Foxy Lady Creations

Facebook Detox

Monday 9th March 2020

Weather : A grand day, gorgeous and sunny. It maybe a solar powered day. Woop

Feeling : I have the attention span of a gnat, the memory of an elephant, and the energy of a sloth. Couldn’t face Body Balance, I'm so out of touch with exercise regime, whilst Mia has been off school a lot

Activities: Decluttering. Got rid of my bike, it was in such a bad state, it was going to cost as much to repair as we paid for it, a left threading needle sewing machine, (don't ask) my old overlocker, old TV and laptop. Crap that's been hanging around in the van for a good few months oh and a couple of bags of soiled curtains.
Tidied all my sewing stuff away, no need to have such easy access, and to get rid of it visually.

I also gave our compost loo a thorough clean, scrubbing scurf from the inside of the wee compartment.

Conversation: I interrogated a few folk at the local tip re: recycling, I met John from a German company at the tip, that collected textiles." There's 80 of us van owners in the UK, I got driver of the year last year who was driver of the year told me I was the second person that asked him about where the clothes go. Another girl made a couple of grand out of curtains, did a fashion show, and offered him a couple of hundred, but my boss, no he would sack me". Good news about rags going to Germany and Poland to be made into shoes. Nothing goes in landfill. He liked to eff and jeff a bit , I quite liked John
Something new: Joined Whats app, i know its social media, but I can start from scratch with it, just family and close friends to start
Why does it always happen to me? emptied the pee bucket, and splashed my yoga pants and drenched my Sketchers

Our sexy glittery compost loo

Whats app

Tuesday

Digital Detox: Still thinking about social media too much. Whilst driving home from school drop off, listening to Zoe Ball, 3 songs, all awesome, New Order, Joy Division, and whacked it up for Everything Counts by Depeche Mode, my first thought was ooh I should tweet her and tell her how awesome it was. I need to focus on thinking singularly, and ??? not about pleasing the masses, or the fact that I can relate to whoever sent the email. I feel like I am making more time to chat to people as I pass.

Unsubscribing from emails too, sod the National Days emails, that I get in hope of inspiration for hash tags. I don't need reminding by every person, website, or whatever that its St. Patricks day, or 'hide your head in the oven day'

Something good : I am certainly communicating more with Rich via text, I hadn’t realised just how little I bothered with him in comparison to the rest of the cyber world.

Strangely, I feel my peripheral vision is wider, I'm noticing more around me. As I was driving.

Activity : Scrubbed floor - wanted to do that for years.. why haven't I done it before??

Mindfulness:

I realise that I never counted the essential things in life as part of my day e.g library, pharmacy, I would do them on auto pilot, they weren't good enough to be present in or discuss whilst having drinks. I was a high-ish achiever, so this kind of stuff is relevant, i did it blind folded. It doesn’t count as a decent chore, like cleaning the fridge. My expectations of myself are high.
Something new: I found nice useful apps and decided I could add nicer things to my front screen of phone, gone are the usual's, and now I have mindfulness apps, the leisure centre, Waitrose, the daily Zen (inspirational quotes) and Memorize (a journaling app).

The Daily Zen

Memorize - A daily journal app

Lets Meditate

Wednesday

Weather: The wind is up again tonight, stooooop.

Boat rocks, doors rattle, things jangle on the roof, In bed it was lashing around

Activity: Sorting and decluttering, got my watch fixed after 6 months, got cleaning product refills, got new glasses that Mia broke, got prescription, library took loads of books that were cluttering my shelf (which isn't many on a narrow boat).
I had a significant moment today, when I put my repaired watch back on, I decided to take my Frack-Off wristband off. I decided it was a positive thing to do, I think that we have won now. I was given it by Tina-Louise about 5 years ago, when the Nanas visited Misson.

Digital Detox: Occasionally I go to pick my phone up, for no reason other than, that's what I have been conditioned to do, to see what's going on, what am I missing. But I am not suffering with Fomo (fear of missing out) more like Jomo (joy of missing out).

Exercise: Yoga - tough, I was suffering from yesterday's elbow planks with Helen, and Paula's high planks were even tougher.
Something new: Used my meditation app - fab

Why does it always happen to me? I was overzealous with my decluttering, and tried 3 times to scan a book at the library that was actually mine (a doomers book about the environment) I took it as a sign not to read the book at the moment, it might upset my positivity.

