Oil painting for idiots

About two years ago I got into oil painting because that's a sensible thing to do. I had just moved into my cupboard, chambre de bonne, maid flat in central Paris. I was feeling so much better after having gone through hell in a shared house with a dodgy landlady who refused to give me a rental contract and receipts. I had a job lined up in the suburbs and things were really turning around. While walking from the metro to my flat I walked past a cheap junk shop. They're officially called bazar but if I were to say a 99p shop you'd get the picture, that kind of place where everything is everywhere, but the prices were all different. They had painting stuff in the window, canvases, oil paints, brushes. I think it was probably aimed at the children going back to school in September, but I'm not done with growing up yet. I got a pack of oil paints and a canvas for under 10€, there was a brush in the oil paints and I thought it would be good enough. I then went to the supermarket and got a bottle of Martini. It took several days to finish completely but I made an Irn Bru can, I even got retweeted by their Twitter.

Within a fortnight I had returned to buy a pack of brushes and another canvas. I made an orange and blue planet called Brutopia. Not long after I went back for a third canvas and made Davaar island which went through every season before I called it quits and left it as it was. With my first three paintings finished I had started looking up advice online about buying new paint. I was running dangerously low on white. One of the pieces of advice I found was to buy big tubes of white. I was also introduced to turpentine, a clear smelly liquid used to thin oil paint. I went to a proper art store this time, to get a big tube of white and the terps and found another canvas. Which is still in my flat half finished, I was working on the Bruffel Tower. A few weeks later I got big tubes of red, blue and yellow as I mix most of my colours.

Not long after this I got one of those boyfriend things, and I started spending a lot of time at his place rather than mine. I went quite a while without painting until we went to an art shop near his and got some paints from Peabo and I have been using their turpentine since the beginning. I only got four, white, red, yellow and blue. I highly recommend these paints for beginner artists like myself, they're good quality, thick enough and pigmented. I've done quite a lot with them and I am very happy. I started working on this orange landscape with them that I still haven't finished. I find the Pebeo colours don't get muddied no matter how much I mix into them. I also completed my thistle painting with them which was my first real painting that I was proud of.

The Thistle.

From here I spent two months in Scotland and my mum placed an order through Hobbycraft for some mixed brushes and some more paints, this time from Winsor & Newton, however, I wasn't most pleased with them. Some of the paints were too liquid, and the oil was separating from the pigment, causing them to leak. I did have a lot of fun painting an unflattering selfie of a friend though so there is that. I lugged all of that back to France and I have carried on.

About a month ago I saw a promotion on some paints in a local art shop, I snapped them up and got my first high quality canvas, after messing about I had done a beautiful painting of Nessie. Time will only tell how good at this I get. I've recently started a Patreon so if you're wanting to support my art work then you can do so. I'm trying to figure out what perks I should offer, but it's all early days.



ACTUAL ADVICE!

• Buy big tubes of white. Consider buying big tubes of the primary colours too as if you mix your own you'll need more of these.
• Open your window, those terps fumes get pretty strong.
• If you start with cheap supplies you'll not have long-lasting art, but it won't always be worth keeping.
• Debate buying cheap paints vs expensive paints. I have about four sets of different paints lying around. My first cheap set, as only the white, red and yellow were finished. The mega tubes of white, red, blue and yellow. The set I got for the boyfriends. The set my mum got me for my birthday. The nice set of fine oils I treated myself to.

Open University

As the child of two university graduates I've been expected to go to university myself. Only I completely messed up my life, several times. Not the mention the whole student loan situation putting me right off and just having Alexandros and in general life being chaotic and such.

Now I'm 24, things are evening out a bit. I have some savings. Sorry, had, I'm doing Open University and that costs around £3000 a module. I know which domain I want to work in. Childcare. Hah, how skilled and intellectual of me. I'm now at a point where I'm beyond caring, my line of work makes me happy. I've chosen to do the Early Childhood BA (Hons) degree. Fancy, right? I'm doing the modules E109 and E110. I'm now one month into my first two modules and I'm working on my Tutor Marked Assignments. They call these TMAs for short. A TMA is basically an essay, at least for what I've been asked to do it is.

As I said I'm doing two modules. E109, Exploring Perspectives on Young Children's Lives and Learning. This is mainly psychology based, it talks about the influences of culture, family and the like and how they can transform a child socially. Concepts of identity, belonging, attachment, development. It's all very interesting and I'm only on week three, I'm a week behind. E110 is about Young Children's Play and Creativity. It's about how children grow and develop mentally and physically helped by play. It covers influential practicioners who shaped modern perspectives.

