Feedback

Some feedback about the new job.  Well, I survived the first week.  Can't say that it wasn't stressful but at least I felt very welcome.  Apart from the unfamiliar surroundings, I really didn't feel like the new kid on the block.  My new teammates are wonderful people who really went out of their way to make me feel welcome and to show me the ropes.  There where so many things on my to-do list for this week but you know how it goes.  Life has a way of interfering when you make other plans. 

Over the weekend I got sick!  On Saturday I ignored the little voice that told me to go to the doctor and started self medication.  On Sunday morning I literally couldn't get out of bed.  I had a very high fever, throbbing headache, a throat that made me believe that my tonsils grew back overnight and aching muscles all over.  Leon managed to get hold of a doctor who was willing to see me which is a major accomplishment if you consider that it was a Sunday in Parys!  The doctor awarded me the price of the highest fever for the week award! 39.2 degrees!  Plus low blood pressure which explained my dizziness.  After an injection and anti-biotics plus lots of pain pills I started feeling human again - even if it was still a rather sick human!

Today I really feel a lot better.  The headache is still lurking and my throat is still VERY sore but at least the muscle ache and tiredness is better.  I'm still at home and decided to use the opportunity to do a quick blog post as I don't know when I will get the chance again. 

Apart from illness I must say that I feel great!  I'm enjoying the weather, even if we get cold spells every now and again.  The greenness of everything around me just have a way of cheering me up!  Feels like this new challenge came at exactly the right time for me too!  I feel so extremely blessed.

On the creative front, nothing has really happened since the SB convention in September.  There are so many things that I want to do but absolutely no time to do anything! :(  I don't even get time to go to art class to finish the paintings that I'm busy with.

I haven't even taken pictures of my convention layouts.  Maybe later today.  Will post it as soon as I can cause I really like how some of them turned out.

I did however buy a new toy last week!  My friend Tanya gave me the heads up on a special offer on our favourite online shop Creative Xpress.  They're selling the Your Story book binding / laminating machine  plus extras for a ridiculous price of USD29.99 the regular price is USD239.94)

It really sounds too good to be true but we decided to go ahead and take the chance.  We got the machines delivered last week.  I haven't tried it out but it looks like good quality on the outside at least.  It's a Provocraft product so I trust that it will work as good as they say.

I really thought that this will just be a quick post and now I went and blabbered on and on.  Now I'm off to make myself some scrambled eggs to eat so I can drink my medicine.  Think I'll get back into bed after that cause I feel my headache is protesting against all this blogging!

Upside down ...

My little world is rather upside down at the moment.  This time the crazyness revolves mostly around my job.  I've been doing the same job for the past 10 years.  Although I've been rather sick of my job recently, I've been in a really comfy comfort zone.  On Tuesday my boss asked me to step into a new position.  The same type of work but on a MUCH larger scale.  Lots more responsibilities!  Worst of all - I have to take over almost immediately.  No time to even get used to the idea.  This will only be the start of a rollercoaster ride of changes upon changes as we are in the midst of a total restructuring process.  Stressfull times for me!

At least I'll have a bit of a breather before I officially step into my new role on Monday.  I have an invite to go to the Huisgenoot Skouspel at Sun City on Saturday with Leon's sister.  That should be lots of fun as we will only be girls!

My friend Michelle Van Wyk has a Blog Candy Giveaway on her blog!  Check out all the chipboard yummyness that you can win!

Now I'm off to bed - totally poofed out! 

Aardklop

Woweeee!!!! This week has been soooo much fun!!

I took a week's leave from work to spend time with the kids on they short school break and to go to the "Aardklop" Arts Festival in Potchefstroom.

I bought tickets for one show per day on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  This way I allowed myself enough time to browse the art galleries and craft market.

This was the TV ad for the festival:



In the ad they they imply (in a rather tongue in the cheek kind of way) that art is therapeutic and can let you live longer.  I have to agree with that!  Although I came home totally exhausted every evening, I now feel refreshed and inspired and energised and in the mood to create! 

I've seen so many stunning paintings but if I have to pick one artist to win the prize it would have to be MARIA.  Unfortunately I couldn't afford one of her original paintings, so I settled for 3 beautiful prints of her work.  I also had the privilege to meet her.  What a beautiful woman she is - inside and out!  Here are some of her work.  You have to check out the rest on her website - absolutely stunning!

Another artist whose work I'm totally crazy about is Ronald West.  His paintings is so much fun.  He says that he paints life - not as it really is but the way we would love life to be.  Here are some of his work:

Love it!!!!!
I'll try to take photos of some of the pretty little things that I bought at Aardklop to share with you later.