Ready for the Million Mask March 5.11.2016

Thursday

Weather: Some sun, but don't, be fooled, more rain, in fact hail, and strong winds AGAIN. Those cobwebs are well clear.

Feeling: I wake up early, feeling like I am being unravelled like an elastic band ball, things are going in the right direction, but still more bands till I get to the core, and the core ends with nothing, hopefully, an emptiness of my mind. I felt positive about being up early, the day is mine to be had. Mia was l ready up early too watching TV with Molly, Unspoken Foxy Lady rule. If she gets up before us, she can put the telly on. I enjoyed this morning, extra time together before school, more laid back a lovelier way start to the day, than our usual rushing around.

Exercise: Yoga, same as yesterday, ooh those planks are getting harder

Detox Notes: No misunderstood messages, no trying to post something without offending someone , no worrying, no time wasting. I am not missing Facebook at all

Something New: Saying yes to a coffee immediately! At school drop off a friend desperately invited me for coffee, more often than not I would say no, I would usually feel like I was 'too busy'. Obliged to be doing stuff for my so called business (bitter? me ?). I immediately said yes, and it was a good job, as she really was a friend in need.
Other News: Trump stopping EU flights due to Coronavirus, so I check my insurance for my planned Easter trip to Australia to see my brother (it's looking 50/50 we will go).

The Plank

Feb 2022 update : We didn't get to Australia due to Covid restrictions, but we are booked to go Easter 2022

I am still off Facebook and most social media, and I barely miss it

Digital Anxiety

Thursday 5th March 2020

I had a revelation, realisation, Eureka a moment. I'm coming off social media. Yes, I agree, there is some slight irony here, as pointed out by a good mate of mine.
My digital detox isn't like the ones you may read about, where people give up all technology for a week or so, and just eat white rice and drink water. No, that will just make me ill, too bloomin extreme. No, I decided today, I wanted to give Foxy Lady Creations a rest, I am done! I can't be my creative self, and make anything else, as I don't have the storage, anyway its getting too soul destroying, making stuff, and still owning it, 2, 3, or 4 years later. So I am giving myself a clean, break, which also means......giving up my related social media. I am done with Facebook, done, done, done. Sick of it, sick of hearing people ranting (oops irony again), other peoples opinions, peoples opinions based on fake news or ill researched evidence. I don't need this crap in my head. I don't need reminding of what's in the news, by every tom dick and harry, I don't need updates on nearly 500 friends on FB. This also means closing my Page Manager for my business. But I am sick of trying to be jolly, and think up interesting things to discuss, when I am going absolutely nowhere with my business. I am sick of preaching about the climate, I think most people have got the gist now anyway. It's boring, depressing, oppressive and unhealthy.
I have known this for a while, and many of you will think the same, that these social media apps, are potentially the downfall of society. Its not all doom and gloom, especially if you use it wisely, but when you are an environmental campaigner and business owner, you have to be part of it all, and I just can't be dealing with it for now.
Instead, I will just bore you all, with my daily blogs.

Friday 6th

Weather: woahhhh, its a sunny day
Feeling: I'm exhausted - mentally.
Activity: I have taken all the social media apps off my phone, and logged out of Facebook, Pages Manager and Twitter for now. The main ones where conversation occurs, and politics intruding into your day.
I started Spring cleaning, my time wasn't spent scrolling through pages, checking my followers and comments, it was spent usefully.

I am feeling agitated, but many reasons for that. I think it may take a few days to get out of the Facebook zone.

My fridge was cleaned by 9.30, then a cupboard and I prepped 2 meals all before the morning was done.
Thoughts: My head whirrs thinking about, floods, rain, corona virus, and more rain is due. I know I live on the water, on an island, but there is also a lot of flooding, we are surrounded by water (more irony) which is contaminated, more likely with sewage (I found out a week later that there was a sewage leak locally - kept quiet!!). My daughter is possibly ill because of this, yes its her own fault, in some ways, or even 'our' fault. Mia has a natural affiliation with water, she has always loved being in water, and as soon as we let her, she will be in the river, paddle boarding. She loves mucking around in giant puddles, she saw the flooding in Northcroft Park as an extension of the river, the river which we have tested previously, and know how clean it can be, but not flood water. Never again, will she do this.
Short rant at the flooding...

