Sunday 24 March 2024

Sustainable Art Exhibition....


Sustainable Art Exhibition.... 

....over and out!

So my run in the gallery has drawn to a close. I have really enjoyed these past five weeks, working in such a creative space, meeting some wonderful people, and being welcomed into such a busy, friendly department. It's been nice to wear smarter clothes too, rather than a uniform! Sometimes it's the small things that can make a real difference to how you feel!


But what a difference a day makes!!! 
Worked my last day on Thursday, everything came down on Friday (day off for me!) and this is what I returned to on Saturday! I was in for a few hours to liaise with the artists collecting their work. This space is being used for a fashion show on Monday evening, a clothes swap shop on Tuesday, then I'll be back in here from mid-April for exam invigilation.



I have walked past this Forsythia bush on my way to work for the last 5 weeks and have enjoyed the expanse of yellow increasing, as the weeks have gone on. 


The blue sky was an added bonus too.


It has been lovely to see a little sunshine, although the wind is bitterly cold at the moment, 
to make good use of it. This however was at 6pm, a small win!


I did manage a walk around Compton Dundon village with my friend on Tuesday! 80% on road and the rest on very soggy, muddy ground!! It stayed dry and was warm enough to take our coats off mid walk, for the first time this year!


Spring is trying to 'spring'!!


I've been trying to have a spring clean and a de-clutter! 
Spent my day off on Friday, having a proper sort out! I bought some nice baskets from Lidl and a clothes rail from Argos and I'm on a mission to better use the space I have! The under eaves cupboards are great, but I tend to chuck stuff in, close the doors and walk away!! And now I can wear nice clothes to work again, rather than a uniform, I could do with a little extra hanging space. 


I still need to have a proper sort through my main wardrobe but I ran out of steam!! 


But so far, so good!


We were up early, as easyJet released their winter flights. So we're off to Madeira for 5 days in December, once Jeff breaks up. Martin Lewis gave everyone a heads-up and warned the price altered due to demand, so worth buying early! If we'd have waited until we got home from work, they'd have been £70 more expensive. So worth remembering!


Anyway I must get on and cook tea! I have the next 4 weeks off, so I want to get a lot of jobs done around the house. I had an Ikea delivery today. I'm reorganising my little corner of the kitchen. Was hoping to share it today but have hit a few annoying snags that need resolving!! Will have to try and be patient and wait for Jeff to break up! I really wanted to sort it all before the kids came home for Easter. Not sure that's going to happen unless I try and tackle it myself tomorrow!! For now everything that I had managed to hide away in the desk drawers is out on a table in the middle of the kitchen. Not a great look!! 

Sunday 17 March 2024

Spring is in the air!


I started the week off with 'Magnificent Magnolia Monday' ...
no need to go into detail, the photo says it all!

Anything to cheer myself up after the Chiropractor and the Dentist!


Tuesday and (more) rain stopped play, for Lynn and I and our walk!
Apparently this has been the wettest winter since records began!
And if I'm honest, I'm getting a little sick of it!
I took my neighbour to the cinema in the afternoon. She's going through a tough patch, so this film certainly gave her a couple of hours of light relief! So funny.


And then Tuesday it was back to work in the gallery. This has been our final full week. This week coming, we're only open Wednesday and Thursday. Everything comes down on Friday and I'll be in on Saturday for any artists collecting their work. 


I'll miss it!
I've really enjoyed the past four weeks.


Another piece I like x
Bits of plastic found on southwest beaches.


Friday Jeff and I had a rare night out! 
It's not often we go out in term time and on a work night! 


We went to Bristol, to see Jesus Christ Superstar......


.....with Julian Clary as Herod. 
I saw it in Oxford 25yrs ago, a staff outing! My memory's not great at the best of times, but it seemed very different to how I remembered it, this was much more contemporary. And I'd forgotten it was all sung, like Les Mis! Excellent show, glad we made the effort but not one I'd probably see again. 


I worked Saturday and came home to this beautiful bunch of tulips, from my mum & dad x 
Cornish Blooms is a fab family run business, always my 'go to' if sending flowers, so really lovely to receive them too x


And then today, I went over to Wells and met up with my sister for a catch up, breakfast, a bit of wander, more coffee, more chat.... She's had Ofsted this past week, and survived, remaining a 'Good' school, so my treat x


And so here we are again, Sunday evening, but work for me tomorrow. I've picked up a couple of exam invigilation sessions tomorrow and then have a training session, in preparation for the upcoming exam season. It's nice to do a variety of things, even nicer getting the whole of the Easter break off! I'm hoping we get some warm, sunshine. There's not been one day, when I've thought I'll sit outside and enjoy a coffee. There was a hint of warmth this afternoon but by the time I got home it was cloudy again. I'm hoping Italy will be dry and t-shirt weather in the daytime and then once we're back home, things will start to warm up here.

Sunday 10 March 2024

Mother's Day xx

Today is Mother's Day....


This is the first Mother's Day in seven years, that I've not had to work!!
More later....


