Hakuna Matata!

Hakuna Matata!

Hi there.

Thanks for joining me. Whistle stop tour of Africa today!

Seems like absolutely ages ago since we spent a week there, doesn’t it. Head on over to the Claritymatters blog, for a guided tour…

Me? Well, I decided to have a clear out in the SHAC-Shack. Looks like a bloodybomzitit! Trouble is, it always gets worse before it gets better, right? And right now, as I write, I am sitting waist high in boxes and black sacks and years n years of stuff that I will never use, and never find even if I wanted to use! So I’m playing Needitnotsureuseditinthelastyearnobinit. And that doesn’t say Nob innit!! It’s very cathartic, this clearing out. Before you have a knipschen, thinking I am binning perfectly good ink pads and stamps and paper and card and stuff, there is a lovely local lady who runs a super craft club for the local youth, and others too. It’s all voluntary, so anything worth keeping, anything I have in duplicate, I am giving to them. Just got to wade my way through it all.

I think a proper clear out is good for the head too, don’t you? There’s so much to consider right now, so much to think about. So a clean SHAC-Shack will be a good starting place next Monday. I may even rearrange the shelves behind me, and make them a little more arty, a little more colourful, and a little less sterile. It’s not a holiday, I know. Well, not one I would save up for!! But whatever. I have to stay active, get out of my old washing machine head, and stick with the hands. So I may as well sort this shitpit out!!

Jigsaw puzzles and a clear out. It doesn’t get better than that!

Hang on though! Oh yes it does!! Pottery this afternoon! Woohoo!! Hallelujah!! It was a bit different for sure. We had to wear masks the whole time, and my specs kept steaming up, which was rubbish, because I couldn’t see what I was doing. But then I looked around me, and most of the ladies’ glasses were steamed up too! Hahahaha. It was just good to be back in the fold with Susanna and the ladies. Not the same. Just different. Will take a little adjusting, but hey. We have to work with what we’ve got.

Work in progress; I’ve got a great coiled vessel in my mind’s eye. It is goinf to be so beautiful if it works out! The perfect distraction…more will be revealed.

And on Friday, another pottery treat – on the wheel this time. So I shall get in a little early, sort this coiled one out once it has dried out a little – and then …

It’s a throwdown!!

Haven’t been on the wheel since February, so this’ll be fun. Expecially if the glasses steam up!! I was thinking. Maybe I could wear a snorkel? Hahahaha!! Or my motorbike crash helmet? Let’s face it. I’m not going to be swimming with the sharks or blazing a trail through the Kentish countryside on my Harley any time soon….

Time to crack on with…. the wasgij. You’ve got to know how to have fun, haven’t you!!! xxx

Love and hugs

Barb xxx

39 thoughts on “Hakuna Matata!

  1. So glad you have been able to make it to pottery again. I found a fabric mask better than these blue and white shop bought masks. I tucked it well down either side of my nose well up under my glasses too. It seemed to do the trick.

  2. I love a good sort out so therapeutic. Glad you’re getting back to your pottery, love seeing your makes.
    I watched video on fb that said if you rub your lenses with a block of soap then rub it off with your glasses cloth it stops them from steaming up x

  3. Know exactly what you mean , about the clear out , I did that last year when my daughter and her family moved back in for 10 months . Must sort my wardrobe out though that will definitely make more mess to begin with hahahaha . Enjoy your jigsaw puzzle x

  4. You must have been so happy to get back to pottery. It is good to be doing something you love and is totally different. Me, I can’t wait to start line dancing again. Not only for the exercise, but the laughs and banter with my friends there. I have been having a ‘miss stuff’ week, but hopefully it won’t be too far away.
    Have a lovely evening. Hugs. Annette X

  5. Seeing your pottery makes me smile.
    I have too been clearing out lots of stuff. Half made cards, that have become bashed, dried up inks and glues, and lots of other things I will never use. What can be used I will donate to a not for profit community shop so others can gain from my clear out. I agree it feels great to clear stuff and create new spaces. Also reminds me of what I actually have, so I can use it.

  6. I’ve spent most of the day sorting out my crap room too, oops! craft room, well at least it looks like one now. Glad to hear the pottery is working again, it won’t take you long to get back into the swing of it, have fun.
    See you next week
    Love Jean xx

  7. Evening Barbara.
    I know that a holiday to most means travelling to a different place but when I was working having a week at home was the best break from work.
    And you’re right about having a good clear out. It really does make you feel better…. Although usually half way through you start to think it may not be a good thing.
    I’m very glad you made it to pottery. Could you wear a visor instead of a mask? It won’t steam up quite the same?
    I hate wearing a mask as no matter what I do my glasses steam up and I feel really hot with my face covered. But if it means I can go out and be a bit safer I’ll have to get used to one.
    Enjoy your evening. Hope Dave’s foot is getting better.
    Love and hugs Xxxx

