Day 90 - Reflecting on my writing journey

Easter Sunday - 31st March

I do hope you have all had a lovely Easter Sunday.  I am still trying to catch up with work having lost a week to the power cuts but I did manage a sneaky coffee with Molly at Coast.  I was delighted so them really busy as this creates a feeling that the season in underway.  Lots of people still coming through the door to order lunch after 3pm so this is great trade for the boys and very well deserved. 

I was slightly concerned on waking that the Easter Bunny had forgotten about me but he must have just missed me out by mistake as my lovely chocolate egg arrived a little later.  I think I was in the second post. 

I have had so many lovely messages from people who read my piece that I posted on my creative blog yesterday.  I have absolutely no idea why I decided to publish it yesterday as I wrote it more than two years ago.  I had thought that I would never publish it but I am glad I did because it is a story that needed to be told.  Writing is a funny old game.  When you start writing you quickly learn that there are a few stories from your life that need to be told.  It is very difficult to make any real progress until these stories are out there.  This story was incredibly hard to write but a necessary part of my writing journey and so I now move forward. 

The artist Paul Gauguin once said 'I shut my eyes in order to see' and I keep that expression very close to me in my writing.  People often ask me how I decide what to write about.  The answer is really simple.  I sit down at my lap top, shut my eyes and let my mind find a pathway to follow.  That pathway will often reflect what I have been doing during the day but not always.  One of my personal gurus Julie Cameron said 'the capacity for delight is the gift of paying attention'.  I pay very close attention to what goes on around me.  I notice alot and I store it away for later.  I also pay attention to myself and where my mind takes me and I use that as a strategy for meditation.  I have completed my foundation training in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and that has opened up a whole new way of seeing and often with my eyes shut.   I first encountered NLP as a patient at an NHS pain clinic.   I had never heard of it before and it was an interestiing first encounter.  My first session was a complete diaster as the practitioner happened to refer to the power of a guiding star in the battle with pain.  I fell apart instantly as I had already chosen a star in the sky as being my late father and whenever I needed guidance I look to the star.  So the practitioner learnt that she has had accidently chosen a completely wrong NLP pathway.  We re-grouped in the next session and stabbed around in the great darkness until we found a set of pathways that could help to establish a dialogue with my personal battle with pain.  It was a real breakthrough not just in my relationship with pain but how I understood my mind. 

The human mind works on many levels and research shows we  only use a very small amount of its actual capacity.  Using NLP as my guide I have managed to open up new channels that have taken me down illuminating pathways.  I have also used the techniques of NLP with my children when they have been through a challenging phase.  We even used it to support Molly through her GCSEs and A levels so it has been well tested in our family.  I use some of the techniques on a daily basis and I think I would be lost without it. 

I have already forgotten to put the pork in the oven on time so really must go. 

Until tomorrow. xx

Day 89 - Q & A about my little 'old' life. x

Saturday 30th March

I do hope you are all getting some of this lovely Easter sunshine?  It is a tranquil day on the island and we are back on mains power so life  returns to normal.  I had a little count up yesterday and found that I had received over 100 messages of support from blog followers in the period that the power was off.  I knew I was getting quite a few each day but I had no idea that the total was that high.  That is very humbling and I am so very grateful.  Inside most messages were some common questions that people seem to have about my little life on Arran so I thought it might be useful to try and answer some of them.  I have tried to reply to each and every message but I am aware the replies have been a bit short so this might help strike a better balance.  I am always happy to answer questions and you can email me via my facebook page anytime.  These questions aren't in any particular order and I have written about some of these topics before but this puts it all in one place. Let's start with the big one -

What did you do before you moved to the Isle of Arran?

I initially trained as a primary teacher with a specialism in dance and PE and I taught in London for a couple of years before moving to Hampshire to teach in a middle school.  I also took my masters degree in education at that time.

I then began working for what was King Alfred's College (now the University of Winchester) as a lecturer in education and human movement.  I then worked my way up the university ladder until I was a Principal lecturer and Chair of Quality.  .

Why did you leave that career behind?

I think I had taken the job as far as I wanted to go.  My immediate boss had resigned his post and I was applying as a natuural successor but I realised that just because I 'could' do the job that didn't mean I 'wanted' to do the job.  I was incredibly committed to the job but I was spending a huge amount of time away from the family.  By now I had four children.  I just decided enough was enough and that if I didn't make the break in my 30s I would be stuck in that sector until I retired.  I also felt that I wanted a different life for my children.

Why Arran?

My parents moved there when I went to university.  They bought the smallholding and my father ran a free range egg business.  Prior to this he new nothing about how to run that sort of business.  I am very like my father!  He loved a challenge and so do I.

We have visited the island forever and it seemed to offer the 'different' lifestyle we were searching for.

Why home school?
I could write an essay on that but the short answer is that I was not convinced the education system in this country could develop a passion for learning in my children.  The National Curriculum was, in my view, ill conceived and over assessed.  It didn't represent quality learning and, if I am honest, I thought we could do better.  Harry and George didn't like school so we offered them an alternative and they took it.  Max joined in as well despite being only 3 at the time and Molly joined in some time later.  I don't believe home school is right for every child but it was right for our family.  It is a lot of hard work and it can be very testing but it is also the most rewarding thing I have ever done.

How does your smallholding make any money?
This is a really good question.  You firstly have to understand that it is not always about making money.  It is often about saving money.  We do make money from the smallholding and continually invent new ways to ensure that it offers an income.  We grow and sell potted herbs and cut flowers and we have recently added willow to that list.  But it is in the value added where the money is really made.  I dry herbs and use them to make herbal crafts that I sell locally.  We used to sell to over 100 shops nationwide but we scaled it back when the recession hit and diversified into new areas.  I sell direct to the public where I can as the profit margin is higher.  I also run horticultural and creative courses from the smallholding. 

We save money by growing alot of our own veggies and we are just about to welcome a new brood of chickens.  Pete works for two local shops part time and I, of course, write.  Living on Arran is like that.  You have to be prepared to do lots of different things to make it work.  I also still do some consultancy which is a throw back to my old life. 

How important is your faith?
Very. I became a Buddhist a while back but have been a student of the religion for many years. My faith helps me understand people and that is really important to me. Buddhism has helped me make sense of the world and the circle of life and death. It is my daily prop. I meditate every day and I would be lost without it.

This is the most asked question.....

