WOYWW - What A Difference No Internet Makes...

Good morning everyone. I'm typing fast as the internet is still being a pig. We don't have it more often than we have it at the moment. But blimey, you don't half get a lot done without it!

I've spring cleaned my shedio and my little corner of the living room. Tidy shelves and desk in the house and tidy shedio.

In the tidy up I found a box that's been hoarded for years - and recovered it with pretty papers, also hoarded. Need to just finish it off and then I'll show you. I've been drawing, painting, catching up on my reading... have really enjoyed not having the net if I am honest. I don't seem to be capable of just sitting down for a 5 minute surf, it sucks me in for hours. When we get it sorted I am going to try and regiment myself more, especially with going to school in the Summer - it has definitely been eye opening with regards how long I do spend online, how much I could be getting done.

Anyway - enough waffle... proudly and for your rummaging delight... a clean and tidy shedio...

Tadaaaa...

Craig even climbed up and cleaned the perspex bit on the roof - so much more natural light!

 

This next one is just to give an idea of the size and why I am jealous of those of you with big gardens. This is my tiny shedio - I'm taking this from our back door. With the shed door open like that it's the width of our garden. My dream is to have one of those big cabins, nicely heated and lined. But I do love my little shedio and it's just two or 3 steps away from our door. It does me, until one of the kids stops being so selfish and gives up one of their bedrooms anyway. Honestly - you'd think sleeping in a shed would be an adventure. But noooo. Kids these days, no imagination. 

Took this picture before I tidied up ;)

I'm off now to link up with Queen of the Desks Julia - why not follow me over for more creative workspaces galore. 

Thanks for stopping by today - internet allowing I will get round as many of you as possible :)

The Edgar Allan Poe Audio Collection - Book Review

I haven't done a book review for a while - so thought I'd rectify that. This is one with a difference - it's an audio book.

Blurb (from Amazon.co.uk) : 

Universally acclaimed as the maestro of horror and the morbid, Edgar Allan Poe’s dark gift has for more than a century and a half set the standard for the genre. Now, Caedmon Audio presents a classic collection of Poe’s most terrifying tales performed by two of the most brilliant interpreters of his work, Vincent Price and Basil Rathbone. Between them, they perform 20 of Poe’s chilling stories and poems, creating an unforgettably intense listening experience.

Review:
I'm not going to review the stories and poems themselves - I think you either love Poe, or you don't. You can find much, if not all, of his work online if you dig a bit. I love him. This is a review of the audio books.

I'd had the books on my wishlist for ages, purely for the fact that Vincent Price was reading them. Could there be a better pairing? So I was over the moon to find my lovely Dad had got me them for Christmas. 

Firstly the niggles. Of which there are a couple. The 5 CD's come in  a flip open cardboard sleeve inside a cardboard box. (Not a niggle.) 

There is no track listing on the back of the box nor a slip of paper inside the box. All the track listings are printed on the CD's themselves. Not a problem in itself if the stories and poems were announced as they are read. They are not. Each one just starts and then the next starts straight away after. The more famous ones you can guess of course, but the lesser known ones, we had to check as we took the CD out of the player. Would just be nice, if they aren't going to provide separate track listing, to have the readers announce the next story or poem.

Next was the sound. It played very, very quietly. At first I thought it might be my car CD player - we had to crank it up to full volume to hear but I have since tested all the CD's at home and it's the same. I have to have the volume set to the max. So, driving along the motorway, volume as high as it will go to hear the hushed tones of Mr Rathbone, who has the tendency to start shouting when the drama gets going... and the shouting gets very loud, I almost peed myself on several occasions driving along the M20! Leaning forward to catch those hushed tones and then BOOM in your face volume. Also, as each CD ends and you take it out to put the next one in, the car radio cuts in at full volume. Not ideal.  Not so bad at home - adds to the drama through earphones, just have your hand ready on the volume.

