up for carpet, so now just have to go and choose some.

One week into October I decided to start going on the elliptical trainer/exercise machine (as well as the walking the dogs).  I have managed to go on it 13 days out of 23 (56 %) so far which isn't too bad, as some of those days I had to go into London and have various tests etc...  I have also started the physio exercises, and do those daily.  I am now on Day 4 of those. 

Another thing I have started to do is practice my clarinet again as I just miss it too much to not play anymore.  It still hurts a lot, but the pleasure I am getting from playing is almost counteracting that.  So although early days yet, I will see how I go. I have played 17 out of the 23 days, so have achieved 74%  - not bad, especially again considering some days I haven't felt like it, or have had trips into London.  I have tried to play before and I think I managed about three months before I had to give up again.  Hopefully with the treatment I am getting I will be able to continue.  Mind over matter as they say.  I worked too hard for too many years to throw my music away. 

I finally got round to banking some cheques, only to realise when I was paying them in one of them had been written out incorrectly - the words and numbers didn't match up.  Now our bank no longer has a branch locally it is more of a hassle to have to go to the bank as it involves driving, paying parking charges etc...  Such a nuisance our local branch is no longer.  Seems crazy as the population in our town has increased!  I hate to think what the older people do now - perhaps they have changed banks, I do know at least a couple of people who have done this.

Because I had to drive to another town to do the banking and pay for parking I figured I might has well have a look round the charity shops.  They don't tend to interest me as much as they used to, not sure if I just feel I have enough now, or because you can't get the bargains that you used to be able to get.  I did find one thing though for my 'old people' collection that sit on the picture rail that runs down the length of our hallway.


I haven't seen this one before.  Love the donkey!



November tomorrow!  The nights are already drawing in, and it was definitely a lot colder today than it has been.  It is pitch black outside already and it is only 5 pm.  Brrr...I don't like these colder darker days. 







Monday 30 October 2017

Day Thirty

Photo of the Day:




Our house really does look like a tip now - can hardly get in the lounge as I have moved a load of stuff from the bedroom into it to clear some more space for hubby so he can strip some more walls.  


Because the walls are so uneven we are going to have to wallpaper instead of paint.  I have hung a couple of samples up.  The one on the left is embossed, the one on the right isn't, but perhaps the bumps in the wall wouldn't be so obvious with that because of the patterning?  Not sure yet which we prefer...the one on the right, although having a darker background does reflect the light.  


Both feature roses, which seems rather appropriate. 


We had the flooring people out today and it wouldn't really be suitable to have a wooden or laminate floor put down due to the curved bay window and again the unevenness of the floor, so looks like we will have to have carpet after all.  He has measured up so when we go and choose a carpet we will be able to find out the cost straight away.

It was a beautiful morning today and it has been a lovely day, although I have felt very much out of sorts...for a number of reasons (including worrying about my Mum and Dad) ...and also because the mess is completely overwhelming me.  Still I just have to remind myself that progress is being made.  The car boot is loaded up with some stuff to take to the Charity Shop, so will hopefully do that tomorrow.

Have a good week!

Prompt for the Day: Own Choice


I sketched Jeremy, otherwise known as 'Jay'


Sunday 29 October 2017

Day Twenty Nine

Photo of the Day:



It turned into quite a nice day today, and this afternoon the sun cast pretty dappling shadows through the leaves.  The dogs enjoyed a walk this afternoon, as did we.


We had a pleasant morning walking around a Vintage Fair held at Ware Drill Hall. 


There was a good range of stalls, from glassware, jewellery, clothing, knick knacks and bits and bobs, china, woodwork and small furniture items.  There was even a really lovely antique Singer Sewing Machine that looked to be in immaculate condition, but I walked away, telling myself I don't really need any more as I am supposed to be downsizing my Vintage Singer Sewing Machine collection.






We had a pleasant cup of tea and cake in the 'vintage tea shop' that had been set up while we listened to some music.



 I saw a teapot I really liked which my husband kindly bought me, and on the same stall I also saw a lovely tea cup trio and the lady kindly discounted it and so that also came home with us.



The tea pot  is Burgess Ware and I think it dates to the 1930s.


This pretty trio is Tuscan Bone China, and looking at the stamp on the bottom, it dates from c1936. 