...but first, let's just enjoy my bargain bunch of 65p daffodils!
Always a lover of an orange trumpet!!


So, Monday was hair day....colour and cut.


I get it cut every 4 weeks, coloured every 3rd visit.
This is a peachy/pink toner, washes out in a few washes, leaving it a bit blonder. I'm toying with getting a full head of colour done next time, as it grows out so quickly....we'll see!!


On Tuesday I had a lovely coffee and catch up with two of my former Sainsbury's colleagues. It was lovely to see them, hear all the gossip but boy am I glad I no longer work there. I then popped over to Wells in the afternoon to see 'All of us Strangers'. Our local cinema is great, it's just £5 for a ticket, with a free drink and a biscuit! I'm going again on Tuesday, taking a friend. If you don't use it, you lose it.....so I'm more than happy to support our local cinema, when I can.


Wednesday, it was back to work!
Finally some sunshine but boy, was it cold!!


Week three of my five week run hosting the Sustainable Art Exhibition.
I am really enjoying working is such an inspiring, creative environment. I've met some wonderful visitors, some of the exhibiting artists, local creatives, students.....even the odd visit from Mr Peabody!! It's certainly inspired me to get creative again!! And lovely to get not one, but two, shout outs on the staff notice board. Must be doing something right!!


One of my favourite pieces......

Diptych lV by Esme Clutterbuck
Made using Bideford Black and Devon clay pigments.

I was lucky enough to meet Esme, the artist, last week when she popped into the Gallery.
Those of you who have got to know me over the years, will know exactly what the attraction is.


Friday was International Women's Day.


I gave a shout out to my girl over on Instagram. 

"Couldn't be prouder of the fabulous young independent woman she has become. Always stayed true to her beliefs, a loyal friend, dependable, supportive, hard working, ambitious and I'm so lucky that she likes spending time with me."

I've been very lucky in life to be surrounded by good, kind, supportive women. Friendships, teachers, bosses, colleagues, family members. We should all continue to inspire, support and encourage each other x


And it was the perfect day to announce the next Exhibition....

Women in Abstraction

.....I shall look forward to hosting that in September.


Anyway, back to today and Mother's Day.
I had a wonderfully lazy morning. Phoned my mum to wish her a lovely day, popped out for a walk, came home for lunch and face-timed the kids! So lovely to have a catch up! Sadly Jeff's mum is no longer with us. It'll be 17 years this October. Still feels like yesterday. She's always in our thoughts, not just on Mother's Day xx


So, we're a third of the way through March. Honestly this month is whizzing by. I've a couple of appointments tomorrow, need to do a food shop, then, if dry, walking with Lynn on Tuesday. My cinema jolly in the afternoon, then back into work on Wednesday! Time is literally flying by!

Have a good week x

Sunday 3 March 2024

It's a Leap Year!!


Thursday was the 29th of February, making this a Leap Year!!! 


So Friday was the 1st of March, (pinch and a punch.....)
and the first day of meteorological Spring …..


.....and St David's Day!

With my two living in Wales, I feel I should mention it!!


It's not really felt like Spring, until today (Sunday)
On Tuesday I walked with Lynn. We walked over in her neck of the woods, as her village is quiet and we could walk the majority of it on the roads. Everywhere is sooooo wet and muddy.


It was good to get out and we managed to stay dry!


The neighbours Magnolia is ready to bloom. 
This is when you hope it doesn't get windy out!


Our little Magnolia is looking good too!


The rest of the week has been all about work.
We got our exam invigilation timetables emailed over and Jeff very kindly printed me off a copy. There is so much information on there and it's so hard to read off your phone! If you hadn't realised by now, I like to be organised! HA!


And I completed week two in the Gallery!


Even got a mention on the staff 'Shout Out' Board.
It's always nice to be recognised as doing a good job!


And I'm enjoying it.
 Had a real mix of people come and look around and a few of the Artists have popped in. Had a group of Quakers visit and had to give a little talk and then yesterday was Open Day, so super busy! And the Art Department staff have been really friendly and welcoming. 


And then today, (Sunday) my day off, it was a wonderful frosty, blue sky, sunshine filled day. It felt fabulous to have the day off! I had to pop into Sainsbury's as I had to do a food shop. Was lovely to see my old Sunday team but I was so happy to shop and go! I think because Jeff has the day off too, it feels like a bonus day! I don't mind working the Saturday, as Jeff works it too and I actually only have to work 10-15 Saturdays a year, so it's not a big deal, when I do! I dropped off a few leaflets for the Gallery at various places this morning, that I'd contacted in the week and then walked down into town in the afternoon, to pick up a couple of orders. A pair of sandals and a summer dress!


I'm getting organised. It might still be 17 weeks until we go to Greece but after Easter, I've eight busy weeks of exams, so if I see something I need, I'm getting it whilst I can! And it's only 5 weeks until we go to Italy, so I need to think that we may get some sunshine then too! And my sandals were £70 down to £30, so was a bargain!