How do you fit it all in?
I would say that I do sleep incase any of you think I don't.  I am a quick worker and always have been but my strategy is about making connections.  I plan each day with tasks that are connected.  That might include a session with the boys on their spring journal followed by a couple of hours in the polytunnel.  The two tasks take me outside and while I am out there I do other quick things as I can.  I take the connections strategy into my virtual world as I use social media a lot to make connections with other people and share information, ideas and opportunities.  I keep moving and only sit down in the evening but even then I have my beloved ipad with me and I use that time to research.  I research everything within an inch of its life! I am fortunate that I can take in new information quickly.

Why did you start this blog challenge?
I have been writing for a couple of years now.  Two years ago I entered a competition where you had to write something every day for 30 days.  It was a real test.  It was a complicated competition but the end result was a winning piece.  It was all run online and it had over 2000 of us writing everyday.  You do the maths on how many pieces of writing that was.  The point of this story is two-fold.  Firstly, it taught me the discipline of writing every day and secondly I won the bloody thing!  It was a piece I wrote about a dance performance I had been involved in many years earlier.  The focus of the dance was a re-writing of the character Eurydice.  The article was a re-telling of that tale.  Winning was one thing but the feeback from the judges was something else entirely.  They all encouraged me to take a couple of years to develop my emerging writing voice and to embark on more creative pieces.  I have followed their advice but struggled to write every day.  Then I came across the work of Julia Cameron and 'Morning Pages'.  You need to click on the link to see what that is all about but the work I did with that project got me writing daily again.  The blog is really an extension of that.

What next?
I could never have imagined that this little blog about my little life with get up and walk about all by itself.  It has done just that and in doing so managed to crack open some interesting doors and now I am writing more than ever.  I have commissions to write pieces for orgnaisations and individuals and I am also researching a couple of articles to pitch to wider publishers.  In the last couple of years I have entered a few more competitions and been placed in most of them but I don't have time for them now. 

If the question relates to the blog the answer is I am not sure.  There are themes emerging that I might develop into chapters for a book.  I also want to write my first ebook called 'Postcards from Arran' which introduces readers to the people and places that make Arran so special.  I have been promising a book devoted to home schooling for years and I hope to complete that by the end of 2014.

Are you writing a novel?
Yes, first chapter written and chapters all planned.  I love it but I am biased.  It is a tale for a modern world and I think it has a place.  The problem is that writing it is proving impossible.  I need to really focus on that type of writing and my family life doesn't allow for that at the moment.  I need to find somewhere to retreat to and get on with it. 

Will this blog finish on 31st December?
Not sure.....is supposed to but it rarely does what it is told.

I hope that I have answered the most common questions.  I do love to hear from readers as it gives the blog a dialogue and that is one of the main reasons for starting this challenge.  I now have open dialogues with so many more people and that is just wonderful.  Last night we crashed through 5000 page views and my review of Angela Elliott Walker's art had over 200 page views alone.  I am thrilled about that because work like that ought to be out there. 

I don't really consider this blog as belonging to me anymore and I am not sure it ever did.  It has taken occupation of a space in the virtual world and who knows where it will go next.  Bless it!

Until tomorrow xx

Day 88 - Limitless talent.

Friday 29th March

The sun is shining on the island as we all start the process of being reconnected to the mains.  We lost power again this morning and the common theory is that we all put the kettle on at the same time!  Tis quite possible.

While we wait for life on Arran to return to normal I am taking you on a short but much loved journey.  The journey is led by a local artist.  We have many wonderful artists on Arran who are fortunate to have the island as a constant source of inspiration.  I like nothing better than a wonder round a local exhibition to marvel at the standard of work.  However, for me there is one artist that shines the brightest of them all.  Her name is Angela Elliott Walker.

Her work is inspired by the island and she has created an 'Impressions Collection' and, more recently, a 'Mixed Media Collection.'  I think I have seen most of her work over the past few years as much of it is displayed in the Arran Art Gallery in Whiting Bay. 

Corrie captured my heart many moons ago and it remains my favourite part of the island.  The village hugs the shoreline as it weaves its way around the twists and turns that make it so distinctive. There is something incredibly 'organic' about the way the village has developed over time but it is the little fisherman cottages in the centre that draw your eye.  The replica viking ship in the tiny harbour becomes a 'stop and stare' moment as you breathe in the clean air that is so distinctive at this part of the island.  Corrie makes me stop everytime I plan to pass through.  There is a gentle calling from the place that I simply can't ignore.  Angela captures this completely in her impression painting of the village. 

Spot the viking ship at the bottom of the picture!  I have a print of this in my sitting room and I glance at it several times a day.  That is the point of art for me.  It is vital that you can make a connection and my connection with Angela's 'Impressions Collection' is always instant.  I get it instantly and it is as if all the details speak to me in a single second.  And then I have the joy of revisiting all those tiny details over and over again.  Angela captures the essence of a place and speaks it back to us and we are truly fortunate that she can translate that to the wider world beyond the island. 

More recently Angela has ventured into mixed media art and this is an obsession of mine.  For me mixed media work speaks in many languages and it takes time to understand the piece as a whole.  I do like a challenge.  I have been known to become rooted to the spot in the Douglas hotel where they have hung the mixed media piece of their wonderful building.  I have seen the piece 100 times or more but no matter.  To my complete joy Angela tackled Corrie through mixed media and the result is a piece of art that needs time to digest and engage with and there lies its talent. 

This interpretation of Corrie places the buildings in their natural context.  Mountains behind and see infront, the buildings offer a safe haven from which to view the world.  This piece leaves me with the impression that someone is watching me from one of those windows and they know so much more than I do about the enchantment that is 'Corrie'.  I could never live in Corrie as I would never get anything done.  It captivates me more than any other place I have ever visited. 

The combination of the two styles in art help define what is unique about the Isle of Arran.  The seemless organic 'Impression Collection' captures the essence of what makes it such a beautiful place.  The far more complex and challenging 'Mixed Media Collection' offers a variety of signposts for us to follow and interpret at our leisure.

As the island begins to return to normal after a very testing time I, once more, celebrate the conversations I have on a very regular basis with the work of Angela Elliott Walker.  We are blessed that she chose to live on Arran and translate our wonderful island beyond our shores. 

Many of you will be embarking on an Easter break now whereas my work schedule has taken a real hammering and I am now chasing deadlines.  Luckily I am good at chasing deadlines and I am fully right side up now and able to move at my normal pace.  Lots still to be done with my Friday.  Wishing you all a lovely Easter break.

Until tomorrow xx

Day 87 - missed opportunities - probably.

