its that time…

You know. Before a trip, when you’re almost entirely ready, almost everything but the last minute things are packed, you have nothing to do really but wait till its time to go to bed and get up in the morning, do the last minute things, and go.

You can’t start anything new. Almost everything has been finished and put away, or thrown or given away. You can’t pack up the charger, the laptop, your toothbrush or Vincent’s toothbrush cause you’ll need them tonight and/or in the morning.

Its that wasting time time when you have time to think and maybe bore people.

So here I am, writing a post just cause I can’t think of anything else to do.

Its a nothing post and to be honest, I do wonder why I’m even bothering to keep posting in general. Its not like I have a ton of followers or I promote my Etsy shop enough to make it worthwhile.

I post for a few reasons. One reason is that recently a good friend told me that I have a style that’s obvious in my posts and that I need to keep that ‘voice’ when I write fiction.

So I need the practice.

Sometimes its to share stuff that might interest my friends, in one place, cause I’m too lazy to send out emails or, heaven forbid!, make a phone call. Gone are the days when I’d sit on the phone with friends for hours. Now when the phone rings I pick up in case its work, but I almost always groan inwardly thinking “leave me alone, I really don’t feel like talking to anyone now”.

(Except for you, you know who you are.)

How awful is that? Its not like back when I worked at the travel agency and spent 6 hours a day talking, talking, talking to everyone who walked in the door who wanted to buy a ferry ticket, or ask about activities on the island or where the closest public toilet was. Now, most of the day I talk to mom (and that can be so wearing, hearing the same stories over and over, and yes, I appreciate her and I know that one day I’d be giving anything to hear her stories one more time) or to a dog I might be grooming – which is very fulfilling in so many ways.

But I’m still too tired/bored/lazy to actually talk to someone on the phone.

How life has changed.

Years ago, when I first got Scooter and then Billybear, my ‘toyboys’ – two toy poodle pups, and moved into a house with Simon (the then boyfriend) we’d go out for a movie or dinner and all we wanted to do was get back home to the dogs!

I think that’s where I am right now. I’d rather be home with my Vincent. He and my art is all the company I need. Plus Netflix and audio books. I am content.

People say “aren’t you lonely?” “isn’t Paros too quiet in winter?” “how will you ever meet a man if you don’t go out and do things?”…

To them I say:

I am never lonely. I have Vincent. I have my craft and DIY projects. I have my computer and all the social life that lives in there. I have my art. It never crosses my mind to be lonely. And if I ever feel the need for company, I have good friends I can call or meet.

No, its not too quiet in winter. There is so much to do on Paros. In fact, sometimes there is TOO MUCH to do. If you have friends and have any modicum of a social circle, there is always something to do. In fact there have been times in winter when I’ve made excuses to NOT go out.

Well, I’m not that sure I want to meet a man. I’ve been alone too long now. I don’t know if a man will fit in my life. I tried the whole visualize and manifesting the man of my dreams, but I’m so ambivalent about it, its never going to work.

I love cooking what I want, when I want it. Snuggling on the couch with a hot chocolate on cold nights, with a warm blanket, woolly socks, comfy pants and a little poodle. I watch soppy Christmas movies or serial killer series and all sorts of things in between.

Saw this on Facebook the other day and its almost totally true.

I turn on my fairy lights and sometimes even sip a Baileys on ice. I love my quiet evenings at home, after a day spent painting or creating.

I also love Christmas, but living alone, I feel its silly to do the full on Christmas decorating thing. I would love to go all out one day, but for now, its the fairy lights inside and sometimes out, other times just in the window, which is a waste cause my window isn’t really visible to passersby, and a tiny table top Christmas tree… that’s about it. Kinda sad, but its home and its cozy. I think the fairy lights make it all better.

What is this post about?

I have no idea. I’m just writing things as they come to me. I’ve had dinner. Vincent and mom are fed. Mom is watching some crappy Greek TV and I’m at the kitchen table, watercolour pencils and brushes laid out next to me tempting me to start something new and I keep saying “No. there’s no time”…

I might go check on our bags. Make sure they are ready. Then again, I’ll be up early and I’ll have time to do that then. As well.

Ok. I’ll leave you be and see if the watercolours win out.

z

to shop or not to shop

I don’t mean ‘do I go shopping’ cause the answer to that would be a resounding YES – who doesn’t love shopping?

