Hi Everyone. I haven’t blogged for such a long time so I think it’s time for a wee catch-up. I hope you are all as well as you possibly can be.
Last year, I told you that I was taking a blogging break to focus on myself. I don’t think I realised just how much I needed that break!
A Wee Catch-Up and a Sneak Peak at Some of My Art
I started an online art course run by the Bonny Snowdon Academy. Bonny’s course focuses on drawing animals using coloured pencils. I have followed her tutorials and eventually built up enough confidence to draw without a tutorial. And I am extremely proud of myself.
Bonny is a fantastic artist but also an amazing teacher. She’s given me back my love of art. Actually, she’s given more than that. As well as art tutorials, she runs confidence sessions which have had a huge impact on me.
I spent so many years looking at pictures I had painted over 25 years ago and believing that I couldn’t do that anymore. There was a voice in my head telling me that even if I tried, I’d probably fail. So I didn’t try.
Well, with Bonny’s help, I think I have silenced that voice (at least for now!) Not everything I draw works out well, but I try. And I hope that I will continue to try. I hope that I can continue to silence that voice.
The following two drawings were drawn without using a tutorial from Bonny.
My pain obviously has an effect on my drawing time. But on the days, often weeks, when I can’t physically draw, I watch videos of people drawing. I try to make that my focus rather than my pain. That’s not easy and sometimes not possible. But it’s nicer to focus on art rather than pain and keeping that focus helps to encourage me back to drawing as soon as I can. That might mean drawing for only 15 minutes a day. But that’s 15 minutes more than I would have drawn a year ago.
4 Important Life Lessons From My Art Teacher
A Wee Catch-Up About End Trigeminal Neuralgia
Bonny’s confidence sessions really had a profound effect on me and made me think a lot about my life. As well as dealing with my own pain and writing about it here on my blog, I had been running the End Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Page and the End TN Support Group for the last twelve years. That has been incredibly time-consuming and also, at times, a little bit draining.
I often dish out advice to other people and suggest they should make themselves a priority. But I didn’t really listen to that advice myself. During this art course, I have realised that it’s time for me to do that. I do not regret any of the work I did on End Trigeminal Neuralgia. I have made many friends through that. And I hope that the work I have done has helped some people. But I have realised that it’s now time for me to pass it on to someone else so that I can make myself more of a priority.
Awareness is so important, as is support, so I was so pleased when a lovely lady told me that she would be interested in taking it on so the the page and group can continue.
A Wee Catch-Up About My Dog
Oh my goodness, where has the time gone? My wee Kippy girl is now three and a half. Can you believe that? She is such a lovely girl, absolutely gorgeous, and so affectionate, but the poor thing has had her unfair share of problems. She has a food allergy which causes a nasty skin reaction. We were careful to only give her hypoallergenic food hoping that we could get the reaction under control. But we were fighting a losing battle as her skin continued to get worse.
The vet often treated her with steroids and antihistamines but we asked them to do allergy testing to try to find out exactly what she was allergic to so we could avoid it and, hopefully, her problem would be solved. Well…the result of the allergy test was that Kip is allergic to every food you can think of. All meat, fish, eggs, dairy, potatoes, grains – she is allergic to them all. Our lovely vet was as shocked as us and recommended an anallergenic food.
She’s now been on that food for over two months and her skin still still isn’t 100% clear. I think she’s going to need monthly injections from the vet too.
Some Sad News About One of My Relatives
I’ve left this to the end of my post, not because it’s the least important but because it’s the most difficult thing for me to write about.
I have relatives who live in California – my Aunt and Uncle, their son and daughter and their families. My cousin who was extremely fit and healthy has been dealing with a few unusual symptoms over the last few months and eventually was diagnosed with ALS (known as Motor Neurone Disease in the UK.)
It’s never easy when you have to deal with a new diagnosis, but this diagnosis is so cruel. It’s extremely frightening for him and all those who love him. He’s only 49, and has a lovely wife and two gorgeous daughters.
