Countdown's done...

...I'm now in full-time employment again! No, it wasn't quite as exciting as counting down to giving birth (Olga K!). It's my first teaching post. And since I've been back from the UK, I've been preparing for what seems like all hours. I heard the Captain say to his mum that I'd been on the computer lots but it'll all be finished soon. That was about 5 weeks ago! Not sure he really knows what's involved!

A friend of mine recently said, and I appreciate his honesty, that he cannot see me as a teacher and asked what I really dream of doing.

I take a lot of pictures that I always think I will do something with...put on a photography website, print for my wall, print for my friends' wall... but we don't have such a great printer, and I never get round to taking them to a shop, dubious (nervous?) of their quality and certainly the possibility of their sneaky editing. But I think it would have to be something along these lines...certainly something artistic.

Making a coffee table book was mentioned to me, I've made a few for friends and family but they've been just holiday snaps. Such a book has been done with Oman being the camera's subject, there were always photography books in the shops. Not sure I could offer anything different...although most books I have seen are descriptive of Oman as well as the pictures. I would just like the photos to tell a story.

I have a few of my photos on the walls in our house. I love looking at them as I walk past and I'm personally proud of them, a good photograph with the added benefit of memories within! But Hubby is my critic. When I see and hear his (rare) reaction that a photo has grabbed him then I know it's worth doing something with. His desktop is of one I took in Arisaig, Scotland. So the fact he has done that means it must have registered something! However, come to think of it this was where he used to go as a kid so maybe it's just a sentimental reaction!

I want one of my photos to take someone's breath away, with them envisaging it framed on their wall.

I've had a super career in meteorology (I would like to have done it a little longer but my path wasn't leading me that way, I guess). I seem to be rather complex...an Artistic Scientist or a Scientific Artist...still trying to answer that! But the release and calm I feel when being creative (whether it is sewing, painting or photography) is perfect. And needed. Hopefully this job will satiate this creative side, but there's still a 'what else' feeling...

...anyone else still trying to find their 'what else' ??

Just googled 'Scientific Artist' and the first site I found was http://www.scientificartist.com/ , first page had lots of photos of nature...it could have been taken from my photo albums! (still, iPhoto is down!).

However, I type in 'Artistic Scientist'...the first article's byline: Artistic tendencies linked to 'schizophrenia gene' (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).(http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17474-artistic-tendencies-linked-to-schizophrenia-gene.html

I think I'll go to bed now...!

Still here...?

I think so.

Maybe in body, maybe not in spirit!

Where has the time gone since I last posted? The last one being the last day of hubby's Everest Base Camp trip. I've always had the blog in my mind but I have everything and nothing to write about it seems! Well, I seem to have expended myself writing about hubby's adventures up a little hill! I just have nothing to say, espeically after writing about trekking to EBC! When I think of something to say it's usually on a subject I don't really want my blog to be about... Plus I haven't really had the impetus or the time...


Key points in the Mitchell shack:

* Another dear friend in Oman is preparing to up and leave back to the UK (a post on that later);
* Back at Boot Camp. Ouch, it's hot. 38-42C at 07.45. Hoping it'll get the endorphins going again;
* Only one migraine in 4 months. Is masha'Allah the right phrase to use here??? I haven't been taking the supplements or the chili tea regularly, maybe not-so-regularly is enough...?
* It was the Vesak full moon last night (it looked gorgeous last night. I took a few pictures but was rushing so nothing to do it justice)...went to a meditation class to take try and experience the extra energy..I didn't experience anything out of the ordinary and in actual fact it was just nice to stop and focus on one thing.
* Made an evening dress for me and in the middle of one for my friend. I L-O-V-E it when the creative flow finds me! I'm painting again too!

So even the above is already out of date - Vesak was mid May! And the last session of Boot camp was today! And I had another migraine....

Might just post this and start afresh! Missed you all, hope you're all ok.

Right, off to update myself with all your news!

Sentimentality over a piece of green metal...

...it'll all be clear in a moment...let me know if you have ever experienced a similar wobble of emotion.

My Nanny Dorrie left me her gorgeous green Husquvarna Automatic sewing machine when she passed away years ago.

It is beautiful in appearance and ability and basically because of the memories it evokes. I love it. But it has finally given up the ghost after 50-odd years of no-doubt hundreds of hours together in companiable silent creativity with my Nanny and with me.

A pattern cover that was still in the case pocket...

Original manual and stitch combination dial. You find the stitch
you want and it shows a combination of figures that set the dials need to be set to

My Mum and Dad were here last week and Dad, being an electrician by trade, had a look at it. (My Nanny D was his mum...so this no doubt brought back some memories for him - some of which he has recounted to me after he had returned home. Let's just say a few tears were shed this end as I remembered my nan also...).

He was the one who told me to just get rid of it. HOW can I make myself get rid of it?? This is the only thing I have of hers and she meant the world to me as a child. However, because of her I know how to knit and crochet and they're skills you can never get rid of.

This feeling really plays havoc with my beliefs...I would like to not be attached to material things, when they break or get lost it makes me cross or sad. I tell myself the sewing machine is just an object; just because it's broken doesn't mean I'll forget my Nan...doesn't make it an easy belief of course...

BUT the machine was becoming a little dangerous....imagine the electrical workmanship if you will, in this country combined with a 99% metal machine...it makes for a peculiar buzzing, a distinct vibration and a couple of electric shocks for my Dad. So that's when he said not to use it and to get rid of it. He had a good point...my Nan would not want me to endanger myself.

But still, I can't get rid of it! I thought maybe my new one would fit in the case so at least I'd have something still...but it doesn't fit! I think I'll have to get one made.

In the meantime I'll make it look like an antique in my spare room, sat next to the old hand-operated Singer machine. That hasn't worked since I bought it. I think the Captain despairs...again.

Husqvarna make motorbikes too! What a bizarre combination!

On the upside, I've bought one of my own...maybe another future heirloom...