tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70596341882204953862024-02-20T20:53:54.394+00:00canvas and paintsWelcome to canvas and paints, I hope you like what you find here. This is a step by step account of the paintings I do, from pencil outline to finished piece. I mainly paint video game images to comission, to contribute to raising funds for 2 charities, Oxfam and Child's Play.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger297125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-26738951722704056152018-10-18T13:21:00.003+01:002018-10-18T13:21:35.873+01:00More of Mercy done<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's a little more of Mercy painted:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzEzd4zGwHK4nFBbUlNARq_7omC0sGK7weAl8EsoZgAO_0GwrhXsUcN2anj70Cnb37IfkgzB8_fU9LkPR6S_2eJih89M_PenBeQr-EDMHqeS0og1mOtrNFdH_Y6TL9mQgpB8Dvrlvmqi6/s1600/01b766e2e0e104906ec89b558e191ad86819fccbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzEzd4zGwHK4nFBbUlNARq_7omC0sGK7weAl8EsoZgAO_0GwrhXsUcN2anj70Cnb37IfkgzB8_fU9LkPR6S_2eJih89M_PenBeQr-EDMHqeS0og1mOtrNFdH_Y6TL9mQgpB8Dvrlvmqi6/s640/01b766e2e0e104906ec89b558e191ad86819fccbbb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've finished the background, and am starting on her body:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsOfToTM8jmhXB9U1ST6wBc9YWI_xw3wo6jInCsFLVkZ8ZiNFLB1L6Ca5wFqr3PoRpeb9LsM4eLQh-x_ggLL6LQXQoDyMtA3X5gWcsZiOEyJdPwQS2MmE6WSehU5tliTX2p_51uLgLav3/s1600/018ecb7436d18c7698306c67ad4845694509c88d37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsOfToTM8jmhXB9U1ST6wBc9YWI_xw3wo6jInCsFLVkZ8ZiNFLB1L6Ca5wFqr3PoRpeb9LsM4eLQh-x_ggLL6LQXQoDyMtA3X5gWcsZiOEyJdPwQS2MmE6WSehU5tliTX2p_51uLgLav3/s640/018ecb7436d18c7698306c67ad4845694509c88d37.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-21012069795805475472018-10-18T13:18:00.002+01:002018-10-18T13:18:30.818+01:00Cakes!!!<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've also been making a few cakes; most of them are 12-14" square, apart from the obviously not ones!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It started with my BFF's eldest's wedding cake - I helped decorate that, then it just carried on:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_OWfvv2CQa39RyPxPrw5OqqZSmx7rJEQz_CAoN_Hpd0u5nkxiIzWi8Cj2sqDbsFXr0aWDtI56uXqLp4LgT2xKTBuzL5e0UgbPaQ60N4lKAWEP2dH3kkmG6aCCiPQB_8gH8-KW91y5SdJ/s1600/2013-05-28+20.52.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_OWfvv2CQa39RyPxPrw5OqqZSmx7rJEQz_CAoN_Hpd0u5nkxiIzWi8Cj2sqDbsFXr0aWDtI56uXqLp4LgT2xKTBuzL5e0UgbPaQ60N4lKAWEP2dH3kkmG6aCCiPQB_8gH8-KW91y5SdJ/s640/2013-05-28+20.52.50.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up, was my daughter's Hen Do, which was a festival themed party in our garden. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She had wanted a naked wedding cake, but her fiance didn't, so I made one for her hen do instead. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8fyz3OufYF4EalvqrBXdrt19tL8Wi_6OWXdg0aAW_M8dpTubvwCkZ54A0Qg_Ho2TZo-sx8qT2dN2KQ0tv66yWmfXieLZUMCAIlyz8O3vuqUI_G17njDjWcm91BTZNglc37xgCxWhn9D7/s1600/013f8daa5738d19aa62972bfe3470c5561a330ace1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="453" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8fyz3OufYF4EalvqrBXdrt19tL8Wi_6OWXdg0aAW_M8dpTubvwCkZ54A0Qg_Ho2TZo-sx8qT2dN2KQ0tv66yWmfXieLZUMCAIlyz8O3vuqUI_G17njDjWcm91BTZNglc37xgCxWhn9D7/s320/013f8daa5738d19aa62972bfe3470c5561a330ace1.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then I got carried away, and made a Pyramid Stage, Glastonbury Festival cake as well, with Beyonce on stage. I made 3 smaller gluten free and vegan cakes, as well:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhr-uGkRlPek32FTF2O1KFlK06wHNdvCvCUbVLwJITfu4esmlKp2WPenhT7njbESMRtAxkzmOnq6NxOwdCgplZGpuU0dzlIeAB24kXgjXHQLpUkSpJjsoKOQY-jPbI_NsbXV_1Ahh1EY8/s1600/01d1bde4dd74d13b935ac83c5a080c9e3af817f990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhr-uGkRlPek32FTF2O1KFlK06wHNdvCvCUbVLwJITfu4esmlKp2WPenhT7njbESMRtAxkzmOnq6NxOwdCgplZGpuU0dzlIeAB24kXgjXHQLpUkSpJjsoKOQY-jPbI_NsbXV_1Ahh1EY8/s640/01d1bde4dd74d13b935ac83c5a080c9e3af817f990.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then I made a TARDIS birthday cake, because, let's face it, everyone needs at least one TARDIS in their lives!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's very wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey! I forgot to add the supporting rods, and had to start all over again :(</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next was a Volkswagen camper-van cake:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgOxKAIdSbDTEOr_rYqRu9cVbC5naO5lHhqUJ_1JpiwAhrdGcRkggMVFkeqTFGGKo8SurXPbkQ5yzkqK2pydi0iLYiwYtZoT_OqchcT3fNJj0c3T9iewOI4YQ8taDNLUGxUSn8FilQxi-/s1600/IMG_3027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgOxKAIdSbDTEOr_rYqRu9cVbC5naO5lHhqUJ_1JpiwAhrdGcRkggMVFkeqTFGGKo8SurXPbkQ5yzkqK2pydi0iLYiwYtZoT_OqchcT3fNJj0c3T9iewOI4YQ8taDNLUGxUSn8FilQxi-/s400/IMG_3027.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And I followed that with a few much easier, flat square cakes; one for the NHS 70th birthday party, one pre-election in May this year, and one post-election:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicC9rW8dTFJrJrl81PzmmsUZ5gu_yhzwVEfYvuEhxwZ-GbLP8o-hEXyF-cLsYCsl6cWuJtDA9x2EFF6OWmYeRUd3OTDzystOEedtW6uhgdkD3QpYJEmjbf1Zhvcis76VUTJfTzS47knP0c/s1600/IMG_3833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicC9rW8dTFJrJrl81PzmmsUZ5gu_yhzwVEfYvuEhxwZ-GbLP8o-hEXyF-cLsYCsl6cWuJtDA9x2EFF6OWmYeRUd3OTDzystOEedtW6uhgdkD3QpYJEmjbf1Zhvcis76VUTJfTzS47knP0c/s400/IMG_3833.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is the newly elected Leader and Deputy Leader of Trafford Council, holding my We #turnedtraffordred cake. The red is an outline of the borough where I live.</span>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-3978243658779586212018-10-16T18:18:00.003+01:002018-10-16T18:18:36.320+01:00Mercy outline<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a lovely image to paint; I started off with the outline:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next up, I started painting the boulders:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeouHhSxoZDxzHyUfszX4gNGkWLQ_i0Zqo7pMmqZyNUVTFipwQQm5IvfP5G0IilwCaeuUJPOHnS2pDuuDm1Okt_mxjQBme2_lVt0hvNDvAX-67qUTAIkbdUOAizMzVu1Oazz1WK5VDFtT/s1600/017565c85252f870c38149b3e20e45d9770285aa9a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeouHhSxoZDxzHyUfszX4gNGkWLQ_i0Zqo7pMmqZyNUVTFipwQQm5IvfP5G0IilwCaeuUJPOHnS2pDuuDm1Okt_mxjQBme2_lVt0hvNDvAX-67qUTAIkbdUOAizMzVu1Oazz1WK5VDFtT/s640/017565c85252f870c38149b3e20e45d9770285aa9a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll add a couple more progress shots over the next few days :)</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-90919491277625605862018-10-16T18:08:00.001+01:002018-10-16T18:08:28.646+01:00How time flies! Mercy from Overwatch for Tofystedeth<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't believe how long it is since I last posted! I've still been painting, albeit at a much slower pace than in the past, I've also got sucked into a few craft related things along the way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's time to post a few updates, so here goes!