Blog of A [Struggling] Artist

12:54:22 o'clock GMT

Been a while since I updated the blog.

I'm still job hunting... groan.

We had so much snow on Sunday - 14 inches at least.  I measured 10 just on the back door step. The photo shows the snow by the river here.  We went for a walk and it was up to our knees for most of it.  There's still a good 5+ inches out there in places. 

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15:50:18 o'clock GMT

I did a portrait of a spaniel recently and I've had some glowing feedback!  They posted about it on the labrador forum I belong to, and then everyone else who's had a painting done by me on there also said lovely things again and I've had an influx of people wanting some quotes. 

Makes things seem so much brighter when its so stressful at the moment trying to find a good job.

p.s. Bobby, thanks for the comments re the photo - I was so pleased with that one of Graeme and Corbie when I saw it.... it really summed up the sense of what it was like up there.

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13:27:29 o'clock GMT Had a fantastic walk on Saturday in the hills near Dalwhinnie. The snow was above 500m and we went up to about 925m, just missing the munro - I was shattered after walking through snow up to 2+ft deep most of the time for a good couple of hours!  Snow clouds were also approaching so we made our retreat and just in time.

The views were amazing - I've added some pics.

Thanks Tom and Bobby for your comments - I would love to be on the  programme, but may be my garden was too big a problem for a few minutes viewing time. We shall see...I've been planning the next garden design steps in case we don't make it.

Still job hunting, so many websites I trawl through every day.  I applied for a web design job in Perth last week which would be perfect, great salary, not heard anything yet though. 

Children playing outside today, so just realised it must be half-term.

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15:04:19 o'clock GMT Well, the team arrived.  Nice people.  I was nervous/excitied.  There I was standing in my garden with one of my favourite designers and team!     They couldnt believe the state of the lawn - yes, its a mess, drainage is a nightmare!  The presenter had a walk on it and it was going squelch! I've got a nice list of plants which grow well in damp shaded situations and provide colour and tips on sorting out the lawn problem - so it was worth it!   Corbie managed to pounce on the presenter.  I shut him out in the hall and then when they went to leave he had piddle all down the hall ... how embarrassing...

Now have to wait a few weeks to see if we'll make the programme.

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11:37:34 o'clock GMT Just a couple of hours to go until I meet the Beechgrove Garden team.  Nervous? Yes, but probably more excitement than nerves!

I hope Corbie behaves himself when they're here.... must remember to close the door to his crate because knowing him he will go in there and hump his cushion in front of everyone!!

Sun is shining today, which helps to show the garden up in a better light LOL

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21:06:20 o'clock GMT

When i was in Los Angeles, staying in Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley to be exact, I awoke at 2am one morning to feel the place shaking!  The walls were creaking and it was like we were on water.  I was on holiday with a friend, she was already up, but I shot up out of my bed with the words 'Oh, Sh*t!' if I remember correctly!

I looked out the window and the pool was sloshing from side to side - now, pools just don't do that normally!!

We stood holding onto the bathroom door frame, which is one of the things to do in a quake.  The quake lasted about a minute. We were only on the first floor and the building was no higher.  Luckily we were flying home the next day, although I really wanted a good night's sleep and I couldn't sleep a wink after it!

I tried to phone my parents by which time it was 3am in LA and 11am in the UK, but they were out shopping.  I knew that they would hear it on the news and worry.  I couldn't get in touch until the morning, but which time they'd seen that there had been a quake in LA on CNN and were worried.  The epicentre was in fact 100 miles away. When we got to the airport, people in San Deigo and Vegas had felt it.  We had felt an aftershock of 5 on the richter scale where we were and I was worried about further aftershocks but didn't feel any.

Funny thing was, a few days prior to this we were on the earthquake ride at Universal Studios and both said to each other did we feel the tremour the night before... I thought it was my friend walking by the bed!

Here's a link to the British Geological site which shows earthquakes in the UK:
http://www.quakes.bgs.ac.uk/recent_events/recent_events.html

And here's an intensity map of the one I experienced: http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/shake/ca/STORE/XHector_Mine/ciim_display.html

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21:29:51 o'clock GMT I've watched too many episodes of 'Who Do You Think You Are' - a programme about celebrities who trace their family history.

I've now been researching some of my family history, something I've never done before.  There have been a few surprised over recent years that have come to light without even delving into family tree making!

I have copies of the 1901 census for my mum's g-grandfather and her grandfather who was 12 at the time.  Also think I've found my dad's grandmother's father listed but need to verify names with my granddad.

Graeme's wants to look into his family as well.

It's very time consuming once you get started!  I'm on Genesreunited and if the names of my dad's grandmother's family match then I have someone I can contact on there, as they've listed all the same people.

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21:28:00 o'clock GMT

Just the one photo today - made me laugh!

Had bad news - the in-laws doberman ran into something on his walk yesterday, stabbing his eye, and today he had to have an operation to remove that eye, poor thing.  Bit upsetting, he's not quite 2 years old, but dogs are very adaptable so hopefully he'll make a quick recovery.

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21:53:18 o'clock GMT
Just watched 'It's Me Or The Dog', always entertaining! Graeme recently bought The Goodies dvd's, as we'd never seen it and looked right up our street. They are funny, although I can't watch too many episodes in succession. For the last couple of weeks I've had the theme tune in my head 'Goodies, goody goody yum yum...'!!!

I have been emailing lots of web design companies with my cv, clutching at straws, but you never know. I really want to pursue that.  I've been mocking up a design for a company who don't have a very interesting site at present and I want to take that to them to see if they'd like me to re-do it for them.

I've also got a photo coming to me in the post for a pet portrait.

Another option I'd love to be able to explore is gardening and design.... and guess who's coming round here next week? The Beechgrove Garden team :)  We made the short list for the problem corner section that I applied for last autumn.  One of the presenters (she's also my fav designer off the team), together with a director and landscaper will be coming here to see if we'll make the final 18 who get their problem solved on TV. Even if we don't make the final 18, it will be great to get the chance to discuss ideas with her.  I must make sure the house and garden are looking tidy - and Corbie behaves! Still seems a bit surreal, but really looking forward to it. Graeme's still saying he's not going to be on TV!

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15:01:41 o'clock GMT

Some may remember this earlier entry I posted back in October re the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth:
http://journals.aol.co.uk/karenh74/BlogofAStrugglingArtist/entries/189

Well, my sister and I went up it on Wednesday. It was cloudy so couldn't see much, not even the Isle of Wight.  It certainly wasn't as high as some mountains I've been up! I wish it had been a clear day so I could've got better photos.

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