I already knew about Montessori from my CAP Petite Enface in France, the centre where I studied was based on her ideas, I didn't know much about Froebel. He was just a passing name, here we learn in more detail who he was and his views. As well as Steiner, Isaacs, Malaguzzi and McMillan. It's interesting to compare the similarities and differences of so many teachers from so many different backgrounds.

Four weeks in and I'm already feeling smarter.

Life as a vegetarian in France

In France saying you're vegetarian goes one of two ways, if you're lucky you get a vague indifferent look and a mumbled pas de soucis or a strange reaction akin to announcing you have Ebola.

If you're ever invited to someones house for dinner and you say "by the way, I'm vegetarian" be careful. You never know what to expect. I've had things ranging from a basic salad of only lettuce, fish, fried chicken, pepperoni pizza and being told to peel the meat off, and vegetables that were roasted in animal fat. Yeah. It's that bad. So every time I get invited somewhere new I seem to precise it once again, I don't eat this, this or that. Then you'll have someone invite you back and they'll have forgotten, trust me. It'll be awkward.

Hospitals are a nightmare. They don't do vegetarian, ever. I was told if I wanted vegetarian food I'd have to see a dietitian first. So they kept giving me fish, and I kept saying I wasn't hungry. That's still better than the things I've had given to me during my visits with Alexandros mind. I've had a mystery quiche that was vegetarian but smelt of bacon, two or three salad leaves with a smug comment about how they forgot I eat weirdly, the most disgusting fish I've ever tasted, and pasta with a tiny bit of butter that's somehow meant to flavour it.

Restaurants can be hard. A good one will have veggie options! A less good one will have a decent selection of fish, or will be willing to make you something without meat. However you need to know your stuff. Some soups have dripping in them, usually cow or pig. Animal products can hide pretty well, and telling the person serving you that you don't eat meat isn't always enough. A crap fast food place like McDonland's, you're out of luck, you either have meet or fish. Also be careful with cultural restaurants like sushi bars, they'll have meat and fish, but only salad and rice for veggies. Chinese is kind of the same too, but it depends on the place. Fancy burger places do normally have a vegetarian option though, some are better than others, but it's always worth looking.

Which comes down to the easiest option, I'll occasionally eat a bit of fish. This started when I was in the young mother's home and wasn't eating very well, with either rice or pasta on a daily basis and then they'd be the problem of not having any protein and being too poor to buy my own food. Then when I started going out more I found it increasingly difficult. Fish doesn't bother me as much as meat, although it's rare. Sometimes weekly, sometimes I'll go six months without. It depends on what's available. It's very rare I buy fish to cook at home though. I did twice last year, to make fish suppers.

I wouldn't change though, I'm happy being meat free. I just wish it was more accepted.

A new blog for 2017

After much reflection, and realising that my old blog crossed a lot of difficult subjects I have come to the decision to tidy up by starting over once again. Version 5. Copying over the posts I'm actually proud of, fixing up hyper links and things, and expanding on new and more relevant subjects as my life has changed.

Five years ago when I started My Uneventful Live Version 3 I still lived in the UK, I had fewer aims and less ambition. I couldn't have fathomed how much my life has changed since then. A total transformation. A new country. Fluency in two languages in a way that still surprises me. A deep depression. A small boy who adores me. An amazing job. Having a useful qualification.

I have achieved so much and come so far.

Later on when I start My Uneventful Live Version 6 I'm sure I'll be just as surprised.

Parakito

The Parakito, also written as Para'kito, is a brand that sells anti-mosquito products.

I'm 23, I've never been eaten by mosquitoes. Sure I've had the occasional bite, but never more. This week I've been really badly bitten. I have twenty or so bites on my arms alone. 

I thought the easiest option would be to get some kind of a bracelet, because I can remove it without difficulty. My worry with sprays is I'm asthmatic and to remove them it'll involve washing or airing. Plug in devices exist too, but my plugs are either under my bed or under my desk. 

I saw these on display in my local pharmacy and while I love the colours I know I wouldn't get away with the outrageous neon orange... A couple of years ago a family I babysat for bought the same ones and apparently they worked well. Although at almost 12€ that's a big investment.

