A bit of a Barney

Image courtesy of Pixabay

There is something of a gale blowing outside with strange thumps and rattles that sound like harbingers of Halloween on the rampage but are probably just the contents of my recycling bin rolling down the hill.

I'm not allowing myself to be frightened though because I know this storm is called Barney and frankly anything named after a cuddly purple dinosaur surely can't be that scary - because everyone knows that Barney isn't a real dinosaur!

I wasn't too sure where the idea to suddenly start naming UK weather systems came from so I turned to my trusty adviser Google for answers and it turns out make good sense. Giving a storm a name makes it easier to talk about - rather than just another big wind. Apparently we are to expect Clodagh next followed by Desmond and so on as we alternate male and female throughout the alphabet - but sadly skipping Gail the gale. The one I'm really looking forward to though is Wendy Windblows...

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In an effort to kick start my blogging again, I am joining with this 30 day challenge to see if I can keep on blogging for 30 days. Well, here's Day 1!

How to save a few quid and get some exercise

Next time your car is due for a service and the garage is 6 miles away, why not contemplate using these few tips to help you both save money and exercise!

Yes, dear reader. It would be silly to waste money on a taxi and gym membership when a brisk walk home will get the old heart pumping.

The route is quite a pleasant one too on a raised up pathway above the flood plains and overlooking the river. What a splendid idea!


DISCLAIMER

If it's raining and blowing a gale, you may find that the raised pathway alongside an expanse of open ground is not terribly sheltered. Umbrellas do not stand up too well in these conditions and the driving rain will soak through every layer of clothing you are wearing - no matter how thick and warm it starts out at the beginning of your journey.

The path is also isolated from any road for the first 2.5 miles so once you get about halfway along and realise it's a bad idea, then it's a little late.

You may then have to battle on with no protection from the elements getting wetter and colder until the first sign of civilisation. If you're very lucky, the nice people at the Holiday Inn will call you a taxi and give you a towel to dry your hair.

Unfortunately you will still have to pay for the taxi home as well as a new umbrella. Any benefits from the exercise will shortly be wrecked by coming down with a sore throat and a cold. Next time... get a bloody taxi!

Stormy weather

There should be more creative challenges with this theme - as it seems to have prompted the opposite in reality. The past week has been a positive delight - a taste of Summer, teasing us into our t-shirts. Bliss!

So I'm back to painting. I am getting acrylic all over the furniture and up the walls. I have very dirty fingernails. It feels good!

I've had an amazing week. I've launched my eCourse through my new creative business - The Wright Brain Stuff. I've also kicked off a book group picking up where us 'wreckers' left off a couple of summers ago when we destroyed our Keri Smith journals. We're going to attack another of her books this year - I'd love it if you got messy with us too - all the joining details are here.

Back to the art... These were really free and loose. I googled a couple of images of stormy scenes as my inspiration then just got messy with paints and oil pastels. No paintbrushes allowed. Although I loved the final results (below), I couldn't reist a little enhancement with some textures and extra layers in PhotoShop (above).

I can't believe I paint like this now - so carefree. Just a few years ago, the same painting would have been trying very hard to look exactly the same as the original photograph. I just couldn't 'see' the way I do now. It is so much more fun! It's why I wanted to run my course - I feel I have so much passion to share - I want to inspire you all to create words and pictures.

Posting for the Inspiration Avenue 'Stormy weather' challenge and Paint Party Friday.

I'm also having a Giveaway - don't miss out!