Sunday, January 31, 2016

When Scots Words Suit

There is only one way I can describe how this weekend has left me feeling -

Scunnered.


Watching the hypocrisy unfold on Twitter as once again the side, who think they are always right, mock and sneer in all their pomposity. Threatening with lawyers to bluster their way out of revealing they are little more than high school bullies and all excused as just 'hilarious' banter when they would be up in arms if  their opponents did the same.  Given a journalist with any mettle and a 'great' and 'wonderful' author would find their carefully manipulated reputation in tatters.

It's disheartening that the whole debate has been lowered to this level, where one scoffs at another, believes they are superior enough and unfortunately gets away with it.  

As if that wasn't bad enough, trying to get some people interested has been the most frustrating thing I've encountered since becoming more 'politically aware'.  Knowing there are people out there yet always being left to do everything, the expectation is sometimes overwhelming. I want to moan that I'm doing this with ME, I can't carry everyone, I'd love for more people to put their hands up and share a little.  The apathy is killing me.

It might sound a little vague, I'm worn out thinking about it all. I have lots I need to do tomorrow and empty batteries with which to try and do it.  

I'm just....completely scunnered....

via Atypically Relevant


Wednesday, January 27, 2016

And Another Thing

I named this blog in an attempt to remind myself that no matter how bad things sometimes get that it won't last forever and I should really concentrate on the bright things. (Of course reading this, maybe I've not been listening to my own advice).

However, considering that it has been raining nearly non stop since November it does feel like the weather is trolling me.

Productivity needs a kick up the backside, I need to get something done, dull grey skies be damned!

The photo that inspired 'It's Not Always Raining' - when little dudes were stuck inside we'd find something fun to do instead.  We didn't let the rain ruin our day - time to relearn that lesson. (Last note: I'd love to go back and give those lovely boys a huge cuddle! Teens have a tendency to greet a mum cuddle with rolled eyes and 'oh, mum'. I have entered embarrassing mum territory.)

Hibernation - Phase Two

It is very much like that just now - if there was an opportunity to tuck myself in bed and emerge some time in late February then I'd jump at the chance.

Once again everything is all swirling round and I need a moment to recalibrate - unfortunately those moments are spent sleeping like a lazy cat "juggling cats(are there any other kind) rather than catching up. 

For matters of humorous illustration I Googled "juggling cats" - I was not disappointed.

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Celebrity Death Year - 2016 Edition

No kidding, this isn't funny any more.

This year is only 14 days old and not only have we been shocked and surprised by the loss of a musical great (two for those who love Motorhead's lead singer, Lemmy - apart from 'Ace of Spades' I'm kind of meh about that one) but today I go online and see this:


I mean really 2016, who is next? It's like all bets are off and we should maybe hide David Attenborough until this year is over, although it seems age is not a factor but that big old c*** cancer who steals all the best people too early.

Is this that Rapture that the religious folk were waiting for a few years back?  Only instead of some self-righteous pious types it's these cultural icons - and I don't use that term loosely, I mean Bowie was a musical inspiration for generations and Alan Rickman an actor who could make you believe anything. I now hear that he was with his other half for 50 years and that says everything you would need to know about his true character and not the ones he played.

When 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves' was released (1991) I went along to see it with friends in a lovely, little cinema off Byres Road, Glasgow. Watching the film I couldn't help but think the 'evil' Sheriff was a lot more interesting than the wet, American drawling Robin Hood.



But I think this makes the perfect epitaph because it made a secret girly crush completely justifiable. 










Monday, January 11, 2016

Why So Many People Are Sad Today



David Bowie talks about performing 'Heroes' in Berlin, 1987

Caitlin Moran wrote this as part of her '10 Things Every Girl Should Know' but it seems apt for everyone.



"Look up here, I'm in heaven. I've got scars that can't be seen. I've got drama, can't be stolen, Everybody knows me now. Oh I'll be free. Just like that bluebird. Oh I'll be free. Ain't that just like me." - David Bowie, Lazarus


 When this video came out, I was still in Primary school and it seemed so exotic to us, almost a mini film when music videos were still a fairly rare occurrence.  Whenever it was on Top of the Pops was such a thrill. His later music might have spoken to our souls, encapsulated our feelings, dream, desires and fears but this was the first for me and will forever be how I remember him.

Wednesday, January 06, 2016

Sometimes It's Hard To Be A Woman


How's Your Day Been?

