And yay – there was light?

And yay – there was light?

Hi there

Thanks for popping in. Just when you thought you could switch the lights off in the SHAC, and call it a day for the last time in 2020 – the lights switched themselves off! Oh dear.

I called Paul at work, and explained that we had a situation Houston, so he came over. Then Dave came home too and joined in. They both climbed around, checking fuses, changing fuses, swopping kettle plugs, changing sockets, process of elimination and all that. One of the main floodlights wasn’t playing.

Verdict: transformer on said main light blown. Those power cuts and power surges during the storm last week maybe?

Now I wouldn’t usually give it a second thought, except that I’ve got 7 hours of LIVE TV Sunday and Monday streaming from the SHAC Shac, and those powerful overhead lights make a BIG difference!

Dave will sort it. Bank Holiday weekend might prove challenging, but it’s nothing terminal. If all else fails, we’ll get our sparklers out!

So now it’s proper time to call it a day. Time to put 2020 behind us. Time to move on into 2021. Don’t look back; keep your eye on the road ahead. 2020 has certainly been a year to remember.

Dave and I wish you good health and happiness in the New Year. May it be a good one, and a safe one.

See you on the other side!

Love always

Barb xxx

85 thoughts on “And yay – there was light?

  1. Thank you so much for your company this year Barb. I have laughed and cried along with you in the Shac Shac since March. Here’s to a brighter 2021 for us all. Looking ahead with you not back. My love to you, Dave and the rest of the family
    Joan xx

  2. Dear Barb and Dave
    Happy new year! Here’s hoping 2021 is kinder to all of us. At least 2020 brought us the Shac-Shac and I for one am more than grateful for that. You have kept me sane through some difficult times and I now know that I can draw! Thank you for that gift.
    Enjoy the last hours of 2020 and see you next year!
    With love
    Zara

  3. Thank you for all the positives and the great gift of creativity you gave to all of us in 2020 Barbara.
    Thank you to Dave, your family and the Clarity Team too.
    Looking forward to sharing 2021 with all in the SHAC-SHACK. ❤❤❤

  4. Thats brilliant well done that man 👏
    Thank you so much Barbara for what you have done for us crafters like Joan said we have laughed and cried but most of all you have been someone we could depend on to keep us going, you are most definitely heaven-sent .
    All the best for 2021 to you and your family and every one at clarity HQ
    Lots of love Jackie and family x ❤ x

  5. Thank you for being there for us all and raising our spirits. Your a great team. Best wishes to you both and your team. A New Year and lots to look forward to. Happy New Year. XX

  6. What a way to end the year but with Dave and Paul to sort things out 2021 will be brightly lit. Have a ‘quiet’ evening and a restful night.
    Thank you Barbara for bringing us the SHAC shack and giving so freely of your time xx

  7. Happy new year to you and Dave and let’s hope things get better in 2021. Thank you for the Shac shack this year. I have some catching up to do but without your positivity and humour life would have been so much more difficult. Xx

  8. What a good job you have 2 such practical men in your life. Thank you for everything you have done for us this year. I have laughed till I cried at your stories and also cried with you at times. Wishing you and Dave and everyone at Clarity a healthy and less stressful New Year.

  9. Hope the shows go ok and the lights play ball and I wish you, Dave and all the team at clarity a fantastic and healthy new year! Xx

  10. Have a wonderful evening. Hoping for a brighter new year. Have appreciated some of the things 2020 brought like a renewed appreciation of the simple things in life, joy in crafting and a sense of self reliance. The generosity of time given by Barbara and others has been much valued, thank you so much.And to all the online pals that have shared this strange old year thank you and Happy 2021.

  11. Thank you for making the world a brighter place this year and for all the time, love, positivity and humour you have shared with all us SHACERS. Thanks also to Dave and everyone at Clarity, for everything they do.
    Wishing you all a health, happiness and continued success in 2021. Hugs. Annette X

  12. Thanks for all you have done this year I lave laughed and cried with you you wonderful lady . Wishing you and Dave a happy new year xxxxx

  13. Happy New Year from my family to your family.
    Thank you for sharing so much this year, in honesty you now feel like family. My wish is for a happier healthy 2021 full of joyful holidays and family reunions.

  14. That added a wee bit of stress to the day for you! Glad your dynamic duo was able to sort it for you. Wishing you, Dave, Grace, all your family and all at Clarity a very peace – full and blessed new year. Lots of love. Hxx

  15. Good health and happiness to you too! I have loved every minute of the shack shack and looking forward to that next year.! Have a great evening!

