Keeping up with the Daltons

Day 276

Hello little blog, remember me? I have left you to your own devices for too long but I am back now.

Not been very well actually, and when I have been well, I've been busy. Had a birthday. Not an important one with a zero - that was last year - but still took up some time. Had a great meal out with friends, but am still waiting for a card or pressie from either of my sons, little sods.

Carole Burnett once said that if you want to know what childbirth is like, take your bottom lip and stretch it over your head. Feel like suggesting that to my boys. Then they may be a little more grateful and responsive on my birthday.

Rosie, one of my lovely step-daughters, sent me a cute little jacket that didn't fit her, but - sadly - didn't fit me either. Nice try though.

Been madly painting that commission I got. And when I say madly, I don't just mean my painting technique. The big problem was it took me days to remember how to achieve the effects that I was so effortlessly employing a year ago. I honestly couldn't seem to grasp how to do it anymore. Breakthrough came yesterday, at last, and painting almost complete now. Phew! Paint had to be sanded down half way through as had got so thick.

Oh - did I say? - the patio is finished! Just in time for all the rain. The bruises I sustained re-laying it have nearly all gone so I'd like some sunshine now to brown my legs please.

Steve's work life is all over the shop. The contract he was waiting for and had done months of work for has been put off until end of August. We can't last that long on the wages he earned for the six weeks in Belgium, so that's a no-no. Could be tricky. Oh well - life will send us what we need, as it always does.

Been in hormone hell as well. Hoping this sudden frenzied onslaught of mood swings, exhaustion and weeping heralds the final storm. As my hormones get more out of whack I am hoping it is a sign that the end is in sight. Prefer to think this way whatever the reality.

Haven't had a chance to write any more of my book - this is the first writing I have done for a week and a half. Missing it but the painting is the priority at the moment. Waiting on feedback from Diane and her daughter Ella about the first batch anyway.

I still have one copy of my manuscript outstanding at a publishers. I notice that I do not want to ring them up and prompt them about this in case it prompts them to say "oh forget it then". I will be brave and just do it. This week. Sometime. This is not the right energy to be putting out.

Well that's it for now. I will write properly next time - this was just a catch up to say I'm still here (even if my brain clearly isn't).