The rough and the smooth

It's bug city round here. Our home must have been put on the bug hotel map cos them little viruses just keep on coming. I have tried not to whinge on here about the amount of bugs we are getting but seeing as, right now, I am in bed instead of in my studio, I think I can justify a little moan? 

Since January, I kid you not, we have had a bug a week. Just when one is over another strikes. The week before last was nasty colds, last week both kids got Mr Norovirus on his yearly visit (he was early this year - normally he comes on Neil's birthday. I know this because for 3 years in a row, poor Neil has been showered in vomit on his special day). On Friday I got sinusitis again - 2 days of horrible stinging pain. It must now be over I thought? Oh no - last night, stomach cramps - all night. This morning, a little girl waking us up at 5.30am because she has another cold. So here I am, in bed when I want to be in the studio making that cheeky rooster come to life (good mosaic day yesterday and his character is emerging). Here's a peek...

Parent's out there, please tell me, is this level of bug activity in our family normal? We dose up with vitamins, we eat well, we exercise (ehm...I have a 10K run to do on Sunday and I have not been able to do any training since last weds. Spare a thought as I run and do pop some money into the sponsor pot if you can - read about it here).

Is it to do with living in an urban setting? Should I move to the country to escape this assault of the bugs? As the saying goes, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired...

Whinge over. Let me finish on a creative note - a little idea for an art activity for you!

Last Autumn I did a unit of an art diploma course to try and get some 'formal' learning on design principles. I wasn't very enamoured with the course - no energy or enthusiam from the teachers, hardly any feedback. Ho hum. But I did have fun doing this study on texture and line. These collages - one using lines and the other curves as the basis for the composition - involved photocopying random objects from round the house with different textures. It was hilarious and made for a great guessing game with the kids (what's this a copy of? No, not a cat, it mummy's fluffy cushion!). Bubble wrap, bath mats, hairbrushes, vacuum cleaner hose, crochet doilies...they all got shoved onto our cheap copier printer, then cut up and glued down used to create the two images of urban and rural landscapes.

 

Great project. Give it a go  - for yourself, with the kids - it is surprisingly fun...