mindful

I was recently lucky enough to come across a free session locally which introduced the practice of mindfulness. After an afternoon of sitting a circle with 12 strangers, and at one point lying on the floor trying not to laugh at the lady snoring next to me, I found that the session left me "feeling like I'd had a facial without anyone touching me" (as I felt compelled to tell the room full of strangers).
I was also determined to pay more attention and 'be in the moment' whenever possible. To avoid sailing through the day without remembering most of it, and to never have that scary thought 'how did I arrive at work? I don't remember even getting onto the motorway!' Ever again. I was also determined to use mindfulness to learn everything about the world around me and to become more creative.
So today I wanted to share a couple of the things I noticed whilst being mindful.
Thing 1, my windscreen wipers make a relaxing swoosh noise when it's mizzling.
Thing 2, (what a great name for a book character) if I open my office window when it rains the rain in the drain pipe sounds like a mountain stream.
Thing 3, if you read the scribble on bits of paper before you throw them straight in the dustbin you might find that your daughter can write her full name.
Thing 4, if you pay close attention to what you read, you will discover a deliberate mistake...

I'm back, and just wondering why was/is my blog so brown? Was it 1970 when I last wrote?!
Mental note made to change to something more appealing just as soon as I've gotten over the horror of forgetting my login details and trying for an hour to get back in.
You know how it is when you are up late alone and you remember someone from your past who sparks a chain of 'what ifs' ?
Strange how some quiet time brings memories flooding back, and that in that time of peace, and quiet, and memories, I chose to interrupt all of that and use social media to share...only because the dog was sleeping too soundly to listen of course.
I should really be getting off to sleep now, I have a long awaited delivery of a washing machine to look forward to tomorrow, and the annual debate of 'shall we see the illuminations this year or not?'
Just one more breath of fresh air I think, and a moment to listen to the wind in the trees and then it's off to dreamland...unfortunately not the one in Margate.

The day off

I won't make excuses for being a horrifically unregular blogger because the fact that today is my first no commitments day in 18 months should explain the problem ( I just made an excuse didn't I?!) I'm toying between writing a diary and getting back in touch with blogging, I can't find a pen today, so blogging it is! When I woke up this morning I was lost, I've forgotten what to do on a day to myself! After a walk with the dog I was so pleased to learn that birds do still sing and that if you are alone you can actually hear them! I'm only halfway through my day alone and already the creative juices are flowing, I've bought a new cross-stitch magazine, written a story which I intend to illustrate, been to the library and got a book to show me how to illustrate my story, a book to show me how to craft up my children's rooms and a 'knitting on fat needles' book. I've had four cups of tea and not washed any of them, and I'm going to drive somewhere later for no reason at all, other than because I just can. So here's a word of caution for the yummy mummy's noisying up the library this morning, please stop moaning about your children because if they weren't so noisy you would forget to listen, if they didn't make such a mess then you wouldn't appreciate your own ability to make a mess too, and don't worry, when you finally get a break from them, the original you will still be in there somewhere.

A bit of red lippy

Hi there, (again) just thought I'd stop by to try writing the kind of post that isn't earth shattering but will fill ten minutes, I'm guessing they're quicker to write and easier to read than my usual ones!

I just wanted to share some changes, and hopefully exciting news.
Im hoping to start a folksy shop, and I've sent off some pics to request a stall in regular vintage craft Market.
I've tinkered about with bits of string and buttons for too long, it's time to stop filling my drawers (ooer) with makes and see if anyone would pay good money for them.

It's early days, but I'm determined to push on, and to prove it, from now on, I will be mostly wearing red lipstick to look more professional and together than the usual mum of two, (who doesn't get to brush her hair until lunchtime normally.)

This is turning out to be another of those long ones, so I will leave you now with the lesson I've learnt today which is that when wearing red lipstick you should limit toddler kissing if you want to avoid them looking like they've murdered someone and then eaten them!

