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Thursday, 25 September 2008

http://www.twobadmice.com/index.asp?p=1&c=Cards%20Two%20Bad%20Mice&a=Anita%20Jeram
It all started a number of years ago when I was given a 'Two bad mice' card, possibly from Mum's cousin Jo in NZ. The whimsical illustrations on these cards are done by a host of different illustrators, but my favourites have always been the mice.

Each year since I have recieved at least one bad mouse card, including the 'D U LK CHEEZE?' which Dan and Dan gave me when I went to uni (along with a singing snail, but that's another story).

Anyway, last Christmas, I received a suitably festively themed card. The journey between from Leamington Spa to New Malden is around three hours, and as someone who was an art student in a previous life, I often fill it with sketches. I turned my attention to the mice, and discovered they were fiendishly easy to copy. Time has moved on, and I'm no longer content with simply plagerising poor Anita Jeram's images.

What with Dan having a pawful of his own (plus assorted rats and ferts). I originally planned to try and make a flick book, but as usual his birthday was suddenly a couple of days away. I obtained his present from Amazon and had it posted direct and then sat up last til 12 and draw him a birthday mouse. I must admit, a pinched bits and bobs from Ms Jeram's cards.

Today I have the day off due to a heavy cold, so this morning I followed birthday mouse up with one entirly of my own design:
So lets give credit to the lovely lady who began it all:

Thursday, 18 September 2008

Large Hadron Collider...rap

Wondering what all the fuss is about with the giant science experiment under the Franco-Swiss border? Wondering why people are think its worth the minute risk that we'll be swallowed up in a big black hole? I know, a lot of the stuff they've talked about can sound like gobble-de-gook (sp?!)

Check out this scientifically accurate rap (yes, really) and fill yourself in. Honest, it's good fun.

Who'd have thought particle physics could be this entertaining!!

Enjoy!!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=j50ZssEojtM

Tuesday, 09 September 2008

Currently Listening
Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music; The Lark Ascending; Fantasia on Greensleeves; English Folk Song Suite; In the Fen Country; Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1
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Long time no see. Or something. Over a year on, and in many ways things are still the same. I am still working at GAP, though as predicted the novelty has worn off. I also now nanny for a 20 month old and four year old. Betsy and Ollie are a delight to look after , though like all small beings come with their own joys and challenges.

My body clock is telling me I should be buying books and stationary, only I have plenty of both. I especially aware of the seasons changing this year, I suppose because it is the first in my lifetime where I haven't been starting something new in the September. Whilst I feel a little sad about this, there are plenty of self study opportunities to be had, and plenty of activity ideas to be devised for my Monday's with the children. Yesterday we played with cornflour and water (you should try it, the most bizarre texture)in which Hannah D joined us; Ollie and I made a aeroplane out of an all bran box and assorted randomness from the recycling box. He declares this to be a 'dead' plane, which after further discussion we worked out meant a 'killer' plane! I was amazed at the success of this simple item, which he spent most of the day playing with. He and Besty spent the afternoon playing with the bubble machine (with the plane 'flying' around in the bubbles). This of course involved a chorus of "B-bo! B-bo!" from Betsy. She had made a huge headway with talking over August whilst I was away, and life in many ways is now much easier.

I love autumn, despite the strange emotions I find it often brings back. It is a season that saturates the senses with scents, sights and smells, to which my usually appaling memory is fantastically sensitive. There is nothing quite akin to the smell of autumn evening. Already it is cold and dark when I get up for work, and last night was the first fleecy-pyjama-and-cold-nose night this year. I am looking forward to the trees changing colour.

Friday, 07 September 2007

Currently Reading
When People Are Big and God Is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man (Resources for Changing Lives)
By Edward T. Welch
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Having already managed to fry my fingers on microwaved exploding chicken supreme this evening, you have thought writing simple blog entry would be easy. Or at least it would, be if I wasn't having to rest the top of my hand on an ice block every so often. How I look forward to the day when I new cooker is connected to gas supply and I can stop eating microwave meals. Jo offered me the use of their oven tonight, but I was too lazy to walk round there. Serves me right for being lazy.
    Anyway, I have now finished university though I did not pass my diploma; six weeks before the end of the course I failed a piece of coursework and finally ran out of credits. I could have taken the year again again, but I had neither the money or the inclination. The whole turn events is easier to take when I reminded by God's Word that the length of my life is infinitesimally small in comparison to the eternity I will spend with Him. After a spell of unemployment and submitting many applications to many and varied jobs (I had lost my birth certificate at the time and could not apply through agencies) I finally landed a job at GAP Kids in the Bentall's centre, Kingston. I am surprised to say I am actually enjoying working there, though I am continually challenged by the till, gift receipts, merchandise certificates and and customers inability to make up their mind which top goes with which trousers. Overall, it is a pretty good place to work, and I also get 50% off women's clothes as I have to wear adult GAP clothing for work, and I get 30% of their other brands if I buy them as gifts or for myself. The customers are generally nice and is quite fun helping them choose what clothes to buy for people's birthdays and stuff. My colleagues are all really nice too, and have been really helpful and welcoming. I started out with contract for 16 hours but it has now been put up to 24 hours a week. I was doing overtime anyway and already working 28 but this will give me the security that I will be able to pay my rent each month, and as we get into the Autumn there will be lots more hours going.
    On the financial side of things, money is pretty tight, but God has taught me some great things lately. Don't get me wrong, to some who steward their momeny well, the Lord gives more, but I have learnt that if I spend the money the Lord gives, wisely, I know he will reward me in another way. This he will do by graciously giving me the contentment that comes from knowing He has enabled me to steward his resources wisely, and to His glory.

Hopefully this will update anyone I have been too lazy to email (sorry Claire C!!!!)

Pip x