  16. I entered the Shac and your blogs far after most. To say I have enjoyed them both is an understatement. So grateful to have found you💗. Thank you so very much and here’s too much better times and more times spent in the Shac!!❤️🍷❤️

  17. We’ve all been through something we could never have imagined this year, and have been helped through by so many fantastic people, starting with our NHS, and going on to our postie and garbage men, to local shop keepers and a community willing to help anyone in need. And best of all for we crafters, we’ve had a friend on Facebook several days a week with whom we could forget the world for an hour each day and then pick up our lives in a lighter frame of mind. While I’m sure 2021 will start off in a similar vein, there IS light at the end of the tunnel, so Thanks Barbara, Dave and all of the Clarity crew and may we all end 2021 back together again.

  18. Dearest Barbara and Dave
    I wish you both all the love and happiness for the new year.
    Thank you Barb for all your time you have freely given us this year I have thoroughly enjoyed your funny stories, cried along with you as I know how you feel sometimes as my eldest son lives in Australia. I’ve learnt so much through your wonderful teachings and I have a new found love of drawing and colouring.
    Let’s hope 2021 will be a better year for us all!
    With love and best wishes Ann xx

  19. We have been through almost a year together – who would have thought it. Thank you. Happy new year to you Barbara, Dave and family and let’s hope 2021 will be a good year

  20. Thank you for all you’ve done for us this year Barbara and Dave, I hope all goes well at the weekend for the TV, you deserve to succeed. As you say let’s hope 2021 is a better year for all. I keep thinking of Grace and her advice to you – Travel Gently my friend xx

  21. Wishing you Barbara, Dave and your family and everyone at Clarity a Happy and Healthy 2021. Thankyou for everything you have done this year in the Shac Shack to keep us all sane and let’s hope next year is better for us all.

  22. Hi Barbara
    All I want to say is happy new year to you and Dave and your family And of course all the Clarity team
    Thank You For The Memories. T

  23. Wishing you, Dave, all your family, and everyone at Clarity a peaceful, happy and healthy new year. Thank you all so much for all you have done for this year xxx

  24. Best wishes Barbara and many grateful thanks for all you have done this year to make life happier, craftier and so inspirational, especially in the SHAC shack!
    Wishing you and Dave, all in Team Clarity and the wider Clarity Family a much needed Happy Healthy and Crafty New Year! Take care all and stay safe!

  25. Wow, that’s some impressive kit you have there!

    Wishing you, Dave and all of the Clarity Team a fantastic, prosperous and blessed New Year. And as a wise lady recently said, “travel gently” – this is my new motto for the new year.

    Big hugs and just “thank you” for everything.

  26. All the best Barbara to you and your family. Thank you for keeping us sane these last few months, with your tales laughter and sharing your talents. Let’s hope the New Year will be safe and happy for us all xxx

  27. Love to your kitties too. There are loads of fireworks going off here plus three massive bangs so far, make that four!! 😮
    They may be scared, let’s hope they snuggle up together. Wishing them much happiness, and safety in the new
    too. xx

  28. Thank you Barbara for all you have shared with us this year -quite fabulous!
    Wishing you and your family much to celebrate in 2021. (especially great pots) Big hug to you. xx

  29. Thank you for being there for us this year, who would have believed it. Happy and Healthy New Year to you, Dave, Paul and all the Clarity team who have helped s get through. Still a bit to go but I’m sure we’ll get there, not sure when …. but doing it together makes it easier. Good luck with the lighting ! X

  30. Happy New Year to you all. 2020 will now be remembered for the Shac Shack! Thank you for getting a great bunch of people together to learn from you Barbara. Your sense of humour (& compassion) are truly inspiring! There are no words to fully explain what you have done during the last horrendous year but one thing is certain without you it would have been a very depressing time! Keep being you and I wish you all the very best that 2021 is promising! Xxx

  31. Thank you to all at clarity and for all that you done for us all during these very trying, unsettling times. Let’s all hope and pray that things will indeed get better. Until then keep safe everyone and Happy New Year.xxx

  32. Wishing you both, and all at Clarity Towers, a hopeful and happy new year! It’s been a strange one but has had some good times, especially in the SHAC Shack . Thank you. Xxx

  33. Happy New year to you both and all at Clarity. Thank you so much Barbara for all you have done for us in the Shac Shack.
    Wishing you all good things for 2021.
    Stay safe and well.

