when life takes over!

I know, its been a long time... but with the best will in the world, sometimes life takes you by the scruff of the neck and commands that you spend more time with everyday life! I have been very busy with both work and home life, writing a specialsist bid has meant that most of my working day is spent number crunching (not my kettle of fish or even a pond I would normally dip my toe into!!), writing and then re-drafting, drafting again etc. still not completed - 12th March is deadline day!!! As for the day to day teaching that has gone out of the window - I prepare a days worth of lessons which somebody else delivers - things have to be so explicty laid down that this takes on massive amounts of research, planning and setting out lesson timings (those who teach may have some idea of the implications of this!)
home front - had an outbreak of white spot - a parasistic nasty that kills tropical fish, before we managed to control it we lost over 35 fish - just watching JJ come home and look into any of the tanks and say 'there's another dead one' broke my heart. He lost all of his specialist fish including his favourites - a black ghost knife fish, talking catfish and his clown loaches. After many hours researching, water changes purchasing UV sterilisers etc and four weeks down the road we have managed to to get everything on an even keel. (added to that there was also the cost of another tank - a quarantine tank!!)
Set myself a couple of new challenges - one to lose some weight! going ok at present 1 stone in three weeks, eating and cooking sensibly, also, getting my bike back on the road - ended up purchasing a bike store (another cost both financially and time!), one advantage.... cleared up the back of the studio now have so much space!! Whilst clearing out old stuff came across a load of baby items - brought back fond memories- first shoes, bibs, all in ones etc-didn't throw them away, sealed box marked for JJ in later years!!!
On the art front....... have managed to work ideas in sketchbook and finished off a painting I started some time ago. Started mapping out new piece to go in the 'bollocks' series using nails..... I'll post a clue but me thinks its gonna take some time to complete it, well Rome wasn't built in a day