Thursday 28th March

I can't really believe that this is still going on but I have retreated to the Auchrannie once more to ensure I can post this blog.  I understand from facebook that the power is now back on the village so I look forward to returning to a warm house in a while.  Yesterday power was more off than on and that, in itself, is a challenge.  I have had a couple of emails from people saying they dream of living off grid and going back to basics.  It reminded me of a book I once read about a historian who had spent a year living back in the 18th century.  The book is called 'The Garden Cottage Diaries' and the historian was Fiona J. Houston.  It is a fascinating account of a challenging year spent in a century that dictated a completely different lifestyle.

Fiona writes well as she not only charts the way her time is spent but how it makes her feel.  She researched the project first and assumed the role of a teacher's wife to ensure that she lived a life she could adjust to.  That said, I am not sure anything could really prepare Fiona for the year that lay ahead.  The preparations were important as she set up a cottage to replicate how it would have been back in the 18th century.  You are struck by the authenticity of the project as every detail is considered with reference to records from the time.  I am quite sure that many people would pull the plug on the project at the research stage.  Fiona is made of strong stuff though and she began her year with her head in a good place. 

Chapter three is entitled 'The Business of Living' and I believe that is at the heart of the project.  You quickly realise that the business of living takes the entire day!  There lies the link with our experiences on Arran.  When things don't work with a flick of a switch the challenges begin to keep warm, cook food, create light and the rest.....

Fiona works with the light provided by Mother Nature to work her way through the chores of the day.  Nothing can begin until the stove is lit and that can be a slow and tiresome process.  Once lit she can put her oats onto cook for breakfast while she washes in cold water.  Once breakfast is out of the way the day moves up a gear as she tends to various animals and her ever dutiful vegetable patch.  You would think that this would only serve her in the summer months and you would be wrong.  The book is an introduction to how to grow food all year and, importantly, how to forage for wild food.

One of the early conclusions is that every resource is precious and there is simply no waste.  How different from the 21st century and how humbling.  It would be enough just to focus on feeding yourself in this year but Fiona entertains friends on several occasions and this really challenges her resources and she, once again, rises to the challenge.  Her planning skills become a central part of daily life as she can't afford to run out of things.  She gets some provisions from a village which is a lengthy walk away and she must do this regardless of the weather.  Fiona quickly learns how to use a single resource in more than one way and tease everything out to its absolute limits.  She struggles in the winter months with the short days and gets very frustrated trying to sew by candle light.  We have had candle light the past 6 evenings and have just about managed to play cards or board games but sewing would be a step too far for me. 

Fiona stays true to the project with only a couple of exceptions.  Her pet dog needs a walk everyday and her heavy skirts wouldn't dry out well enough to cope with this daily excursion so the jeans come on then.  You can allow for this because back in the 18th century dogs weren't pets so dog walking wasn't part of the day.  The other notable excpetion is when Fiona has a new grandchild and she wants to visit the new baby.  She feels that travelling in the 21st century in 18th century attire would be a bit too much for people to understand and so she 'visits' the 21st century for a few days. 

Fiona's year began on 1st January and ended on 31st December and you can see how testing December is for her through the words she writes.  She can see the end but can't quite touch it and I think this plays games with her mind and a bit of 'cheating' starts to break out.  As a reader you can't help but feel a bit disappointed with her at this stage.  That is, until you remind yourself that you wouldn't have lasted a week on this challenge.  So you cut her some slack and read onto the end. 

The book is a delight as it reconnects you with seasons and the wider natural world.  But it also offers an insight into the human mind as it makes a massive adjustment on so many levels.  The book is full of recipes, growing tips and practical projects that you can visit time and time again.  Had we had time to prepare for our loss of power I would like to think we would have coped better.  We are quite a self sufficient family for the 21st century but the sudden loss has put us into a bit of a spin.  I feel that we are just marking time until normality is restored and that is a shame.  We may have missed opportunities along the way.  We live in an instant world now where everything moves so fast and I can't help feeling we have taken a wrong turn in history at some point.  We have forgotten what really makes the world go around as we have replaced a key relationship with technology.  That key relationship is with Mother Nature.  Everything is too easy and over processed.  We 'grow our own' and we make our own candles but we could do so much more.  So I am revisiting Fiona's book to see what I can take from the 18th century and move into our lives now.  I can feel you all thinking 'here we go, she is off again!'  I did once threaten to have a go at the very challenge that Fiona set herself and I am constantly planning to set up in a Yurt on Hazelbank.  Right now my place is with my children as 'Mum' is still needed on a daily basis but watch out for that to change.  Yurt, hobbit house, boat.....anything is possible in Fionaland. 

Until tomorrow. xx

Day 86 - turning right side up for most.

Wednesday 27th March

I am blogging my little heart out here in a window of power!  Power was restored late last night via a generator and then went off again at lunchtime.  It was so lovely to wake up to the feel of the central heating being on.  That is until I almost passed out with heat stroke and had to take off my gloves and scarf and jumper!  I am so not complaining though because the guys up here have worked through awful conditions to restore as much power as possible.  One can't help feeling it is all a bit fragile as the ferry begins to bring over Easter visitors. 

It is a beautiful day on the island with lots of sunshine and the spring flowers all have their heads up again.  My little baby kitten Mimi has been to the vets today to get her sorted so no horrid boy cat can make her pregnant and she is curled up next to me in a drug induced state.  Lucky girl!  I am on less drugs than I was and that is always considered an achievement in my book. 

The island has a degree of normality about it but the drama is the talk of the Co-op as you might expect.  I always celebrate that, as a writer, I can work from anywhere.  Clearly that has not been the case and I realise just how much I need the Internet.  My virtual world is a part of each and every day so, in that context, I have felt a little isolated.  Everyone is using as little power as possible and the islanders are still pulling together well and keeping a good sense of humour.  I think I might take a few days to fully thaw out but apart from that all is well. 

This little episode in island living has served to remind us just how complicated life can be when you rely on ferries for just about everything.  With Easter approaching there hasn't been much space on the ferries for all the equipment needed to tackle this gigantic problem.  Somehow though they have coped and we have generators popping up everywhere.  It is a bit of fun to 'spot the generator' as you drive around the island.  All roads are now open except the Ross road which cuts across the south end.  Medical teams remain at full stretch in their attempts to help the sick through such a challenging time. 

I am always amazed by the fact that life just carries on despite the crisis.  I remember feeling like that after my lovely dad died.  We were in the supermarket a few hours after he died buying food to take back to the island.  I think we all hold onto what is normal.  The next few days will be a testing time for the islanders but I am sure the welcome will be warm to all our visitors.  The weather is due to improve after the weekend and that will lift everyone again.