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This one is for Tofystedeth, and is Mercy, from Overwatch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's the original source image:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzrSnmXbd7qYswgLkH2Ti8R_zD4j3c98j4YpeCirUZ0Q5VglQT6iSk0fHLaV0GuHImjX5QSGHVjvJkwy8Ec2OSCXjFHLt8vjJvStppeUCebIJrXGnfgJuvaWRbrEnBELvyuLTxGTQzBu1m/s1600/Overwatch-cinematic-teaser-highlights-diverse-cast-620x350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="620" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzrSnmXbd7qYswgLkH2Ti8R_zD4j3c98j4YpeCirUZ0Q5VglQT6iSk0fHLaV0GuHImjX5QSGHVjvJkwy8Ec2OSCXjFHLt8vjJvStppeUCebIJrXGnfgJuvaWRbrEnBELvyuLTxGTQzBu1m/s320/Overwatch-cinematic-teaser-highlights-diverse-cast-620x350.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And here's a close-up:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArNJj60BsPni2ab9oiEFLxkzHVEhUfE0mN9am6B1UMnkKmfqEKTF-YXk9Ew9v3b52RTHnOcMr9QsIp8KRyCH3VDkiloNSaLN9fjljl8s0UrNE0vH1WTPiTuXi9tGlcPty5FGchwDVR8yQ/s1600/Mercy+close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="645" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArNJj60BsPni2ab9oiEFLxkzHVEhUfE0mN9am6B1UMnkKmfqEKTF-YXk9Ew9v3b52RTHnOcMr9QsIp8KRyCH3VDkiloNSaLN9fjljl8s0UrNE0vH1WTPiTuXi9tGlcPty5FGchwDVR8yQ/s320/Mercy+close+up.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started this in Cambodia, where I'd gone to visit my son, LewieP of Savygamer, but still haven't finished it :( </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm almost there, just the face to finish off, but I'll share it step by step.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-9969346364971027792017-05-12T09:48:00.003+01:002017-05-12T09:48:59.837+01:00International ME Day 2017<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
TL;DR: it's International ME day, I've written stuff about it:</div>
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It's International ME day today, 12th May 2017, so it's time for my annual post about living with ME.</div>
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I've had ME since 17th August 2005; almost 12 years now. It is an illness that has turned my life upside down, changed it beyond measure, but it has its blessings as well.</div>
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I'm writing this laid on my sofa after about 5 hours sleep last night - a relatively normal amount of sleep for me. Yesterday, I did too much, ferrying my mum around to do the things she needed to do. She forgets I can't do the same as she can (she's 81!), and that I'll pay for such a high (for me) level of activity.</div>
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This year, though, I want to tell you about the blessings ME has brought into my life. Sounds strange, but there are quite a few.</div>
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I've had to slow down. Smell the flowers, watch the bees, take pleasure in slower paced things.</div>
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<br />Because of this (sorry, Miss Ganley, I shouldn't start a sentence with a preposition, but I can't remember why!), I have more time to do things, and have learnt to prioritise what's and who is important, and cut out the business.</div>
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<br />I've learnt to appreciate being able to do simple things.</div>
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<br />I have definitely learnt to appreciate the wonderful friends I have. If you're reading this on FB, you're definitely one of them!</div>
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<br />I value the time people take to spend with me, whether irl, on the phone, or on line. Even a short message can change how I perceive myself and impact how I'm feeling.</div>
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<br />I already knew how wonderful my husband and children were before I became ill; I see their compassion, thoughtfulness and love on a daily basis and truly value the support they give me. </div>
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<br />I really understand the value of support, both practical and emotional, and it's impact on people. Receiving support is as big a blessing as giving support - to both the giver and receiver equally, each are blessed. </div>
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<br />I truly understand how much God loves me, and how His plans for my life are so much better than mine. Jeremiah 29:11 is a verse I have held onto when things have been hard. </div>
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<br />I paint now, and my paintings go all over the world, blessing the receiver and the people that Oxfam support. If you're reading this on canvasandpaints you can see what I've achieved since having ME. If you're not, have a look anyway, you might be surprised!</div>
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<br />Video games are fun! Geeks are awesome!!! Dr Who is awesomer (whoops, I already knew that, it just crept in unnoticed like Jaffa cakes do in my supermarket trolley!). </div>
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<br />False pride is dangerous, humility is better. I now use a mobility scooter to "walk" to my local town centre, rather than drive. It's getting me out into the fresh air, no one else cares, it was just in my head! It's quite good fun, as long as a) the battery doesn't run out again and b) it doesn't rain!</div>
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ME research is entering an exciting phase, with possible identification of cause just around the corner, next phase, maybe a cure!</div>
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<br />My family are the best.</div>
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<br />My friends are wonderful. I know I've said this already, but it can't be said too often. You are wonderful. You accept me for who I am, with my limitations, and love me. That is a precious gift. </div>
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<br />You don't have to be physically competent in order to have value. Being emotionally competent is just as valuable :)</div>