No, the question remains ‘to open a(nother) shop or not’… having just closed my Etsy shop due to nothing happening there. I still have my CafePress shop, but that’s selling very rarely as I’m not adding new stuff to it any more and the percentage I get from sales is minimal at best.

I’ve been looking at WooCommerce on WordPress and it looks both great and easy enough. However, it would mean upgrading my plan and I’m not sure that would be justified since I’m not sure I’d sell enough to make upgrading from a Premium plan (US$10 a month) to a Business plan (US$31 a month).

I’m thinking maybe I should wait a little and try out the el’ cheapo version of simply listing things for sale on FB and Instagram, as well as on the blog, with a description saying the item is for sale and a price…

I mean, between that and selling stuff in person and through the occasional local shop, it might be a better solution for me… Of course I’ll still have to look online to sell a few things – like my remade dolls and some of my poodle artwork (cause I don’t think anyone on Paros would be interested in either!)… perhaps I’ll just go back to ebay for that. Its not ideal, but its something… and everyone looks at ebay.

What are your thoughts, my blog reading friends? Do you think I’d be able to sell enough of my own work from an online shop to justify tripling what I pay currently? Not forgetting that I am currently over-extended as it is with one renovation underway using up every penny I have, another I can’t afford, and the dream of building a studio on our land… Not to mention somehow finding a way/space/way to groom better and more professionally than I am currently.

I was never one to have small dreams…

So, opinions asked for.

Hit me with them.

z

NOT abducted by aliens

Thought it was time to show some signs of life. Albeit weak and tiny ones.

I’m alive.

I’m still a resident of this planet.

I’ve just been tired; fatigued; overworked; fagged; flagging; overtaxed; spent; worn out; all in; burned out; dead on my feet lazy; stuffed; dog-tired; done for; droopy; drowsy; played out; done in; haggard; narcoleptic; petered out; pooped; run down; tuckered out; buggered; worn out; prostrated; sleepy; knackered; bushed; beat; shagged; shattered; zonked; exhausted; fried; cream crackered; rooted; groggy; bust; jiggered; weary; apathetic; stick a fork in me – I’m done; bog-eyed; wall-falling; and many many more words to the same effect.

Not to mention lazy.

z

days in the sun

Lately I’ve just been so tired.

I think I’m in love with my bed… I don’t want to leave it. Well, I do leave it for the bigger TV in the living room and the couch, but I love my bed. And I love sleeping…

What’s wrong with me? Maybe I’m just tired after work, but that’s not a real excuse. Or maybe its the heat, though the last few days have been blissfully windy after days of sweltering nothingness. I spend the day with creative thoughts in my head – ‘when I get home I’ll do this and this and this…’ – eager to work, then I get home and plant myself in front of Netflix and do boneless cat immitations.

There are days I’m sure I will never blog again. It just seems so pointless when I’m tired or feel like I have nothing new to share or say. Times like those I toss up the whole social media presence, is it really necessary, who cares what I do anyway? What was I thinking offering to do a radio show online? Like I have so much time I need to fill!

Then there are days when I love sharing something I’ve just made or painted cause, frankly, I’m just a show off… If I look back at my life I think I did a lot of things cause I love to show off: rock’n’roll dance competitions (wow! you’re such a great dancer!), selling my stuff at markets (oooh, you’re so talented!) etc.

I’m impossible really.

Anyway, so what’s been going on? Well… the hand-held shower thingy in my bath broke. The tube sprung more leaks than a wicker canoe. Given its my only shower option, its a kinda necessary thing. So I bought a replacement tube. Didn’t have a wrench… (the one tool I didn’t have!). Bought one. Got home and promptly broke the old hose where it screwed into the tap… Been using a bucket to shower for the last 3 days. And the plumber never showed up today so its looking like another day or three before that issue is remedied…

But on Sunday I gave myself a break. Zefi, her family and I spent the day at the beach. My all time favourite beach which I hadn’t visited once this year so far. We put in a good solid 7 hours of hard beach time. It was great. Just like the old days.

Lainee came with us since the breeze was cool enough. Here she is waiting for our lunch to arrive…

And here she is after lunch was finished.

And while I’m on the subject of Lainee, here she is first thing in the morning.

