2011 in pictures

My dreams for 2011

The urge to create…

…is upon me.

One of things that is always last on my to do list these days is time spent creating. In the old days, before children, I had time to draw and paint and best of all create with my favourite medium, pastel.

Now those moments with art are few and far between.

I have plenty of unfinished pictures…like this…

…and this.

And I have no shortage of ideas for new pieces.

Now I just have to find the time.

The week that was

Things are pretty quiet at work while we wait for the school term to begin (31 January).  We’re all taking advantage of the opportunity to get ready for the year ahead.  Tidying our work spaces, sorting files, putting systems in place, archiving old files etc.  So in the midst silent telephones and the quiet that comes with fewer staff, there is a buzz of activity.

I’m coming off a medication that I have been on for two years (nothing serious).  I no longer need it and have been gradually reducing the dose.  There are still some side effects from coming off it, not least of which is experiencing a bit of an emotional roller coaster. It’s altogether unpleasant but worth it to not be taking anything. 

On Thursday I received the news that a friend had died.  That’s another post.  I’m not quite ready to address that yet.

Today there is more chaos and laying of flooring. 

I’m ready for a holiday already.

Post apocalypse living

I have spent the last three days living in upheaval.  We are having new floors laid and while I am absolutely delighted that it is finally being done, I am not enjoying having to live around the work.

For two days I had to move the fridge if I wanted to access the dishwasher, then again to access the washing machine, then again to get out the back door.

It was annoying.

The kitchen is finished (hurrah!) and the fridge is back where it belongs.  However we don’t have a dining table or any lounge room furniture while those two areas are being done. It’s a tad inconvenient. Add to that I have had the care of FOUR children for the past three days* and have been trying to feed and water them from a skeleton kitchen (with movable fridge) you can imagine I’m a tad frazzled. All I want to do is stick a DVD on and sit them in front of it.  Except we have no TV or DVD player currently hooked up so that can’t happen. 

So up until now I have been a firm believer that I will be a survivor of the zombie apocalypse – I even did the Facebook quiz on that topic (and scored very well).  I’m now beginning to doubt my post apocalyptic abilities.  I think I’ll just let the zombies get me.

*Yes I do recognise the appalling lack of planning that teamed up four children with floors being laid.  But thanks for noticing.

This is not a resolution

You may recall that I'm not one for resolutions... why set myself up for failure I say? However I do like to set goals. Goals seem friendlier than resolutions, something to aim for rather than something I resolve to do, then don't do, then beat myself up for not doing.

As always the year began with me leaping head first into 'what can I take on???' mode. I always do it. I get excited about a brand new year and start to plan all the things I'll do with it - courses, workshops, meditations, journaling groups, book groups... for me, those old 'hounds of more' are at their most enthusiastic at new year. Somewhere in the last couple of days, however, I stopped myself. I paused, examined my habit of over-committing and decided not to do it. Just like that.

It was also right about then I decided my 'word for 2011' is SIMPLIFY. Such a lovely word.

So I didn’t sign up for 365 project (ok I did sign up, but I then deleted my account) and the Artist's Way group and I didn’t join several other groups and forums that I was invited to. I just...didn't do it. Because I know that while my enthusiasm for these things doesn't diminish, my time and energy for them does. Of course being me I had moments of anxiety worrying that I might be ‘missing something’. But I’m not and experience tells me that all those ‘urgent’ things I need to do just because it’s the start of the year also seem to come up again later in the year.

I’m not alone in this apparently. I’m reading similar things from others…like here and here.

So in the interest of simplification here is my goal for Bridget's Flame this year.

• A couple of posts of week... if I can...more if I feel the need or have something to say.

Now I know you've heard it all before...but before I also made a lot of promises to other commitments. My sincere hope is that by keeping my extracurricular activities to an absolute minimum I can go back to basics and just enjoy my blog. I have even organised myself an editorial calendar...much less grand than it sounds...I've just put in a couple of recurring calendar reminders. Because as difficult as this may be to believe, these days a lot of the time I don't post because I'm out of the habit and I forget. How feeble is that?

So there we have it, one simple goal for the blog in 2011 – I expect you all to hold me accountable. And don’t forget my word for the year – SIMPLIFY (if I seem to be forgetting please remind me).

Kthxbye.

This is not a resolution

You may recall that I'm not one for resolutions...why set myself up for failure I say? However I do like to set goals. Goals seem friendlier than resolutions, something to aim for rather than something I resolve to do, then don't do, then beat myself up for not doing.

As always the year began with me leaping head first into 'what can I take on???' mode. I always do it. I get excited about a brand new year and start to plan all the things I'll do with it - courses, workshops, meditations, journalling groups, book groups... for me, those old 'hounds of more' are at their most enthusiastic at new year. Somewhere in the last couple of days, however, I've stopped myself. I paused, examined my habit of over-committing and decided not to do it. Just like that.

It was also right about then I decided my 'word for 2011' is SIMPLIFY. Such a lovely word. 365 project (ok I did sign up, but I then deleted my account) and the Artist's Way group and joining several other groups and forums I was invited to, I just...didn't. Because I know that while my enthusiasm for these things doesn't diminish, my time and energy for them does.

So in the interest of simplication here is my goal for Bridget's Flame this year.

• 
  
  A couple of posts of week... if I can...more if I feel the need or have something to say.

Now I know you've heard it all before...but before I also made a lot of promises to other commitments. My sincere hope is that by keeping my extracurricular activities to an absolute minimum I can go back to basics and just enjoy my blog. I have also organised myself an editorial calendar...much less grand than it sounds...I've just put in a couple of recurring calendar reminders. Because as difficult as this may be to believe, these days a lot of the time I don't post because I'm out of the habit and I forget. How feeble is that?

Happy New Year Dave!

Well my first (but hopefully not only) post of 2011 is dedicated to my friend Dave. 

Dave, I hope 2011 brings you health, happiness and your heart’s desire – may it be your greatest year yet. 

I also wish the happiest of new years to all of my other treasured blog friends!

Love to you all.