Hi I'm a Caddisfly

This week has been quite eventful. Things have happened that wouldn't have happened if I had still been driving around the North East region chasing unachievable targets and biting off heads.

This new happy, relatively stress-free lifestyle suits me and I'm going to make the most of it while I can before I have to start contributing to the family income again. Oh to be wealthy enough to potter about doing this and that or not if the fancy takes you.

Having enrolled on three courses with the intention of self development and having delivered employability courses when working as a lecturer, the JobCentrePlus Job Coach as they are now called apparently, seemed happy enough to leave me to my own devices. Once she had my six sample signatures on the electronic screen firmly fixed to the desk, she sent me on my way with my 'Jobless Person Instruction Booklet'

I have a head full of ideas at the moments. Things I want to do while I have time. Funny how precious 'time' is at this age. Finding 'time' is often harder than finding 'money'. So I've baggsied some and have this week started learning and doing cool stuff.

Online Social Media Marketing Course - I liked the sound of this because it seemed directed at the user geek rather than technical geek, and since I spend much of my life attached to technology and social media platforms, I though that there may be a time in the near future where having this extra knowledge could be beneficial.  One week in and its going well. Today I will watch my last of three webinars this week and complete the weeks assignment. 

Creative Headspace - Creative Marketing course. I have dabbled a little in marketing my crafts -selling a few handmade things on a minute scale I have to say, but since this course is delivered in a create workspace locally I thought if nothing else it would give me the opportunity to start 'doing' something creative with a purpose.  Like creating my own caddisfly. 

Artist at work

I had heard of the caddisfly but hadn't sent any more than a second thinking about it since. I didn't know that has a larva that would stick 'things' from its environment to its shell as camouflage to protect itself. These 'things' would be little stones, twigs, specks of glass, gold..whatever was around it. In the words of the tutor Lynn, "some would be jewels and some just excess weight".

This clicked immediately with me. I have a load of skills and experiences 'stuck' to my shell - some of it useful, some of it less so and some I can do without.  The purpose of doing this was for us to identify what we had that was useful and what we could discard.

My caddisfly 

The two hours were spent with three others, one my good friend and creative advisor Ann, and another couple of older 'felt makers'. A cabbage shaped teapot and lemon cake. The workshop was full of arty crafty things. The tutor a fountain of knowledge who will I'm sure prove to be very helpful if not inspirational over the five weeks.  

The fact that I actually put something down on paper that I was pleased with was a start. Gave me confidence that I could still do it.  Something I hope to get more of next week when i start the third course which is a Drawing and Painting course. Proper art. I'm a little nervous as I expect there will be the old faithfuls there who do it regularly because they are retired or enjoy the social aspect. I just need to dust off the art supplies and see what happens.

Where all this will take me is yet to be seen. I have an idea bubbling and have already had comments that it could work.  I need to clear my head of the clutter and gain some confidence before I unleash it. 

Let's just say it's under construction.