I suddenly had an epiphany today, I've always wanted to learn to play the guitar, but never seemed to 'get it' very easily, found my fingers don't reach how they possibly should. Well, today it suddenly hit me, afer all these years (I am now 37), I really do have quite small hands. It's funny how it can suddenly dawn on you just how small your hands are.
My hands are so important to me, as they are to most people, but I love crafting, I crochet, knit, cross stitch, make cards, I qualified as a hairdresser (and I do prefer small scissors so I have less chance of slicing large amounts of skin off my fingers and hands) I did learn to play saxophone (keys aren't too far apart on that instrument), I can touch type, I'm told I give a good massage and have also found I can draw (much to the contrary of what my art teacher used to tell me at school) and I quite enjoy cooking too.
But it never really dawned on me, until today, after reading a forum, that I have diddy hands. On a forum someone had written their hands were, from tip of middle finger to base of palm, around 7.25 inches in length, so I got a ruler out, my hands are 6.25 inches long, in that respect. My middle finger, which is my longest, is about 2.75 inches long. I have small hands, excuse me if I find this really amusing.
It is now making a lot more sense to me as to why I've had such trouble, I guess my next move, if I want to play a guitar, is to find a good one for small hands, or maybe a similar instrument that can be played with small hands. Possibly a ukulele, which was mentioned by a music teacher this week while on a school tour who suggested that for children to start on 'as they have smaller hands', again its all adding up and its amusing me no end.
Sunday, 23 October 2011
Monday, 10 October 2011
Demise of my favourite denim jeans
I know most people who have ever had a favourite pair of jeans can relate to this, no matter if you're male, female, teenager or of advance years, you will relate to what is going on in my life right now.
I have 2 pairs of jeans, that I have had a few years now, and they are now reaching the point of demise, they are failing to hold together in certain areas and I fear patching them is not an option, or cutting them down. These jeans and I have gone through a lot together, including life on 2 continents. Many a time I've been told I look good in them, a few times I've put a few pound on and found it a struggle to get into them, but the pounds have shed off again and they have been put on again in triumph.
Both these pairs of jeans have a good lycra content in them so they don't go baggy at the knees and they hug the right places and hang where they're supposed to hang. I've looked high and low and cannot find 'the same jeans' to replace them, styles and fashion have changed and now skinny jeans are 'more the thing' which is not the 'thing' that suits me.
I have got a new pair of jeans, which fit fine, but they don't fit as nicely and I have another pair which, as they are a dark wash, look fine being dressed up if needed, but again, they just don't 'fit' as nicely. I shall keep looking and exasperating myself in changing rooms of clothes shops until I do find another 'favourite' pair, in time.
Its strange how you can find just the right fit of jeans if you search long enough, not all cuts suit all shapes. It took me ages to find these jeans and now I'm going to have to bid them farewell. I just hope, at some time, I can find equally well fitting jeans to suit my shape and height.
I have 2 pairs of jeans, that I have had a few years now, and they are now reaching the point of demise, they are failing to hold together in certain areas and I fear patching them is not an option, or cutting them down. These jeans and I have gone through a lot together, including life on 2 continents. Many a time I've been told I look good in them, a few times I've put a few pound on and found it a struggle to get into them, but the pounds have shed off again and they have been put on again in triumph.
Both these pairs of jeans have a good lycra content in them so they don't go baggy at the knees and they hug the right places and hang where they're supposed to hang. I've looked high and low and cannot find 'the same jeans' to replace them, styles and fashion have changed and now skinny jeans are 'more the thing' which is not the 'thing' that suits me.
I have got a new pair of jeans, which fit fine, but they don't fit as nicely and I have another pair which, as they are a dark wash, look fine being dressed up if needed, but again, they just don't 'fit' as nicely. I shall keep looking and exasperating myself in changing rooms of clothes shops until I do find another 'favourite' pair, in time.
Its strange how you can find just the right fit of jeans if you search long enough, not all cuts suit all shapes. It took me ages to find these jeans and now I'm going to have to bid them farewell. I just hope, at some time, I can find equally well fitting jeans to suit my shape and height.
Monday, 3 October 2011
Keep sharp objects away from me!
Today has been 'one of those days' for me and sharp implements! I was getting my bread maker set up with the ingredients for Cranberry and orange bread, I get my 'Microplane' fine grater out to zest the orange and after a few strokes of the thing I take a nice lump of skin of my knuckle on my thumb on my right hand. So rinse it, and the microplane, wrap kitchen roll around it tightly while I run upstairs to get a plaster and antiseptic. After 'fixing' myself up I then decide to go from right handed zesting, as I am right handed, to left handed zesting, a couple strokes more and bugger me if I don't take a lump of nail off of my thumb on my left hand!! The nail actually stuck in one of the grater holes, so I had to retrieve that, and rinse it AGAIN, a bit of a trim of that nail and a filing and it was fine. Finally got the bread maker going and it came out fine, always smells good when that's cooking!