ALS/MND is a rare neurological condition. There were two high-profile rugby players in the UK recently who had MND and they really shone a light on the condition and tried to raise funds and much-needed awareness. Now their stories hit even harder knowing that my cousin is dealing with the same disease.
If you don’t know much about ALS/MND, please click on the following links to the official charity websites in USA and UK.
MND Association UK
ALS USA
Also, please watch this trailer to an Amazon Prime film: For Love and Life: No Ordinary Campaign.
Thank you to everyone for reading. I hope to catch up again soon.
Thank you so much for reading.
If this post resonated with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
And feel free to share it with your friends or support groups.
Take care,
Liz.
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Liz, it’s so nice to hear from you again. I’m impressed by your gorgeous artwork. Mine looks like a child makes it. LOL! But I have fun and it’s relaxing, so I’ll keep making it. I’ve been off Facebook because my account got hacked in January. I’m sorry to hear about your cousin and your puppy. Keep taking care of you.
Your artwork is beautiful, I also realised I had to try to focus on myself and try to make more time for myself. So I have joined the local Gaelic choir and have been taking Gaelic lessons for a few hours a week to focus on something other than my pain. I wish you all the best with your continuing journey on rediscovering your art. You really have talent and it is a shame not to utilise it if it helps you.
Hi Ann, thank you so much for commenting.
Well done for taking Gaelic lessons and joining a Gaelic choir. That’s fantastic!
Having a hobby like that is great for taking your mind off your pain, even if it’s only for a wee while.
Thoir an aire ort fhèin,
Liz
Hi Kathy, it’s lovely to hear from you. I’m sorry that your Facebook account was hacked. That’s so annoying. Thank you for your lovely comment about my art. I’m sure yours don’t look like they’ve been done by a child, but definitely keep doing it. It’s so good that you have a hobby you enjoy and find relaxing.
Take care,
Liz
Nice to be reading your blog Liz. Your art work is amazing. Keep on doing your thing.
Sending love and hugs ❤️ Xx
Lovely to hear from you Elaine. Thank you so much.
Take care,
Liz xx
“And I am extremely proud of myself.” And so you damn well should be – you’ve done amazingly! I’m so glad you did that course and found Bonny. It’s one thing to learn, another to be encouraged and inspired. You are incredibly talented and I’m thrilled for you that you’ve been able to get back into it. It may not be quite the same, and you may not always physically be able to draw when you’d like, but doing it despite everything (and despite the fear of not being good enough) is huge.
I’m sorry you’re having to part with the support page and group. 12 years is a hell of a long time. It’s amazing to think how many people you will have touched in some way over that time. It’s wonderful there was a lady who was able to step in to keep running them and carry on the good work you started. It can feel impossible to take time out for ourselves and look after ourselves because like you say, you can be so good at giving the advice to others while being utterly unable to take that advice on board yourself. This art course really has worked wonders!
Kip is HOW OLD?! No way. Where has the time gone?!
My brother’s dog, who is (I think) maybe 2.5yrs now, also has some kind of food allergy that causes a nasty skin reaction. Poor babies 🙁 He’s been able to find alternatives that mostly keeps things ticking along okay but goodness, you are going to have your work cut out for you with Kip. I’m sure there’s a saying about the best things in life are the most challenging! 😂 I really do hope the injections alongside the current food can help a bit more.
I was very sorry to hear about your cousin. Life can be so damn cruel, and it would have come so out of the blue. As you say, with someone so young, fit and healthy, it’s all the more difficult to understand. 49 is no age for such a life-changing diagnosis. I’m glad he’s got his family around him but of course it must be terrifying and heartbreaking for all of you.
We’ve currently got not internet/home wifi because we’re moving house shortly so I couldn’t watch the trailer. I bought some mobile internet that I’ve hot spotted (is that a word?) to be able to use my laptop but it’s so slow and refuses to load much. I’ve saved the link to watch it soon as I’d not come across this documentary until you shared it, so thank you. Anything to bring more awareness can only be a good thing. Let’s hope science and technology can uncover new insights and treatments developments sooner rather than later for people with ALS.
Sending hugs and lots of love to you and your family 💜
Caz xxxxx