keeping on keeping on...

 The blackthorn blossom here (and the cherry blossom) is the best for years.    Not that I'm "counting chickens...." but I'm hoping for a good harvest!!

I'm getting out a bit on the bike now, exploring some smaller roads...this is looking back over the Girvan Valley

 The "Black Cock"....I assume this could have been a stopping place for travellers, as an old drovers road crosses the lane here

 A Hawk Moth ?

 We planted flowers on Rocky the Patterdale's grave.   Nearly seven years gone now, but we remember the "Urban Terrorist" well and fondly.

 I used to call these Wooden Enemies when I was four years old!

All preparations done, The Pirate starts his radiation therapy soon...we seem to be just ticking over now, but it is hard to get work done.  

 There is so much to do....bike training, trying to de-clutter further to make the place calmer to live in, still hoping to find a workshop and getting a space to do some more lino-cut printing. 
Technology still defeats me....I've just bought a hard drive to back up images and writing....but it wont talk to the computer.  
Hopefully a friend will sort that and the printer problems this afternoon.  But don't hold your breath!!

I'm still jobhunting, but possibly the best I can do is carry on the Pirate's gardening and hope to pick up another customer locally.   At least I wouldn't be shut up in an office or shop!!

busy getting nowhere..

and no job.  You understand why you no longer get acknowledgements for applications and they rarely say if you haven't got the job.   It is disheartening.

The Pirate carries on with his hormone treatment...the side effects suck, but it means he'll get his  life back...in Summer 2016...better that than none...

A decent night's sleep would be a help...

Radio therapy will be hopefully in April and May- seven and a half weeks of five days a week, 20 minutes a day zapping. He is, therefore, back on his bike, mainly on the track, to get fit enough to be zapped!!

We're busy scratching our heads to find an income..no chance of a workshop yet. I've been offered part of a cold, damp asbestos shed-thanks but no thanks!! So keep on hunting...all I need is  a small disused cowshed like Hannah!!

I've started looking back at my old drawing books- I've half a dozen here, of the fortyfive year's worth..

I'm working on producing cards..and going back to lino printing, something I really enjoyed way back when.

I'm not moving away from potting, but you have to create SOMETHING!!!! It will come in handy as I'll be able to make items  to go with the pots when I'm selling.

Meanwhile, a few garden jobs have appeared, despite the weather..and today we have had freezing weather, then snow, followed by yet more rain (as if we hadn't had enough already!)

 Glasgow Velodrome

 Him up a ladder

 Sunset over Straiton

Snowdrops....at last!!

jobs...

I've just applied for a cleaning job, ONLINE!!!!
This is the first time I've done this, saved the file as a doc then attached it to an email application....WOW!!    Nerve-wracking to say the least.

One must have money to pay the bills.   Including one to rent a workshop when I can find one!

Finding any job I can apply for is difficult, most want experience.  anything that doesn't, you know there will be a mountain...literally...of applications.   In theory there is no age discrimination, but in fact there is.   Just look how many shopworkers now are under 22....so the basic wage is lower...or even under 18, lower still.

I'm considering the other skills I have and agree with my daughter...there are just too many other interesting things around. Not just to do, but that we know how to and can do to a competent level.

We are both in need of a workshop, me to work in clay, she to screenprint.

She has just given me a scanner/printer....now to get on with it!

I can produce cards or postcards from my boxes of sketchbooks and drawing books and current drawings or photos.    Eventually this could be backup to the work in clay but they must be able to stand and sell in their own right as well.

I just need one small lead that got forgotten in the packing...all of £2 worth...and I keep on forgetting to buy one each time I go shopping!!

However we're going nowhere with the weather as it is...blowing a hooley and throwing very cold rain everywhere.   

job applying

I've just applied online for a two day per week temp job ib Asda- seems they want your life history AND you do an IQ test... I'd much prefer the job I've already applied for in a Co-op shop, ten miles from here.
Meanwhile I must be brief...I get two hours at a time in the local library and I have six minutes left!!
I'm off home to finish some bowls, if they haven't dried too much....

Scotland

I'm here in South Ayrshire...no job as yet, and no benefits either....you have to go through the steps,  Yes, I knew I wouldn't get the first type based on contributions.....but you have to follow the system and can't miss a step.

It feels like a Snakes and Ladders game at times.  I want to support myself, but until I can it gets stressful.  It is like treading a minefield and the wrongly worded or phrased answer can get you back "down the snake" instead of "up the ladder". Even if you're still giving the same information that phrased the "correct" way would mean success.    Ho, Hum....

Still, despite cold (hailstorms!) wet and windy weather the earth is warming and smells good, House Martins are on the wires and the woodpecker is drumming.
We're getting out by car and by bike to see friends and places.

I've applied for a gallery job, but age might tell against me, even though it shouldn't.
I've got the job experience, but no degree....

Blogging will be intermittent until we can get a landline....

head down busy

Backing The Pirate, getting him back fit to ride and confident that he can do a decent performance in October.
The combination of moving , working too hard and a month with minimal bike riding put him physically and mentally back.  We might be short of time to get him back to medal contention, but at least we've been working on his skills on the track to make the most of what he has.
Even over such a short distance as 750 metres, where the last 200 are timed...a la Sir Chris Hoy....getting the right line for the build-up and last 300 metres took a second off his time with no extra effort.    
In fact he said it felt better and easier.    So at whatever level you are, whatever discipline on the track, technique to make yourself efficient is important.

Meanwhile there has been much tidying of allotment-just about finished, and some sorting of house-just about started!!   Also some sorting of car-this has taken time due to one injured person, one reluctant person and another working more than usual!
Booking it in to the local garage has prompted one of those to have a look at the problem this morning...with any luck it wont need to go to the garage on Monday!
Said garage was rather reluctant as the problem is possibly with the cv joint boots that were replaced two weeks ago-yes, we should go back to the garage that fitted them- but we wont be there for over two weeks and nearly 1000 miles......

Also I'm filling in my jobhunting forms for officialdom to reassure them that I am looking for work, however temporary.....there isn't much about of any sort. As usual any jobs I'll get will be by word of mouth, so keep looking and talking.

The weather has turned  mainly cold and wet since the Equinox, but at least we are better off than York in  England where the river is 5 metres higher than usual and rising....and the flood defences will cope with 0.2 metres more....