So rest of the day goes OK, bit sore on the right thumb but nothing that really stops me from doing anything. So I do roast pork for dinner and I usually try to remember to do homemade apple sauce to go with it. So there I am, really good sharp knife, did the shallot, celery (I make a slightly savoury apple sauce for Pork) then I get my two Bramley apples, cut them into four, take the core out, just start taking the skin off and 'here we go again' got a knife blade in my left thumb!!! Luckily for me the knife is super sharp, so it didn't hurt too much when I did it, but it showed quickly I needed yet another clean up and plaster on. So, I sit there for most the evening with a plaster on each thumb and had to use rubber gloves to do the washing up, WHICH I HATE!! All I can say is it's just as well I wasn't going to cut anyone's hair today, I might have lopped an earlobe off or more of my fingers.
So, I have two sore thumbs, 1 short nail and I still have my sense of humour intact. Hopefully tomorrow will be less accident prone!!
So rest of the day goes OK, bit sore on the right thumb but nothing that really stops me from doing anything. So I do roast pork for dinner and I usually try to remember to do homemade apple sauce to go with it. So there I am, really good sharp knife, did the shallot, celery (I make a slightly savoury apple sauce for Pork) then I get my two Bramley apples, cut them into four, take the core out, just start taking the skin off and 'here we go again' got a knife blade in my left thumb!!! Luckily for me the knife is super sharp, so it didn't hurt too much when I did it, but it showed quickly I needed yet another clean up and plaster on. So, I sit there for most the evening with a plaster on each thumb and had to use rubber gloves to do the washing up, WHICH I HATE!! All I can say is it's just as well I wasn't going to cut anyone's hair today, I might have lopped an earlobe off or more of my fingers.
So, I have two sore thumbs, 1 short nail and I still have my sense of humour intact. Hopefully tomorrow will be less accident prone!!
Monday, 26 September 2011
This could be deep.
I am sitting here quietly reflecting on the fact that September is nearing its end. This year has been REALLY busy for me and my family. I've found over recent months there has been no 'spare time' to do whatever I'd 'like' to do, only seem to have enough hours in a day to do 'what's needed'.
I've had another birthday, obviously, and yet birthdays and getting older still don't bother me. I'm 'one of those people' who can ALWAYS look back and think of all the achievements I've made in my life, even through tough times. I know I've not had a tougher time than some people, but I might have faced more challenges than others. I know I'm loved by family and friends and I strive hard to keep the people I love 'close' and not 'push them away'; which, if everyone is honest, can be so easily done when you're having a bad day.
I'm a 'creative' person, I love trying new things out, I've surprised myself, and others, at what I can turn my hand to. Just recently I've made jam for the first time, ever. Might not sound much to some people, or rather old fashioned to others, however there's always a great satisfaction to learning a new skill, especially when it has a tasty outcome. I've been 'blackberrying' for the first time this year since I was a child, I enjoyed every minute of it. Yes, I came home with scratches on my hands and up my arms from those pesky thorns, snagged my clothing numerous times and had to battle a few spiders and creepy crawlies along the way, but it was fun. In total I've picked about 4.5Kg of blackberries and have at least half that frozen for use over the coming months. And where I picked my blackberries there were loads left for the wildlife too.
I've rediscovered the 'joy of driving along country roads through open fields'. My trip to go food shopping now is so lovely. Driving through some villages and down these country roads with fields either side. Doesn't seem to matter to me if it's sunny or not, it's just lovely. I've driven them with music blaring from the radio and with peace and quiet in the car and just my thoughts for company.
I've felt, as a mum, I've possibly not spent enough time doing things with my children, however they seem happy and we sit and talk at the dinner table every evening. They are doing well in school and we are able to walk to school, which is the first time since they started school I've been able to do the 'school run' on foot, and I'm quite enjoying that too. When we do get a chance we battle it out at 'Just Dance 1 & 2' on the Wii. Or they whip my butt on Wii Party, but we do have fun. We want the kids to get interested in music. I was one of those kids at school who got 'passed over' by my music teacher as I wasn't 'naturally talented'. However in my adult years I've learned to play the saxophone (although I'm really rusty at the moment but hope to find time again soon to take it up again) and I'm trying to teach myself the piano, a bit. I've got some books to work from and when I have a moment I sit down and have a tinkle on the irovies.
I've not had much time to 'discover' new music lately, which for me is a bit sad, I love music, love listening to it, have such a wide range of taste, it almost becomes like therapy for me and I choose music by my moods. I'll go through phases of different music. Some days I might listen to Prodigy/Pendulum or some heavier rock based music. Other days it'll be along the lines of Eliza Doolittle, Scouting for Girls or some other 'mainstream pop'. Then I'll have days when I'll have heard a piece of classical music on an advert or something and I get a taste for classical music again, or, as was the case the other day, I sat listening to some Doo-wop, played several of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. I've now, since seeing Buddy the Musical, discovered more Buddy Holly songs I love, I'd never heard 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man' and now I'm addicted to it, brilliant song. Then I'll have times when I want something a bit 'different' so I'll sit listening to Jonsi or maybe a bit of Riverdance, maybe Loreena McKennitt. Other times I just like to hear nicely played guitar or piano, someone who really plays it well. I've grown more appreicative of music lately, it helps to calm me, show my mood, let me decompress. We all need to sit back and chill occasionally and whether you're into pop, jazz, country, classical, rock n roll, heavy metal, drum and bass or whatever you're into, it help to make you chill out and go into your own zone, its almost like therapy.
