The beautiful flowers and insects of Hughenden National Trust

Roy had the day off on Friday so we took a trip to Hughenden National Trust. 

We in all honesty were supposed to be going to West Wycombe Park, but due to my poor arranging skills we got there and it was closed. As Hughenden was only a couple of miles away we managed a visit there instead even though we hadn't booked; a very nice lady at the entrance allowed us in anyway as we are National Trust members. 

Collagraph printing

When my son moved out I finally had a room that I could turn into an art/craft space, come spare bedroom. Once it was clear that home working was here to stay, I moved my husband off the dining room table, up into that room and I was then relegated to the kitchen table. We put up shelves but not much has happened since.

This week I have tidied up my tiny space, as I finally got around to printing a few of my collagraph prints that I made back in January and realised that I definitely needed things in a bit more order.

The top shelf holds brushes, Gouache, acrylic and oil paints in their individual baskets and the huge Sonos speaker, because who can do without music in the kitchen.

The lower shelf holds more brushes, glues and sealants, small stacked pieces of Japanese Lino and newly labelled boxes which hold my cutting tools and tapes, inks, collagraph and lino plates and collage papers.

On the table I have my little Xcut Xpress machine and two pieces of toughened glass for inking.

Its great and hopefully a lot of what I need is now on hand, but I still have so much other equipment, stored under beds mostly, that unless I get a dedicated room I will never be able to have all of my art/craft/sewing stuff together in one place. 

Plates made in January

A takeaway coffee cup

This coffee cup print is only 2.5" x 3.5". I recently brought some Strathmore printmaking paper and its made a huge difference, as I know that I can soak the paper and not risk it falling apart like it has with my previous attempts. I did one run through and then a ghost print, which I will probably hand colour.

Magpie at the window

I then printed up my magpie sitting on the windowsill and this didn't work as well. It's ok, but a lot to learn in ink wiping to master the different tones.

With this print of Bertie our singing miniature schnauzer I used Cranfield caligo safe wash ink for the first time over, Akua intaglio ink and I prefer it. For the first time I used a colour other than black and I really like the Prussian blue. I think I'll get some sepia and Paynes grey to try next.

I also realised when I cleaned the plate that it wasn't sealed properly and liquid has seeped in, another lesson learnt.

Two prints taken from the one inking and again I prefer the softness of the ghost print.

In my research for home learning collagrapah printing I've read that it usually takes a few prints for the ink to really start holding nicely to the plate and better prints can then be taken. I need to be more confident in my ability to be able to do this due to wastage of paper though. 

I also need to have a think about what to do with my prints, they're not yet good enough to give away, or heaven forbid sell, but maybe one day.

 

June update..

It's difficult to know what to say really this month. I've had some interesting conversations with my doctor and managed to put on 8 pounds, that's more or less the highlights. 

• Weight - Oh what's the point, back to square one
• Physical wellbeing - Managing this month. 
• Mental wellbeing - Not so bad the last couple of weeks

Weight - Not only have I not lost any weight I have in fact gained over half a stone and I'm exactly back where I was when I started to try and be accountable.

Physical wellbeing - Following on from my last update, I had my blood tests done which included; full blood count, kidney and liver function, diabetes and hormone levels. I received the results confirming all normal, no action required. Really good news but that still didn't explain the neck and head issues that I am experiencing every day, along with all the other goodies that go with it.

I called the doctor back and spoke to one of the surgeries female doctors. I asked what the hormone blood test showed and she said they were normal and where they should be of a woman of my age, being that I  was post menopausal. I explained that I wasn't post menopausal as I was still having regular periods and as far as I was aware to be post menopausal I would have to have not had a period for 12 months. I asked if that  result would account for a lot of the problems I was having? She said no, your hormones are where they should be for a woman of your age and post menopausal. 

Now I'm not a doctor but surely someone that is should be aware of the fundamental issues woman face nearing menopause and certainly what the definition of menopause is. Also any doctor, male or female should know about potential menopause problems and not be dismissal, after all over half of the patients in their surgery will be women.

She went on to say that the doctor who had ordered this batch of blood tests hadn't ordered all of the correct tests she wanted and that she would do some more for bone issues and to rule out 'more sinister stuff'. She would also arrange for a neck X-ray. I went for the neck X-ray that afternoon in order that it would be back the following week, along with the additional blood test results. 

I went back for the additional blood tests, had my weight checked (no more said about that) and also my blood pressure checked which was high. This may be down to my white coat syndrome but its probably also a good idea to reduce my salt intake in the meantime.

A few days later I called back and again was advised that my blood results were normal, no action required. I asked the receptionist if they had a menopause specialist in the surgery and she said shed get the doctor to call me back. The doctor called back and said she wouldn't refer me to a menopause specialist until I had been referred to a neurologist and so I am on a waiting list for that. 

However my neck X-ray did show Spondylosis/Spondylitis in the C4&C5 vertebra, degeneration of the disks, which may account for some of the neck and head issues. I've done research and joined a Facebook group and I'm surprised at how many issues this can cause, from the headaches, neck pain and ear problems to stomach issues and throat problems. I have also found that menopause can make all these symptoms much worse, so a double whammy all at once.

Personally, I do think that I need to see a menopause specialist and we are thinking of now going private for this issue. My main symptoms are surely linked to peri-menopause. I have always been very regular and the last couple of years my periods have gone from 28 days to 30/32. From February this year, along with the first major migraine I dropped to 23 days and then 26 for the following couple of months. My last period was on 18 April and I thought that was that, but after 52 days its back. I'm just hoping that having felt much better over the last couple of weeks I don't have to start again with all the other symptoms coming crashing in again.

Some good news though, my bowel and smear screening all came back as negative.

Mental wellbeing - Considering everything I would say I'm currently doing ok.

Stourhead Gardens - National Trust

Roy took the day off on Friday, to give me a change of scenery and to get myself out of myself for a bit and it was lovely. 

We went to Stourhead National Trust and it was beautiful, no sun but warm and quiet. A good 1.5 hours drive away but we incorporated it with seeing friends in Somerset for the night and it was definitely worth it.

Highly recommended.