The plumber's testicles!

I was laid in bed this morning doing a sudoku puzzle when a knock came to the door. It was the plumber, he had come to fix our shower. We had a shower fitted about a month ago and it stopped working last weekend.
Here comes a rant. Why o why when you buy something new do you either have to take it back because its faulty or there's something missing? in this case it worked for a few weeks then the b**!!%^&* stopped working. In the last couple of weeks we have bought a, no correction, two free standing draws for the bathroom. First set from the vastly going down the hill Argos. A two draw set with rattan draws, the cabinet would have fallen over if you sneezed any where near it, the rattan draws were plastic, the wood part of the cabinet was covered in scratches and it smelt wicked! The second set from Wilkinson's much better made from split bamboo in a wooden frame and ready assembled, But once again had a broken draw had to go back to be replaced. We bought new curtains for the hall and landing (isn't landing a odd word for the top of the stairs? I suppose you could say you have landed on top of the stairs after walking up, but landing imply you have flown up and landed on. But what should it be called? a got there? on the finish? upstairs hall, who knows). Back to the curtains, they had a tie back missing. lastly a wooden jigsaw for the grandchildren, we put it together to check it, not because we are big kids, yeah right! it had a piece broken and the edges were tatty on a couple of bits aaaaaaaaaaaar and grrrrrrrrrr.
Back to the plumber, who seemed very nice and chatty. It was so funny listening to Andy and him talk to each other. Golf came up and " I haven't played well this year me neither, last year I got a 8? me too. then came Plumber: I got an hernia. Andy: how long have you had that, I bet it's painful. Plumber: Yeah it is. About a month, they treat me for wind at first and gave me Gaviscon, then I went back to the doctor's and said it getting worse. He then went on to describe the conversation between him and the doctor. Plumber to Andy: it hurts all around here, and right down to my tes-tic-ules, he said testicles in a very clear and comically correct, except for a pronounced 'u'. At this point Andy was worried he was going to show him where it hurt. It sound bad but I had all on not to laugh out loud. And no one should laugh at a mans painful 'tes-tic-ules'.

the price of porridge

As you know I had a relapse back in February and I haven't been able to go to the supermarket shopping since until a few days ago.
Andy went to do the half weekly shop and I tagged along. I needed shampoo, hair dye and body moisturizer, Andy would get it for me but I wanted the right stuff. No disrespect to Andy, but it can be a mine field for women buying this stuff.
I didn't want to go in the wheel chair so I walked some of the way around, as it would have been to far to much for me to go all the way. But what an eye opener, every thing seems to have doubled in price. When we got to the porridge I couldn't find the home brand I have at 35p a bag, it was there but in different packaging and now 69p that's a 100% raise! and it didn't stop there every thing has gone up at least 50%, how in just eight months? Andy must have got fed up with me saying look at the price of that, how much!
Something else, all these so called half price deals, the supermarket doubles the price on the items then halves it and then promotes it as half price! how stupid do they think we are? I think I should stay at home, or go on TV as one of the grumpy old women, and get payed for it, perhaps then I can afford the porridge.

Max the demented cat.

Max on a good day.


Cats can develop dementia when they get older. Both our cats are showing signs, but Max is really losing it. He's always had some problems reaching back to when he was a kitten, he had cat flu and meningitis, this left him with 'learning difficulties'. He's never caught a bird, his idea of stalking is to bounce up the garden like tigger out of winnie the pooh, and looks surprised when they fly off. He's even been known to run down the garden path wetting him self when a black bird has chased him, what a woos!

Over the last couple of years he has started needing nursing more, which is good. But on the other hand he has started for no reason to bite me, which isn't so good.
He sprays up and down the garden even the pond gets it. This behavior he has brought into the house luckily not as much, Andy's computer screen and in the hall are his favorit places,'nice'.
This the cat does apparently because they forget where they are and how to get back home, and the sent trail helps them to find their way back. (Wicked thought, may be next time he goes out I could have the garden disinfected and he might not find his way back, bad lynda bad, bad girl).
You dare not go up to him to give him a stroke in case he scratches you. I recently had a scratch from him that left a large cut in the palm of my hand. He was sat on a chair looking more out of it than usual, (he always looks like the only thing going through his head is white noise)I gave him a gentle stroke he spun upside down in terror and attacked me.