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<br />There are many, many more blessings than these, I simply wanted to give you an idea about them. I'm not glad I have ME, but I am glad about the things I've learnt through having it. I long to be healed of this nasty, debilitating, painful illness, but until then, I'll carry on.</div>
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Thank you for taking the time to read this,</div>
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Shirley</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-51671505402663396762016-04-16T08:59:00.004+01:002016-04-16T08:59:31.886+01:00The BBC made-over my back garden!!!<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We moved house last year, to a bungalow, to help with my mobility problems. We had lived in a 4 storey Edwardian house, that was really impractical for me, so after a while of looking, we found our new house.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We needed to do some remodelling inside, which uncovered some structural problems which meant we couldn't move in for 5 months after we'd moved out of our old house!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The garden was a challenge too far for me, so I applied to a programme called "The Instant Gardener", and after a series of interviews and a recce, they chose my back garden as one of the gardens to do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was taken out for the day, and returned to find a wonderful transformation - from a garden that I didn't know where to start, to a sci-fi themed garden.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They had created a portal (from the best ever videogame in the world) and painted my shed TARDIS blue!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's a few pictures from before they started:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9aeTzVzsPpJ_Az_xenb-bi8AErQ5dRXIGkHb4_CFkMGf87LLz50F_pmNCnxvvTq85_E1DqR_zetYUudL3gxRV4i3og-pAL_XM953jh4qUtNoySwVvtiZUyMNhg9TLYqD9lks3lQfbLFKF/s1600/before+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9aeTzVzsPpJ_Az_xenb-bi8AErQ5dRXIGkHb4_CFkMGf87LLz50F_pmNCnxvvTq85_E1DqR_zetYUudL3gxRV4i3og-pAL_XM953jh4qUtNoySwVvtiZUyMNhg9TLYqD9lks3lQfbLFKF/s400/before+8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was overgrown, I had no idea what things were, and more importantly, no energy to tackle it. I felt completely overwhelmed by the challenge!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then, along came the BBC:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a Portal in my garden!!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I utterly, utterly love what they did - with help from my husband and our good friend, Stuart. :) They completely transformed the garden, and gave us something I would never have dreamed of, made it completely manageable, and inspired us to take it further:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My mum had given me a chunk of money for my birthday, to buy a water feature; following my day out with the BBC, I knew exactly what I wanted, a pond!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A couple of day's digging and sand laying by my husband, and we had a pond with a stream :) We carried on, with more help from Stuart, and from the money mum had given me, we finished the garden. When I say "we", I mean I made the drinks and the blokes did all the work!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's the pond, and you can see willow screening and cedar chippings behind it:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking from the TARDIS along the back of our garden:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next to the side of the house:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking towards the pond:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More of the Portal, plus a better view of the willow screening - we put that up to hide the tatty, but sound fence, and to give us and our neighbours a little more privacy:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I absolutely LOVE our garden, and am so grateful to the BBC and The Instant Gardener team for the work they did in our garden. Kev and Stuart have worked their socks off, as well, and I now have a garden that I can enjoy, and the only work Kev has to do in it now is cut the grass and rake the leaves in the Autumn! I'm sure he'd like artificial grass soon :)</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-60001090322645705312016-04-15T11:53:00.001+01:002016-04-15T11:53:08.101+01:00Lego Marvel Super Heroes almost done!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This has to be the longest it's ever taken me to finish a painting; Radiation has been so patient and understanding :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm almost there now, just have to do the swooshes and outlining, then I'll be ready to post it off - I'll aim to do that over the weekend.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's where I'm up to:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJALvjbIYeQplF1f4xwUG7l_JfnFYBRcY8JHl2OJA_vrztfZbY5iAEzIwqRauZ7-QYUtOJkVBlDN4EDjePlEMLesCkTIYzjI1Fd35TrGzO-tWYyjxvvXFeO1X3YEGO7fvOijO5Zv617aIz/s1600/just+the+outlinging+and+swoosh+left.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJALvjbIYeQplF1f4xwUG7l_JfnFYBRcY8JHl2OJA_vrztfZbY5iAEzIwqRauZ7-QYUtOJkVBlDN4EDjePlEMLesCkTIYzjI1Fd35TrGzO-tWYyjxvvXFeO1X3YEGO7fvOijO5Zv617aIz/s400/just+the+outlinging+and+swoosh+left.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm so sorry for the poor quality of the photo - it's using my iPad. I've found my camera now, but need to buy another SD card reader,, as I can't find my old one - downside of all my stuff being in storage from July - mid December during the protracted house move!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll go out now and buy one, so the finished pictures will be a better quality.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-58183270003450520732016-04-04T15:01:00.001+01:002016-04-04T15:01:04.859+01:00Lego Marvel Superheroes background finishedI'm quite tired today - had things to do over the last week or so that have left me without much energy, but I have painted. <div><br></div><div>I've finished the background of @Radiation's painting, and just have the characters to finish, then the outlining left to do. I'm happy with how the background has turned out, and am thankful for the miniature brushes my BFF bought me a while ago, as they are so useful in this painting!</div><div><br></div><div>Here it is:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTqRiW3-jVW0GOBwTukm1_FWpGeRAfFYFboaJxOZbyAj7-KvSC2te-_1JgQotEChOgm3QtCF_SwAyuulNza__YK4YXejvyYCjE9iD6G0DOIJ1o1yrp7WjrwPBB63byQE0G062AxUQeR7N/s640/blogger-image-732403386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTqRiW3-jVW0GOBwTukm1_FWpGeRAfFYFboaJxOZbyAj7-KvSC2te-_1JgQotEChOgm3QtCF_SwAyuulNza__YK4YXejvyYCjE9iD6G0DOIJ1o1yrp7WjrwPBB63byQE0G062AxUQeR7N/s640/blogger-image-732403386.