I am left asking the question 'why have none of my children moaned?'  Not once have they complained and they all have colds now and George is proper poorly.  I am, of course, incredibly proud of them.  My 'normal' is to pick up my various projects and push onwards.  Since all the island schools are closed I didn't think it fair to continue with home school so we shall have a extra long holiday.  Molly is back revising for her exams and routines will fall back into place. 

My little cat is sleeping soundly now and appears to have forgiven for the visit to the vet this morning.  Things are turning right side up and so they should. 

Until tomorrow. xx
PS Joshua is out of hospital and on the mend.  Thank you to all who whispered messages.  xx

Day 85 - day 5 without power

Tuesday 26th March

Day 5 without power and back in the Auchrannie for a shower and a catch up with the world.  How are you all doing out there?  It is a strange feeling now as some of the island has power and life has a degree of normality about it.  For others the normality is still about trying to find ways to keep warm. It is the cold that is the challenge as the east wind continues to blow, although not as cold as it has been.  I understand that there is more snow forecast so the priority is to get small generators out to all the village locations today.  Our smallholding is right on the edge of the village so I am hoping it will reach that far.  My heart goes out to those living in more isolated properties as they have no sense of when they will get any power.

It will also be weeks until Arran is back on full mains power, such is the damage from the snow.  People are coping because they have to and on the whole adjustments are made to get through each and every day.  The large hotels on the island have just flung their doors open to people for hot showers and space to be in the warm.  We can charge our laptops and the like and connect with the outside world.  Helicopters continue to fly overhead and the generators pop up all over the place.  This is not a cheap way to provide power.

The children are all coping really well and I haven't heard one complaint as they just get on with it.  I have felt better but I promised myself a long time ago never to let my illness drag me down and so this time is no different.  There are people much worse off and I always know that.

I do wonder how the generators will cope with the influx of visitors for Easter.  I know the islanders will give a warm welcome and do everything they can to make the holiday experience a good one.  Places are open but they are just running on as low power as they can and I am sure visitors will understand that.

I am a bit out of touch with the news but I did pick up that a little girl was killed when her buggy was hit by a van.  My heart goes out to the family at this most tragic of times.  I am sending all the blessings I can muster.

I am overwhelmed by the sheer number of messages I have received from all of you.  Within an hour of posting yesterday my little blog had had over 250 page views and that, in itself, lifted me.  As soon as power is restored I will be back blogging with pics and news of all my projects.  Things are all a little on hold but I am sure I will turn right side up very soon.  I feel like you are all friends now and we are one big virtual family.  Perfect!

Take care of yourselves and I hope for better news tomorrow.  Xx

Day 84 - dash to blog

Monday 25th March

I am sitting in the Auchrannie as they have a generator so the whole island is here!  They have kindly allowed us all to shower as well.  Things could be much worse.  I understand some people have already been airlifted off with suffering from hyperthermia and that is a symptom of how bad it is.

We are promised some power via generators ASAP but it will be weeks until we are on mains power again.  Molly is studying next to me and we are making the necessary adjustments in order to continue our lives as normally as possible.  The house is freezing and sleeping is difficult.  My pain is pretty bad but I am choosing to ignore that for the time being.

There are various locations offering free hot food and we did have a lovely curry last night via the village hall in whiting bay.  I can't really get my head round how much snow has fallen on the western side but that is where the problem lies.  They can't get the equipment through at the moment. Whiting bay had no lying snow so it is like living in a bubble.

A major part of my life is virtual and my writing deadlines are becoming a problem but I have now got a place to recharge my iPad so I should be able to cope for the duration now.  I can see loads of messages on facebook so I am off to let everyone know we are all coping.  Importantly, we are all together and I am holding onto my lovely children very tightly.  Mainly cos they are warmer than me!

Until tomorrow xx

Day 83 - getting a bit serious now.

Sunday 24th march

The wind continues to blast us from the east and still we have no power.  I can hear helicopters overhead as teams of electricians are moved around the island.  We have teams all over the island attempting to restore power.  I won't pretend that it is not pretty grim. 

Molly arrived safely last night so all my family are in one place and I feel calmer.  We played cards together before going to bed early.  Hot food is available at various locations around the island but I can't really venture out now.  A lovely chap just bought me some fresh milk as the Co-op has a generator and can trade as best it can.  The ferries are managing to keep going.  The latest from the hydro board is it could be days yet.  The high winds are preventing the workers to where they need to be.  I understand that the mainland has power restored now so it is just Arran to go. 

I don't dwell on my health because that is about the worst thing I could do.  However, this cold is taking its toll on me and my movement is now badly restricted and I am cross.  Do I sound cross?  There are people much worse off than me but thankfully there is plenty of help around.  The people of Arran are made of strong stuff and I am sure the little island will turn right side up again soon.  There will be such a power surge from Arran when electricity is restored that we will probably trip the power to all of your homes! 

Of course, sometimes you have to be tested like this to appreciate what we have all at a flick of a switch.  It is far too easy to take it all for granted until it isn't there and lives began to unravel very quickly.  We really do live pampered lives. 

I am keeping moving therefore my blog posts are short.  I risk not being able to get up if I sit too long.  I am not sure how the hours pass but they do.  I am inventing things to do though.  We are all longing for a hot shower having all washed our hair in cold water.  Not something to be recommended.  Despite the ferry running I think we all feel a bit cut off.  I think if I could have prepared for this time I would have coped better.  I would have thought through some issues and planned things to be done that do not require electricity.  So now I am rather making it up as I go along. 

We shall see what tomorrow brings.  Xx

Day 82 - still blogging....no power.

Saturday 23rd march 

Staying true to my challenge I continue to blog despite not being able to publish.  This is our second full day without power and as such is has thrown up new problems.  I think most of us can cope for a day but the second day brings a real challenge.  It is extremely cold on the island and most of us have very little or no source of heat.  I have spent the day trying to keep myself and my children warm and we are now basically held up in one room by the fire.  Pete did some mad dashing around to buy more coal and gas canisters so we can keep warm and eat hot food.  Such items are now rationed on the island and rightly so.  

Generators have now been put in place at vital locations such as the old people's home in Brodick and the hospital has its own back up power source.  Whiting bay has become the centre of operations as we appear to have escaped the snow.  The village hall has been made a centre for hot meals and warmth and people are being taken there as required.  It is, of course, the elderly and the sick that will be suffering the most.  Make no mistake this is a crisis for a little island.  The ferry has managed to sail today so fresh supplies will now be reaching us.  I understand that one of the generators has gone to the Co-op so it can open but not before they were told to dump all their frozen food and most of their fresh food on health and safety grounds 

Molly is on her way home from university and we are hopeful for a 6pm sailing to bring her to us.  I will be pleased to have all my family in one place.  My mother and her partner are on a well timed holiday and will probably stay there until power is restored to the island.

