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Free choice

Chocolate Philly - dont like it on bread (that just tasted wrong) but nice on a rich tea biscuit. Still if I ever had to choose nutella would still win - ummmmm nutella, spoon *wonders if Mr Mouse would notice if I just randomly popped to the kitchen - ooooh can I hear a cat knocking on the door........*

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I am going to cook....again. 


And its going to involve this:

And some cheese (well we are mice)

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Free choice


I actually cook dinner - this is amazing as I have been feeling a little down lately and haven't really been eating.

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Treat

A treat for Mr Mouse - he saw a cushion that he liked and I refused to the pay £10 for something poorly made - so I brought some similar fabric and made him a cushion for his chair

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Garden

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Biscuit

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Game

Mr Mouse had this game when he was little and at some point it got lost so he was very excited when he found it on ebay the other day a little bid later and a happy Mr Mouse

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Cake

And in case you missed me mentioning it today 


I was on telly - well one of my bracelets

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Free Choice


Today was meant to be cake - but my back is in spasm so I couldn't make any and we dont have any in the house (I know shocking)

Anyway I thought that I would share with you my blip today:


Chronic Back Pain

So as you all know I suffer from Chronic Back Pain and I have been going to back school - the Back and Pain Team.

I am learning lots but it still didn't stop me from doing something stupid yesterday (decided I was super mouse and lifted some paving slabs) - so yes you've guessed it my back has gone in spasm.

But this time instead of curling up in a ball and crying I am coping better (ok I wont lie there was some crying) but importantly I did some gently stretching exercises I have taken my pain killers through out the day on the allotted hours rather trying to manage, I have invested in a tens machine and I have made sure that I have got up and about and kept moving (Mr Mouse did have to put my socks on for me though - my feet are sooooo far away).

Anyway I did a photo montage 

The Pain Ladder is from the World Health Organisation and helped me realise that I dont have to be ashamed to need pain meds. I have also learnt (ok I already knew this but I still fight it) that I should be taking my pain meds sooner - I should not wait for crisis point (at which point its pretty pointless taking them).

The funny man is called homunculus - its a visual representation of what the body would look like if each part grew in proportion to our brains body map - this is not static and is always changing.

I have also learnt about the pain gate theory. Being able to understand the pain really does help. The important thing to remember in long term pain is that hurt does not mean harm.

Its really interesting to know that the body heals in 3 months - where you get chronic pain is because the messages have got jumbled and you sort of get a fuzzy over sensitive area - which is why with chronic pain its often hard to say exactly where it hurts.

And well Ferd is part of my treatment to - we had to set goals at the start of our treatment and mine was to be able to take Ferd for a walk every day. 

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Note

I use my trusty fliofax to make notes of important things 

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Butterfly

Buddleia - also known as the butterfly bush, I want to attract insects to the garden, I have also got some lavender for the bees :)

My First Craft Fair

So last Saturday was my very first craft fair and I had a great time.


You can see my table here


And here are some of the things that I took:

Some lovely, lovely bags

My badges didn't do as well as I expected - I think it was down to the display  I just popped them all into a pot so for the next one they will be displayed in a better look and me kind of way

And of course I took some cushions and cuddles

My cards went down very well and I got loads of compliments on them - the cushions also proved popular at drawing people to my stall. And the little lavender hearts went down well.


Now like everyone your first is a big deal. Will I sell anything? Will people like what I do? Will I have enough change?


For me it was also about can I do this? Can I cope?


As you all know I have a chronic illness, I also suffer from chronic back pain and anxiety. So my first time was a pretty big deal. Now I was lucky and had the lovely theothermousie on the table next to me (a lovely fellow mouse that I met on twitter) and I have to say a big thank you to theothermousie, Mr Mousie and the Mice for helping me on the day (My Mr Mouse had to stay at home).


I viewed the day as a learning experience the fact that I made some money for me was a bonus. I proved to myself that I can do it - so onwards and upwards. 


Tips that I learnt:
Dont under estimate how much prep work you need to do
If your items can be transported on/in their displays do it (saves time setting up)
Label before you go
Have a list of your items (this will work as a stock list and sales list to help you keep track for your accounts)
Take a pen and note book for contacts/custom order bookings
Take a duplicates book (in case someone wants a receipt)
Calculator 
Make your Storage work for you - think can it double up for display?
Have easy to eat nibbles and try to fit those nibbles in during the lulls of activity
Flask of tea/bottle of drink 
Painkillers
Think about how you are going to transport your stock - I found that those big blue Ikea bags are great along with under bed tote bags (these could then be folded and stored safely out of the way (no trip hazards please)


What will I do differently at my next one?
No jewellery (because jewellery slots were all taken) - but I will be taking a tart book
Better display of badges
Will create stepped display for cushions so they are even more visible
Will make it clearer that I do commission work
Will make it clearer that postcards are there to be taken
Will make sure that everyone who buy something gets a business card and try to hand more out :)


Will I be booking more?
Oh yes 


So how was your first time. Do you have any tips that you want to share?


Now a sneak peak at a new venture:


Wonderfully modelled by Mr Mouse - I will be opening a CafePress store so you will be able to get my lovely illustrations printed on things like jim jams - oh yes I know exciting. I brought these to check out the quality and because I love Mr Mouse and he loves Leonard.

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Numbers

101 chocolate recipes taking you right through from starters to dessert. I love venison and chocolate stew 

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Transport

Our feet are a mode of transport - here is one of mine and one of Ferds

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Free choice

A lovely bit of naughty

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Free choice

Today was my first craft fair. I had a great time, it was a lovely atmosphere and a great day meeting up with theothermousie :)


Very tired so I will do a proper post about the fair tomorrow

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Magazine

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Free choice 

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Film

Being able to watch a film has come on a long way from the days when I was little and we had to go to a cinema or wait for it to come onto TV, then there was the joy of the very first video recorder coming into the house, then moving on to DVD and now its Bluray and on demand streaming - what will will be next? 

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Calm

Painting is very soothing

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Wildlife

Every so often I buy Mr Mouse National Geographic Magazine, its a very interesting magazine and has simply stunning photography. This is a macro shot from an image in March 2012 issue - the photo in the magazine was taken by Joel Sartore and was taken on a lodge terrace in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda, as the birds came in to nibble on the bread rolls. 


Mr Mouse and I witnessed something similar in Turkey a few years ago - it was simply charming having breakfast with little birds nipping in and out (though other guests and the hotel staff viewed them as pests).

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Paper

I know you are thinking what's paper in this shot - nope its not the wall paper - it is in fact on the bottom of Zaras cage. I am trying out some new recycled paper bedding for her and to introduce it (rabbits dont really like change) I have mixed it in with the woodflakes. 

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Appliance 

Human interface device (aka Mr Mouses graphics tablet - or magic voodoo device)