  8. Felt as if I was going to rob a bank first time I wore a mask but if they keep us safe then all for it. I seem to have cleared a lot of cupboards this last few months. X

  9. See when you are finished, Barb, I need you to come up here and do a clear out for me!! Far too much stuff and far too sentimental! Hey ho! So glad you got back to pottery today. Fantastic. Just what the doctor ordered! Will enjoy seeing all your creations again now you are back in the saddle, so to speak! Have fun. That’s also what the doctor ordered!! Lots of love. Hxx

  10. Hi Barbara, you are still making me laugh with your stories. I’m trying to tidy but then I find something more interesting!!!! Having a few right hand shoulder problems so need to rest ready for Monday. Continue to enjoy your time off 💕

  11. Hi Barb,
    Glad youhave managed to get potting again, you seem happier now. I get too hot in a face mask if I have to wear it for very long. I found that if I pinch the wire at the top, make it very snug and tuck it under my specks they don’t steam up so much. Perhaps Dave could make you a visor whch would protect your whole face.
    Although a recent de-clutter brought to light many items I forgot I had but were still useful some of it went back into boxes to save space. Really didn’t want to buy more storage units as I hoped to use much of the papers, cards, toppers etc to make cards for the charity shops. Been stamping, colouring, die cutting like fury since the weekend and now have 2 empty “bits” boxes and lots of cards ready to be put together. Tomorrow I will get sticking and packing.
    Received my Ocean Swirls stamps today, they are lovely stamped in all the teal shades and aqua blues and greens.
    Stay safe 🍒🍒🍒

  12. It’s lovely getting back to some sort of normality x l went to the hairdressers yesterday and I had to wear a mask, I was a bit anxious at first though and my glasses steamed up too. 👓😅
    My packages arrived today so I’m off to play with oxides.
    Enjoy your pottery looking good
    Hugs xxx

  13. Hi Barb,
    I’m pleased that your pottery has started again as I know how much enjoyment you get from it. Dave ( my Dave that is) loves doing Wasgij ‘s. He must have about 30 of them ! I have about 15 of them on my Samsung tablet although you can no longer get the app for some reason. They are really hard to do on a small screen I must say!! I take them to do in hospital as they keep me occupied all day! Sending love and hugs,Alison xxx

  14. So happy for you that pottery is on your timetable once again! I don’t know if it works but on the radio recently it was suggested that a twist in the mask straps before placing them round your ears helps prevent your glasses steaming up. Maybe you could give this a try xxxxx

  15. I cleared out my craft room at the weekend. I finally managed to clear a space for my Bigshot Plus which has been sitting in its box on the floor for nearly 2 years!! I have sorted all my bits ‘n’ bobs and put them in LABELLED boxes! My husband is still reeling in shock! I’m glad you were able to get back to pottery. I hope you have a great time on the wheel on Friday. Enjoy the rest of your sorting. x

  16. That’s a good start to get back to pottery. I need a clear out too …… except I’ve had two parcels this week LOL !! I’ve nearly finished a jigsaw with others to start. Enjoy x x

  17. I am struggling to do any crafting right now. Finally got an appointment at the Birmingham Eye Hospital to have my cataracts assessed. Hoping to get them done very soon, then maybe I will be able to see colours properly and be inspired to get going again. Fingers firmly crossed. xxx Maggie (Silvercrafter)

    1. Hi Maggie. I had my cataracts done last year. Wow, you will be amazed at the colour when you get them done. You don’t realise how much deterioration there is! I couldn’t see at night for about 3 years. I’m still better in daylight, but you will be so amazed. Hope you get sorted soon. If you tell them it’s really affecting your driving (if you drive) and restricting your life, they will do them quicker. Good luck. X

  18. That’s a bit of normality back for you (going back to your pottery class) must seem strange though having to wear a mask, but at least safe. I wear mine shopping but it’s a pain as you say when it keeps steaming up your glasses. I need another sort out in my craft room too, so much I don’t get to use. Only had one just over a year ago but obviously didn’t get rid of enough. So much card I could open a factory, since I’ve been using your papers I don’t use the card for backing. I save lots of papers and card for a lady that rescues hedgehogs, she makes hedgehog cards to sell for their food etc. She has all my older towels too for their baths.xxx

  19. Hello Barbara glad you got to your pottery class everyone needs a bit of time for themselves x

  20. Clear out, jigsaws and pottery – perfect! Remember to top up your vitamin D when possible.

    Your mask will only steam you up if not fitted properly, tight to your face. As others have said, try adjusting the nose wire. It won’t protect you from the virus, which is now thought to hang in the air of enclosed spaces for hours, unless it is tight to your face with no gaps. If you can’t get it tight to your face, you need a different sort of mask. Visors will not do instead of a mask. They filter nothing from the air but are essential to stop your mask becoming wet, which stops masks working. You wear them over a mask in rain or if there may be splatter of any sort e.g. wet clay, sneezing. You can wipe and disinfect a visor both sides before wearing it again. You throw away or wash a mask in detergent, depending on type. A virus is not alive as such – it is a protein molecule covered in fat, so you filter it out, barricade it, dissolve the fat in detergent, clean vigorously to break it up, gut it with alcohol etc or blow it away to dilute it and its friends.