I like to watch Harry at these times.  He is very well read in Bear Grylls and he can cope well in a crisis.  He knows exactly what to eat to keep his body working well and he just gets on with it.  You won't hear him moaning because he likes to pitch himself against the elements.  He is a very impressive young man.  George and Max are finding plenty to things to do and keeping themselves busy.  I need to keep moving as I have a chronic illness that is challenged by the cold.  I can, however, feel the situation worsening but I am saying nothing.  My family are watching me closely and I just need to keep moving and I will be fine. 

We played cards today which is something we all enjoy.  We are quite a competitive family so it always causes us to giggle and we never take our ourselves too seriously.  Pete has been working at the village shop keeping everyone stocked up as best he can.  Information moves around the island quite quickly and everyone seems to be checking on neighbours and the like.

The most striking thing is just how much the island relies on electricity.  With no mains as we are at the mercy of electricity and there lies the problem.  There is petrol in the pumps but no electricity to work the pumps so we are effectively out of petrol.  As a tourist destination we have early visitors on the island who will not be having the best of times.  Hotels and guest houses will be doing their best but that must be a bit grim for all concerned.  Schools will have to stay shut and the hospital and the doctors must be at full stretch.  People could get off the island today so perhaps some have in order to stay with friends and relatives until this crisis has past. 

We have our own dairy, butcher and bakery but none will be operating without power so we are now in need of regular supplies from the mainland.  The ferry will be under pressure because the swell is so high and getting in and out of Ardrossan harbour is not easy in such conditions.  What I am sure is that everyone will be doing their best under such circumstances.  The problem is the longer this situation goes on the more acute it becomes.  Communication is vital and each village has an emergency centre to give out information and that seems to be working well.  We are used to power cuts on the island but rarely does the whole island go out at the same time and never for this length of time.  Latest updates say Wednesday but possibly as late as Friday which will make it 7 days without power in a time of really bad weather.  If that becomes a reality I fear we shall see some tragic casualties from this power cut.  I hope I am wrong on that point.   

When I publish these blogs I am not going to edit them because I know more at the point of publication than I did when I wrote them.  That way readers can see what this time has been like in 'real time'.  I fear my entries will get shorter as my hands resist working but I will do my best to convey what is happening in this challenging time. 

Until tomorrow. Xx

Day 81 - Power off....bit isolated.

Friday 22^nd March

 

 

There are days when the challenges of island living confront you head on.  Today has been one of those days.  We are being completely battered by icy winds that I understand have deposited large amounts of snow every where except our village! I am quite convinced that one day I will wake up and the entire island will be covered in snow with the exception of our little smallholding.  The universe does obviously not want me to sledge this year and who I am to question the universe.  

We have had no power since about 7am and I believe that is also the case for the whole island.  We are fine.  We have an open fire, extra clothes, lots of blankets and a gas camping stove.  I do worry about people who are not fine though.  It is so very cold at the moment and this is not a good time to lose power.  I suspect the ferry is tied up sheltering from the worst of it and all in all it is a little bit of a bleak picture.  Except I don’t really do bleak.  This day has coincided with me being a bit poorly so my options are easily understood.  Get by the fire, stay there and wrap yourself up in a blanket.  I have achieved that well today. 

This option was greatly enhanced by the post that managed to get through this morning.  Two books arrived but only one was expected.  I was expecting the book written by Tania Sullivan from Larger Family Life as I had ordered it a few days ago.  But the second book was a truly wonderful surprise.  A very old friend from back in my school days, Lisa, had sent me a book to teach me how to crochet.  I had put a HELP message onto Facebook recently as I really need to learn and fast.  Lisa put a note on it saying she saw the book and thought of me.  How incredibly kind and I was so touched.  I know she reads this blog so here is my chance to say ‘thank you so much Lisa’.  I will enjoy tackling a new craft and then having the opportunity to put it to good use.  The projects in the book look fun as well. 

 So in front of the fire I began to look at Tania’s book thinking I would have a quick look now and it would become my bedtime reading for the next week or so.  This plan didn’t really come together because I simply could not put the book down.  I had to force myself to make a cup of tea and grab my two dunking biscuits before picking up the book again to continue to the end.  I have spoken about Tania and her wonderful family on previous posts as we were introduced to them all on a channel 4 series called ‘16 and Counting.’  This programme was dedicated to larger families and Tania’s family was featured.  I contacted Tania after the programme via her website Larger Family Life and we have been chatting ever since.  It would be appear that we have a great deal in common especially as we both home school.  I have written a guest blog for her site and wanted to read her book to find some answers to some questions I had. 

The book ‘Larger Family Life’ would not just appeal to people with or wanting large families.  I believe the book would be of interest to anyone who is disillusioned with mainstream living in western countries.  For those of you looking for alternatives this is the book for you.  What I think works about this book is you can take from it what you want.  You can adopt some of the ideas and make small changes or you can take the whole thing as a sort of blueprint for stepping out of mainstream society.  For me it is about learning new ways of approaching issues that arise in everyday life.  Tania now has 12 children and we only have 4 but I don’t think that is relevant. 

There are a couple of real points of synergy between Tania and I as parents.  We both believe that family life is about making wonderful memories.  It is a phrase I use all the time and Tania includes the same sentiment in her book.  We also both believe that families are small communities and, as such, need to find ways of living that are supportive, thoughtful and loving.  Tania breaks this down in her book through two ways.  She talks about the practical things she does in order to encourage these sorts of values and she also talks about her religious faith.  I am not a Christian but I did enjoy the chapter where Tania quotes from the Bible and then tells us her interpretations of these teachings.  It provided me with moments of reflection and that can only ever be a good thing.  I am a Buddhist and there are a lot of parallels to be drawn with these teachings and I think that what is important here is that we both have a strong faith.  We both turn to that faith to help guide us through our parenting roles in life but I think even if you are not religious you will take something from the references to values.   