    Lorraine
    Xx

  34. Thank you for so ably carrying us all through the last year.
    Happy New Year to you , your family and all at Clarity.
    Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2021.

  35. Happy new year to you and your family xx thank you for everything you do and looking to a better year to come xx hope all gets sorted for telly will be watching cx

  36. Thank you for all your support and hard work this year Barbara. Wishing you, your family and all at Clarity Towers all the very best for 2021. X

  37. Happy New Year to you both and your family, thank you for all your hard work in the Shac Shac, all the best for 2021

  38. Happy New Year to you all! Thank you Barbara for all you’ve done for the Clarity community in 2020 – you and the whole team are amazing! Both my sons are working in the NHS and have had their first doses of the vaccine this week, so it looks like brighter days are ahead. Onwards and upwards xx

  39. Happy New year to you all and thank you for you great service throughout the past year. Looking forward to seeing g what you have for us next year. Stay safe all of you.xx

  40. I wish you and your family and all the Clarity elves and all of you reading this blog a happy and healthy New Year and let’s hope each day brings us closer to more normal times. It hasn’t all been bad, we have learned new skills and have a deep appreciation of all those key workers. Now just let everyone knuckle down to abiding by the rules and we will get through this xx

  41. Hi Barbara happy new year to you and Dave. Thank you for all you have done this year. I just hope that next year will be better for us all. Take care. Hugs xxxx

  42. Glad you got it sorted out. Happy New year when it comes to you and Dave, and all the Clarity team. You for keeping us sane and give ing you’re time free, I now have a folder full of Art, never would have thought it. You inspired me to get out my air dry clay my sister sent me to try, I am a card maker, and I have made my first little moulds. They are drying ready to be painted tomorrow. Keep makeing the plates and pots. God bless Xx

  43. Happy New Year to all. Thank you Barbara for your inspiration and the time you have given to us all. We’ve shared your ups and downs and have laughed and cried with you. You are truly a very special lady x

  44. A very happy healthy, creative,save and a wonderful new year to you Barbara ,Dave and Paul and everyone of the Shac Shack friends. 🙏👼🌟💞🍀🌹

    Lots of love everyone!❤
    Trijntje Huppel

  45. Happy New Year Barbara and Dave and all the Clarity crew. Time to pick myself up and make a new start tomorrow for hopefully a better year eventually. xx

  46. Happy New Year to all.
    Grateful to have got through 2020 with only disappointments nothing major unlike some poor souls.
    Thank you Barbara for giving us something positive to focus on each day it has been very much appreciated. Enjoy your evening and I look forward to “seeing” you again tomorrow if Dave and Paul can get the lights back on.👀
    Weigh-in then diet starts tomorrow. The 5:2 regime I think. Need to shed about a stone of fat. My degree (gained late in life) is in nutrition and, before retiring, worked for the NHS running weight management courses. Embarrassing or what? But I do love my grub so know it won’t be easy coupled with the fact I don’t actually believe “dieting” works in the long term. I now need to convince myself I have a good reason to put myself through this and consider the eating habits I have to change so a bit of positive thinking – I can do this; I can do this; I can do this.😳😳😳😳😳😳😳

  47. Wishing you and Dave (not forgetting Paul too) a very happy, healthy and peaceful New Year! Lets go forward with hope in our hearts that 2021 will be a much better and safer year – now that we have got 2 vaccines to fight the demon!
    May your lighting and battery difficulties be solved and a thing of the past. Love and distant hugs xx

  48. Happy New year to you Barbara ,Dave and family .You share so much of yourselves with us your warmth feels embracing in a time where hugs are scarce.Looking forward to another journey of crafting in 2021.
    Warmest regards to all my fellow crafters.
    Carmel

  49. These little things come to try us – thank goodness for a Paul & a Dave.
    Wishing you, Dave & everyone at Clarity Towers & in the SHAC Shack a very Happy New Year.
    May we all stay safe & healthy

  50. Happy New Year to you, Dave, Family & all your super Clarity team. Thank you for being there, it helped a lot. xxx

  51. Happy New Year to you and Dave and family and thank you Barbara so much for all the time you have give us in the shack shac

  52. Happy New Year to you and Dave.
    Thank you for all the hours you have spent keeping us going through this difficult year.

