January is my least favourite month of the year and this one has been an absolute doozy. My son has been quite unwell with a mystery stomach problem and for the last month, our lives have been an endless round of doctor's appointments, extreme stress and official phone calls. We're finally getting somewhere with it, but it hasn't been a whole lot of fun and obviously I've been very worried so I'm not sleeping well. Needless to say, no art is being made, which Really Isn't Helping. Plus I still have to do my taxes, which invariably turns me into a gibbering mess. I always intend to get them done by the initial September deadline but I never do and now I'm rapidly hurtling towards the final deadline of 31st January with not a thing done.
Unfortunately this combination of events means that I'm very behind in answering comments - I have 51 waiting at the moment. If you listened to the Craftypod interview, you'll have heard that I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This means that my brain and body sometimes run very slow and when I'm stressed, I tend to relapse. I'm not relapsing at the moment but I can feel myself hovering on the edge and I know I have to prioritise how I use my limited energy or I'm going to crash completely. Therefore, in the interests of my own sanity, I'm going to read through the comments today and only reply to the ones asking questions. Please know that I do read and care about all your comments and I thank you for your words of wisdom, even if I didn't manage to answer them this time around. I figure if I start again from zero, I might manage to keep on top of it but right now I feel as though I'm drowning and I need to clear the decks as much as possible.
I've also not been posting as often as I like to here but this morning I'm writing up a pile of book reviews and I intend to finally scan and blog the last ten envelopes of the Diary Project. Later this week I'm also going to be starting a brand new series about art materials. I had intended this to be a January project but perhaps we can have a whole Spring of Materials instead.
I thought it would be fun to do some general posts on various types of materials, write some reviews of my own favourites and then open the blog up to guest writers to talk about their favourite or least favourite supplies. So if you have a burning desire to write about pencils, pastels, pens, paper, paint, scissors or other art materials, please contact me and we'll sort something out. Art and craft stores are daunting in the choices available and art materials don't come cheap: I'm sure we've all got art materials bought in a fit of enthusiasm that have been sitting unused in our cupboards for years, I know I have. Let's pool our collective knowledge and help each other make more informed choices...
So that's what's going on and what's coming up. In the meantime, have a couple of soulful January photos.
Kirsty Hall: Baroque Branches
Kirsty Hall: Patched Boots
Sister Diane
Oh, goodness. I'm sending lots of good thoughts out to your family, and extra energy to you. You're wise to step back and conserve your energy. Whatever you do, do NOT reply to this comment! :-)
Sister Diane
Oh, goodness. I'm sending lots of good thoughts out to your family, and extra energy to you. You're wise to step back and conserve your energy. Whatever you do, do NOT reply to this comment! :-)
Katherine
Kirsty - doesn't sound like January has been too much fun at all!
Now - that long list of other things you'd like to be doing sounds to me as if you may have been hit with that really dreadful affliction called 'dontwannadomytaxreturn'. Every winter it comes around and hits us all for six - and we turn up at the GPs and they just don't want to know!
I know you know it makes sense to just take the medicine rather than paying that £100 fine plus interest for filing late. So before you do anything else just remember there's lots of other sufferers who've also got to get their heads down and sniff those invoices and expense receipts. It's not nice but we've all got to do it!
Katherine
Kirsty - doesn't sound like January has been too much fun at all!
Now - that long list of other things you'd like to be doing sounds to me as if you may have been hit with that really dreadful affliction called 'dontwannadomytaxreturn'. Every winter it comes around and hits us all for six - and we turn up at the GPs and they just don't want to know!
I know you know it makes sense to just take the medicine rather than paying that £100 fine plus interest for filing late. So before you do anything else just remember there's lots of other sufferers who've also got to get their heads down and sniff those invoices and expense receipts. It's not nice but we've all got to do it!
cally
No question to reply to, just moral support of the comment kind. And also to let you know I'm giving you a 'You Make My Day' award when I do a mini post update today..but no need to follow it up... and that includes NOT using it as a distraction from the taxes, oh yes, I know that one (I am the Mistress of that one).