Tania tackles the issue of home schooling well and gives lots of good advice.  Her reasons for home schooling are very similar to mine but we go about the task slightly differently.  Tania and her husband, Mike, chose to follow a Christian curriculum which is structured around workbooks.  This work is usually finished by lunchtime leaving the children plenty of time to engage in other activities of their own choosing.  We chose not to follow a curriculum although we do keep our eye on the National Curriculum in England and Wales just as a guide.  Our approach to home school is more organic but that is in tune with living on a smallholding.  We use the smallholding as a resource for our learning.  We are also very project focused and integrate different subjects within one project.  Our Spring journal work is a classic example of a project that involves almost every subject on the school curriculum.  Beyond that we are very responsive to what is going on in the world at the time.  If we pick up something interesting on the news we may pursue that for a while.  One of my personal ambitions for my children is that emerge into adulthood in tune with the world in which they live and more able to make a real and worthy contribution.  Responding to contemporary issues is thus a very strong thread through our home school ethos. 

Where Tania and I agree, without reservation, is our joint ambition that the children should love learning and if we manage that with our 16 children between us we will both be thrilled.  We are planning to bring the two families together later in the year as we have invited the Sullivans to Arran.  It will be a fascinating time for both families and I am sure we will learn a great deal from each other.   

It is important to say that Tania and Mike have not had it easy as they have lost many babies along the way and that makes for difficult reading.  But, in true Tania style, she makes sense of these tragic experiences and moves forward.  The book is bursting with positivity and you can’t help but break out into a smile at regular intervals.  For all parents it is a useful book to refer to over and over again.  It has been a bit of a week for books this week and perhaps the return of winter has created the perfect excuse to read in front of a warm fire.  I have enjoyed my day despite feeling a bit poorly and that is entirely down to Tania and Lisa.  Thank you my lovely girls. 

The boys are all in their rooms under blankets reading and no doubt waiting for the power to return.  I want to end by asking a tiny favour.  I know a boy called Joshua who is only very young.  He is currently very poorly and I think a little afraid.  If you could all just whisper ‘Get well soon Joshua’ I am quite sure he will hear you.  Thank you so much.  Off to learn how to crochet….

 

Until tomorrow. xx

Day 80 - rolling in the deep

Thursday 21st March

No reason for beginning with the Adele song except for the rolling waves that are currently making their presence felt on our island shores.  Normally I would be enjoying their presence but not today, or tomorrow and especially not the next day.  On Saturday my beloved Molly is going to be attempting to get home and I have my doubts whether she will manage it.  This is the one down side of living on Arran for me.  It will mean a hotel for the night and another attempt the next day.  Such is island living.  Molly will cope as she always does. 

The rolling waves are a useful metaphor for the shape of my year so far.  At the start of the year I didn't plan any of the projects that I am currently engaged in.  I think I am making the most of being a 'woman of a certain age' and learning to roll with the tide of my life and the opportunities that are presenting themselves to me.  I quite like it actually.  I have been a planner all my life so this period is a real change for me and I might even prefer it.  If I am totally honest I am not sure I have much ambition left in me.  At one time I was incredibly ambitious but I think I achieved most of those goals anyway.  Now, I am happier to wait and see what comes along and deal with whatever it is only if I want to.  It is, of course, the joy of being freelance and I do know how lucky I am. 

Today was a day to focus on the children and home school in particular.  Harry and I pushed on with his studies in sports nutrition.  He finds it amusing when I glaze over as I struggle with some of the new information.  By contrast, Harry moved through the module with ease and now only has one section to go before another assignment is complete.  To say he has an impressive amount of knowledge in this area might be a slight understatement.  But we move on to body systems next and I fully expect to assert my superior knowledge once more.  I could be a little optimistic there because the few things Harry has said make me think he knows more than he is currently letting on.  This gentle competition between us makes the sessions a real joy and the learning process so much easier. 

Max, George and I then began our new studies on Zambia.  The boys are at the heart of the fundraising project for the Butterfly Tree charity that is based in Zambia.  Integrating it into home school is what we do in our family.  I am never actually sure where school starts and finishes and I think that is perhaps the way it should be.  Our studies taught us about the essential facts about Zambia and then we looked back into its history.  A nation is only ever the result of its history which is a perspective that we in the UK understand.  How many references are there to world war 2 and rightly so.  To understand modern Zambia we needed an understanding of the journey it had been on.  When looking into colonial history it is not always comfortable reading and today was an example of that.  Over the years I have tried to encourage the children to view other countries as if they lived there and experienced what those people experience.  We can be a bit too UK centred in this country and the danger is that we measure everything through a rather distorted view finder.  Debates quickly revolved around the role of western countries in the development of Zambia and its battle to achieve a more democratic society. 

Of course, we had recently studied the development of the African Union so our view of Zambia's more recent history was considered with some optimisim for the future.  That said, the problems faced by the people of Zambia are huge.  I think, in our family, we see these as our problems.  Children should not be starving in the modern world and illnesses should not have such hold on whole communities.  We want to do our little bit to help and this has led to the fundraising project for the Butterfly Tree.  So we have made a start with our Zambia studies and we can see there is a lot of ground to cover.  The joy of home school is thaat we do not have artificial deadlines to meet and the pressure that comes with it.  One of the reasons we decided to home school was due to the high levels of assessment in the education system in this country.  The problem with an assessment led learning strategy is that you are always chasing that assessment rather than focusing on the quality of the learning experience.  I wanted my children to fall in love with learning.  That did not mean they should all become academics; far from it.  Molly is a true academic but Harry learns new knowlege through practice first and then attaches the theory.  Both styles of learning are equally valid.  We shall study Zambia until we are happy we understand the people and the place in which they live.  Our understanding can be applied to our fundraising campaign and should serve to make our intentions more important. 

I am saying this very quietly.....I think I might have found a venue to our final event in our campaign - the butterfly supper.  I am not saying anything more until I am sure!

I am ending on a bit of a home school 'wow' moment as I show you what Max made yesterday.  From plan to completed construction in an hour.  I wanted a small raised bed for a new herb collection and the rest was over to Max.  What an amazing young man he is and we really couldn't do half of what we do on the smallholding without him.  Well done Max and well done home school.

Until tomorrow. xx

Day 79 - Quite suddenly, it is all so clear.

Wednesday 20^th March

As the cold weather takes a real hold on our little island I hide away in my studio to look through a book that arrived in the post this morning from Fiona Frank,  The book is entitled ‘Hannah Frank A Glasgow Artist, Drawings and Sculptures.’  It is a second edition and published by the Jewish Archive Centre in Glasgow. 