  21. I saw a tip to fold up a tissue into an inch wide strip and pop it into the top of your mask to stop your glasses steaming up. Worked for me in the supermarket! So happy you’re back at pottery – have fun x

  22. It doesn’t sound much of a holiday for you, but at least you got to your pottery, which you really enjoy. Anyone doing crafts need a clear out, end up with loads of bits of paper, that might be useful. Ha ha
    Enjoy the rest of this week.

  23. Fab to see you back at pottery. I’ve always enjoyed seeing your fantastic creations, and I guess you get the same boost from that as the rest of us get from our card crafting. you are right about decluttering being therapeutic – I spent some time this morning clearing out my front room, (which was starting to look like it could feature in a Channel 4 documentary on hoarding!!). Both my sons have returned home to live over the past year and lots of their stuff has been parked in there waiting for their next moves. It looks a bit more organised now, and has made me feel quite a bit better.

  24. Good that your pottery has restarted, look forward to seeing the results. It will be good to get back meeting friends at classes. I had my haircut today so feel that is a step towards getting back to normal. Still sorting out my craft room but like others keep finding things that I had forgotten about or are more interesting than sorting. I agree though things do seem to get worse before they get better as I move things around to make the best use of the space. I think a day of die cutting & completing toppers for cards is called for so I can use all or at least some of the bits in the bits box. I do have a growing pile of stuff for my granddaughters for when I see them to replenish their craft stash that they have used up during lockdown.

  25. If you cross the strings on your mask it stops your glasses steaming up. Simple but true! I didn’t believe it either but it works. Enjoy your pottery xx

  26. I had a clear out a while ago because we will be moving into a one bedroom flat unfortunately i keep thinking of things which i ‘need’ which are in the boxes to fonate to the craft room. With all my card making stuff and my other halfs musical instruments i think we will be sleeping on the patio x

  27. I understand that craft room clear out don’t we collect some stuff been doing mine this last month as room was decorated and had to be empty so was quiet brutal still stamps stencils to sort sold some well more like gave away gave away some to children’s ward as needed craft items paper card the Katie old day centre in st neots they really didn’t have much so don’t know how many bags centre to them I don’t know how all fitted in my small room as still full so lads still to go so best luck in yours. Fantastic pottery again look forward to seeing more makes specially from the wheel enjoy hugs Joy xxx

  28. Glad pottery is on again for you even if it isn’t quite the same, and look forward to seeing what you get up to, and that jigsaw looks great. Hope you get the clear out done soon, not a job I envy you doing. I should be trying to clear a bit but keep putting it off. x

  29. Hi Barbara, so glad you managed to get back to your pottery this week. Looking forward to seeing the results x

  30. Hello Barb, the day trip to Africa was great. So glad to hear that you have pottery back on the agenda. And yes a good clear out is very cathartic, and pleasing if you can donate it to a charitable cause, no matter what it is you happen to be clearing out. Take care and stay safe everyone. Bx

  31. So glad pottery classes are up and running….something for you. Us ladies who wear glasses need to put our thinking caps on and come up with a solution to the face mask problem, not contact lenses either!X

  32. Sounds like you are having a week that helps the soul! It always feels good after a good clear out and tidy up in my craft room, actually it’s now called my craft Emporium as I have a large room now full with crafty goodies! (But all organised) My favourite is my dedicated Clarity section! – What a treat for you going back to Pottery! fingers crossed it can continue for a while before the next wave of virus causes havoc again, which with the way people are acting seems inevitable 😪- I got so fed up with my glasses steaming up and all the other annoying things with glasses that I had my eye lenses replaced. I dont need glasses anymore!. I can even read a newspaper without glasses! – Best thing I ever did! – Get your chores done and when the sun shines at the weekend have a lovely time in the garden with your audio book, you’ve earned it!! – Hope Dave’s foot is getting better? X😘

  33. Hi Barbara having a clear out is so good. Though it does look a lot worse before it gets better. I am so pleased that you were able to go back to pottery. I hope the rest of the week is good for you. Take care. Hugs xxx

  34. Glad you are back to your pottery. I bet it’s very therapeutic.
    The trouble with a clear out is that the following week you want something you gave away 🙄🤣….been there, done that, got the t shirt lol.
    Stay safe and well xx

  35. One of my favourite things to do is, sort stuff, organise stuff and decluttering. I am always doing it, it’s great therapy.
    Missing you this week, but hope you are chilling even though still busy. X

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