I wonder what the coming months will have in store, will I get any free time to do anything I want to do? Will the kids continue to do well? Will I stop waffling on about stuff that's unimportant, will I stop stressing about the small stuff? Whatever happens in the near future, I aim to handle it with as much dignity and grace as I can muster, whatever the situation (however good, bad, embarrassing or dire) and hopefully learn from it. If you must make mistakes, learn from them, don't do your utmost to repeat them. Live for today and don't go to bed angry, remember to tell the people you love that you do love them. And hugs, so important, and free too.
Come on life, bring it on, but please be kind :o)
I've had another birthday, obviously, and yet birthdays and getting older still don't bother me. I'm 'one of those people' who can ALWAYS look back and think of all the achievements I've made in my life, even through tough times. I know I've not had a tougher time than some people, but I might have faced more challenges than others. I know I'm loved by family and friends and I strive hard to keep the people I love 'close' and not 'push them away'; which, if everyone is honest, can be so easily done when you're having a bad day.
I'm a 'creative' person, I love trying new things out, I've surprised myself, and others, at what I can turn my hand to. Just recently I've made jam for the first time, ever. Might not sound much to some people, or rather old fashioned to others, however there's always a great satisfaction to learning a new skill, especially when it has a tasty outcome. I've been 'blackberrying' for the first time this year since I was a child, I enjoyed every minute of it. Yes, I came home with scratches on my hands and up my arms from those pesky thorns, snagged my clothing numerous times and had to battle a few spiders and creepy crawlies along the way, but it was fun. In total I've picked about 4.5Kg of blackberries and have at least half that frozen for use over the coming months. And where I picked my blackberries there were loads left for the wildlife too.
I've rediscovered the 'joy of driving along country roads through open fields'. My trip to go food shopping now is so lovely. Driving through some villages and down these country roads with fields either side. Doesn't seem to matter to me if it's sunny or not, it's just lovely. I've driven them with music blaring from the radio and with peace and quiet in the car and just my thoughts for company.
I've felt, as a mum, I've possibly not spent enough time doing things with my children, however they seem happy and we sit and talk at the dinner table every evening. They are doing well in school and we are able to walk to school, which is the first time since they started school I've been able to do the 'school run' on foot, and I'm quite enjoying that too. When we do get a chance we battle it out at 'Just Dance 1 & 2' on the Wii. Or they whip my butt on Wii Party, but we do have fun. We want the kids to get interested in music. I was one of those kids at school who got 'passed over' by my music teacher as I wasn't 'naturally talented'. However in my adult years I've learned to play the saxophone (although I'm really rusty at the moment but hope to find time again soon to take it up again) and I'm trying to teach myself the piano, a bit. I've got some books to work from and when I have a moment I sit down and have a tinkle on the irovies.
I've not had much time to 'discover' new music lately, which for me is a bit sad, I love music, love listening to it, have such a wide range of taste, it almost becomes like therapy for me and I choose music by my moods. I'll go through phases of different music. Some days I might listen to Prodigy/Pendulum or some heavier rock based music. Other days it'll be along the lines of Eliza Doolittle, Scouting for Girls or some other 'mainstream pop'. Then I'll have days when I'll have heard a piece of classical music on an advert or something and I get a taste for classical music again, or, as was the case the other day, I sat listening to some Doo-wop, played several of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. I've now, since seeing Buddy the Musical, discovered more Buddy Holly songs I love, I'd never heard 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man' and now I'm addicted to it, brilliant song. Then I'll have times when I want something a bit 'different' so I'll sit listening to Jonsi or maybe a bit of Riverdance, maybe Loreena McKennitt. Other times I just like to hear nicely played guitar or piano, someone who really plays it well. I've grown more appreicative of music lately, it helps to calm me, show my mood, let me decompress. We all need to sit back and chill occasionally and whether you're into pop, jazz, country, classical, rock n roll, heavy metal, drum and bass or whatever you're into, it help to make you chill out and go into your own zone, its almost like therapy.
I wonder what the coming months will have in store, will I get any free time to do anything I want to do? Will the kids continue to do well? Will I stop waffling on about stuff that's unimportant, will I stop stressing about the small stuff? Whatever happens in the near future, I aim to handle it with as much dignity and grace as I can muster, whatever the situation (however good, bad, embarrassing or dire) and hopefully learn from it. If you must make mistakes, learn from them, don't do your utmost to repeat them. Live for today and don't go to bed angry, remember to tell the people you love that you do love them. And hugs, so important, and free too.
Come on life, bring it on, but please be kind :o)
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