Me: Twin Teens back at school, lots to do, let's make some plans and get it all done!
ME:  Haha, you think so?  You forgot about me -

<packs brain away, replaces with cotton wool>
<sprinkles a dull ache all over body>
<a dash of jelly muscles, ah to hell with it, make it a double dash with some burny burn thrown in for free>
<turns dial up to 'Superdooper Tired With Extra Exhaustion'>

ME: Ah-mwahahahahahaha
Me: Curse you and your inevitable betrayal!

(Yes, I know that's not quite the right quote but there is nothing sudden but everything inevitable about living with ME.)


Tuesday, January 05, 2016

I Suppose I'd Better

Twin Teens are back to school tomorrow so I really should be getting my head back in gear.  I can almost feel the ME waiting for me to pause so it can pounce and lay me low for a while but finances being as drastic as they are I simply can't.

Me
and ME.  Hearing the nonsense that gets funding (and I won't give the most recent pompous example publicity here) then I'd possibly be in with a chance.  Although not being friends with the right people, middle-class or originally from/based in London mibbes no.  Who can tell how these folk get such things.>

Right now I'm simply trying to emerge into thinking territory, it's working out kind of like this - 



Monday, January 04, 2016

Teenage Kicks

I feel I should begin to make some altar or shrine in front of "Mountain Hare of January" in order that I don't feel quite so ridiculous admiring it every day. Then someone, in a rather good Facebook group I'm part of, posts an actual, real life video of a real life mountain hare, in all his (or her) real life twitchy nose glory. Maybe I need to add a rabbit to the menagerie but I think with dog, cats and gecko it might be overkill.

Two days until the Twin Teens go back to school. I've decided that's their new moniker, no one was getting the 1 of 2/ 2 of 2 reference and individually they'll still be Eldest and Youngest (separated by a whole minute of doctor fishing around in the womb to pull the other out).

I miss the days of Hobbits though, small, cute and with large (if not hairy) feet. The fact they now take a larger shoe size at age 14 than my 5'10" dad did as an adult shows that latter distinctive feature is, as my mother would have said, showing they "have a good grip of Scotland".

Now we've entered a new phase.

Fourteen seems a huge jump from thirteen where I could still imagine them as my little men. I now have conversations in grunts or revolving around computer games I have no knowledge of (managed to impress Eldest and his friends by my "skills" as a sniper in a Star Wars PC game - this is what it has come to!)  I don't really mind it to be honest, I have that guilty mum itch that they've spent too long on said computer games during this Christmas holiday although considering it's been blowing a hoolie outside the entire time I'll allow it.

I can't really throw them out to play with - sorry - hang out with friends in case one of them ends up being carried away to Norway in the wind.

Eldest, in particular, has morphed into The Boy Who Only Leaves His Room For Food.  Yet as his best friend moved down to Liverpool a while back, and he enjoys linking up with him online to play games and chat, I can't complain. Actually, I quite like some of the games he plays, all this city building and stuff, not Minecraft, that's "for babies" (they still play it - presumably sarcastically.) He was asking how they navigated the sea in medieval times on one of his trips to the kitchen.

I sometime think how lovely it would have been to have another baby. I think I regret not having another yet what I really regret is that I have no way to travel back in time and enjoy some of our days, when they were tiny. I'm glad no one can take that experience away from me, I'm glad I stayed at home with them but I just wish for another day.

Hobbits: Jaysus mother would you grab some make-up or something,
you look like the living dead. Anyone would think you hadn't slept -
Me: -------

Saturday, January 02, 2016

Small Things

Make this bunny extremely happy.  So, being the fusspot that I am, it takes me ages to find a calendar and diary for the upcoming year.  (Yes, old fashioned me still likes to have a diary as well as the electronic helpers on my mobile phone to keep me on target). 

I never usually am 100% satisfied with what I end up with but this year, at the very last minute, I have this joy to look at. An entire calendar of Scottish wildlife starting with this cheery chap - I love sketching hares, have never seen one in real life. Or I don't think I have, plenty of rabbits but they dash away so quickly perhaps I have mistaken one for the other.  I certainly haven't seen a mountain one in it's winter finery.

Mr January - the Mountain hare

Every time I walk into the kitchen there he is, and it makes me happier than a photo on a stupid calendar should.  So there we have the small things and I'm at the point now where I don't care if it makes me sound daft or whatever, if it makes me smile, it's worth it.

For my own pleasure I'll be sharing each month on here, although once the year is finished I feel the images will be going straight in my sketching scrapbook for future reference.