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'll do some more over the next few days :)</div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-33955149098194418332016-03-21T17:03:00.001+00:002016-03-21T17:03:01.569+00:00Lego Marvel Superheroes continued!At last, I've done a little more painting! This must be the longest I've ever taken to complete something, but life and medication just keeps getting in the way :(<div><br></div><div>Radiation, who this is for, is an incredibly patient person thankfully. </div><div><br></div><div>Anyway, here's a little more done - I've painted for a couple of hours this afternoon, concentrating on the right hand background, getting the buildings done. It doesn't seem much for a couple of hours painting, but it is quite detailed!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Here's a close-up of what I've done:</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTYhybY3X4LZKtMP2oM7A8WzAmOxIuPL5Nds92CXOsiUTy0LH1m7ZivZPD8cePZ5DvfRiAIytyQTRr4r6glebRaj9ityOJNJg7swijHiErh4CqJb_t1pxZC50BwK6W6nMfdnBXomMbW0L/s640/blogger-image--1159637498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTYhybY3X4LZKtMP2oM7A8WzAmOxIuPL5Nds92CXOsiUTy0LH1m7ZivZPD8cePZ5DvfRiAIytyQTRr4r6glebRaj9ityOJNJg7swijHiErh4CqJb_t1pxZC50BwK6W6nMfdnBXomMbW0L/s640/blogger-image--1159637498.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And here's the whole painting so far:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKRIw2rdNuFNBsJIQb7VePjBzMQaQJkB4VRQGu6sznFyrCQj594LKKlXKemtccpmtn7GCNtRqVJXlOdHtog0WfVZGFP6Ql8zwodZTsdV2F_Cx3Jz4ZiVGlgeX2bdQFdL0VVHWwe8NLmT2/s640/blogger-image-1732346021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKRIw2rdNuFNBsJIQb7VePjBzMQaQJkB4VRQGu6sznFyrCQj594LKKlXKemtccpmtn7GCNtRqVJXlOdHtog0WfVZGFP6Ql8zwodZTsdV2F_Cx3Jz4ZiVGlgeX2bdQFdL0VVHWwe8NLmT2/s640/blogger-image-1732346021.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'll be doing some more in a couple of days, I think.</div><br></div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-41115680348331716102016-02-15T12:21:00.001+00:002016-02-15T12:22:15.697+00:00Lego Marvel superheroes at lastIt feels like I keep saying this: "I've not been well, I've been too tired to paint, I've finally paints a bit more".<div><br><div>Being medically retired from work has been harder to deal with than I first thought it would be. I'm still having investigations into the problems with my neck, left shoulder, hand and arm: tomorrow I go for nerve function tests, to confirm I have no median nerve in that arm, and to see if they can tell exactly what's going on.</div><div><br></div><div>I've been diagnosed with cervical stenosis at C5/6, on the left. That's why my left hand doesn't work properly any more, and it's just going to get worse. The neurosurgeon won't operate yet, as the risks are too high. I'll have to wait until I can't use my arm/hand/shoulder any more, or when the pain becomes unbearable.</div><div><br></div><div>That's why it's been tough, the last several months. I've been off work for 10 months now, and have tried several types of pain medication. Work are throwing me a retirement do - if you're based in the NW of England, and you need a job, try Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, they're a wonderful organisation to work for!</div><div><br></div><div>Enough of that; here's where I'm up to with the Lego painting:</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>The whole thing:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRycsmo-tZ3hyphenhyphenrH4dA-5njgkAS7i7ift2FAmzP_YXm_LDYXfmosHBK6_3grTH65zj2UPneKg-R8l7jxEg5yDxXefWbN0qLIbYkTnlaVatmnXjCXF4CFQcJyDhRKoEf6K2d1xu9e96MXaeL/s640/blogger-image--2101512813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRycsmo-tZ3hyphenhyphenrH4dA-5njgkAS7i7ift2FAmzP_YXm_LDYXfmosHBK6_3grTH65zj2UPneKg-R8l7jxEg5yDxXefWbN0qLIbYkTnlaVatmnXjCXF4CFQcJyDhRKoEf6K2d1xu9e96MXaeL/s640/blogger-image--2101512813.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>A close-up of the side that's almost finished:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bFfEAUviiSMVLkF6wxFJeGootFRa2b4XsPXrmjAFWptlxpteoy4pJbgWvPOfOueQ9PQY1bxr_Ao95hASw4xRh365SqXDQrFTUGd5VQVFbtTkfSmaK7VRn3-14TfOF-8O9x0Wx9gQ6LBY/s640/blogger-image--380340089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bFfEAUviiSMVLkF6wxFJeGootFRa2b4XsPXrmjAFWptlxpteoy4pJbgWvPOfOueQ9PQY1bxr_Ao95hASw4xRh365SqXDQrFTUGd5VQVFbtTkfSmaK7VRn3-14TfOF-8O9x0Wx9gQ6LBY/s640/blogger-image--380340089.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Radiation is the most patient person - still waiting for this painting, without putting me under pressure to finish it quickly!</div><div><br></div><div>I'll update more, soon :)</div><div><br></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-6492768347788947022015-10-19T15:40:00.001+01:002015-10-19T15:40:00.360+01:00Lego Marvel Superheroes sky done<div><br></div>This was fun! I like painting skies; there are so many shades and colours, even when it's just blue sky and a few clouds. Add storms moving in, and the colours are amazing!<div><br></div><div>Here's where I'm up to:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMH-A0Q0OKQyCP7TAsjLtpWoSRmmP0_b0ZLZo-JE-7t9hwWFTLnKZn7govkbB6EGdaCNmPQ3iU1jykQtI0qgesMjDCt-3NFVKSh2vFd_DIj7FtyaTJCdOCU73A3K9Kj4i1r8pZOesa8ye/s640/blogger-image--1552397747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMH-A0Q0OKQyCP7TAsjLtpWoSRmmP0_b0ZLZo-JE-7t9hwWFTLnKZn7govkbB6EGdaCNmPQ3iU1jykQtI0qgesMjDCt-3NFVKSh2vFd_DIj7FtyaTJCdOCU73A3K9Kj4i1r8pZOesa8ye/s640/blogger-image--1552397747.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-21439182981423170662015-09-28T09:53:00.001+01:002015-09-28T09:53:40.881+01:00Lego background updateAs all smaller paintings do, this is taking a while - I'm painting for about an hour each mornings, before it gets too hot, but the size means I'm focusing on the details more - there are no large, sweeping brushstroke a, I'm using my miniature brushes, instead.<div><br><div>I like this :)</div><div><br></div><div>Here's where I'm up to:</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iBHxbnJlIFS_KjpZ9wZMLay_CY3Ce3F9HRjZ5IgCSmopD0hqF-vP1zjFA9C4Tn6Fs2jOs4YBSn1zNCwwPyK2kFLa4Xlzmqyy-6Ze0M7QGkxLmyZlMOBy1nvLzTL4q9WE_EAoA47uG2u7/s640/blogger-image--1025804514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iBHxbnJlIFS_KjpZ9wZMLay_CY3Ce3F9HRjZ5IgCSmopD0hqF-vP1zjFA9C4Tn6Fs2jOs4YBSn1zNCwwPyK2kFLa4Xlzmqyy-6Ze0M7QGkxLmyZlMOBy1nvLzTL4q9WE_EAoA47uG2u7/s640/blogger-image--1025804514.