He comes in through the cat flap in the night and meows until you shout down and say its alright Max, he just needs reassuring then he settles. That is except one night he was too upset and I had to go down stairs to calm him. He was more affectionate tan usual, he was obviously pleased to see me. He settled after lots of love then made sure I didn't disappear from him by marking me. Great! nothing like a shower at 2am in the middle of the night. One other thing, he forgets he's eaten and keeps asking for more, he can be hard work. Oh, I forgot he keeps attacking Leah our other cat, she does not no whats hit her half the time. He jumps on her while she sleeps and grabs her when she goes through the cat flap, she has just had enough of him and growls when he comes near, and who can blame her.

Poor old Max! The condition is very similar to what we see in human Alzheimer's. I didn't realize cats could get it, but there's a lot about cat dementia on the net. It's quite worrying, we not sure what to do about it, or him.

The colour of snot.

Andy and my self have had a virus all week. Our joints, muscles, head and any thing else you can think of hurt like hell. I also had, and still have a sore throat and ears. But it's the runny nose that has got me thinking, why when you have a heavy cold why is the snot always green? After over a box of tissues and half a toilet roll I decided to get to the bottom of it, or the nose of it in this case.
Here is what I have found out:

Contrary to what you might think, normal nose glop is vital for good health. It helps to protect your lungs and also helps keep your body moist ( it's always good to have a moist body, oooooooh matron). It contains proteins, carbohydrates, salt and some cells. The primary type of protein are the mucins, which have a sugar coating that enables them to absorb large quantities of water. Which gives mucus its consistency and wetting properties. These also contain antibodies that kick start the body’s defences against disease causing agents such as bacteria, viruses and fungi and antiseptic enzymes, such as lysozyme, that can directly kill bacteria. Isn't snot good stuff.

A stuffed up nose is caused when mucus gets trapped behind swollen nasal passages. They become swollen because of increased blood flow to that area,this occurs so that the goodie white blood cells can reach the point of infection. This is why decongestants can help your cold by shrinking the blood vessels and cutting down the blood flow, reducing the swelling. Except I can't use them. Ibuprofen upsets my stomach in a big way and sudafed gives me nightmares, that is if I can sleep after I have taken the dam stuff! But not all is lost, apparently if you have a runny nose then taking antihistamines can help by blocking the histamine-induced stimulation of mucus production.

white blood cells called neutrophils are amongst the first on the scene when a cold starts and arrive via the blood stream. Upon arrival they mount an attack. They attempt to engulf (swallow) the pathogen (a virus in the case of colds) and at the same time they produce antiseptic chemicals that wipe out other pathogens nearby. These chemicals are so potent that very little escape and are destroyed, committing suicide to fight the spread of infection. Generally, enzymes are responsible for the production of the antiseptic chemicals and it is these that give mucus the green colour. Enzymes often require ‘helpers’, called co-enzymes, to function properly and it is more specifically the co-enzyme iron that lends the green colour to mucus. Interestingly, it is similar to the iron containing enzymes in wasabi and that what makes it green too.

So, I finally I have my answer, why snot is green. It's the iron containing enzymes, and the same reason why wasabi is green, but thankfully snot is not as hot. I suppose if it was, you wouldn't have a cold, you would have a hot!
Most of my information came from Becky Poole from Bristol Uni . Well someone's got to do it. And here ends the lesson in The colour of snot.

Cant believe it, it's snowing on mars!

Image from Hoax-slayer

It's 5:30am I've been awake for a couple of hours at least. A number of thing are keeping me awake, yes the normal aches and pains. Mainly my art and whats it about, and the news that it's snowing on Mars.
Scientists from NASA said yesterday that its instruments on the Red Planet have detected falling snow. The Phoenix Mars Lander has been sitting on the northern pole of the planet for several months, testing Martian soil samples for any materials, including water and ice that could support life. A robotic arm on the lander has dug up pieces of ice, the orbiter has also sent back pictures of what look like old fractures in the planet's surface, and trails of waterways.
The snow that's falling, are from clouds about 2.5 miles above the planet's surface, and apparently is evaporating before reaching the ground, but they are looking for signs that the snow may reach the ground. NASA also noticed that in recent soil experiments, the lander had found the presence of calcium carbonate, a main ingredient in chalk and clay. Both are formed with liquid water, this is so exciting.
As you probably know scientists have reported finding evidence of a system of river channels that flowed into a crater lake, slightly larger than Lake Tahoe in California. The orbiter has sent back information showing that there was water on Mars as far back as 4.6 billion to 3.8 billion years ago. This is a period of time that corresponds to the earliest years of our solar system. My head is spinning, and this time through the enormity of the findings (makes a change my from Arnold Chiari). I've got to say it once more, it's snowing on Mars!
It's 6:15 I think I will try and get some sleep if my imagination will let me.

