Gratitude

During my successful trip to Holland, there was many a time I had blog posts in my head. As you see, these thoughts never made it out of my head and onto the blog... When I came home, I had great plans to rectify this... once home, a different life started again. Having been away is almost as distant a memory as I felt when I landed in Holland a few weeks ago.
Maybe it is just a 'thing' of being in the present? Which I have been told is a good thing!

Once home, my garden wanted attention, and during the few days of sunshine I surely made the most of being outside. The hard part is that it is sooooo hard to stop clearing after half hour of doing so. Reality of M.E. is ever present... not the kind of present I like...
But...
Isn't there always a But?

I have to acknowledge that M.E. has given me lots! In the past few days I have been rewarded for the creativity it has brought me.

My latest book Flying on Little Wings has received lovely heart warming comments. The handmade version made people 'cry' and provoked thoughts like these:

 ‘Gentle and wise, the simple reassurance of nature breathing from every page.  (Spark Deeley Artist and writer)

‘Stunning photographs and thought provoking words. It can be read many times to entertain, sustain, and help keep belief in things improving..’ (Sue Page)

'Precious'  (Dolores Ronayne)
Then on Wednesday I received a lovely letter from Iris Poet Brendan Kennelly congratulation me on the printed version of this book: ‘A stunning artistic achievement. It will bring joy and admiration into many hearts and minds.’

The book was created during a challenging spell with the illness, and I can only be grateful for what it has brought me. If you like your own copy, click on the "Buy now" button. The printed books costs only €4.99, the handmade one €25 

Book options (inlc postage)

1 printed book €5.74 5 copies printed book €26.50 Handmade book €27.00 Handmade and printed book €30.00

On Wednesday I also received a letter from the Irish Wheelchair Associated (IWA) that my sculpture 'Naked Thruth' was the overall winner in the 'carft' section (anything in 3D) in their National Art and Craft Competition.

"While conducting a dialogue with the illness M.E., through words and art, I also examined my relationship with the wheelchair. 'Naked Thruth' is one of the most poignant sculptures I have ever created. Working on this image, I really had to look at my body and pared it down to the basics. Body- wheels- and still being left with the feeling of restricted movement.

 The sculpture is made out of airdrying clay- wire- plastic Barbie-doll bicycle wheels - gravel and varnish."

The piece will be part of the IWA Exhibition which will probably be in May of this year. I will keep you posted.

Gratitude abound!

A different reality

Having left Holland almost 22 years ago, and knowing that Ireland is my home, I am always surprised, and a little confused, how quickly Holland takes the feeling of being my home. 
Haarlem- the town where I lived for the last eight years before departure to Ireland- is familiar. So familiar that I am taken aback when the thought strikes me that I have never left. My life in Ireland seems alien. This all happens within the first few hours of "kissing" Dutch soil.

Standing outside a cafe waiting for a taxi to bring me 'home', I watched a continued stream of bicycles passing by. I think- I used to do that- I used to get around on my bike. What has changed?
Although I stand there with my walking stick for support- and unable to walk the short distance to the bus station, I temporarily forget I that I got ill with M.E. It feels like some unknown force has plucked me out of my real life (in Ireland- with M.E.) into this different reality of being well in Holland.
Of course M.E. did come along on this journey. It always does. "It" doesn't like to stay behind...

After a busy day of travel yesterday and having picked up my new book and having had lunch with friends, I arrived in Holland. I was greeted by my brother and sister and law who brought me to my friend's home. Lots of talk- lots of catching up- staying up too late- no great sleep because of being much too tired... and hey presto I wake up wrecked and saw my plans for today fade away.
But. There is always a but. I had brought my meditation downloads by the wonderful Kerie Logan. A life savior ones again. M.E. does not disappear with the sun that shines for me in the meditations, but it certainly gives me hope, the changed focus gives me air to breath, the gentle words give me a sense of lightness. I can get on with my day.

I did follow my plan! After a very leisurely morning, I was dropped off at the Provincial research centre where I wanted to find out about my great-grand-mother's life. A place full of lives lived- a place full of hidden truths.
I found the hand written birth certificates of my great-grand-parents (on microfilm) and was able to print out copies. What made me laugh most of all was that the address of the father is noted. The address of the mother has a separate entry. "Same address" was the verdict on my great grandparents forms.
But- was Holland ahead of it's time of unmarried mothers, or parents having a Living Apart Together relationship?

Living life in a different reality turned out to be good.
Now SLEEP!
X

Ps To add to my confusion of where is home, on hearing the Dutch language being spoken, I think He, there are more Dutch people around..."
And my spoken Dutch has a lot to be desired...