 

 

Within minutes of opening the front cover I suspected something strange was about to happen.  The introductions are useful in providing background information and something of the inspiration that led to Hannah’s work.  You quickly retrieve the message that this book is part of an ambition to open up Hannah’s work to wider audiences.  All that seems fine but it is as you start to turn the pages to reveal Hannah’s drawings that the strangeness begins to take hold.  At first I think it is the eyes that are beginning to talk to me and I can cope with that because eyes are windows to our souls.  The eyes are indeed an important and captivating part of each drawing.  Quite suddenly it dawns on me that it is what the eyes are not saying that is where the magic starts.  I understand that the eyes are not weaving the story at all as they do not reveal the intent behind the piece.  It is, in fact, the gestures that are story telling in quite enchanting ways.  I see the gesture in the picture as a pause in a tale that is being woven and in that seeing I can understand what went before and, more importantly, what is still to come.  Hannah is sharing a moment trapped in time and space and canvas but she does want us to understand the small tales she weaves.  In that moment I understand why I was so attracted to the work of Hannah Frank the second my eyes fell on it.  I had thought that it was the obvious movement I can see in the drawings using my background in dance as my reference.  But I now understand that it is much more than that. 

I have seen reviews of Hannah’s work that talk about the lines, the simplicity and the flow intrinsically locked into her drawings.  I agree with all that but for me there is something far more magical about her work.  We know that Hannah liked folklore, fairies and poetry and the links are there for all to see.  What I see beyond that is an incredibly clever intention to give each drawing its own tale with a beginning before what we see and an end beyond it.  Hannah has paused each tale as a moment but I believe she is asking us to delve into the work and consider the story of each drawing as a whole. 

When you start to see the tales emerging it is in the contrast between the two main types of images where my fascination really lies.  Drawings such as ‘Garden’ pause in a tale that speaks of sisterhood and femininity and their relationship with Mother Nature.  By contrast, ‘Night Forms’ draws you inwards away from Mother Nature’s beauty and into a dark and intense place that focuses on the unresolved.  The contrast is genius and it is what makes the collection as a whole speak so freely and with such captivating spirit.

I never met Hannah Frank and that is a great sadness to me.  I would have liked to have pitched my interpretations to her to see if there was any common language we could speak.  Maybe it is because I am a woman I see what I see or maybe it is the dancer in me.  I am unsure on both counts.  What I am sure of is that this book is compelling and capable of reaching beyond the pages and into our minds.  From there it is for us to see where that journey takes us.  Interesting then that one of the clear motifs in Hannah’s drawings is a reaching gesture.  It is entirely possible that Hannah was ensuring that her work could, indeed reach new audiences beyond her lifetime.  I am not sure whether she realised just how far that ‘reach’ could penetrate.  Then again, perhaps she did.

You might wonder what this has got to do with being a ‘Scottish island Mum’ and you would be right to wonder!  My only defence is that since moving to Arran countless new opportunities have opened up to me and I think that is because, from my little island, I have a new and refreshed perspective on my life and the world in which I live.  I think Arran has done that for a lot of people.  A few posts ago I told you that my top two books were ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ and ‘Slow Time’.  Would it be possible to add a third….please?  If so, can I add Hannah Frank’s book to that list?  Might I also suggest that many of you would find this book something to treasure for the rest of your lives.  I must tear myself away from the drawings and move into the section on her sculptures.  Before I do though there is something in the tale woven into the drawing on page 80 entitled ‘The Seeker’.  It is not what she is seeking that fascinates me it is where she has come from originally.  Take a look and let me know what you think. 

Hannah Frank, A Glasgow Artist is available online from the Hannah Frank organisation. 

Until tomorrow xx

 

 

 

 

Day 78 - taking flight & bee kingdoms

Tuesday 19^th March

 My first full day in my new studio.  An interesting experience.  Firstly I got my designs for my first set of new silks completed in a morning and this would normally take me most of a week to complete.  Secondly, and more interesting, I nearly took off.  Very gusty gusts battered my little wooden haven and I really thought I was going air born.  I was quite excited by this prospect but content to keep my little place intact.  Despite it not being fully completed I wanted to use the whole day just to see how much work would be possible.  I don’t think I am always fully aware of how many interruptions there are in the house.  I am not a natural artist or writer.  Things come quite slowly to me but I found that the studio has helped me to focus and in doing so allowed for more creativity.  Needless to say I am pleased. 

Half way through the day I had my first visitor and a friend and fellow craft worker came to my studio for a cup of tea.  Some places have magic woven into their very fibres and this little studio is one of those spaces.  It was a lovely visit and I am looking forward to welcoming more people in the next few weeks. 

Pete emerged from home school just after lunch and as I write the brambles are almost gone and a view to the sea is emerging.  We have unearthed a huge pile of soil that can be used for our raised beds in the cutting garden and there are some trees to prune.  I have always loved Hazelbank and to see it moving on every year is always a joy.  Harry has been out tackling the overgrown shrubs in the front garden and we shall need to decide what to do with that space.  I can see pathways in my head to I think that is where I will start.  Instead of starting with the beds I am going to pick up the natural flow of the space and reflect it in a series of pathways that meet at different places.  These almost accidental meetings will create pauses in the whole structure and so a garden will evolve.  That is the plan anyway.  We shall see.   

Let us talk Borage.  We all need to grow Borage because it is an absolute favourite in bee land.  They adore the flowers and they will even share them with you if you ask them nicely.  You just harvest the flower head and place in ice cubes filled with water and freeze.  You then just need to add your Pimms to it and you are away.  You can sow Borage direct and it will pretty much grow everywhere.  I do that in my cutting garden but I also grow it in pots to sell.  The flower head of Borage always make me think how important it is to be humble.  It drops its little head but when you lift it you can instantly see how beautiful the flower is.  It is a real asset to any garden and an absolute’ must have’ for the bees.  I have written before about how important bees are and I currently have my fingers crossed for a new bee hive on Hazelbank.  Pete is off to a meeting in a few days to find out all about what is involved.  We have been hoping to plant a small orchard for some years and the introduction of bees will be just the nudge we need.  They will also be excellent for my cut flowers and wild flower meadow.  Bees are such fantastic workers and we all owe them a huge debt of gratitude.  Many of you will know that we are currently in the middle of a bee crisis and so anything we can do on Hazelbank will be very worthwhile.   

I am not a big honey eater but the rest of the family are and it will be so lovely to have our own.  The by-product of bees wax will be very useful in our candle making.  It is not an easy wax to work with but I spent a long winter a few years back perfecting the technique.  I only use wax made from natural sources in my candle making and I sell a lot to therapists.  This group of practitioners are beginning to wise up to the fact that most candles are made using paraffin wax and so when they are burning their candles in a therapeutic session they are actually burning paraffin into the atmosphere.  The artificial fragrances and colours are not much better and we avoid those as well.  We only use essential oils and we never add colour to our wax.  The soy wax that we use has a much lower boiling point than paraffin so it a safer candle to make.  Importantly, soy wax burns much slower than paraffin wax so your candle lasts for longer.  We make a lot of container candles and because our ingredients are all natural it is perfectly safe to wash the container with hot soapy water once the candle has finished.  That way, you can reuse the container. 

