I've had a little break from blogging as I've been on holiday! Of course, with my iPhone and 3G I could have kept posting. I chose not to, as like many families, ours spends way too much time on their PEDs (Personal Electronic Devices) and holidays are a good time to change that habit.
The First Priority: Getting Some ZZZZZZs
I also took the opportunity to make some better sleep habits. I'm trying to get as strong as possible, yet I so often sabotage my goals by living off 5-6 hours of sleep a night. I sleep well when I go to bed, it's just that I like staying up late. I like being alone in the quiet. Thing is, I want to reach my goals in Powerlifting more than I like staying up late. Practically this will mean less blogging, as that's the most common thing I stay up late for.
Every time a body lifts heavy, micro-tears are made in the muscle fibres. Good food provides the material, then sleep to provides the opportunity for the body to re-build the tissue even sturdier than before. Sleep is required to get stronger, sufficient sleep is essential to getting as strong as possible. Sufficient sleep, 7-8 hours a night for me, is elemental to reaching my strength goals.
Every time a body lifts heavy, micro-tears are made in the muscle fibres. Good food provides the material, then sleep to provides the opportunity for the body to re-build the tissue even sturdier than before. Sleep is required to get stronger, sufficient sleep is essential to getting as strong as possible. Sufficient sleep, 7-8 hours a night for me, is elemental to reaching my strength goals.
Sunrise from the balcony at the crib. Pesky powerless in the way, but I think they kinda add to the composition here.
Pounwea
We have an extended-family owned crib in Pounawea, in the Catlins. It's a beautiful 100+ year old two storey house that is also rented out as a holiday home for hire, to help pay for the maintenance of such an old place. To see more of it or to book, go to the Holiday Homes website. We went there for Easter and a few days after. I kept up with my training by doing some bodyweight core work, running, and driving 25 mins to play with the globo-gym machines at Fitness First Gym in Balclutha.
Dozing sea lions at Cannibal Bay.
The view from the top of False Islet. We trekked up here from the other end of Cannibal Bay and had a picnic afternoon tea. There's amazing 360 degree view looking out over the Ocean, north to Nugget Point and all over this part of the Catlins. This photo looks South over False Islet, Surat Bay and the Triplets, Hayward Point, Jack's Bay and Tuawhaiki Island. The furtherest land visible is Long Point, the most Southerly part of mainland New Zealand.
Two of my squids and two friends digging a hole to England.
I made friends with running again on my holiday. Easy to do in country like this.
Autumn Festival Art Exhibition
I was privileged to be asked to help judge the annual Arrowtown Autumn Festival Art Exhibition at the Lakes District Museum. After having a year in which I was pretty quiet in the arts scene in my new town, it was a wonderful opportunity to meet many of the local artists and art fans. Interestingly, it was this blog led to that opportunity. David Clarke, the Gallery manager, had read it after I met him and was impressed enough to give me the job.
My co-judge was Maurice Middleditch, a highly skilled water colourist who lives and works in Bannockburn. He was pretty nervous about the whole thing, whereas I have done it a few times. We worked well together, picking eleven different works across varied media and styles as the prize winners. The Awards evening, last Friday, was fabulous. I had brought a new outfit, got my hair done and had a beautiful new folded leather necklace made by Jessica Winchcombe to wear. The exhibition is pretty swish too. It's hung salon-style with many and varied artworks all over the walls. The works comes from all over the country, and with so many types of art there's something for everyone.
My co-judge was Maurice Middleditch, a highly skilled water colourist who lives and works in Bannockburn. He was pretty nervous about the whole thing, whereas I have done it a few times. We worked well together, picking eleven different works across varied media and styles as the prize winners. The Awards evening, last Friday, was fabulous. I had brought a new outfit, got my hair done and had a beautiful new folded leather necklace made by Jessica Winchcombe to wear. The exhibition is pretty swish too. It's hung salon-style with many and varied artworks all over the walls. The works comes from all over the country, and with so many types of art there's something for everyone.
Awards presentation on the night. I'm fairly comfortable with the public-speaking thing so I could relax and enjoy it.
Number One Son pulled a bit of a stunt on me that night. No-body else was home, so the plan was to have come with me and entertain himself on his tablet. After repeated warnings about getting ready on time, he was not ready and did not have his shoes. I said he had to stay in the car as he couldn't come in without shoes on.
I found out later that he spent much of the night sitting on the footpath, in the cold and the dark, wearing shorts and bare feet. When concerned passersby (there were heaps, the Autumn Festival is on) asked him if he was ok, he would tell them that his mother wouldn't let him in as he didn't have any shoes. His story telling skills extend further than creative writing.
I found out later that he spent much of the night sitting on the footpath, in the cold and the dark, wearing shorts and bare feet. When concerned passersby (there were heaps, the Autumn Festival is on) asked him if he was ok, he would tell them that his mother wouldn't let him in as he didn't have any shoes. His story telling skills extend further than creative writing.
Riverton
Buttercup and one of the famous Riverton Rocks.
We did a crib swap with friends for their place in Riverton. I could certainly live in Riverton. It's a cute-as seaside town with a thriving arts community. I collected stones of the beach for my jewellery, caught up with old friends and chillaxed.
A wall in the "Out of Control" room (studio) at my friend Lisa Justice Grace's house. She has the most beautiful wee cottage, filled to the brim with art and her crazy, lovely version of punk rock decor. Top left is a photograph of one of her sculptures, "Head Case".
Family
My little bro is home on leave from the army just now. In a few days he'll be going on his first deployment to the Middle East. He's pretty excited, of course the rest of the family is a bit nervous!
As a fun thing to do with the family, we got together with the other brothers and we had our family photos down at the Old Fashioned Costume Photography Studio at the Arrowtown Museum. It was so much fun, and we loved the results.
As a fun thing to do with the family, we got together with the other brothers and we had our family photos down at the Old Fashioned Costume Photography Studio at the Arrowtown Museum. It was so much fun, and we loved the results.
L-R: Me, Pickles, Little Bro number One, Hard Working Husband, Number One Son, my Mum, Buttercup, Little Bro number Two, Little Bro Number Three, Jess the dog and Little Bro Number Three's Girlfriend.
Nice to be Home
In this family we work hard and we holiday hard. As a self-employed family with home-based businesses, we've got to get away from the house to relax. After more than a week of play all over Otago and Southland I was missing my studio and The Forge and could not wait to get back and lift heavy and make jewellery. Being in spectacular landscapes inspires me, sometimes directly as in I want to make art based on that landscape, but usually indirectly. Surrounded by amazing land, fresh air and life, I feel driven to make things that reflect that energy. When beauty goes in, beauty comes out.
I've had a good session in the Forge and another at Remarkables CrossFit. We did Fran (always freaks me out a bit, this time no different) and front squats. I didn't do so well on Fran with 6:01, but got a front squat PR of 90kg.
I'm getting pumped for the Southern Classic CrossFit Competition at CrossFit Dunedin this Saturday, then the Otago Powerlifting Champs the next! Can't wait.
I've had a good session in the Forge and another at Remarkables CrossFit. We did Fran (always freaks me out a bit, this time no different) and front squats. I didn't do so well on Fran with 6:01, but got a front squat PR of 90kg.
I'm getting pumped for the Southern Classic CrossFit Competition at CrossFit Dunedin this Saturday, then the Otago Powerlifting Champs the next! Can't wait.
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