Christmas has come and gone and now it's New Years Eve -it's freezing outside and I've got a cold! Never mind, hopefully I'll blog a bit more next year.

What a surprise, we've had a few days of snow - haven't had very much December snow for the past few years. It looks great but it's not so much fun trying to get to work - especially on public transport.

1st of December - here before I even realised and very frosty

End of October already and Halloween - where do the days go?

Middle of September already, weather is still terrible, seems like Autumn already.
Just caught a news article on the web today saying that one of my favourite artists had just died at the weekend after a battle with cancer. I love his colourful paintings - well worth taking a look at his website. http://www.hamish-macdonald.com/

I've neglected my blog recently, it's shocking to see that I didn't post once during July. I have to admit that July was hectic - we moved offices yet again then went straight into the holiday season with lots of staff on holiday. I'll get back into the swing of things now (hopefully) and might even manage to post a few pictures!

Last day of June and the weather is still decidedly 'iffy'.
Went to my daughter's prize giving last week and was very pleased to see that she won 3 prizes. The school is closing in July to make way for the new 'Academy' opening in September. It's a little sad as I also went to that school many years ago.

Came across another interesting artist in the latest International Artist magazine. His name is Richard Clare and he paints wonderful colourful landscapes. http://www.richardclareart.com/

It's a full moon tonight - have you ever had the urge to go outside and howl at the moon? OK maybe it's just me but sometimes I would love to go out and howl like a wolf - don't think the neighbours would be too happy......

The artist Beryl Cook sadly passed away on 28th May 2008. She was well known for her paintings of cheery, rounded figures and delighted thousands of people. Her official website is http://www.berylcook.org

Thought I'd mention another Artist that I admire. Her name is Jennie Tuffs and she uses Magic Color liquid acrylics. Her paintings have such colour and movment.
http://www.jennietuffs.co.uk/Home.html

May has finally arrived and at last has brought some nice weather. The tulips are staring up at the sunshine - I think they're surprised to see the sun! Daisy is certainly enjoying it.

Just a quick post to remind everyone that today is St. George's Day. St George is the Patron Saint of England and there is in fact a Royal Society of St George http://www.royalsocietyofstgeorge.com/index2.htm

CATS PROTECTION

I went to a Cats Protection Volunteering Fair this morning at Northumbria University. Although I'm a member of the Newcastle branch I decided to try and take a more active role so I put my name down for 'admin and computer' duties as I can't drive and already have 5 cats so I don't really have enough room to foster kittens. The national and local website links are shown in my links list so please take a look if you get a chance. Three local groups had got together to try and drum up support - Newcastle, Gateshead & Bedlington - so I hope a few more people join up.
The local branches are also running a £5 neutering scheme for those on low incomes so there's no excuse for not getting it done - details again are on the websites.
http://www.cats.org.uk
http://www.cats-protection-newcastle.co.uk/

I thought I would post my daughter's Stardoll here as well.

Thought I would give you a bit of a chuckle and put a couple of Stardoll pictures on here - they are both 'me' but one is my Goth phase and the other is my Exotic look.

My Stardoll page is http://www.stardoll.com/member/Cat_Artist

It seems like ages since I posted anything. It's taking me sometime to get back to normal after the surgery on my hand and it's still painful - I sometimes forget and do something I shouldn't with that hand.
Anyway the weather is still unpredictable, work is still busy and me and my daughter are still having fun on Stardoll - in fact I may post a few pictures later - Doctor Who is back and Torchwood has just come to an end!

It's my first day back at work since my surgery - I had a few hundred emails to read which took half the morning! By 10 am I was wishing I was still at home. Never mind I'm sure I'll get back into the swing of it soon.

Got my stitches out last Thursday but got another big bandage which I finally got to remove today. My hand is still painful but it should improve.
My daughter recently joined a website called stardoll.com - it's shallow, frivolous and utterly pointless, but great fun! I decided to join up so I could find out what was so attractive about the site - it's a bit like dressing up dolls but you get to make a me doll and dress yourself up!!! It also gives me something I can share with my daughter and I've found I'm not the only mum on the site. My 'me' doll can be found on http://www.stardoll.com/member/Cat_Artist

Hopefully I will be getting my bandages and stitches removed from my wrist tomorrow - I'm still not sure how much I will be able to do even when they are removed.
I've been listening to more of my 'old music' and today I thought I would mention Split Enz who are still one of my favourite groups. True Colours and Corroboree (Waiata) are probably my favourite Split Enz albums and well worth a listen.