Other than that, I absolutely love this set of CD's. dare I say it, considering I had wanted them because of Vincent Price, I would have been happy had Basil Rathbone read the lot. He brought such drama, tension and humour to the text and really brought it to life for me. That man really gets into a role! I enjoyed the Vincent Price readings too but after 3 CD's of being lulled, wooed and terrified by Mr Rathbone - I kind of missed him for the remaining CD's. I recently read a homage to Poe post where the lovely Gina had written a poem in his style and even that, as I was reading it, I heard the voice of Basil Rathbone in my head. Craig and I recently drove to Hastings without the kids and we spent nearly the entire hour and a half/2 hour journey in silence, save for the occasional snigger at the fate of some poor tortured soul. Absolutely engrossed, the pair of us.

So - even with the niggles, I recommend this set 100% 5 stars out of 5. It brought Poe to life for me. I'm including a track listing for you so you can make your own mind up. (And lets face it - it's easy enough to print that off and pop it in your box.)

CD 1: (Basil Rathbone)

1. To -
2. Alone
3. The City In The Sea
4. The Fall Of The House Of Usher
5. The Haunted Palace
6. The Pit And The Pendulum

CD 2: (Basil Rathbone)

1. The Masque of the Red Death
2. The Tell Tale Heart
3. The Black Cat

CD 3: (Basil Rathbone)

1. The Raven
2. The Facts of the Case of M.Valdemar
3. The Cask Of Amontillado
4. The Bells
5. Annabel Lee
6. Eldorado

CD 4: (Vincent Price)

1. Ligeia (Although the CD says it's To- It's not. It's Ligeia)
2. The City In The Sea
3. Alone

CD 5: (Vincent Price)

1. Berenice
2. The Gold Bug

Thanks for stopping by today :)

Twitter Art Exhibit 2015 - Little Fishy

Little Fishy is now merrily swimming her way to Norway. I've had mixed reactions to her, or more to the point what went into making her. She's definitely had a Marmite Love/Hate reaction. Gotta admit - I'm loving that!

Fancy a step by step - kind of? Here we go then...

Here's a little piccie of a little fishy.

Winsor & Newton Professional watercolours in Winsor Blue
Rock salt liberally chucked willy nilly

Winsor & Newton Professional watercolours in Winsor Lemon
Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolours in... er... purple?
Smooshed Clingfilm

Time to get dressed...
Naturally shed Bearded Dragon skin

Tissue paper

And here she is.
She was finished off with:
Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolour in Chinese White
 Winsor & Newton iridescent medium (Oodles of)
Biro
Glossy Accents (her eye)

Close up of her 'scales'

She will be shown at the Twitter Art Exhibit in Moss, Norway. All the submitted art postcards are sold for the same price each and 100% of the proceeds are going to Home-Start Moss.

"Twitter Art Exhibit: Moss is an international exhibition of original postcard art benefiting Home-Start Moss, a nonprofit organization helping families in need. Home-Start believes that every child deserves the best start in life. By matching experienced volunteers to families with young children, Home-Start provides support that is free to the family, confidential, and based on individual needs. Volunteers do not make judgements or tell the parents how to live their lives; instead, they try to encourage confidence and independence, and help families build their own networks of friends and other support."

I hope Little Fishy sells and makes them some pennies.

Thanks for stopping by today :)

WOYWW - What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday

Hello, hello, hello fair desk rummagers and loyal lurkers alike. Look at this! Two weeks in a row AND I got round everyone last week - can't remember the last time that happened! Can't promise this week will be the same as the t'internet is being a swine! Didn't have it hardly at all yesterday - but in the name of snooping, I shall try my hardest!

The shedio desk outside hasn't changed much. I was all smug in that I had removed the Crabbies packaging that had still been loitering on my desk since Christmas (Mmmm, love a nice ginger beer!) But then I bought a canvas and Craig, aka Monica,  my partner tidied up after me again. (Tidied=dumped it all on my desk) So, in fact, I am messier than last week. I may see if I can keep this up - it might reach the ceiling in a couple of weeks!

