Following through

Looking back at my blog posts I notice that I often say I'm going to do something and then don't follow through - or at least don't post that I have followed through. Most often the former unfortunately.

A while back I posted some pictures of a new, unfinished, oak coffee table that I was going to finish off myself. Well, I did in fact finish it some time ago. The pictures are below. The grain came up beautifully with coats of clear wax. I'm very pleased with the end product.

I haven't yet finished the table for my father - in my defense it is quite hard to sand when you have whooping cough!

This week I also took affirmative action by signing up for a website design course and a Tai Chi class - two checks in the plus column against fitness and career goals.

So, feeling very pleased with myself as we head towards March. Where on earth does the time go?

Rainy Days

It's pouring with rain outside. Rumour has it that it might snow today - I'm not buying it.

I'm a big fan of the rain - all kinds of rain. I love the heavy rain when you're snuggled inside all safe and warm. I love walking in the rain when you don't have any place to be in particular. I especially love the sea in the rain. All the extrordinary colours and moody lighting. Fabulous.

I often try and catch rain on film and it never works particularly well. Below is a shot of a storm in Florida in December. The drops were falling from the guttering and lit up by lightening. I never did manage to catch the lightening as my camera has one of those annoying delays between pressing the button and the shot being taken. Still, it's atmospheric.

I think my gorgeous, adorable, beautiful, smart nephew might like the rain as much as I do. Well, maybe not, but it certainly doesn't put him off his fun. We had a wonderful time at the beach one wet day. He chased seagulls and played on the slides. It was a bit of a spontaneous trip and a lot damp but it was such fun to see him enjoy himself.

I know you can't see his face clearly but I like the photo in spite of, and because of, that. My little water baby.

When there's no rain to be enjoyed he finds any old bit of water wherever he can - the messier the better! Most of the water in this bird bath is already down his front. Definitely a boy after my own heart.


It's February already, and closer to the end than the beginning. It's hard to believe that it's been almost two months since I was in Florida. Two months since I turned 40. Two months into a new year when I didn't even manage all my goals from last year.

This year's goals are getting off to a rocky start. A bout of whooping cough meant I haven't been able to start any kind of exercise regime as yet. I am, however, eating so healthily that Gillian McKeith herself couldn't fault me! God, I miss pizza.

There aren't many jobs out there right now so that's going to take some time. I've been contemplating moving near the sea and/or moving in to a shared house with my family so getting my house up to scratch to sell may take precedence over changing jobs.

Many of my artistic endeavours this year are likely to be DIY projects in the house. I will try to take photos. I also have a commission to paint a zebra for my unborn nephew which will take me full circle as I started this blog when I painted a cow and a frog for my first little nephew.