I'm sitting here attempting to type with one hand - I had day surgery yesterday afternoon for carpal tunnel syndrome and now even the simplest things are difficult. I have to keep this great big dressing on for 10 days until my stiches are removed - at least I found a use for those spare ASDA plastic carrier bags - I have to fasten one around my hand and lower arm to keep the water out while I get a shower!

I recently bought myself a 'cheapish' MP3 player from eBay so I could pass the time listening to music while travelling to work. I used to think they were anti-social items but I can see the attraction when you're travelling some distance on public transport - I can close my eyes and sink into the music and be transported somewhere else.

I do like some of today's music but I have to admit to filling my MP3 player with lots of 'old' music. Today I was listening to one of my favourite albums from the 80s - A letter from St. Paul by The Silencers. Lots of jangley guitars and sweet boyish voices - however listening to the lyrics you find the music is deeper than it first seems.

I think the CD is long out of print but there is a 'best of' which features some of the tracks though I recommend the original CD if you can find it.

It's been a busy few weeks, just over a week ago was my daughter's birthday, then my partner broke his toe, my home phone line is on the blink and next week I have to have surgery on my wrist - no rest for the wicked!

Today is the tenth birthday of the Angel of the North http://www.gateshead.gov.uk/Council%20and%20Democracy/news/News%20Articles/Angel%20of%20the%20North%20is%2010%20today.aspx


When it was first errected I thought it looked like a man with an ironing board stuck to his back. I have warmed to it since - when I see it I think of the North East so I suppose it has done its job http://www.gateshead.gov.uk/Leisure%20and%20Culture/attractions/Angel/Home.aspx

Of course it is also Valentines Day today so love to you all!

Came across another modern artist who appeals to me - I was searching for colourists and came across Sally Carlaw http://sallycarlaw.com/index.html There are some lovely paintings on her site and I really like her use of colour.

Thought I'd mention another interesting artist - Charles Sovek - he sadly passed away last year but has left a wonderful website full of useful articles for the artist. http://www.sovek.com/
As you can see it's another site full of colourful paintings - I'm a 'colour junkie'.

I can't resist sci fi and fantasy programmes and films. Blood Ties and Ghost Whisperer have just finished but Torchwood, Primeval and Supernatural are back on our screens - hurrah!

Bet you didn't know it was National Rabbit Week! I don't have a rabbit but I thought I would give it a mention as they are so cute - http://www.nationalrabbitweek.co.uk/

I love watching Coronation Street but I cried tonight when Vera Duckworth died. I just can't help myself I always cry at these sort of things - I even cried when they took Robocop to bits in the first Robocop movie!
Jack and Vera were like some of your own relations - always arguing with each other but together forever.

Hurrah! Torchwood and Primeval are back. OK, so the stories can be a bit ropey sometimes but they are entertaining. I love Captain Jack in Torchwood- he'll snog anything male, female, alien.........

Looks like we're going to have gale force winds tonight - I've already found two pieces of someone's roof in my front garden!
Today I'm going to mention another favourite artist - Stephen Quiller - his site is worth looking at as I love his use of colour - http://www.quillergallery.com/index.htm. He has produced a number of books and videos which are great if you love colour.

Thought I would feature another of my favourite artists today - Robert Burridge- his website is http://www.robertburridge.com/. I love the vitality and colour in his paintings. I have some of his instructional videos and have just ordered his workbook. As I am a colour junkie his work really apeals to me!

We had snow yesterday and now today we have had rain - all day!
I'm back to work and all I can say is 'thank goodness it's the weekend' - it's dark when I go to work in the mornings and dark when I come home, I'd much rather be curled up on the sofa with the cats.

2008 already - tried to have a reasonably quite day so we chilled out and watched some TV. Saw an interesting documentary on the English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams - might pick up a couple of CDs when I have some spare cash. Found a good website - http://www.rvwsociety.com/.
I also watched one of my favourite musicals - Singing in the Rain. My daughter watched it with me as she's never seen it before (she's only 11!).
Back to work tomorrow - back to the early mornings and packed public transport - never mind it's the weekend soon - ha, ha