lionheartedgirl promises to let it shine :)

lionheartedgirl

and hope you enjoyed your bike ride BF!

I spent ages on my little H100 building my confidence til I was ready for my test

lionheartedgirl

afternoon all

well, I wrote a long and rambling post this morning and then it got eaten :mad: but I do need to learn to be more concise so never mind

this morning, for the first time in I don't know how long, I woke up feeling utterly refreshed and revived. Note to self - 9 hours sleep does this, not 7, or 8, but 9 :eek:

I am back from today's wedding, it wasn't exactly local but it was a nice enough drive and as I was only playing for the drinks reception, it wasn't a long one. Hence I was home just after 5 - luxurious! :j

I was chuffed to notice that there is another Harry Potter on in a bit, so not only am I home in time to watch it, but also this week, I don't have to do any party baking, so can actually sit down and enjoy it :eek: I will probably fall asleep (normally do if I watch telly and don't do anything else while I'm watching :rotfl:)

So I am tucked into Grand Designs and going to make some nice coffee in a bit just to perk me up a little, I'm always really tired after playing and driving etc.

I saw a phrase someone used on the Matrix thread earlier this week - the concept of a "mind move" - I have taken this to mean a fundamental shift in one's way of thinking, so hopefully this is what the OP meant :rotfl:

Anyway, I have had a couple over the last few days, and am really waking up to the fact that big changes are within reach.

At my lesson on Thursday, my harp teacher told me of another person she knows who has other projects on and wants to offload a LOT of teaching. She thinks I am more than capable and should go for it.

I talked to her about my time planning session (not calling it time table ) and said that really Sundays are my only free day, and we agreed it wasn't feasible to be doing 7 days a week

But, thinking again, it's only through the spring/summer that I would be actually doing this (during wedding season). So I have said yes, and am working out with the other person what it will look like etc.

When I had been thinking before about cutting my hours back to 3 days, I was planning to start this from springtime, so that I could have the cashflow boost of the spring/summer weddings etc.

So. I have made contact with a friendly recruitment agent who has placed me in 3 jobs so far, just to chat to him to get a feeling for what is available on short term contract/part time. Had an out of office from him, he is back in 2 weeks but his colleague will get him to ring me. I also then remembered another agent, so will give them a call next week.

I think I am going to talk to my boss about reducing my hours. Another girl at work is about to go on mat leave, we had talked about job sharing my job as she is bored of hers, but really she wants to do 4 shorter days, so this wouldn't work.

Just recently, my way of thinking has really shifted, and rather than thinking, "I'll never be able to have things exactly the way I want" I am now thinking, "well of course you can, and you won't know if you don't try, and there is absolutely no sense in not trying"

So. The goals...

* stay in house as long as I can but be planning realistically to move if financially necessary - so stay flexible

* cut down on full time finance work and do more teaching and performing (as well as wedding/function stuff, I need to do more solo/chamber music kind of thing)

* race my bike next year if at all possible

I have got stuck right behind 2 serious road accidents in the last 10 days, and am reminded of how short and precious life is we are well aware of this in my family, having lost my wonderful aunty in a horrific road accident when I was 17, but it's easy to get caught up in the mundane-ness of day to day life and paying the bills. In reality, you don't have to be doing something risky to lose your life or be injured....

So.. the name of the game has to be flexibility. It is exhausting thinking of all the possibilities, but changing your life was never going to be easy, and I think of those who have set up their own business and have worked hard and taken financial risks to get things off the ground.

But. For Now. Grand Designs, coffee, unpack harp, PJs, Harry Potter, pizza, wine, early night.

Tomorrow. easy start but lots of clearing up/home blessing!

have a good weekend xxx

Wordsmith

Wow, lionheartedgirl, things are really looking up - what a positive and forward-thinking post. It would be fabulous to spend more time doing music-related things, and to have the boost of taking over a number of pupils at one go rather than having to go and find them one by one is someone's way of helping you on your way. I hope it works out for you - this is such an opportunity. And yes, life is so terribly short and so terribly precious - so if this is what you want to do - go for it, says I. And, if you are at home more, perhaps a greyhound or two would be part of the plan? I am really looking forward to hearing how this goes.

lionheartedgirl

hi Wordsmith, thanks for all your good wishes - I hadn't thought of being given the pupils rather than having to look for them, you are right, this is another helping hand For Sure (as Mr Rossi - bike racing legend! - would say).

greyhounds - would really really love there to be more. Mum's dogs managed fine here despite my long days at work, and Bubble managed fine even on his own, so I know it is possible. But I just worry about the commitment at the moment while everything is so up in the air. We were so lucky with Bubble, he had a cast iron bladder (and constitution!) and was strong as an ox almost til the end. However if I ended up with a doggy that wasn't as robust I know I would feel awful. I think I could rely on myself to pick the right dog, but am so wary.