I did some Googling, and asked around. It seems people have mixed views on these. They're designed to mask your smell with a strong, some have said overpowering, mix of essential oils. Some swear by them working. Others say they don't.

It is however made in France! Meaning it supports European manufacturing and jobs, so that's another plus. I found several cheap knocks offs on Amazon and eBay but they were probably made in China under questionable conditions. I try and support European manufacture whenever possible. As well as fair trade. I'm a hippy.

In the end I decided it was worth a try. 

If it doesn't work there's always faffing about with essential oils until I find a combination that works. 

I chose black. Why? Because it's probably the most discreet colour there was. Although I wish I could get away with neon orange.

In the pack there was the bracelet, two pellets that I keep calling refills and the instructions.

The instructions were in most common languages even though the pack was only in English and French. They were short, brief and to the point.

Smell

When I got the sachet open I gave the refill a quick smell and I found it agreeable. However twenty minutes in I was getting the occasional strong whiff of it that was a little shocking. I'm not sure what the exact small is but it can be strong. I think the worst is when I don't move. It creates an aura of odour. 

The second day the smell has gone down a lot! It's nowhere near as overpowering. However that begs the question of if it loses its effectiveness over the two weeks meaning the first day it's brilliant and the last week it's useless. Time will tell. 

Appearance 

It's practical, functional and compact. It doesn't look like a feminist bracelet, but looks fine pared with hiking gear, and everyday clothing. This is not the kind of thing you can dress up for an evening out. However you could always clip it to your bag and hey do a key ring version that would be more discreet on a belt for example. 

Does it actually work?

For me it has worked so far. Although we've also had a dip in temperature. 

Three days after using it I got my first bite. There was only one, on the wrist I wasn't wearing he Para'kito. 

Over a month of suing it I've only had two or three bites. I'm pleased with it! I bought one for my mum too, for when we went to Scotland. I was out with the midges once but I didn't get bitten by anything so it might work against them too. 

It's a big investment but it seems to work for me. 

A letter to my local MP

I've not done this before, it's a big step writing to an MP. There's a lot of things floating around saying that they can block the referendum vote being acted on. If this works I'll be very happy. This was written to Andrew Tyrie, the Chichester MP and I've included his details below on the off chance someone else wants to send him something.

.........

Andrew Tyrie

House of Commons

London

SW1A 0AA

andrew.tyrie.mp@parliament.uk

Dear Mr Tyrie

The implications of the recent EU referendum are far reaching and quite possibly worse than we can all imagine. I'm writing to you hoping you can address my concerns with your fellow MPs. 

From your constituency I've heard an absolute horror, one of my mother’s narrow minded friends voted leave simply because she doesn't like having Polish neighbours. I cannot comprehend this idiocy, and I fear racism is abundant in the area. Sadly, my Dad and I as proud Scots suffered casual anti-Scottish comments in the area, to the point where someone even destroyed my Saltire and the police in your area don't take these hate crimes seriously. My real concern is some people have taken the Brexit victory as a license to be racist. It's not even been a week but look at the anti-Polish sentiment that's spread like a cancer across England. I'm yet to hear stories from the rest of the United Kingdom. 

With the utmost respect for the leave campaign I feel that their campaign was one of scaremongering, propaganda and lies at best. It was full of casual racism, and now the referendum is over European migrants, and other nationalities have suffered from disgusting comments telling them to leave the country. This is appalling. The British public seem to have no idea how Europe works and some don't even know what the European Union is. Until they're educated I strongly think this referendum should only be taken as advisory. I honestly don't think a referendum on this scale can be, let alone should be, organised in as little as four months. 

Life is an adventure and my adventure is currently in France. I came here in 2012 and I've been around Paris ever since. I've been working and studying and I profit fully from the freedom of movement act. I have a normal life in France with French colleges and friends, I know one English person and about twenty other Scots. We've all been affected in varying degrees, a woman from church was crying on Sunday because she's in despair. My French friends and colleagues are horrified at seeing the news on the racist attacks, incidents or whatever you shall call them, when I tell them that sadly this is normal but usually hidden they're even more disgusted. Sadly people will be seeing this image as the new independent Great Britain. Although the leave side wasn't full of xenophobia I feel the xenophobes have won.