If that face doesn’t make you wanna kiss it nothing will!

Anyway, I gotta go. Things to do since the plumber didn’t show.

z

just a quickie

I’m not actually blogging today, I just wanted to say I looked at my post from the other day and the photos were all mucked up. No idea why. I think I’ll leave blogging till I return to Paros and my laptop. I am a bit wary of the tablet right now.

So full updates on the weekend.

z

it’s been a while

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Yes, I know. I’m a bad blogger. I go missing without any warning at times. Regularly. Like the last few weeks. I’m sorry. Life just gets in the way sometimes.

Lots has been going on since I last posted. Here it is in no particular order:

We’ve got a mouse plague. The little buggers brazenly run across the living room floor while the dogs lie sleeping on the couch and I’m watching TV. I water the garden, a mouse runs out. I move a pot, a mouse runs out. I pick up a boot, a mouse runs out.

I like mice. They’re darn cute little critters. But I do not want them in my house! Or in my garden for that matter. They bring snakes!

Something has died under or inside the stove. I cleaned the stove. I moved it out, I checked under and behind it. Nothing. But the stench persists. I sure hope its a mouse. How long would a mouse stink for? Not as long as a rat!

I feel sick.

I had a stall at our local market again and spent more than I made. Eh. That’s ok. I have gifts for my family in Greece for when I visit.

I’ve paid for my ticket to Greece so now there’s no backing out. I’m so excited. This time round I’m stopping in Singapore for one night and having breakfast with the orangutangs on the way back!

I was having headaches and saw the dentist. I’ve cracked a tooth (thank you olive pit on a pizza slice!) and need a root canal done. You don’t even want to know what the bill for that will be! Let’s just say, if I hadn’t already paid for my trip to Greece I would be getting the tooth done instead. Not quite the same amount of fun as time on Paros. Now I’m just gonna have to scramble to pay for both.

Turns out my high school is having one of their famous island reunions on Syros this summer, and I’ll be in Greece at the time! On Paros, which is only a hop, skip and short ferry ride away! I went to the Naxos reunion 3 years ago and had the best time. I can’t wait. Plus I’ve always wanted to visit Syros. Here is my chance.

I caught up with Season 8 of The Walking Dead. OMG.

I’ve been watching Married at First Sight and annoying the hell out of Wayne.

I got 4 commissions for my repainted dolls: Helen of Troy, Katy Perry, Abby from NCIS and Amy Winehouse. I sold the first Amy and Abby I made.

Other than that, life’s been pretty normal. Working lots grooming, never totally finishing anything until the last possible minute if I have a deadline… otherwise things just kind of linger…. Like the bathroom. The corners are still not gap-filled. The cabinet is finished but not totally finished… And now I’ve decided I dislike the colour so I’ll be repainting it. Ain’t that the way? Well… It is if you’re me.

The garden is suffering. We’ve had some record hot days. Then cool days, wind and rain. Though not nearly enough rain. I need to weed and cut back plants. I still have plants in pots which I bought ages ago and still haven’t put in the ground.

I don’t do well in the heat. When its hot I sort of just melt and end up getting real sleepy. My hair has gotten long enough to make tiny pony tails again, so I’ve been looking like this:

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Boo from Monsters Inc.

My cousin Zefi in Greece says I look like Pikachu… only not so cute.

5Pikachu

I’ve been working on various projects, but as I mentioned above, things are all over the place. I do a bit of this, a bit of that, never quite finish anything, then flake out in the evenings.

I really need to get a grip on this scheduling thing. I really suck at it. Maybe I need a clone. Or two. Yeah. That would fix the problem!

z

junk4joy feature

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Just a quickie today to share a link to a feature on the Etsy Made Local Hobart blog.

Click here to read the article.

z

Ok. I won’t just leave it at that. You know me, I can talk under water. Or type. Whatever.

So, what exciting things have I been doing? Well… my bathroom cabinet (made from a very old chippy window) is almost done. I just have to add shelves, hinges and paint it.

Then make sure it works, cause, after all, it was made by me…

I put the mirror up in the bathroom. I finished the door trim and window and door trims are now painted.

Not much more to do to call the bathroom finished.

z

comments…

I was told by a reader that they couldn’t leave a comment cause they were asked to sign in or something. That’s really wierd. I’ve just checked my settings and they are as I left them: anyone can comment, no requirement to log in anywhere.