I am going to be super brave tomorrow and tackle the bed under the stairs again, plus his sheepskin rug that he used to like to bury himself in. Mum's dogs have got grass and other grot all over it so it really needs a wash. Maybe just washing Bubble's bed rather than moving it will be a step in the right direction. There is a little fluff cloud that has been there for ages that seems resistant even to mum's Dyson, sounds awful I know so I really do need to get that gone too. Still have his collar on the floor too and can't bring myself to put it away. Wowee this has all come from nowhere!

See how we go tomorrow night all. x

Wordsmith

lionheartedgirl wrote: »

However if I ended up with a doggy that wasn't as robust I know I would feel awful.

Do you have a fair-sized garden? Could you make a kennel and run out there for the days you are away a long time? A kennel can be made very cosy so you wouldn't have to worry about them getting cold, and then they could take themselves out whenever they wanted.

Alternatively, you could have a dog flap. I had one once for a Great Dane - it was the whole bottom panel of the door (great if I locked myself out, not so great had someone wanted to break in).

lionheartedgirl wrote: »

Wowee this has all come from nowhere!

It was lurking in the depths of your subconscious. Better out than in!

Have a lovely Sunday.

lionheartedgirl

thanks I had never really thought about a dog run/kennel, but you are absolutely right. And for some greyhounds who can't settle into homes and are just too institutionalised, this is a good solution so I will think on

And....I know just the place to buy one, which is conveniently on the way to lovely person's neck of the woods :cool: fingers crossed it comes off!

had a good day today. I've got lots done but had a nice balance so haven't felt too guilty about what is still a mess

Dad came round to borrow his bike back and it was nice just messing about in the garage with him, swapping bikes over and putting a tax disc in the holder etc. We watched the MotoGP together which was great not really a classic race but entertaining enough.

I have fiddled with my bike a bit, but unfortunately it has a flat battery so couldn't go out on him. Think I am cursed on this, but it is my own fault as I was warned it hadn't been used regularly in a long time and needed topping up all the time. I will have to get a new one I think :mad:

Big step today - have vac'd and popped the dog's bed in the wash. All my bike kit lives in that spot now, and I will hunt for a nice cabinet/sideboard thing to go there so I can put all my photo albums/keepsakes in it, and it will be a nice thing to go in a spot that has happy memories. It will have to be small but that's OK.

I've cleared out my big kitchen cupboard (of the type where you open and close the door quickly so nothing falls out) - there's lots of stuff to go to the tip, and I can now get in to clear out even more next time.

I've FINALLY tidied my desk up too, and given it a wipe, and it's back to being a nice space now I need to hunt for a nice noticeboard as I have lots of funky little pins to use and want to have somewhere to put little pictures and clippings of inspirational things that I like to keep, to cheer it up. I've decided shelves are needed too so will ask Dad for help with that. He is also going to pop me a window box under my kitchen window for my basil plant and a few others :j

My washing is up to date, I need to make the bed and do the ironing, but I have a vague feeling that everything is coming back under control so that's a big relief :j

Other than that, I have some practice to do and then I will be off for an early night. Wish more weekends were like this :cool:

lionheartedgirl

I had a very interesting phone call about an hour ago, which spurred me on to do some proper practice

I haven't told anyone else because I am almost too frightened to actually speak about it, but here it's all anonymous (well, ish :rotfl:)

I have been asked if I am available to do a gig in about a month's time, a big one (for me) and a good few steps up from what I have been doing. With my singer friend. I am so excited I might well go pop, we will hear back tomorrow hopefully.

please keep things crossed :j :j and I will let you all know as soon as I know!

Souk08

How exciting! Hope it all goes well for you x

redsquirrel80

Ooh lots of exciting harp news - how fantastic! :T

Shoe_Gal

Wow, fingers crossed it works out