Anyway, I'm glad to be back, though I do miss the sleeping in and days of kitten cuddles. I needed this break. I needed to get away from real life for a bit and just be variously alone (with the cats and their cuddles and purrs) and with really awesome people whom I love very much. I managed a little bit of both this holiday, and it was a balm to my soul. I am feeling rested. It's been a little while since I've felt this rested, and I'm enjoying it. I'm expecting it to last maybe all of a week. Still, it's lovely while it lasts.
Christmas this year was so wonderful. I feel very spoilt.
And now the decision I said I needed to make in yesterday's blog post has gotten harder. You see, I thought I had made my decision about which skill I intended to learn. Guitar. I thought I had decided to learn the guitar. To that end, I bought myself a really cheap classical six-string guitar (like, REALLY cheap. The thing doesn't stay in tune for more than five minutes of playing time) on which to learn. I'll save up for a better guitar later (I hear that Yamaha makes pretty decent classical guitars, and they're not expensive).
So, decision made, right?
Weeeelllllllll.... the Amazing Flatmate gave me the best Christmas present ever. She made me an easel. SHE MADE IT HERSELF. Look, I gave her the moniker of Amazing Flatmate for a reason. It's beautiful, and I love it. She knew I wanted to learn how to paint with oils. How could she not? I've been talking about it for the better part of a year now.
The lack of easel is a big part of why I decided to go with the guitar. Now that's not a factor anymore.
Since I now have a guitar and an easel, I guess I'm just going to have to learn both guitar and oil painting. I'll stick with just guitar for now, and in the spring/summer start mucking about with oil painting. From what I remember of oil painting, you clean with turpentine, and that's a whole whack of crazy fumes I don't want to be mucking about with inside without much ventilation. When the weather is warmer, I can take the canvas and turpentine outside to paint.
So that's my adjusted plan for the whole learning a new skill thing I wanted to do. For the record, I've already started to teach myself to play the guitar. I'm finding it much easier than the violin, and I've picked it up rather quickly, all things considered. I'm currently learning to play Ode to Joy and Jingle Bells. Badly, mind you, but I can play them. Kinda.
I told you, I was spoilt this Christmas.
Right, I have to go and get my writing stuff in order. It's back to work for me in all ways, and I have a draft of Outcast to be finishing.
Ciao!