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-23913859913439926752015-09-27T08:12:00.001+01:002015-09-27T08:12:26.154+01:00Lego Marvel Superheroes background startedLPD went for a run this morning, so I painted. He ran to Kos town and back - 16km, I started the background to Radiation's painting. <div><br></div><div>Here it is:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CDCbIUKJBqd98dwEbDqzBLR1_KutTHC9HcWOHJOrh9kNaDYBV9rmbJc7w4z2uOfnIu8dFTQM7EsJUfk-nFfoKIlZ3CzfTgdZ48ssLT8bnLUDzbMEF6C9bdwXDNLosJsVpmx0yVpNFTkl/s640/blogger-image--50268023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CDCbIUKJBqd98dwEbDqzBLR1_KutTHC9HcWOHJOrh9kNaDYBV9rmbJc7w4z2uOfnIu8dFTQM7EsJUfk-nFfoKIlZ3CzfTgdZ48ssLT8bnLUDzbMEF6C9bdwXDNLosJsVpmx0yVpNFTkl/s640/blogger-image--50268023.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-6692286999350718612015-09-24T19:31:00.001+01:002015-09-24T19:31:06.566+01:00Painting again!!! :)<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Well, I've decided to stop feeling sorry for myself, and get back on with life again. My left arm isn't fixable, but life, with a few adaptations, must go on.</span></div><div><br></div><div>I'm on holiday for a week in Kos, and have brought a couple of paintings to do while I'm here. It feels so good to pick up a pencil to draw, and I'll be painting tomorrow.</div><div><br></div><div>So what am I doing? It's a Lego Marvel Superheros for Radiation:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhJdKLuTiPxqttx8fTUe6s4QdNzlVNTKt9Tu2vvdTonUwNEpPPE7VVp8r8IR9mUW9jL-zHhAbpEfdLHLX9xy8tiAjVhHSIJRDcnNfEa3qy_sgrSuUSHIhroiiXA3EcdeOWPZdsWfliy2o/s640/blogger-image--2136658128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhJdKLuTiPxqttx8fTUe6s4QdNzlVNTKt9Tu2vvdTonUwNEpPPE7VVp8r8IR9mUW9jL-zHhAbpEfdLHLX9xy8tiAjVhHSIJRDcnNfEa3qy_sgrSuUSHIhroiiXA3EcdeOWPZdsWfliy2o/s640/blogger-image--2136658128.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is a photo of the image I'm working on - I only have my iPad with me, so photo quality won't be great, I'm sorry!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here's the pencil outline:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjHQ3r3GT0b8QAXkH9MCYc_8abcduNzi10CgStY7qN1HXs8vnzvZIoKeLyELqH9yw21TQvPyEde2PVw05bM9JA7MHJ90yr6PtBUOcnpLdQvoWaSH-j8AD6V5CMqcKtbat-CVT_wwbsBfZ/s640/blogger-image-2046426001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjHQ3r3GT0b8QAXkH9MCYc_8abcduNzi10CgStY7qN1HXs8vnzvZIoKeLyELqH9yw21TQvPyEde2PVw05bM9JA7MHJ90yr6PtBUOcnpLdQvoWaSH-j8AD6V5CMqcKtbat-CVT_wwbsBfZ/s640/blogger-image-2046426001.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>I'll start painting in in the morning - I don't like painting in artificial light, as colours look different, and what I think is a colour match turns out to be anything but!</div><div><br></div><div>It feels good :)</div><div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-29377404163096319602015-09-02T00:16:00.001+01:002015-09-02T00:16:18.291+01:00A brief update<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, long time, no post!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've had a challenging few months, cumulating in a difficult to accept, but very easy to make decision.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">TL;DR: my left arm is packing up, I'm retiring.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The longer version:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the past year or so, I've been having problems with my left shoulder, arm and hand, and in that easily done way, I've ignored it. In case you don't know, as well as having ME, I also have Poland's Syndrome, a congenital defect of the upper left quarter of my body, which means I have some missing muscles, bones and nerves. Thankfully, my heart and left lung aren't affected. I have slight scoliosis, a short arm and webbed 1" long fingers that don't move much. I've been getting pins and needles, been dropping my fork, and pain in my shoulder. I ignored it. The pain got worse until it started impacting my ability to drive, sleep and function. After X-rays, MRIs, nerve and muscle function tests, I've been told it's not fixable, take more drugs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This has been quite hard to deal with - not the pain, but the losing function. It impacts my ability to drive, which then restricts what I can do, as I can't walk far. If I do drive, I hurt, so I have to take stupid meds, which then mean I can't drive, so I can't go out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been off work since the middle of April, and am now being medically retired, as I'm not safe to be at work on the drugs, and can't concentrate because of the pain if I don't take the drugs. My balance is affected, too, so I'm falling over a bit more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My pension will be about half my salary, and because my condition has changed, I will receive more disability benefits. It will still be less than I currently earn, which will be a challenge in itself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've never lived to work, but my arm deciding to pack up on me has been very difficult to deal with. One consequence has been the loss of some things I enjoy - I can't play my guitar any more, as it hurts my left shoulder - I play left handed, have an Ibanez jumbo acoustic. It's now gathering dust. Sewing is a challenge, too - I make bridalwear as another hobby, but sewing hurts my left arm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'd stopped painting - mainly because I was zonked on the pain meds, but also because I felt rubbish.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm slowly coming out of the funk, and accepting what I can't change. I'm also starting to paint again, which actually helps with how I feel. I guess I'll just have to learn a new way of doing things, and try not to let it get to me. Next week I'll be starting the next painting, for Radiation. We've already had a conversation about my radio silence, so we're good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm also going to continue my Doorways paintings; I'll be posting about them as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also, commissions gratefully received!!