Positively Negative!

Posted on December 15, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged bronchitis, Cold, Cough, Covid, Illness, lack of sleep, lateral flow tests, negative result, Tired9 Comments

Feeling a bit happier this morning. I couldn’t sleep because when I lay down I started to cough. If I sit up I can breathe. I think I have a touch of bronchitis. Thankfully there is no sign of a positive result on my lateral flow test. I spoke to my pharmacy and they said they have test kits in but they will cost £2 each. That’s a bit much to pay but I guess I need some as I’m running out. Oh for the days when I could get them for free. Anyway symptoms are the cough, aches and a very sore throat which I have sugar free lozenges but I need paracetamol to get on top of it. Bleugh! I feel rotten…

Masks

Posted on December 14, 2022 Posted in Sketching, UncategorizedTagged Cold, Cough, Covid, feeling a bit rough, Mask, rehersal, sniffles, Sore throat, winter bug, Worried1 Comment

I went into a shop tonight, but I’d forgotten to take a mask with me. I felt naked as I walked around. Every cough or sneeze made me jump! The trouble is for the last few nights I’ve been at rehersals and I’ve trusted everyone is covid free. Now I’ve started with a bit of a cough and a sore throat. I will do a covid test in the morning and check. I have to say I’m quite worried. I hope it’s just a sniffle. I’ve had all my jabs, so I hope if it is I will be OK.

Ragged Urchins

Posted on December 14, 2022 Posted in Sketching, UncategorizedTagged A Christmas Carol, Acrylic on watercolour paper, Art, Charles Dickens, Play, two urchinsLeave a comment

I have painted two urchin figures for out production of a Christmas Carol. They are meant to represent the boy and the girl clinging to the Christmas Present character. I’ve painted the on a brownish background to be pinned or taped to the brown trousers that my hubby will be wearing when he plays the part. I’m still trying to learn my lines, but he has a scroll to help him remember… In the book the boy is ignorance and has the word doom on his head, the girl is want.

Why don’t cats shut doors?

Posted on December 14, 2022 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Black and white cat, Cat, Door, Life, open, opposable thumb, Poem, Poetry, shutLeave a comment

Learn to shut the door cat!

I feed you

And you get fat!

You stick in the cat flap..

Like a mouse in a humane trap!

Your nose and paws

Easily open a door..

But you don’t shut them

You need more

An opposable thumb!

Waving….

Posted on December 14, 2022 Posted in Fine Art, UncategorizedTagged Acrylic on canvas, Art, beach scene, Commission, Painting, Sea, Waves, Wip, Work in progress4 Comments

Work in progress. Needs work on the beach which I think is a bit dark…. I was trying to get a feeling of sand. This is a small commission so I’m trying for a realistic look. It’s based on a drone photo I saw online but it’s not an exact copy, just using it to see how the wavelets ripple onto the shore.

Ten years ago

Posted on December 14, 2022 Posted in Fine Art, UncategorizedTagged Art, Cold, Craft fair, Fine Art, Painting, Stoke Market, Stoke-on trent, Ten years agoLeave a comment

This came up on my memories today. I remember this was a cold and sunny day just like today. I was taking part in a craft fair outside Stoke Market. Things were better then, people had a bit more money. I think I sold a few paintings. I have to say they were a bit random… I think I had done a all exhibition earlier in the year so I’d painted all sorts of things, some better than others. I’m trying to be a bit more selective in what I paint these days. I’m also not keen on sitting outside in the cold as much!

It’s cold outside (and in)

Posted on December 14, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged central heating system, Chilly, Cold, Freezing, heating engineer, Ice, serviced, Sunshine, Weather2 Comments

The sun is actually shining today. But its freezing cold again. Its about 15°C in here. We had a gas engineer out yesterday because one of our radiators isn’t working. He’s a lovely man and comes round every year to service the boiler, which he also did yesterday. He checked the radiator and its actually seized up in the closed position (we probably shut it off one summer), he didn’t dare try and fix it because of the risk the valve might break and leak. So we are going to have to get a new one. Thankfully that’s included in the yearly maintenance contract.

The poor man was rushed off his feet, he’d been working till 8pm the previous night. He said many people don’t get their central heating system serviced until it breaks down. Then they struggle to find a firm that can fix them. Sometimes it’s just a small problem, but it can stop the system working. I know it costs money, but I think it was worth having it regularly checked.

Victorian stove?

Posted on December 13, 2022 Posted in Sketching, UncategorizedTagged A Christmas Carol, Art, Cratchetts, Fun, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Painting, performing, ScroogeLeave a comment

This is the Cratchetts stove, a bit of painting I’ve done for the ‘a Christmas Carol’ performance this weekend. It’s a little bit splodgy, but the surface of the foam board was strange to paint on. Plus I’m very tired after not sleeping last night then getting up early because the gas engineer was coming round to service out gas boiler. Weird that I’m painting an old heating system at the same time as getting ours checked out. Serendipity? Maybe.

Insomnia, leave me alone!

Posted on December 13, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Aches and pains, Breathing, Feet, four am, Insomnia, Legs, Shoulders, Sleep, Snoring, Tired, too cold, too otLeave a comment

Don’t you know I want to sleep. But my feet hurt and my legs ache and twitch. My shoulder and arm shakes. I have to wear a breathing mask. Then just when I get comfortable the snoring starts! I do love him, my hubby, but he also will put a hand on my shoulder and weigh me down. Really heavy handed. It’s almost four in the morning and I’ve been downstairs getting a warm drink. So I’ve got my phone. Mistake. But he unplugged the alarm this morning and I’m not sure if I’ve set it right, so I need to use my phone alarm incase it doesn’t go off. Three hours till I have to get up. Now it’s make me a cup of tea love? Oh I give up.

Oh I do love singing

Posted on December 12, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Carols, Choir, Christmas carols, Clay Chorus, Fun, Music, Singing, the mystery singersLeave a comment

Christmas Carols tonight, a rehersal for a few little perforover the weekend and on Monday. We will be visiting the local hostelries to sample their brews and encouraging the regulars to join in with us! Part of the reportoir include :Gaudete, Jingle Bells, Good King Wenceslas, While Shepherds watched their flocks (Cranbrook version), which is to the tune of on Ilkley Moor Bah’tat. (I think there are videos on YouTube). Its a lovely way to celebrate the season. We usually sing as Clay Chorus but at this time of year we come together with other singers as the ‘Mystery Singers’.

Mallaband-Brown

Author: artbychristinemallabandbrown