Slowly so slowly

Feeling time is creeping this week whenever I don't want it to! Shaken the cold but still super sleepy and I'm sure it is 'the slows' just because everything seems to have taken a summer hol.

Cash work is teminally turgid, despite my best efforts to divert myself and think up schemes for me-time; the catch 22 is that when me-time arrives I am sooo sleeepy... Hellish really when I have so much to get on with. Searching this morning for a brown or sepia biro for the picture I want to do of this Swedish tree angel, Maia. Discovered today that she should be Maja, hence my diversion into Greek mythology when I looked up the former spelling. Seem to be a few Swedish Majas so maybe on the right track at last! The biro is to do the 'henna' foliage on her face, as I have already established the strange resilience of biro ink and now realise that it can be drawn under the acrylic, where is will gradually appear as a lovely 'ghost' line through the colour over it. Depending on the biro, it is a pretty strong line, but still has that aged look about it, like it had been left underground for a few decades. Just what I want for the new girl.

Found a great website called 'cult pens which can supply a sepia one and various tones of brown if I wanted a felt pen or 'drawing pen'; its a real treasure trove for pen anoraks like me! Free delivery to UK over £10 as well so I shall raid the art fund later in the week when my new shiny art bank account is set up properly. Got my card through the post today so I am officially able to separate my (non) earnings and keep track of my drive towards self sufficient art.

I am no longer afraid to believe that I can do this now, and my aims are gradually being allowed to expand. The way I see it, the only way to see how far you can go is by aiming high, so I intend to do so.

Still thinking how funny the green obsession is and how it has been creeping up on me; last year I bought a fab green Indian top in 'Arran Asia' - great shop if you ever find yourself in that neck of the woods - and now I have another bought with the token I earned cat sitting. I have also habitually started wearing green 'luckies' - my little beady bracelets collected in the far east. Wonder if my aura is glowing green too?!

I am off to shake up the slows now with a little light washing up and then to painting. Can't wait to start Maja, but I really want that pen first so I can not compromise the idea I have for her. This is how baby steps slow up the whole process, but I am coming to realise that this is just 'how it is' when you don't live in a vacuum; there are always 'to do this, I need to do that' moments, and they just have to be borne with my usual patience.

We had a total blast from the past dinner last night; Larp Moo, a Thai pork 'salad' made with minced pork, shallots, chilli, fish sauce and toasted pound rice, and fresh herbs. On our first trip to Thailand I ate it pretty much every day for lunch on Koh Samui, where the beach restaurant lady made it from scratch each time, mincing meat, 'wallowing' (her word) the ingredients together and every time it was just awesome and very spicy. For me its one of those dishes that take me back to another time and place completely; and it was a very beautiful time and place! Kept her recipe in my 'kitchen diary' which dates back to 2000 and records many memorable meals from holidays and at home; I always thought it would be a useful aid memoire and it has proved so brilliantly...