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-44782849442303387992015-05-14T18:56:00.003+01:002015-05-14T18:56:55.116+01:00Updated Oxfam painting list<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thought I should update the painting list - this is the list where you donate a minimum of £50/$75 to Oxfam in exchange for a painting from me. You also meet my materials and postage costs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's the list: </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;">Junpei: don't know yet</span><br style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;" /><br style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;" /><span style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;">Radiation: Link or My Little Pony (for his daughter)</span><br style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;" /><br style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;" /><span style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;">Tofystedeth</span><br style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;" /><br style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;" /><span style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;">Custom Special</span><br style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;" /><br style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;" /><span style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;">Anarchy</span><br style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;" /><br style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;" /><span style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;">ArcticLancer</span><br style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;" /><br style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;" /><span style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;">1ddqd - very happy to roll the painting up into a tube!!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I contact you when it's your turn, and I've just messaged Junpei to see what they would like me to paint. While I wait to hear from them, I'll carry on with a couple of side projects, and post updates of them, as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you'd like to be added to the list, just let me know.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-32948596279065804422015-05-12T13:14:00.001+01:002015-05-12T13:14:03.177+01:00It's finished!!!Yes, I've finally finished my Secret Santee's painting. ME doesn't half get in the way of painting, you know. <div><br></div><div>Here's the whole thing:</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgntNkSDzlsd6U63ERN5fncGtnqc1ys6dJUqGjcN__stMPicXy9eXNnux9UeThC-KZyvOyWZdWlvXFJAFWv-20r8ed3v2bUoGDs8kw46bJnpXoKPVAfADd405idmh8UEHhmxf0f1Fx4U3kA/s640/blogger-image--531890890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgntNkSDzlsd6U63ERN5fncGtnqc1ys6dJUqGjcN__stMPicXy9eXNnux9UeThC-KZyvOyWZdWlvXFJAFWv-20r8ed3v2bUoGDs8kw46bJnpXoKPVAfADd405idmh8UEHhmxf0f1Fx4U3kA/s640/blogger-image--531890890.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>And here's a couple of close-ups:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQa-jSMapSrsAShRx5ZpxMAJlMFJnqwOQnPWvU1YVVlLX0PFYSpaY1_wD8pMUrW54Q194GGshpthz0pEP1F2fdXJ5VrrqRgu5JZQZEphuNROBpjz301M814RiLfF4T5d2i9zMZwa7hbrdN/s640/blogger-image-1085445473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQa-jSMapSrsAShRx5ZpxMAJlMFJnqwOQnPWvU1YVVlLX0PFYSpaY1_wD8pMUrW54Q194GGshpthz0pEP1F2fdXJ5VrrqRgu5JZQZEphuNROBpjz301M814RiLfF4T5d2i9zMZwa7hbrdN/s640/blogger-image-1085445473.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2ES8erBZ45Gy7e3Rl2dwnWi3l9gLHK2OtdBal7a1_xNd6dRApZmhbnXlahBRSddReGzATDO1zbtLMJ0kHkyJneZmarlDHphabWM1FCv60nfbEjv1kYuDxoFjIw0Er8Qj4Wk2s918qqEr/s640/blogger-image--887914202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2ES8erBZ45Gy7e3Rl2dwnWi3l9gLHK2OtdBal7a1_xNd6dRApZmhbnXlahBRSddReGzATDO1zbtLMJ0kHkyJneZmarlDHphabWM1FCv60nfbEjv1kYuDxoFjIw0Er8Qj4Wk2s918qqEr/s640/blogger-image--887914202.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was fun to paint!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm heading to my queue to contact the next person on the list to find out what I'll be painting next :)</div><br></div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-86859861922613140422015-05-12T13:08:00.004+01:002015-05-12T13:08:35.460+01:00It's that time of year again!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, that's right, its International ME day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those of you who check out canvas and paints regularly, you'll have been expecting a post today, as you already know I have ME. For those of you who don't, here goes:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On August 17th 2005 I was half way through a 6 day cycling round North Wales holiday with my husband. This was about a month after having completed the Manchester to Blackpool bike ride in my fastest ever time of 5 hours 50 minutes - it is a 57 mile ride on road between the two places, covering some beautiful, hilly country roads.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We'd arrived in North Wales on the Sunday afternoon after dropping our then foster children back home to their grandparents - they lived with them and came to us for regular weekend breaks, to both support the children and their grandparents.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the first day we went for a short ride, only doing 11 miles. On the second day, we did about the same, then we gradually increased it so that on the Wednesday we cycled 30 miles, and we were planning to do the same on the Thursday. When I woke up, I thought I was developing a cold, but so what? We went out anyway. We headed to Llandudno, a pretty Victorian town about 15 miles from where we were staying, but as the ride progressed, I started to feel lousy. We stopped at a chemist so I could buy some cold remedy, but I gradually started to feel worse and worse.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mistake no. 1 was not asking Kev to cycle back for the car while I rested. Mistake no. 2 was me continuing to navigate. We got lost, and almost ended up on the A55 - a very, very busy dual carriageway that's not safe for bikes. The planned 30 mile ride got longer and longer as I tried to work out a route back, and I felt sicker and sicker. Eventually, we managed to find our way back to where we were staying; by then I was feeling pretty dreadful - the cold I thought I was developing felt much more like the 'flu.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I never recovered. I've not been back on my bike since; 10 years later it is gathering dust and cobwebs in my shed. It's hard to describe exactly what it is like, as how I feel can vary so much. <a href="http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/">The Spoon Theory</a> sums it up pretty well, though.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've learnt to manage this nasty illness, most of the time fairly successfully, sometimes not. I have relapses where I can barely walk for days, can't think clearly, can't even look after myself. I rely on my family and friends for help, as there's so much I now can't do. We've moved to a bungalow as walking up stairs exhausts me and causes significant pain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The hardest thing to cope with is the feeling of grief for what I've lost - the physical strength and capacity that I used to take for granted; being able to think coherently; having a memory that functioned. It took a while, and a CBT course to help me manage the negative emotions I had because of how little I can now do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the best things has been painting - not only does it give me something so positive to do, that doesn't take up too much energy, but it is something very productive, that people appreciate, and raises money for Oxfam and Child's Play.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another has been learning about the blessing of enabling people to help me - even complete strangers when I'm struggling in a shop - only last Saturday I was trying to do the food shopping, but I was in too much pain to bend down to pick up a box of eggs. My choice was either do without, or swallow my silly false pride and ask for help. Or, as I prefer to look at it, to give someone the gift of feeling good about themselves for helping someone. I asked another customer to help me by picking up a box of eggs for me. She did, I thanked her and she went away feeling good about herself because she had helped someone out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have to remember that it is a blessing to help another person, no matter how small that help is - even a bad man wouldn't give a child a stone if they were hungry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm hoping to be part of the UK Rituximab trial at some point; that may lead to a cure for ME. I'll still paint, though.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For more information about ME, click <a href="http://www.meassociation.org.uk/about/what-is-mecfs/">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To donate to Oxfam, click <a href="http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what-we-do/emergency-response/nepal-earthquake?pscid=ps_ggl_01-Brand-High+Vol&gclid=COeA7oiVvMUCFSbJtAodyi8ATw">here</a>.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-40063155005170026412015-05-01T21:13:00.001+01:002015-05-01T21:13:26.813+01:00Just the outlining left to do!As the title suggests, I'm almost finished! His has been a fun painting to do :)<div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5SnXXmD16buigK4RmOamiFrcIIZmUZE8hsmZzU9v-XEjZn6X3eHDZbvn9yA314VatpXFUADsmZkO61uI_3MtpjUrs7reNoodCRYa68yPG8ru1hg-juzEzAAcZ41Th5oCY-6EKJ2jEEQ5/s640/blogger-image-1127189590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5SnXXmD16buigK4RmOamiFrcIIZmUZE8hsmZzU9v-XEjZn6X3eHDZbvn9yA314VatpXFUADsmZkO61uI_3MtpjUrs7reNoodCRYa68yPG8ru1hg-juzEzAAcZ41Th5oCY-6EKJ2jEEQ5/s640/blogger-image-1127189590.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Outlining next, then it's done!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-1854739982655164042015-04-29T13:50:00.001+01:002015-04-29T13:50:19.927+01:00Almost finished!I've been busy painting this morning, and have almost finished the painting. I've just got to add the glow around MegaMan, then the flash of light at the top of his hand, then I'll be ready to do the outlining :)<div><br></div><div>Here it is:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnvbUcR6Rr9EliKm0Wdt-3h8U_K08GVf038cZ6JftmCwevOpfzr6bOuWYakXrkeJ1mDfN1qYDjFH9YwgRVrX_Y7NYJT11mLiQg-vOtN-XftgHJhMPRj_1aettC0rKCnnSidCgbSo5oR7K/s640/blogger-image-240058695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnvbUcR6Rr9EliKm0Wdt-3h8U_K08GVf038cZ6JftmCwevOpfzr6bOuWYakXrkeJ1mDfN1qYDjFH9YwgRVrX_Y7NYJT11mLiQg-vOtN-XftgHJhMPRj_1aettC0rKCnnSidCgbSo5oR7K/s640/blogger-image-240058695.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Yes, still no camera! If anyone feels like donating one, let me know!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I should have this finished by Friday, then I'll be posting it off to its very patient owner!</div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-10071457354955936012015-04-27T12:08:00.001+01:002015-04-27T12:08:27.301+01:00Link startedHere's some more done - I've started Link and I'll be painting the rest of Mario next, then Megaman. <div><br></div><div>This is a fun picture to paint :)</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotshiPH0liBwMmkgP8FsQWmkPdPHkLWttBRWIyNmBSfqWaVkBegqdKlLuj1sg9O_NM_Tvxjn_X9UNuT0k1_OPDbwey0EAS0EkXjmmZm5m47Abilc6sQz-nuBtOZ9G3QKV6IRDiEaQkQ3U/s640/blogger-image--1621609847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotshiPH0liBwMmkgP8FsQWmkPdPHkLWttBRWIyNmBSfqWaVkBegqdKlLuj1sg9O_NM_Tvxjn_X9UNuT0k1_OPDbwey0EAS0EkXjmmZm5m47Abilc6sQz-nuBtOZ9G3QKV6IRDiEaQkQ3U/s640/blogger-image--1621609847.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I know, I'm still using my iPad, haven't found the camera yet!</div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-85088495877176883782015-04-27T10:04:00.001+01:002015-04-27T10:04:38.386+01:00Live Below The Line<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No, this isn't a picture of the painting I'm doing, I'm posting to let you know about something I do each year with my family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are raising money for Oxfam - so relevant right now with what has happened in Nepal and India.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The idea is to live on £1 a day for 5 days, donating what you would have spent on food to charity (for me, Oxfam), donating extra, and encouraging others to do the same.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's where you can donate:</span><br />
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<a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Procter" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;" target="_blank">http://uk.virginmoneygiving.<wbr></wbr>com/team/Procter</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, why are we doing it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many, many people in this world don't have enough to eat. We do. Even when we were very poor, we had just about enough to eat, and we always had clean, fresh, cold drinking water. So many people don't. Even if reading this makes one more person think about their neighbour (whether that's the person next door, the person begging at the ATM, the person who has just lost everything in Nepal) and they then do something good, its worth it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We will be hungry this week. We will have a very restricted diet, with no fruit, as I couldn't afford to buy the fruit after I'd bought the veggies and carbs. Kev will find it harder than me, as he needs more calories than I do. We will go to bed hungry. We won't have the foods we normally do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But, we have a choice. If we can't do it, we can go out and buy some food, or we can raid the cupboards or freezer for something. As one friend said; we have a freezer, we have cupboards, a fridge, a cooker. We don't have to worry about keeping food fresh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was a time in our lives when we were poor - I remember scouring the shelves in the supermarket for reduced items to try to stretch my budget. I remember the shame of having to take stuff back at the checkout as I had overspent and didn't have enough in my purse to pay for the food I'd bought for my children. I remember not paying the gas bill so I could buy shoes for my children. That's a long time ago, though, and this will be a good discipline.