Moving Ohm

I'm back, with another story to tell (are you sitting comfortably?.. Good then I will begin)
When my mum died (stick with me, there's a happy ending) and I was clearing her belongings I found a small pendant with the Ohm symbol on it. Mum wasn't a spiritual person so I found this a little bit strange but kept hold of it because it intrigued me. Over the next few weeks I kept it with me, in a pocket, under a pillow, on the windowsill, until one day I realised I'd forgotten where it was, couldn't find it anywhere, and felt a little bit lost without it.
As weeks turned into years I found that it would reappear, under a bed, behind a cushion, in the washing machine, and everytime I found it again I'd have a minute of reflection and then carry on.
Last week I had a clear out, took most of the contents of my bedroom to the local charity shop. The following day whilst admiring my tidy jewellery box I remembered that I'd made a bracelet and put the Ohm on it, so I wouldn't keep forgetting where I'd left it. Yep, you've probably guessed already, I'd accidentally put the bracelet it the charity shop bag, it was gone. I felt sick, I panicked, I thought about going to buy it back. Then I thought perhaps that was meant to happen, someone will buy a bracelet of buttons, and beads, and ribbon, and will find the pendant nestling amongst them, they will be intrigued, they will have a moment of reflection and the story will continue for someone else.
No I won't tell you which charity shop it went to, that would be cheating!

I'm sure you've read enough now, but stick with me, there's a photo coming.

After this Ohm related event I've been thinking about other possessions that I have that might need to move on.
The cheering up jumper (see my previous posts) being one of them. So here goes, Its very poorly constructed, very bright, and one size fits all (unless you are slim in which case you will need a belt to avoid slipping right through the neck hole).
If you know of anyone who needs cheering up, and isn't allergic to yellow, then let me know, I will post the jumper on to you to give to them and hopefully they will do the same when their smiles have returned.
So here's your chance to be part of a story. No need to tell me their personal problems ( unless it will help) I trust your judgement on someone's need for a smile.
Ready, steady, let's go and spread some smiles.

Stage fright

Hello again,

has it really been months since I wrote....again?
Ah well at least this time I have a reasonable reason, Ive been getting twins. As you will guess when I tell you that they are two years old, I wasnt giving birth to them, but they have filled our home with dirty clothes, spillages,'bumps' and In the Night Garden as if they have always been here.

So now to the stage fright part.
I have been dabbling in knitting and sewing and generally making things for years, and now I actually have two little people to wear my creations, I can't make things anymore.

I really do have stage fright. I am embarrassed to add, my son is wearing a hat which someone bought for him that doesnt even fit him. My dreams of having the cutest little darlings dressed head to toe in handmade has turned into 50p mass produced gloves and ill fitting headwear.

I must add that this isnt because I dont get a minutes peace now they've arrived, they sleep really well and go to bed early, and if I was in my right mind I could spend that free time knitting, rather than mopping, but I seem to have developed a fear that they will see me knitting or sewing and be excited for the finished product only to then be disapointed when its so big they can't stand up in it or so small it gets stuck. You can't shout "peepo" if your head wont come out of the neck of your jumper!

So, the way I see it, I have two choices, either I join a knitting group that I recently found locally and sneak off when they are in bed to meet someones granny who will help me to get things right, or I give up and accept that 50p gloves and very clean floors will be my future....hmmmm....

Good news, sad news, sailor jerrys and a rasberry.

Well, what a week its been since I last made my pledge. A health scare, a riot, a dear friend losing a dear friend, topped off by a raspberry in my face and I'm drinking sailor Jerry's as I write.

So where are the hearts?
I started as I promised, one for each day, but as the days became filled with sadness and worry, the hearts stopped flowing. Knitting seemed so inappropriate, in the grand scale of things, hearts were the last thing I wanted to think about...
Now I think about it they should've been the first. What does a person need more than a heart when they are sad, a gift from a friend, a brightly coloured heart shaped comforter to snuggle up to, or throw at the person who's upset them. (that one would of course be filled with something heavier than the usual cushion fluff) and may be used as a suitable weapon against rioters.
  
So here they are, the ones that I did before I gave up, stay tuned for the ones I will do now I have re-alised their significance.

Id forgotten that knitting isn't just about two sticks and some wool and perhaps something nice at the end. Its about distraction, calm, creation and ultimately smiles.
I received a gift today from a very good friend, passed over from a relative of hers. It was a bag full of knitting needles, some wool and some projects half finished, waiting to be made and worn.
That brought it home to me, once you start, even if you stop, you can still bring joy to others,what could be more exciting than something already half way to being worn.

 I'm itching to get on with them, not stuck halfway through, in a jumpery sort of way a metaphor for life I think.