Beeswax candles smell of honey when you burn them and they too last much longer than paraffin candles.  We also use soy wax to make candle melts which can be used in place of water and oil in your oil burner.  I use these on my courses to fragrance the room before my guests arrive and people always comment about how lovely the smell is.  By using essential oils to fragrance I am also drawing on aromatherapy to create just the right atmosphere.  In spring I use lemon verbena candle melts as they smell so fresh and clean.  In the summer I am often found burning lavender or rose geranium melts and in the winter it is our own very secret recipe for Christmas melts.  The mood is thus easily created before the course even gets underway.  After a few burns the candle melt will lose its fragrance but the wax will become solid when it cools.  You can then recycle thee wax to make new melts.  This sort of completes the circle.   

Despite the howling freezing wind I have had the most wonderful of days.  My little studio is my new best friend and my ipad will have to get in line behind it now.  My little kitten goes to the vets next week to be neutered.  After which she will be allowed outside.  I already have a little bed made up for her in my studio so perhaps she remains my best friend after all.  She has a way of grabbing all the attention going and I wouldn’t want her any other way.   

Until tomorrow. xx

Day 77- A beloved heater and the sound of popping.

Monday 18th March

What an exciting and productive start to the week.  The wind would cut you in two on the island today and my few ventures out have been world record dashes before retreating back to the house.  However, it is all going to change.  I have a heater in my studio and the base of my day/meditation bed.  Granted, it is not one of those lovely romantic woodburners but it is a lovely heater and it will make a huge difference to my life.  I am already grateful to it.  I am having a gathering day when I move everything I need into the studio in order to immerse myself in the tasks required before the official opening at the end of April.  It would be fair to say that I am popping,

The main focus of the day, however, was to help Harry fill out a job application for a part time job locally.  As you might expect this filled him with joy and the experience was a little like pulling teeth.  That said, with gentle nudges from his mum, the deed was completed quite quickly and painlessly.  An important step for Harry as he begins to tackle the adult world and I can feel you all crossing your fingers for him so I won't ask. 

Max and George were engaged in another task for their spring journals.  From the start of this project we wanted to create a nature table.  We last did this quite a few years ago and we do miss having signs of the season in the house.  A nature table is capable of generating such interesting and creative learning.  I have impressed on the children the importance of good observational skills and this is where we start with the nature table.  Once the boys had toured the smallholding looking for some interesting spring specimens the nature table was constructed and viewing began.  The task appeared quite simple -

Choose 3 things from the table.  Imagine you have to describe what they are to a Martion.  Using your five senses as a guide, write a short description of each. 

This turned out to be more difficult than the boys thought it would be.  Translating using words as your tool is never as easy as we think it is going to be.  It is, however, a very good skill and the boys were completely focused on the task and the results were excellent.  George is especially good with adjectives and that is because he is huge reader.  Max is less keen on reading but his talent lies in his drawing skills and they came in useful next.  Having written their quite complex descriptions they then turned to a fresh page to produce labelled drawings of their subject matter.  They are both good at botanical drawing but Max does something with his efforts.  He instinctively puts a creative spin on them so they are never an exact copy of what he can see.  George's drawings are as a direct a copy as you could ever hope to see.

It is these subtle differences that you can pick up on when you home school.  Max is learning how to abstract while George is learning how to record accurately.  Both skills are highly relevant in our modern world and equally valued by us.  The children notice things about each other as well and  it is always a joy to listen to one of them telling me about their brother or sister.  They seem to know so much and that has help bind them into genuinely close and supportive relationsnhips.  In essence, they look out for each other and that is an enormous gift that I think they fully understand. 

After such a rewarding session we wanted to do something towards the Butterfly Tree charity project.  We try and do something most days because it is the only way to keep on track and realise our fundraising aspirations.  The project as a whole got a huge boost this morning when the editor of a local publication Voice for Arran agreed to feature the project.  I will be writing an introductory article to be published on 1st May after the opening but just as the project takes flight.  I then hope to keep readers updated with progress and, importantly, advertise the Butterfly Supper.  Before I start my begging phase if you know of a suitable venue to hold a charity supper event in September do let me know.  The thinking at the moment is for a set menu of buffet to offer guaranteed income for the venue and then the ticket will also include an additional £5.00.  Guests will get a beautifully decorated venue, entertainment and a goodie bag for that additional money.  Children in Zambia will get a mosquito net - a good exchange.......  We will also hold a grand raffle and I am saving my very best begging efforts for that aspect because I really do want jaw dropping prizes.  I never win anything on raffles so you can all rest easy. 

The boys have also moved the project on.  Mark and Russell from Coast gave me some vintage cups that have lost their saucers somewhere in their life journey.  Before you all shed a tear for the saucerless cups they have been given a new purpose as part of the Butterfly Tree project. 

They are going from this.....

To this (with a bit more decoration).......

 

We are hoping to persuade as many people as we have cups to take one and fill with loose change.  The boys added up how many 2p coins it could take and this would raise £2.76.  I have about 20 or so cups.  If all 20 people filled up their cups 6 times over the course of the project that would be over £300!!  I think that equals easy fundraising.  We plan to decorate the cups with ribbons and butterflies before handing them out at the studio opening.  Please form an orderly queue.  You get to keep the cup as a happy reminder of a very good deed. 

Speaking of good deeds I have completed my 37 gifts of kindness challenge.  How pleased am I?  I set this challenge up in response to getting to 2000 page views on this blog as it was my way of saying thank you for all the support.  I have managed to offer a gift of kindness every day since.  More importantly than that, I have figured out how to convert a kind thought into a deed and build this process into my daily life.  I am leaving the page up for a while in the hope that new people might stumble across it.  All 37 gifts of kindness are recorded on that page. 

I will be making a new page for the Butterfly Tree charity project soon so that we can all keep up to date with progress.  The project will be launched at the opening of my new, heated studio.  I am sending invitations out but if you read this blog you are SO invited!  Saturday 27th April 2-5.00pm.  Tea and lots of cake, truly fabulous raffle, butterflies for sale as well as a selection of locally made wonderful crafts.  The lovely Lynn will be conducting the formal bit around 2.15ish but come when you can.  It would be lovely to see as many of you as possible. 

Until tomorrow. xx