I'm scared to bring my three year old son to Chichester as he only speaks French. As a mother I understandably want to protect him and I'm worried people will jump on us with all their hate speech, so for now I'm postponing all holidays. I sadly know this is a possibility as when I received a phone call in the town centre and was talking on the phone in French someone yelled at me to “fuck off back home” along with many dirty looks thrown at me by complete strangers. I have a terrible accent when I speak in French, but people don't care about that. They're more keen to see me as yet another foreigner. 

There is no exit plan. Nobody on the leave campaign reflected on that before the public made this life changing choice. Look how Labour have fallen apart since the vote was announced. There is too much division in the government. I worry that with these divides it could be the worst time to go through with leaving the European Union. A step in the dark can easily cause a fall, I don't want to see the UK flounder because of one gigantic mistake. 

The pound has fallen in value, this means the world marker doesn't have much confidence in the United Kingdom outside of the European Union. Not to mention the United Kingdom is barely united these days. Is it any wonder Scotland wants to leave?

Another concern of mine is that the majority of leave voters are apparently over 65, if the exit plan fails and the consequences are long lasting they won't have long to live through it. My generation, I'm 23, will have decades of suffering to put right this one monstrous mistake. The European Union has taken decades to build to its current status, and we have been involved for a long time. We could lose so much progress in leaving. 

You, as a member of Parliament can voice these concerns and I am sure that I'm not alone in contacting you, and other MPs across the country. To make it easier for you to reply I've included my mother's address, she still checks my post when I receive things. I look forward to receiving your response. 

Yours sincerely,

And obviously I signed it. 

Mother's Day Mugs

In France Mother's Day isn't the same day as in the UK. This year it's the 29th of May.

I wanted to do something special but not too difficult with the children I babysit. Something they'd be capable of doing that had a functional purpose, but could also be decorative if it was too sentimental or pretty to use. 

I chose painted mugs, proposed the activity to them and they happily accepted. 

Who with? 

With children aged 3 and up, I found this fun as an adult. They have to be able to hold a pen and ideally draw or write. 

Where?

Ideally outside where if they make a mess it's leas of a problem. Otherwise on a low table with plenty of sheets of paper. Ceramic paint is a nightmare to clean up. 

Materials

I found these paint liner pens in Hema for 5€50 and tested them. They seem to work as ceramic paint pens would but I got four for the price of one real ceramic paint pen.

• - Ceramic paint in pen form (or paint form with brushes for older children)
• - Pale or white mugs
• - Newspaper to protect the surfaces
• - Aprons
• - An oven to bake the paint 

Objectives

• - Make something for Mother's Day with a practical use. 
• - Involve the children in their Mother's Day presents. 

Secondary objectives

• - Drawing or writing with the kids.
• - Talking about the colours in English, as I'm meant to be teaching them basics. 

Before, preparation  

Obviously before involving the children in this activity I did a trial run to avoid any disappointment. I didn't want them making beautiful mugs and then the paint washing off. 

Once I found out it had worked we went to the shop together to choose our mugs. I asked L what kind of coffee her mum drinks in the morning (small or large) and she said large and choose a large mug. Then I asked R and he said small. L decided she preferred the small mug and wanted a small one for her mum. So we ended up with two espresso mugs which they both started calling coffees in English. 

We paid, went back to the house and the children cleared off the table. They got their drawing books, because I said where the pens were a bit difficult it would be one at a time. We also put paper on the table to avoid getting paint on it. 

I washed the mugs and the kids took off their jackets so they were in short sleeves. 

During, the activity

R went first because L was drawing out on paper what she wanted to write on her mug. 

I asked R which language he wanted to do his mug in and he said the language he speaks with his dad. I got the translation and he asked me to write it and chose a colour. Then I asked him if he wanted to draw something on the other side. He said a flower. We drew it in together and then he drew his family without any help next to the flower. I also wrote his name and year around the bottom. 

Then it was L's turn. She's much more inderpendant so wrote on "maman" with a heart for the middle m on her own. Then I wrote her name and the year on the bottom. 

I was making a mug at the same time and I'd written on the handle and they asked me to do the same on their mugs.

After, finishing 

I swore them both to secrecy and we hid the mugs in L'a room. The following day I did a second coat on the paint and baked them in the oven. 

The children actually put their own into the oven because they go into a cold oven. Warm to 180° and then leave for 30 minutes. Then turn off and leave to cool.

Once cool we filled them with sweetie hearts. 

Both children wanted to give them to their mums on the same evening we'd finished them to they did it a bit early than normal but everyone seemed happy. 

Mine is for my Italian  friend, hence the lack of sense.