Please excuse my daughters bike - during the Winter months it takes up residence.
I'm to lazy to haul it out so am half sat on it to get this picture.

The inside work area has been the kitchen counter this week. Ah, how Craig has reacted with joy and delight at my cutting up shedded bearded dragon skin in the kitchen. Well - a fish needs scales... right? (He felt quite ill - he said he can't wait for the Summer months when he doesn't have to see what I'm up to out in the shedio. Charming.)

Yes - I have banged my head on that overhead cupboard more than once this week.

She's off to the Twitter Art Exhibit - I'm just pondering whether to leave her white.
 She's smothered in iridescent medium, so shimmers all over. I kind of like her white and shimmery.
Yep - I might leave her like that.

So - I'm off to link up with Julia, the leader  of the desk rummaging pack. If you'd like to see what other creatives around the World are getting up to on this fine, grey, cold Wednesday. Follow me over by clicking here.

Thanks for stopping by today :)

Rocking My World Friday... On Saturday :)

A little bit late but here I am! Time for a look back on what has made me happy this week.

First up - who could not smile when you open a parcel and are greeted by sunshine and rainbows?

This was a lovely gift from the gorgeous and talented Shroo. In amongst some yummy goodies was this art tile - a party raven to celebrate my good news last week :) Isn't he fabulous? I can just tell he would be trouble! He's got a mischievous glint in his eye. 

Art tile by Shroo

The excitement that 10 minutes of snow can bring...

Phoebe for entertaining her little brother and sister. The patience she had with them... I think they were having fun don't you?

And (what was left of) the cheesy caterpillars that they made. Scrumdiddliumptious indeed!

 

These two, playing quietly is a minor miracle. They were so engrossed in Ruby's Peppa Pig house that I am considering saving for a big dolls house for our living room. Maybe we can make a thing of scouring bootfairs in the Summer for the furniture - or making some.

• Devvie found out today that she has another uni offer - this one for Westminster.
• The Maths GCSE app on my tablet. When I first got it I was getting zero scores. I decided to try it again this week and am only getting one or two questions wrong! Going to try and play it each evening to keep me revising.
• Getting a little arty time today.
• Sunshine - even if it is flipping FREEEEZING!
• The sort of chats I can have with my Craig :)
• Getting the Bear into a proper bedtime routine, more chilled out Bear and a couple of hours evening time to do me things. Yay!
• Raw brussell sprouts. When I want something crunchy and am trying to avoid scoffing crisps. I've worked my way through two whole bags of sprouts this week - I swear I am actually craving them now! (No, I have nothing to tell you!) 

And that'll do for this week - what made you smile this week? I'm off to link up with Virginia. Why don't you follow me over?

Thanks for stopping by today :)

WOYWW - My First of 2015

Good Morning, Afternoon or Evening fellow Deskers.   February already and this is the first time I've taken part since last year! Naughty!

On my inside desk today you can see a cheeky little helper who wasted no time in climbing into my vacated seat. A pile of papers which is actually my Maths homework (newbie visitors - I'm taking my Maths GCSE at 37! Algebra is a plaything of the Devil, it has to be said!) And you might be able to see a postcard on top of it all - that's the start of my Twitter Art Exhibit piece. I need to get a move on with that!

Inside desk - complete with cheeky Bear

And outside in the Shedio. Well. It's just a disaster zone really. I tidied up a few weeks ago and since then it's just been to cold to get out there so I bring stuff indoors. Then my long suffering, ever despairing partner tidies up after me and it all gets shoved back out on my desk. Honestly. Look what he did. Does he not know the house is meant to be an extension of my play area?

Shedio desk

So that's me this week. If you fancy joining in with the global phenomenon that is What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - be sure and hop along to Julia's to link up and find everyone else. There be much snoopy snoopiness to enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by today :)