Morning time in the garden

So nice this morning. Woke up. Got a few chores attended to (washing, make beds etc) and then took half an hour's break for a coffee on the deck. We can now sit out in the garden without the feeling that "the guttering needs replacing". That job has been done this week. Woo hoo! We started out just B and me. Then Grace joined us. And Sweep followed. They looked so cute playing together (Grace and Sweep) that I had to capture it on film. Gem was coming home this weekend (from her country life in Orange) but decided she needed R&R so stayed put at her new home. Laura feels the effect of a long cold winter in Japan (sniffle, sniffle) and needs her Berocca. I have had an up and down week at work and need to be very creative so I can mentally switch off and escape into another world. Some sketching definitely. Perhaps a trip to a local garden somewhere.

A drought followed by a flourish...

I cannot find the balance between my working life, my home life and my creative life. Can I share with you a few passions I have. I know myself to be a "good nurse", but to my employers, I am just a number (an eight digit number to be exact). I think working in my current employment has kick started my need to express myself. I guess I can thank their suppression of my creativity for helping me to produce my latest works of art. I have this feeling that life will pass me by and I will never achieve all that I want to achieve unless I DO IT NOW!!!. The opportunity to do a poster to celebrate breastfeeding (in 2010) was awarded with getting the front cover of the 2011 calendar (NSW HEALTH). I guess the calendar says that Louise Cowper (a corporate high flyer) picked it to be the front cover out of all the 39 entries. It's not my best work. I don't know what is, butthis poster's simplicity has broad appeal.

I LOVE to draw and to paint. It gives me pleasure. So much pleasure. I'd love to be a well known painter.

But I also love to photograph. I'd love to produce a famous photograph.

And I love to play the piano. I never read music. I find it hard to read music. But I play by ear. I can pick a tune. And I can replicate a tune. My music gives me pleasure. I'd love to play a piece of music and it be famous. I'd love to play the theme music to a wonderful film or TV show. I'd love my music to be recognised. And those tunes I play not to be buried with me but to live on in the hearts of others.

I'd like to be applauded for my creativity. Not it be a closet hobby.

Nursing rewards those nurses who are allowed to shine. The culture in my organisation subscribes to the Tall Poppy Syndrome. Unless you are a "favourite" one.

Lots of exciting ideas through the SSC

The Sydney Sketch Club was introduced to me through a friend, Alissa, who I met through Life Drawing Classes at the AGNSW. The SSC is a gathering of artists and creative people and people who enjoy to draw. The membership is up around the 250 mark though most meetups have less that 20 people turn up. The group gathers at places all over Sydney to sketch/ paint/ photograph together. But although there is art activities on most weekends, there is a balance to be maintained in all of life. Not ALL art or ALL photography or ALL creative pursuits. However, I would have to say that artistic pursuits do add some degree of calm and also satisfaction and enjoyment in life. There are so many ideas for the first few months of 2011, of which I will be joining in. This group contains some pretty amazing artists. They definitely inspire. Some of them work at a very advanced level. I just stand back and admire. WOW!