I hope all your tax stuff falls into place and you get it all done before the deadline with room to spare. Also best wishes to your son. And for your own energy, not sure if it's your thing, but when I'm on the verge of a crash I find freshly made rosemary tea can keep me from toppling over the edge. Simmer for 5mins and drink at the or middle of the day. It'd be especially helpful just now because it also helps concentration, just what you need to do the tax. I take mine with a little sage and thyme added as well (good for us women) and a little bit of honey. Take care x
cally
No question to reply to, just moral support of the comment kind. And also to let you know I'm giving you a 'You Make My Day' award when I do a mini post update today..but no need to follow it up... and that includes NOT using it as a distraction from the taxes, oh yes, I know that one (I am the Mistress of that one).
I hope all your tax stuff falls into place and you get it all done before the deadline with room to spare. Also best wishes to your son. And for your own energy, not sure if it's your thing, but when I'm on the verge of a crash I find freshly made rosemary tea can keep me from toppling over the edge. Simmer for 5mins and drink at the or middle of the day. It'd be especially helpful just now because it also helps concentration, just what you need to do the tax. I take mine with a little sage and thyme added as well (good for us women) and a little bit of honey. Take care x
missmilki
Oh wow! I've been following your blog for a few months now and I had no idea you have CFS. Me too. I'm not on top of it yet and I'm not working or doing anything much productive at the moment but I started a blog a few weeks back to help me keep in touch with friends and do something semi-productive...it takes so much time! (and I only post a couple of times a week and only a few of my friends read it so I don't get much comments! Can't imagine if it was a popular blog.) So I totally understand. January is yucky but not long til spring now. Take care of yourself and don't reply! Hope your son gets better soon too.
missmilki
Oh wow! I've been following your blog for a few months now and I had no idea you have CFS. Me too. I'm not on top of it yet and I'm not working or doing anything much productive at the moment but I started a blog a few weeks back to help me keep in touch with friends and do something semi-productive...it takes so much time! (and I only post a couple of times a week and only a few of my friends read it so I don't get much comments! Can't imagine if it was a popular blog.) So I totally understand. January is yucky but not long til spring now. Take care of yourself and don't reply! Hope your son gets better soon too.
Sherrie Roberts
Hi! I have no idea what CFS is or how one comes down with such an affliction. It sounds awful.. ((( Circle of Healing Angels Hugs ))) for you to missmilk.
I found you from the K. Tyrel blog. I was going to say that now I have two blogs to read on art products. Plus, I am waiting for a set of Generic Pencils from Dick Blick - their brand to make a comparison to the pencils I have.
I will be most interested in your blog.
Please take care and hopefully, your son is having a bout that I had at about that age. Though I am female, I know boys tend to have more internal problems as they grow or are about to go through a growth spurt. Male growth spurts seem to be more violent to the body.
Sorry, the doctors ran all sorts of test and I was told it was just me. The last time I had a bad problem, it was determined to be family issues. My Mother had run away. It just caused those horrible pains around the stomach, as if you are being cut in half and horrible migraine headaches. I hope He is ok. He is at the awarness age. Things bother them without them knowing.
No answer required. Will check back. I have added you as a link on my blog.
Sherrie
Sherrie Roberts
Hi! I have no idea what CFS is or how one comes down with such an affliction. It sounds awful.. ((( Circle of Healing Angels Hugs ))) for you to missmilk.
I found you from the K. Tyrel blog. I was going to say that now I have two blogs to read on art products. Plus, I am waiting for a set of Generic Pencils from Dick Blick - their brand to make a comparison to the pencils I have.
I will be most interested in your blog.
Please take care and hopefully, your son is having a bout that I had at about that age. Though I am female, I know boys tend to have more internal problems as they grow or are about to go through a growth spurt. Male growth spurts seem to be more violent to the body.
Sorry, the doctors ran all sorts of test and I was told it was just me. The last time I had a bad problem, it was determined to be family issues. My Mother had run away. It just caused those horrible pains around the stomach, as if you are being cut in half and horrible migraine headaches. I hope He is ok. He is at the awarness age. Things bother them without them knowing.
No answer required. Will check back. I have added you as a link on my blog.
Sherrie