Reasons to be cheerful

I've had a real grumbly couple of days.....so today I thought I would blog about reasons I have to be cheerful

1. I've sold another picture (an original) to a lovely guy called Brad who lives in New York.
2. The commission piece that I am currently working on is going very well.

3. We are going to a birthday party on Saturday night.
4. Next month I am going on a trip to Mae Hong Son on the Thai/Burmese border to visit the Thailand Hilltribe Education Projects that the BWG sponsor. This will involve visiting remote hill tribe villages virtually untouched by tourism where people live more or less as they have lived for hundreds of years. It's not going to be luxurious....we will travel in pickups, sleep on school floors


and eat the local food. The aim of the trip is to assess the educational needs of hill tribe schools so that we can work out the best way of supporting them going forward. I've also been told that it is the "sunflower season" in Mae Hong Son so it should be stunning!!

For those interested - Mae Hong Son means The City of Three Mists as it is virtually covered with mist throughout the year (dewy mist in the winter, forest fire mist in the summer and rainy mist in the rainy season). It is nestled in a deep valley hemmed in by high mountain ranges and has long been isolated from the outside world. It is the most mountainous province in Thailand and is home to the Shans who live in the city and the Hilltribe people who live in remote villages on mountain tops. The Shan's ancestors came from the Shans region in Burma and the Hilltribe people consist of Karen, Lisu, Mhong, Lahu and Lua

and last but definately not least

5. Moon has invited us up to Issan to stay with her for a weekend in her home village which is near Maha Sarakham (The capital of Issan). Moon has told us that it's a huge honour for her that we are going to visit and stay in her home so there will probably be a party involving the entire village!! We will also visit her local temple and, if we're feeling very brave, help out on the farm!! I think it will be an amazing experience and I'm thrilled because it means that we will get to see Fa and Dawan before we go.

So, there you have it.....reasons to be cheerful!!

Reasons to be cheerful

1. I have finished the Commission....(WOOOO HOOOOO!!!).....it has now been scanned and is going to the framers tomorrow. I can't post a picture till the person who commissioned it has seen it....I am now really worried that she's not going to like it!!! (All being well it should be on here by Friday)

2. I have finished my Dad's novel!!! I knew once I started it I wouldn't be able to put it down and I was right....it was a bloody good read, real page turner and it has a fab twist at the end...I'm not saying any more except that you will HAVE to get a copy!! (and I want you to know that I'm not feeling at all smug that you're going to have to wait till it comes out....)

3. I have finished the Illustration work....and discovered a love of colour in the form of watercolour paints!! I am rather flabbergasted!!

4. I have a new mobile phone....I even managed to go online and create my own theme for it!!

5. We have booked our flights to the UK and will be arriving in Glasgow on the 26th of September!!! (I am soooo excited!!!)

and, and, AND

5. I've lost 8lbs

I'm currently doing a wee happy wiggle in my chair (It's too hard to type when doing a proper happy dance)