"Flying on Little Wings" Give away

To celebrate the arrival of my book baby I am hosting a contest for a free copy of my new book "Flying on Little Wings".

For more chances to win, you may enter three times, by doing the following:

• Go to my fan page on Facebook and "like" it;
• Post a link to this contest on your Facebook page;
• If you have a blog, share a link to this contest on your blog. 
• Then please leave a comment in the "comment-box' below to let me know where you posted a link and your name will go in the "hat". 

I will randomly select a winner on the 15th March 2011

GOOD LUCK!

ps, the comment 'tab' is to be found under this post- on the left!
If you like my blog, why not sign up as follower while you're here!

THE WINNER WAS JULIA. 

WELL DONE JULIA

Frogs and scooter diagnosis

You might wonder, what have frogs and scooters in common?

Little. Really!

Other than that a frog in my garden made me happy.

The "ill" scooter made me sad.

But news is good.

After a panicky few days, and scary phone calls to so called "service industry for the disabled"

who charge almost €150 call out charge, 

plus tax, 

plus whatever the cost will be to have scooter repaired... 

Scandalous I think. 

This is a service they know people need.

And to top it all... 

It could take TWO weeks before a repair-man would come out...

Service?

Anyway- after a few phone calls like that, I asked my local electrician when he could come over to check if the battery was at fault- that had been his thoughts on the matter.

He arrived, and under my watchful eye took the scooter apart- 

a new adventure for both of us.

After about an hour, we found the well hidden "vital organs'

and Edward discovered one faulty fuse.

Soooo HAPPY I could have kissed

the frog!

I am motoring again.

Arty Writers- and all you "creatives"- take note!

Morning to you all!

To distract myself from diminishing independence (see previous blog) I have occupied my mind with the creation of a new blog. A blog to bring us creative people together in cyberspace. A blog where works by independent artists/writers/photographers/illustrators/musicians will be highlighted. A place where people can come if they are looking for this one special present which is not widely available in shops- But also a place where we "creatives" can network.

The trigger to this new adventure has many layers:

• a talk with friend Lani about the difficulties of selling ones books- even if you have a publisher
• the growing power of Internet selling
• a request from an illustrator via my Facebook page on where to start to get her name and work out there
• and many more

If you are a "Creative" and would like to partake in this journey, please sign up and follow the instruction on the blog
If you are a lover of the arts or an admirer of people who live their lives creatively, the please sign up as a follower.

http://artywriters.blogspot.com/

Many thanks, and please spread the word!
XX

Dependency

I don't know how other people living with illness or disability see their 'bond' with their aids. The past few days it became clear to me again, that to a degree, I am dependent on my mobility aids to get around.

dependency - the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else.

I can move around the house without an a walking aid. I know every step in my house - I know the distance between chairs - I know the height of steps and uneven slabs in the garden. I feel relatively safe.

Outside my gate I rely on the support of a walking stick. Not always needed when I start off on a short (10min) walk, but always greatly appreciated on the way back.

To go past the end of my street, I rely on my mobility scooter.

I wrote before (I think) about the emotional challenges of using this form of mobility aid. People have laughed at me- or at my scooter. I think/or say, "if it wasn't for this aid, I'd be stuck at home," and go on my merry way.

But... what if this aid is suddenly as immobile as I am...

The past few weeks, the charger for my scooter's battery was misbehaving. A week ago I 'dissected' the charger and found one of the wires had come loose. I was confident this could easily be remedied by soldering the two part back together again.

Simple.

This happy event took place a few days ago.

But...

The charger didn't work- although the light came on, the batery was not being charged.

Dan- who has the same thought as me - don't throw anything out until all possibilities have been tested- tried again.

No go.

I started to panic. Life without a scooter is at this stage unthinkable. Especially now I have booked a ticket to go to Holland for a week and sooooo enjoy my freedom there when I can go where I want to go...

I found a shop that could sell me a new charger. Not that easy an option in my neck of the woods. The shop wouldn't be open today, but the girl in the shop left the charger for me in a next door cafe. Thank you both!

Mariela drove me to the shop. I was relieved to have a charger again.

But...

The same thing happened- the light comes on but the battery is not charging.

To tell you the truth, I was nearly in tears. I can't be without my scooter.

As there was still a bit of charge in the battery I took myself to town on it. "I might as well have one last trip out." I thought.

I don't know if I can have it fixed - or where. This scares me.

The realisation I am dependent on a mobilty scooter

is a very 'sobering' thought indeed.

as always, I love to read your comments,

and please do feel free to forward this post, if you like.