Very strange.

I’m confused.

…Still.

This is becoming a permanent state of being.

Let me know if you find any other issues and I’ll try to fix them. Don’t hold your breath though.

(grin)

z

my last blogger post

I decided to bite the bullet. This will be the last post I do on Blogger. I’m not going to delete the blog, just begin putting new posts on my WordPress site.

It has to happen sometime… I may as well jump in.

I haven’t finished tweaking my WP site but I figure I’ll learn as I go. And you’ll forgive me if things stuff up… right?

Up till now I only blogged for fun. Now, while I’m still blogging for fun, I’m also trying to get more exposure for some of the things I do – like the doll repaints I’m selling in my Etsy shop. Its a whole big world out there and I’m really lost in it. There is just so much out there and I don’t know where to start or where to go!

I’ve been on ebay the longest, I think that was the first thing I did when I got online: buy stuff on ebay! I love ebay!

Then I built a website for my art, then for my poodles, then morphed that into a hub leading to all my web pages and ‘stuff’…

I’m on Facebook of course. I resisted for ages and then one day my cousin Zefi asked me to join cause she was tired of people contacting her thinking she was me. I use it all the time now, both to keep in touch with friends, to share stuff, buy stuff and keep in touch with the local community and hobby groups I belong to.

I’m on Pinterest. That was easy… I love the way it acts as a kind of library for ideas as well as a source for research. A great place to find inspiration.

I opened a CafePress shop and sold quite a few of my poodle design Tshirts. I don’t do much with the shop any more, but I still sell stuff through there which is nice.

Then I opened an Etsy shop which I did nothing with for years…

I joined Instagram last week. It seemed the right thing to do. I’m still trying to figure it out..

I started trying to setting up my Google+ page or whatever that’s called. I’m no where close to figuring out how that works or what its for… sharing pics like Instagram? Sharing posts like a blog?

If none of those links work… well, welcome to my world. And to think I’m not completely ignorant when it comes to computers. Sheesh…

I’m not on Twitter. Yet. Or SnapChat. Or whatever newfangled app is out there now.

I’m so confused. I mean, how on earth do you keep track of (or tame!) all these pages????

I can barely keep up with what I have and I always thought I had a pretty big online presence.

Seriously.

I’d love some advice from other bloggers on how you keep track of, stay on top of and organise all those different pages, apps and profiles online! I realise that its part of ‘the job’ of being a blogger and seller, but I find that I start doing a bit of online work and three hours later I’m still here, still going…

Anyway… I’m going to jump right in, with both feet. I’m not even going to hold my nose. Oh, ok, I’ll probably hold my nose… I guess not deleting my Blogger blog (ie this one!) is a way of holding on to some kind of security while I plunge into the great unknown…

From now on my new blog address will be; https://junk4joy.com.au/

My next posts will be shared from there.

Please by patient when blips happen, as they’re bound to do. I’m not sure how to make sure it all runs smoothly. I think anyone who used to follow my blog will have to ‘re-follow’ the WP blog. I’m not entirely happy with the layout and widgets of the new blog yet so there may be (most likely will be) changes made to the live blog. Just grin and bear it.

z

moving. sort of.

 

I decided it was time (after over 7 years of blogging) to move to a more professional platform. WordPress.

Great idea. In theory.

I’ve also joined Instagram in my bid to be more professional.

Mind you, I don’t consider myself a professional blogger, I blog cause I’m a show off who likes to brag about all the wonderful things I make and do. Ok, fine. I love to share and hopefully inspire others to have a go. I’m not kidding myself that I change lives or speak great wisdoms. Let’s face it.

I just love sharing things I do and seeing what others do. It motivates me to surround myself with creative people.

So, I decided it was time to take the leap. I bought a domain name. I joined WordPress. I paid to create a blog. Then I found I have to also pay to point it to my domain. Ok fair enough… Tick that. I had to set it up manually. Tick that too. Its not working yet, but hopefully I’ve done it all right…

If it works I’ll migrate the site over to there later.

Now if I can find my brain I can get to work again.

How on earth do I move the entire blog over? CAN I move the entire blog over? Is it even possible to do that or do I lose all my past posts like I did when Shine went offline and I had to start over on Blogger?

I’m so confused.

HELP.

z