  53. Before I look forward tomorrow, tonight I need to look back and thank you, Barbara, so much for your time and inspiration in the SHAC shack. I have loved my time there with you and fellow shackers. It has allowed me to keep my sanity – just!! – during this crazy year and stretched my skill set beyond recognition.
    Sent with love, and hopes of a better year for all of us, Mxx

  54. Happy New Year Barbara, Dave and all at Clarity.
    Thank you for all your time and for all you have taught us this year. Looking forward to more time in the SHAC and a return to a new normal in 2021!
    xx

  55. A Happy and safe New Year to you and your Clarity family and to quote BobHope ……’Thanks for the memories’
    with love AJ x

  56. Thank you Barbara for everything that you’ve done especially this year. I’ve loved the Shac Shac and been with you from the start. Wishing you, Dave and all at Clarity a very Happy New year. Forward is the only way to go so bring on 2021 x

  57. Happy New Year to all of you in the Clarity Community. I discovered you in February during a difficult spell. Barbara’s blog and your comments each day have really helped. Thank you so much. I look forward to seeing Grace’s choices of your beautiful creations each week in Clarity matters. Stay Safe everyone.

  58. Happy New Year, Everyone. Many thanks, Barbara, for all your amazing support this year. If the lights go on the day, you are showing people what it is like to craft blind, right? Just keep talking as if you were moving the various things, if you can’t actually do it. The products will sell themselves between you introducing what to do and the studio showing them. Now there’s a plan, it won’t happen.

  59. Wishing you Dave and the family, and of course the Clarity family a very Happy New Year. I just hope that it will be a much better one for us all. x

  60. Happy New year to both of you and all at clarity towers.
    You should be so proud of all you’ve achieved this year. And it can only grow this coming year.
    Thank you for your friendship and support during a difficult year.
    Lots of love and hugs xxx

  61. Hi
    Just returning from seeing 2021 in
    Myself and Jackie would like to wish yourself, Dave and the rest of the clarity team and community a Safe, Healthy and Happy 2021.
    ❤️
    Ruth & Jackie xx🎇🎆

  62. Oh my goodness that was extra stress you surely did not need Barbara! Glad it is sorted.
    I have to say a huge thank you to Barbara, Dave, Paul, Stuart, Jeannine and all the clarity team for all your help, kindness and service to us throughout 2020.
    A huge shout out to the bus driver for steering us safely into unknown and sometimes scary territory, with precision, patience humour and skill. It’s been a blast!
    Thanks too for creating a community amongst the shackers who I am now honoured to call genuine friends xx

  63. A very Happy New Year Barbara and Dave! – Thank you for all you have done for us in 2020. You have been amazing and it’s been very much appreciated indeed! – Here’s to a straight road ahead in 2021! – X❤X

  64. Good morning to 2021….. HAPPY NEW YEAR to you Barb and Dave and all the Clarity Team. Just woken up to an amazing sunrise sure hope that’s a sign for this brand new year. Look forward to seeing you in the Shac Shack in the light 💡 or framed by sparklers at 10 am this morning. Xxxx

  65. THANK YOU
    FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART💕❤️🙏👍🏻 YOUR SUCH A WONDERFUL
    TALENTED
    KIND HEARTED LADY
    RESPECT👍🏻🥰🙏
    Happy 2021
    Good things will resume!…

  66. Hello Barb, here’s wishing, you, Dave and all the family as well as the wider Clarity team and Clarity family a very happy new year. May this be the year of dreams. Hope the lights get sorted, looking forward to the shows. Take care and stay safe everyone. Bx

  67. Hello Barb,
    Wishing you, Dave, all your family and all the Clarity team a happy and healthy New Year. Thank you for everything you have done for us in 2020. We really do appreciate it.
    Take care, stay safe and keep crafting!
    Love
    Linda
    xxx

  68. Like many other fellow SHAC ers….I hAve laughed and cried with you but more importantly really appreciate the focus that partaking in the lessons (every one of them!) has given me. You’re a star and I also wish to extend my best wishes to you and all Your family and staff….your lovely little family business gives so much to all us crafters.
    I have decided not to partake in the looking forward to the new year as the most I can deal with is one day, one step at a time else the potential disappointment will be too much to bear. So Grace’s phrase of “Going gently” has really struck a chord with me at the moment. Thank you kind folk.

  69. Well we all made it to the end of 2020 one day at a time. The last 24 hours were the most stressful for me, but better days will come. Happy New Year to all at team Clarity x

Leave a Reply to Deborah Wheeler Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *