OH NO! Not another New Years promise to myself!

Well well well...

Here we are again, Its January 2012 and I'm in a post Christmas/start of a new year mood that befits many in these times of gluttony.

I decided, after much thought and deliberation, to start getting fit and healthy (again!!)...

I have run the gauntlet of one "healthy eating plan" after another, and one exercise plan or another, and have found that for me, I become complacent. I really need a kick up the bum to get me going... I need help!

Lucky for me, that help came in the form of a lovely lady, who is an exercise instructor... she's fitness crazy and is someone who said, "Ditch the scales, look at the inches"... How could I resist.

So, I now have my own personal trainer!! She asked me a series of questions on the phone and I said, shall we meet for coffee to discuss the training plan...

The next day, she texted me back, "I have a better idea... Lets go to the Lyme Valley Parkway, there's a nice walk and the outdoor exercise equipment.. your treat at the end of the walk is a coffee in Morrisons!"...

Well, have to admit, she sold it to me! I just thought, what a great idea, seeing as I'd usually just veg out in front of the PC, while my freshly brewed coffee percolated away to itself in the kitchen. What a difference to be able to get off my bum, go for a walk and have a coffee too!!

So, D-Day came.

We met up, walked, exercised and drank coffee, and walked back at a nice brisk pace... I felt chilled, yet energised at the same time! I'd forgotten how good exercise felt!

So, she's planning a fitness test, and then will come up with a plan and timetable for me. Which I have to say I'm really looking forward to! I'd like to be able to go for a bike ride in the warmer months... maybe tackle a mountain!

I went to work today energised and focussed, came home and dismantled an old knackered wardrobe with a hammer, loaded the car with the bits and drove to the tip and managed to recycle the bits (It was an old chipboard kind that had seen much better days)! I literally didn't stop then.. Shredded a load of documents, washed up.. and all without batting an eyelid... All this from someone who barely leaves the sofa unless forced!!

I really really feel great!!

Whatever have I gone and done?? !!! I may have unleashed a monster!!

Creativity multiplies creativity.

Having spent time with the lovely Corrinne from the Guild I found out about something really rather interesting. Apparently the food we eat is incredibly acidic on the whole, which means our bodies are in turn acidic and what we need to do is try and switch to a more alkaline diet to bring balance back.
Corrinne suggested something called "Alkaline water" to start with... which is basically 1 litre of water with 1tsp of bicarbinate of soda (which is extremely alkaline) and a few drops of a "sole" solution (which is a solution made up from Himilayan Rock salt and water). Corrinne herself introduced me to something called "green water".. which includes the above, but with the inclusion of chlorophyll. Anyway, she suggested I try the alkaline water and see how I go, so armed with a "sole" (pronounced solay) solution and dragging the bicarb out of the cupboard I made my first litre.
I cannot describe the difference already. I have been drinking the solution in the morning, some before breakfast, some after. I have noticed some strange side effects... My desire to drink coffee has been reduced! (I'm down to one small mug, instead of my usual bucketful), my appetite is changing. I'm no longer craving sweet things and feel drawn more to fresh foods. I am otherwise a self confessed junkfoodaholic! I ate some chocolate for the first time last night and have to say, wasn't that bothered. I drank a bottle of cider and it was too much for me. Normally I'm someone who at the weekend would eat junk and drink... Instead I'm finding myself craving the alkaline water!! Weird!. So I urge anyone to try it and see if it works for you! I'm so impressed I've ordered the book from Amazon!
The book is called "The Miracle Diet".... can't wait to try it!

A Blast from the Past

A good friend, on FB, Jane just happened to post up a TV appearence that I made around 2 years ago today on Facebook! Wow.... what a blast from the proverbial past!!!
A lot has happened since this song was written, performed, recorded, videoed and a lot has happened since.. so I would like to take this opportunity to share with you the official video for this song.

I still love this song, as it stands, it is a beautiful homage to all kinds of marriages... Personal marriages, unions of opposites.. that kind of thing.
I had no idea when Roam wrote the song that it would be asked to be included in a Robin Hood documentary that would receive worldwide release through Warner Brothers!! I had no idea that I would appear on a TV show!!
Roam became a victim of its own success. One part of the band deciding to take up other things, I continued, helped and abetted by some incredibly talented people for as long as I could keep it going. Sadly, it became a thing of the past... I would consider leaving the song in the past as it has facilitated pain, sadness and loss for all involved. However, I feel the need to revisit it.
To my mind it still stands as a great song and deserves to be played and loved back to life.

Song recorded and video made by Olive Studios
Song performed by Roam
Song written by Roam

Here's the official video for it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVJM3uQ-vZc&feature=related

Phew! What a journey!!

I have just had some of the most amazing days of my life, creatively speaking...

The past three days have seen me make new friends, work to a timescale, work with limited resources and create inspirational artwork in a very unfamiliar form!!
I couldn't begin to start to unravel the past few days right now... I need some sleep!!!

Blogging goodness me!!!

Well, so much for me blogging more!! Facebook (that selfish little animal) takes up far too much of my time.. that, the kids and life in general have been getting a bit much lately..

However.. good news:

1) Finished my Level 3 Supporting Teaching and Learning Course
2) Signed up for Foundation Degree in Education
3) Started an Acoustic Duo with the lovely Graeme on Guitar
4) Started getting all creative again, discovering watercolour crayons and pencils!!!
5) Got the leading role in The Penkhull Mystery Plays - The Story of Ruth
6) With Rain (acoustic Duo) opened the Piccadilly Festival in Hanley!
7) Have a really lovely bf, who is considerate, and stays out of my way!! lol
8) Made oodles of new friends
9) Discovered Vintage fairs

Not such good news:
1) Split with previous BF... in not such nice circumstances... such is life, wish him well.. hope he finds his way, etc..
2) Split with the band I was in "Pink Djinn"... and lost 2 friends at the same time


However... Life, as they say, goes on.
I do not get down by the changes that happen in my life, I embracet them and accept whatever positive and negative comes from them... Life, is afterall cyclical...

How rubbish am I?

I must be the most lazy blogger there ever was... I love blogs, I think they're brilliant, the only problem is that I just never seem to find the time to sit down and write one!

I'm usually too busy on Facebook to bother, which is naughty really.. So, New Years resolutions.. OK I know its February, but I can still make some :-)

1) Blog more often... update all my blogs.. I have a few, so I really should work hard to make them work for me.

2) Be more creative.. and thusly share my creativity online :-) (Too many designs running through my head, not enough time in the day)

3) Keep singing and writing songs... Well, its a band thing.. Pink Djinn to be precise.

4) Find time to sort my life out once and for all. I've been procrastinating really, busy looking for a job, when its possible the job I've always dreamed of is staring me in the face... Perhaps I should consider going self employed??

Eeek.. scary stuff this flow of conciousness business...

Its Spring now (yeah.. of course it is... thats why the winds blowing like a hurricane outside) so its time to Spring Clean my life! Sort the stuff out I'd like to achieve this year, clear out the crap, and get pro-active!! Hurrah!! Success! A breakthrough!!
Maybe 2011 is going to be my year :-)