A flock of tiny bikes

For my third assignment for Lola we've designed a board game.  I've never really been much of a board game player so I've found the process fascinating.  What was particularly fun was creating the playing pieces. In the module they showed us how to make very simple figures (see above) and I used the same process to create the playing pieces for my first prototype game.  They were a bit too big for the second prototype and one of the graphic designers at work suggested a way to make them that would allow them to be smaller.  So now I have a flock of tiny bicycles.  They are so cute.  

Last of the day schools

Yesterday I had my last Day school/tutorial for Lola.  But it was more than that, assuming I pass this course, it was also my last day school/tutorial for my degree.  This is quite a scary thought.  Suddenly the end is sight, even though I still have 3 months to go, and 7 years of study is very close to ending.

Part of me is over joyed.  When I started I was not intending to complete a degree, just take a short creative writing course.  These have been 7 long years and I am really looking forward to having my spare time all to myself again.  

But at the same time I am sad.  I have found the last 7 years really interesting, if hard work at times, and I have learnt A LOT.  The OU is a lovely place to study and I’ll miss the community.  And in a way all that spare time is a little scary.  With no deadlines to work towards what will keep me motivated and off the sofa?  

I’m sure I’ll find something to do.  I guess I need to complete my last 3 months first before I get too worried.

February's writers group

Last months homework was about your favourite bus route so we had lots of stories and poems about journeys.  I actually had an idea for a story and started writing, but didn't have time to finish it for the meeting.  Maybe for the next meeting.

This months homework:  Pick a phrase or motto that has particular significance for you, use it as a starting point for a story or poem.

Pop up elephant

I've never really understood Valentines Day.  I like to show my love all year round, not just on the day the card company's what to make a profit.  We exchanged cards today.  What better way to show I love him than with a hand made card and a pop up elephant curtsey of Rob Ives?  Shame I stuck its legs on upside down - never mind if I don't say anything no one will notice.

AfterShokz earphones

As I'm starting to push my running mileage up, so I've started to wish for something to liven my runs up a little.  A little music would be perfect, but I am also aware of how unsafe running with earphones in is.  Then I saw these, and 'im outdoors was kind enough to give them to me for my birthday.  AfterShokz aren't like normal earphones, rather than sitting in your ear, they sit outside it and you 'hear' the music through your bones.  It does sound crazy but they worked a treat.  I could hear my music but also the car coming up behind me and a woodpecker too.  
I don't normal write reviews of produces but these blew me away.  If you want a safe way to listen to your music while out running or cycling these are perfect.

A chair made from newspaper

Yesterday was the second Lola day school.  We started with a little drawing, then played a game and after lunch Clive gave us an hour to make a chair out of paper.  We decided to create something that would resemble a bean bag although it soon evolved.  I was part of the team making the sheet of newspaper to wrap their 'beans' of newspaper in and soon realised it would be too thin.  So we used the shiny covers from the magazines to make a more robust cover.  A surprisingly comfy end result.
Only a couple of months more - this module is flying by.

Cancer, we’re coming to get you!

This June I’ll be going pink!  I’ve just signed up for my first running race – a 5k Race for Life, with Cancer Research.  What better way to start my racing career than by raising money for a fantastic charity?

I’m hoping that this will be the start of something exciting and new, that will push my running a bit further.  And maybe it will fill a little bit of the gap left by finishing my degree?

I’m not expecting to have an amazing time for this race, I’ve agreed to run it with my little sister who is new to this running lark and understandably isn’t quite as fast as me, but I think it will be fun to go round as part of a team.

If you’d like to sponsor us you can on our Just Giving page.

Peacock work box

I've had this work box since I went to Art College years ago.  I still use it but it hadn't been out for ages until the first Lola day school last year.  Lola seems to have really inspired me and over Christmas I decided that as an art work box full of paint and charcoal and pens, amongst other things, it should be a little more exciting on the outside to match its exciting contents.  I painted a peacock feather on the top to match my wild creations 'branding'.  They are such beautiful birds.