Lorna's Thunks

The Thames Traditional Boat Rally

2008-07-21T22:12:00.003+01:00

>
Yesterday Steve and I headed out to the Thames Traditional Boat Rally (we drove, not 'sailed').
We had a really fun time despite there not being a whole lot to actually 'do' there.

And today I've still been a bit under the weather so I spent much of it on deck gardening; giving the garden table a final sand and oil before putting it together; painting another planter that Steve made out of scraps of wood; wire-brushing the hull on the inside of the 3rd bedroom now that we've taken the wall off; picking blackberries ready to make jam; picking blueberries and making muffins; watching old episodes of 'The Good Life'; stripping the varnish of a couple of panels of the wheelhouse then sanding and nicely varnishing them. It all sounds like rather a lot when it's listed like that but I assure you it was a leisurely day.

Focus!!!

2008-07-21T11:11:00.001+01:00

IMG_4293, originally uploaded by armcurl.

Summer Shovin'

2008-07-21T10:08:00.002+01:00

(photo courtesy of Al Overdrive)
Final Score
Team Pink: 89
Team Black:79

I was still sick and breaking into a sweat from a couple of laps around the track. But I was so proud of our team after we got over the terrible first period start. Alas, we didn't do enough to claw back the points, despite scoring more than Team Pink in the second and the final thirds.

However, losing was sweetened by me winning the MVP for our team! That made me so happy.

Thanks to Al Overdrive for the following wicked pics:

By the seaside.

2008-07-18T16:14:00.008+01:00

We went to the seaside.

And we stayed at Lizzie's house. Lizzie's house is amazing. It is full of all the most perfect things.

London Brawling Dunnys.

2008-07-14T14:17:00.004+01:00

I've nearly finished the London Brawling set of Dunny's. I've been a bit slack finishing the last few players, but have 11 1/2 completed.

Hisss

2008-07-14T14:10:00.001+01:00

The battle for Captain Cat continues.

Yesterday:

2008-07-08T11:44:00.000+01:00

What are YOU doing on July 19th?

2008-07-08T09:04:00.002+01:00

This time I'm on Team Black. And Vice Captain no-less! Get your banners ready for the toughest match to date. We ran out of external ass to kick so now we're kicking our own!

(If you haven't got your tickets yet grab them soon as every other bout has sold out well in advance). And if you want me to reserve you tickets then let me know before THIS SATURDAY.

xoxoxox

Introducing Johnny Voodoo AKA Bones.

2008-07-07T15:22:00.005+01:00

Well, isn't this a treat! Steve and I have been wondering for a while whether Vortex would be happier with a feline companion to chase around the boat. And I had a little hankering for a spotted Bengal too. Would you believe it! A friend was looking for a new home for one of her lovely spotted Bengals and she lives up the road! So Johnny Voodoo arrived this morning and is scoping the joint out, deciding whether we are worthy of His Highness. And Vortex will be consulted of course. We are introducing them slowly, as is the courtesy in the Felinedom. I do hope that they get on. I think they would be the best play mates. I mean, just look at that face!

(He looks much more like a bob-cat than Vortex's Sphynx-ish features).

Yesterday:

2008-07-07T12:45:00.000+01:00

Creativity.

2008-07-05T02:39:00.002+01:00

I like this blog post by my friend Steve Lawson. Even though it's from the point of view of a musician it's still relevant to all creative endeavours.

Yesterday

2008-07-04T13:20:00.002+01:00

Yesterday we were in Yorkshire. Steve was doing a shoot.

Blasted!!

2008-07-02T13:29:00.001+01:00

blaster, originally uploaded by lornaart.

Daily Sketch.

2008-07-02T11:11:00.003+01:00

The 'tex.

2008-07-01T11:08:00.001+01:00

vortex49, originally uploaded by lornaart.

Life in Lines

2008-07-01T10:45:00.005+01:00

Sometimes behavioural patterns are best expressed in visual form.

It can feel like the prefect life has to be a straight line from where you came from to where you want to be. But if you spin that straight line around you end up a pretty one-dimensional dot. Much more familiar is the feeling of going round and round in circles. Starting something new that's going to 'revolutionise' your whole life, only to find yourself back at (what you think) is the beginning again once the cycle is completed. But it can't be the beginning! You've learnt a whole heap of new stuff, experienced new things, built upon what went before. It may not be the most direct route, but it's the one that makes you into a bigger, rounder person on the other side.

Daily Sketch as meditation.

2008-07-01T09:26:00.003+01:00

You know how I'm the queen of 'fads'? Well I'm trying out a new technique. A little observational drawing in my Moleskin Sketchbook as a form of meditation and a way of starting my day. I'm hoping that the act of drawing will focus my mind and keep my drawing muscles loose. Not worrying about wibbly lines, and dodgy perspective. The final drawing is not the point, it's the act of drawing and looking and calming my mind that is the desired purpose.

Creeper

2008-06-30T23:39:00.001+01:00

creeper1, originally uploaded by lornaart.

captured II

2008-06-30T23:38:00.003+01:00

dragonfly1, originally uploaded by lornaart.

captured

2008-06-30T23:38:00.001+01:00

dragonfly2, originally uploaded by lornaart.

Exhausted.

2008-06-30T23:21:00.004+01:00

Today, Steve and I fitted a new exhaust to our car. The old one was one speed bump away from lying in a ditch somewhere. It was hard work but we did it. Yay! It has been one problem after another with the car lately. I'm sure this is probably the case with all cars. Fortunately, by doing most of the work ourselves we have not only saved a small fortune in repair bills but learned a heck of a lot along the way. We are now just hoping that it hasn't all been in vain and that the car does last us at least a few months longer.

Paper Plain

2008-06-27T15:21:00.002+01:00

A little time ago I painted lots of illustrations for the company Paperplain. They are now available to buy through their website.

You can see them here and here.

They were a lot of fun to paint and the lady behind Paperplain is very nice indeed. It was one of those jobs that makes you happy to be a painter.

Fonts

2008-06-23T16:03:00.002+01:00

Ok, I should really supply lots of photos for this post but as I am sat at the computer I might as well put all the text in first and snap pictures later.

Steve and I have been considering renaming the boat for a while. It seems to be a funny issue, with boat-owners in the UK saying it is unlucky to do so, and boat-owners in Europe saying that it is unlucky NOT to do so. And sense saying 'It's an inanimate object! Call it what you like!' At the same time this tinkling piece of my Soul which has connected itself to something more than just steel and wood, keeps telling me that the boat DOES care.

Yep. That all sounds insane. But if YOU were at Hendrik's 75th birthday party on Saturday and the birthday candles went out just when you had finished singing happy birthday you'd maybe understand.

So anyway. We've been toying with the idea of renaming our boat Serenity. And now that it is summer and we are making headway with sprucing her up, it makes sense to decide now whether or not to change her name. It wouldn't be a change for the sake of whimsy, or ignoring the past, but one that celebrates the future in our new home now that we've gotten to know each other a little. A new name for a new adventure.

And so I've also been looking at some 1930's fonts (she was built in 1931) that should be in keeping with her lines. It's a little bit like designing her own logo and it has to be a perfect fit.

Slinky-Minky

2008-06-23T15:20:00.004+01:00

I've seen a Mink swimming around the marina. I also heard reports that he's been eating the baby coots. It is still amazing to see non-domesticated mammals around, I just don't expect it.

Trilunar- III

2008-06-19T23:32:00.003+01:00

moon, originally uploaded by lornaart.