I will have my morning tea from this tomorrow along with the last slice of Christmas Cake!


(I have added my daily art piece to yesterday's post, and hopefully tomorrow I will add the rest to the previous posts that I have missed, and also today's post)


Art Prompt:  Black Cat




Saturday 28 October 2017

Day Twenty Eight

Photo of the Day


A surprise Marigold bravely trying to flower.

Whilst out in the garden today I had a walk round and took some photos of what is still flowering.


Not as nice today as it was yesterday - it has remained damp and overcast most of the day with a bit of wind.  It feels decidedly cooler as well.


Quite a few roses are still going strong...








A few Hebe flowers



A lone Fuchsia 



Inside the house...


Hubby is slowly stripping the wallpaper in the master bedroom...he only seems to do a little at a time, but it is hard work as the wallpaper was super glued on by the looks of it!



Lots of hole filling needed and still lots of glue remnants on the wall.

We popped out for a little while to day to look at some wallpaper in Bunnings.  I have bought home a couple of samples I quite like.  Will take a photo of them tomorrow when it is lighter.

Listening to:


A surprise gift from my husband.  Nearly all the pieces I have played with the Jazz band I used to belong to.


Art prompt: Fox







Friday 27 October 2017

Day Twenty Seven

Photo of the Day:


What a beautiful day it has been today.  Gorgeous blue sky and reasonably mild considering the time of year it is.  Quite the change from yesterday when it was very grey and damp.  

Now for the boring stuff.  

Unfortunately I had to go into London again today. I also went yesterday for my second acupuncture treatment.  Today was the first of my physiotherapy sessions.  It all had to be fitted into 1/2 an hour as they thought Bupa were paying for it - they are not, turns out they don't pay for any treatments unless you are admitted to hospital!  So much for medical insurance.  This is costing me (or rather my husband) a fortune, I just hope it will work and isn't yet more money down the drain which has happened in the past. I tell you the cost of these sessions is  A LOT!   The session did seem to go reasonably well, and he was wanting to see me again next week, but the next appointment he is available isn't until two weeks time, which is a bit frustrating.  My whole right side down to my foot is apparently quite weak which might explain why I am getting a lot of hip pain on the left side.  We are going to start working at trying to build up my core strength and the aim will be for strength not pain reduction as increase in strength is more easily seen and assessed, and more positive - so even if the pain reduction doesn't happen for some time, we will at least be able to see progress IS being made.  At least that is the theory.  I am being sent some exercises to do and currently have my right shoulder taped up to try and keep the thoracic area more open.

Prompt for today:  Tractor





Thursday 26 October 2017

Day Twenty Six

Photo of the day


Not the most brilliant of shots, but it shows the shape of the cobwebs with the rain drops on it.

Art Prompt for today:  Book of Life.  


I had no idea what this meant so I did a google search and sketched one of the images from there.


Wednesday 25 October 2017

Day Twenty Five

Photo of the Day:


'Rhapsody in Blue' 

It has been a really lovely day today, although I don't feel I have appreciated it quite like I should have done.

Something upset me last night, I didn't sleep well and it seemed to spin over into today despite my best intentions not to let it.



I did bake a lovely lemon cake for my elderly friends (both in their nineties!) and went to visit them this afternoon.  They are always pleased to see me and I was able to bring smiles to their faces, so that was good.  I forgot to take a photo of the cake before I took it to them!

The dogs went for their daily walk, in the sunshine today which was nice.


The leaves of the Maple tree in the sunshine looked so lovely.  I should have zoomed in!


Some yellow brightness in the garden.  Lovely to still have some roses flowering.



Tonight  for dinner we have got left over Pumpkin, Cheese & Onion Flan that I made yesterday.  It is very tasty!

Now if only I dispel this feeling in my stomach!  Clearly I let things bother me too much.

Tomorrow I have the second of my acupuncture visits - I am hoping that the positive effects last a bit longer than eleven hours this time.    On Friday I start my Physiotherapy sessions - that should be interesting.  I hope the Rheumatologist is right and that this guy is really good and CAN help me as I am paying a fortune for the sessions!

Art Prompt:  Hot Air Balloon


Another painting done completely freehand without drawing it out first.  Not especially happy with this either.