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's our week's food:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJyh5ns_rZmObYNlNELhCgwkKHikN89SlICbFmrNh7KdDtZDm8-GNDoAZOsGMENWkbUg4sUY0dKBOtNX8ekaD2757T6blI0Ad3sbNDdXj_WfkTc3y5fyzaDsG40JjpaP51r3YXXzibOZZ/s1600/all+the+food+for+the+week.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJyh5ns_rZmObYNlNELhCgwkKHikN89SlICbFmrNh7KdDtZDm8-GNDoAZOsGMENWkbUg4sUY0dKBOtNX8ekaD2757T6blI0Ad3sbNDdXj_WfkTc3y5fyzaDsG40JjpaP51r3YXXzibOZZ/s1600/all+the+food+for+the+week.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's half the potatoes, carrots and onions chopped to make soup for the week:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBn9Om72WqC_bkhsdSNs5H0wM1pp1YdBzoiNk99pPhNGdk5lj_Y-YveXmHH6CxMHNToHZUuq_8LwWPYEIfb0sLM89hbPFHsvK87HjzhFKWjnklhQoQhmqxfeKEwa75oK0OKaVQThj3XPnj/s1600/veggies+chopped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBn9Om72WqC_bkhsdSNs5H0wM1pp1YdBzoiNk99pPhNGdk5lj_Y-YveXmHH6CxMHNToHZUuq_8LwWPYEIfb0sLM89hbPFHsvK87HjzhFKWjnklhQoQhmqxfeKEwa75oK0OKaVQThj3XPnj/s1600/veggies+chopped.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's the split peas soaking to add to the veggies for soup:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxRma-XtZ7UiahVB29GzNzBhgFWfe8EZnWVUc4VElowTA4zW_QOP36I1nUSRZdU1G8I7Ma88JCt4647qMvLncWcUHBBhUkMQqbUn5vDOqfzR6l8KOZhSqxKrGZLNItlrdYuQ-MBG5nU7w/s1600/yellow+split+peas+soaking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxRma-XtZ7UiahVB29GzNzBhgFWfe8EZnWVUc4VElowTA4zW_QOP36I1nUSRZdU1G8I7Ma88JCt4647qMvLncWcUHBBhUkMQqbUn5vDOqfzR6l8KOZhSqxKrGZLNItlrdYuQ-MBG5nU7w/s1600/yellow+split+peas+soaking.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's the finished soup. I'll be bagging and freezing it into individual portions for the week when it has cooled down:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7T4g46krEGjxsSIM9KHSG-mjfBwQ_QqAKqYYETlOFn14yn1bndmlCIr4Tu6fX1GJ7vjgJ0vog1taf1FXidcThljktIM5gK3eomdZ-euNwDcmGLke49zjxV1dHcqltYQPwB7I-sj6qt6Z/s1600/Soup+for+the+week.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7T4g46krEGjxsSIM9KHSG-mjfBwQ_QqAKqYYETlOFn14yn1bndmlCIr4Tu6fX1GJ7vjgJ0vog1taf1FXidcThljktIM5gK3eomdZ-euNwDcmGLke49zjxV1dHcqltYQPwB7I-sj6qt6Z/s1600/Soup+for+the+week.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've never asked this before; I'd really appreciate it if anyone would repost/tweet/FB/whatever the link to this page, so that as many people as possible can read about what we're doing. Thank you.</span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-17550269614363455732015-04-23T16:31:00.001+01:002015-04-23T16:31:25.685+01:00Pikachu, Kirby, Donkey Kong and Mario started.I'm off work again, boring problems with my left shoulder, arm and hand, and have been started on Gabapentin by my GP. <div><br></div><div>I can't drive as I'm a bit dopey, but I can paint. I've had fun this afternoon painting more characters. It looks a bit odd still, as I'm not doing the outlining until last - learnt the hard way by having colours bleed into the black. </div><div><br></div><div>The last part I'll paint will be all the black bits, then I'll do the outlining. </div><div><br></div><div>Here's where I'm up to:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhag7EH4RIYlF6QgGkgiP7ECn_jdbKFg7DZamPdoVHRmbgGfHaAuSCyF0H-W8QKhFGlYb9BLNAX9b2PslJBfQckjKqnm7haJZDi1Ustsid9yKnKt-DCokiUd49x57ourn4gyITgRkeP2bN9/s640/blogger-image--1913264369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhag7EH4RIYlF6QgGkgiP7ECn_jdbKFg7DZamPdoVHRmbgGfHaAuSCyF0H-W8QKhFGlYb9BLNAX9b2PslJBfQckjKqnm7haJZDi1Ustsid9yKnKt-DCokiUd49x57ourn4gyITgRkeP2bN9/s640/blogger-image--1913264369.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Yes, I'm still using my iPad :( We've unpacked all our boxes from the house move, but there's still a few things missing, one of which is my camera. Hopefully it's been put in a cupboard somewhere!</div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-34127800465354245342015-03-30T17:19:00.001+01:002015-03-30T17:19:44.329+01:00Bowser complete.I've had the day off work today, and what better way to spend it than painting?<div><br></div><div>I've finished Bowser now, apart from the outlining, which I'll do all in one go once I've finished the painting. </div><div><br></div><div>I still can't find my camera - I don't think it went into storage, but who knows! If anyone would like to donate one ...</div><div><br></div><div>Here's the whole painting: </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizxjL_I14viBdF-lptQ-BzmhiTLvFsNcA5C9z4GJzuzR0s3eXSFsdQJW4o-LCwwPhIrDz6qRQHqVRCzBNAqnGsqnCK5qdLoLYw1gDZKaTQnT29TvL8wGfP1HSWaxDkKmew7xwXbTaqRRmU/s640/blogger-image-195239543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizxjL_I14viBdF-lptQ-BzmhiTLvFsNcA5C9z4GJzuzR0s3eXSFsdQJW4o-LCwwPhIrDz6qRQHqVRCzBNAqnGsqnCK5qdLoLYw1gDZKaTQnT29TvL8wGfP1HSWaxDkKmew7xwXbTaqRRmU/s640/blogger-image-195239543.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And here's a closeup:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieSoVzRMVPVsH4SiPmLofz3rFLQ1FAVTqjxqGEG9yGi1YMxwOnVjj7ZAgqbH8LirAEsyPLD-OfebL4cnQv1eBy4NHMNgmo_NJO7JVknR36K2PIHLl0KPdvVrpWaypAaE6Hn-o_ktowVMV/s640/blogger-image--822321935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieSoVzRMVPVsH4SiPmLofz3rFLQ1FAVTqjxqGEG9yGi1YMxwOnVjj7ZAgqbH8LirAEsyPLD-OfebL4cnQv1eBy4NHMNgmo_NJO7JVknR36K2PIHLl0KPdvVrpWaypAaE6Hn-o_ktowVMV/s640/blogger-image--822321935.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059634188220495386.post-48611044465696113892015-03-18T16:38:00.001+00:002015-03-18T16:38:15.158+00:00Bowser startedI've painted for quite a while today, concentrating on Bowser. I've got most of the purples done, but need to stop to make dinner!<div><br></div><div>I'll carry on tomorrow. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpByZpa8vnmVQXq6t5z70R8DuEQfHl-cAnL4i3v905TMVOVy5MjsBM8WHn2zOyOghYwjEzKw4RdgBjx9nel_yr6oYTozGTYG4G7UyCQARfITLQPt1jeYbzPytWTm7ZBQ1K4GUfKUIuDNo/s640/blogger-image-412110888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpByZpa8vnmVQXq6t5z70R8DuEQfHl-cAnL4i3v905TMVOVy5MjsBM8WHn2zOyOghYwjEzKw4RdgBjx9nel_yr6oYTozGTYG4G7UyCQARfITLQPt1jeYbzPytWTm7ZBQ1K4GUfKUIuDNo/s640/blogger-image-412110888.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0