The end of a era.

That's it, empty, all gone, what now?
Will it reopen we don't know, mean while my sculptures and some paintings are in storage in Alford. As for the rest they're in the spare bed room waiting to be logged and photographed, then put up on a website.
It was quite sad saying good bye to the other artists in the studios, we said we keep in touch, but shall we who knows. Most have got new spaces else where, I am waiting to see what comes up. The council seems to be saying we should be back in in 18 months, whether we do is another matter.
For my self now I'm out it would make sense to try and find some where nearer home, because of my health challenges.
More stuff has gone missing since my last visit to the studio. A inside job is looking favorite at the moment for the latest things. I have only lost a gallon of PVA glue and a canvas stretcher this time, but other artists have lost stuff as well. A artist put a chair in the passage to take to his car went back in his room for a couple of minuets and his chair had disappeared.
One artist was filling a van with what ever she could, stuff that other artist had to get back off her. This leaves a nasty taste in the mouth, I thought every one in there could be trusted.
At the moment I feel a little lost, the studio was where I was just an artist. It was where I could immerse my self in my art, and leave any worries or duties behind. But as funny as it my seem I think something good will come out of it.
So here's to the future and what ever it brings

Feeling sad

Sleeper iv 2004 fabric and resin.
The 9ft sculpture that had to go in the skip



I'm feeling sad.
I am or should I say, Andy and my brother-in-law John are emptying my studio tomorrow. I will have to be ruthless with some of my stuff. Stuff I don't need but have become apart of me, and my studio. Silly things like a part of a ex sculpture that was exhibited for the Vagina Monologues a few years ago. Two armatures for life size sculptures I was working on, and very sadly a nine foot, very dominant, figurative sculpture, too big to take away and store. Two large solid wood work tables, my easy chair and cupboards. Oh so sad. I will get over it but I,m not looking forward to going tomorrow, it will be so very hard. It was my space, where my creativity flowed and was apart of who I am.

Viv's got a distinction

Viv our eldest daughter has got a distinction for her Masters in Science, her love for lichen and all things fungi has paid off. What's fantastic is, that she did it in a year while suffering from migraines and she had a small stroke!
She applied for a job in the research of lichens in the environment, last week, right down her street or wood or hill top.
Yaaaaaa, she got it and starts in December, at the Botanics in Edinbough.

Dressed and ready

A bad photograph of a detail of painting I've been working on today (4ft x 1ft) 30cm x 122cm)oil on board


Last night Andy was running through a presentation he was giving today at a well being day, for Life Coaches. He is the creator of a coaching module/program (I'm not sure of the correct terminology for it) designed for professional coaches, called WISER. He has coached me with this tool some time ago (over a year may be two) the session we had was very powerful and gave me strength to create through the challengers I have with health and self belief.
So I'm dresses and ready to paint. I have the paints out, I've got my painting clothes on, and now, I'm too tired! So I'm off to bed and see what a couple of hours sleep will do.
Can't sleep images of what I'm putting down on board are keeping me awake. I tried to meditate to take my mind off it and get to sleep, but no chance. So up I get and start finishing a painting that I started last year before I had a relapse.
God it feels good to get the burning desire to paint and get the images out of your head into reality. I might need to do some tweaking here and there, but I'm quite happy to say it's the first painting I done since last year.
When I finished I thought my head may explode, the pain from concentration was immense. I needed to put cold compresses on my head and neck and lie down. But this is the price I have to pay to create then so bee it. I can't not paint when the images are so strong. It's like ignoring a friend in need or unable to kiss the one you love.
It has to be done I'm unable to turn my back on it, I have tried in the past but that's not who I am.

Wedding Anniversary

34 years, we been married 34 years yesterday, I can't believe it! Time seems to have gone so quickly, having said that our wedding day does seem thirty four years ago though. I can hardly remember much of the day it's self. I can remember it raining all morning drying up just in time. Plus Andy's family all been in the pub when I arrived at the church, I had to go around the block three times before one of our friends got them into the church. We went on honeymoon that evening only to find when we were getting ready for bed one of my relations had taken out my hair brush and some how took Andy's comb. Not a big deal you may think, the only thing was our hair was very long and mine had been pin up and covered in hair spray. We were unable to buy a brush and comb until the following Wednesday, it was hell. One thing I do know is that I would marry him allover again.