It was a long day, with Mia at home ill again, this last few weeks, have been getting tougher, as Mia has had two illnesses, and the weather has been horrific every weekend, and we are boat bound. I have had very little time to have a clear run at thinking since Christmas.

I relax on my sofa and look out of the window and think that I have to share it, blue skies, tree and tepee all framed by my window, what a simple view, with a story.

Tonight the sunset is beautiful on the canal, I need to share the swan gracefully swimming downstream, the waxing balsamic moon behind me. But why?

All of these things are magic, they are wonders of nature, but I need to stop feeling the need, it would make a good post, and I must share it with the world. All of this thinking is unnecessary, it also distracts you from being mindful of the view, and experiencing it in a slower time, as you rush to get your phone, and get engaged with the cyber world again.

Saturday

Weather: Dry - woop
Feeling: Very stressy and anxious, mainly due to impromptu Pizza gathering. "Richard!!" My anxiety is particularly bad today, I feel high, but its not a happy high, and its an annoying high and you feel hectic. I know if I have a drink soon, I will get drunk, because, if I feel hectic, I will drink hectic. Not a good situation to be in. I call my dad for advice, hes good like that, it kills a good 45 minutes. I was hoping for a brief afternoon kip, to potentially get my heart rate down, and my brain to go slower. Everything feels like noise, I don't want visitors, I need peace. In my head I am screaming, everyone just go away, I need a break.. and then our guests arrive.
Activity: Trying to get peace and quiet. At 5.00 I have a gin, then crack open the wine, it was a good evening , and I put myself to bed at 10.00, shocked our friends as I'm often one of the last to bed, but I had done my bit.

Thoughts: Still got lots on my mind, thinking I should maybe get rid of Messenger as well. I'm sick of seeing names, groups, previous conversations. Things I haven’t been able to commit to. A specific person asking me to do things, in the name of the environment, just to let you know, activists offer, and should not be asked. People's profile pictures popping into my head, with dread, I need to get it all out.

OK, I have had to edit two paragraphs out, because it may upset people, and I don't want to do that. It would be quite funny for some stand up comedy, but to obvious to those people it is them, and I don't want to offend any family or friends. But basically, it was a rant, about the repetitiveness, and boringness of some peoples post. I mean, some people are so regular, you practically know all their comings and goings, you don't need all this inside your head too. For example, when so and so goes to Costa, or another person doing a daily post getting rid of tat to local groups, that kind of thing.
Why does it always happen to me? Mia brings round a neighbour and his friend to meet the kitten. "five minutes" I rant. No sooner had the 'house dwelling' boy entered the boat, he had injured himself by putting his hand on our log burner, and march him back to my neighbour. I can't deal with this right now!

Gorgeous stone baked log fired pizza. Mmmmmmmm

Sunday

Weather: Sick of this relentless weather, all the rain, and the winds, its turbulent, and turbulent times, and my brain is turbulent too. I need some sunny spring days, some stillness, I often embrace storms, but this is too much, weekend after weekend of big storms, and constant high winds. I want a rest.
Feeling: Like I have synergy with the weather e.g turbulent

Thoughts: Facebook is still at the forefront of my mind, more than it was when I was actually using it. My thoughts can still not leave the masses behind, the 450 ‘friends’, the groups I manage or work with, I just want to leave it all behind, recluse from the cyber world.

I would like to get back to the 90's when it was just texting and emails, how much calmer life was. I didn’t even know about climate change then either.

I just want to be me and live carefree and enrich my life; will I ever let go, because once you know, you know! Re: climate change. I certainly might feel better without it in my hand beeping at me, a few times a day, here's a reminder that the worlds going to end in devastation by climate warmth. Hav445jjjj5555555555555555555555555f bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbcbc cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc xcccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccce a I become a doomer too? I know many

This is where our kitten sabotaged my keyboard

Black and White, I want to get away from the black and white, far right, far left, do-gooders, and the liberals well them you can just forget.

Activity: Minimal
Thoughts: I think I need to take this a step further on de- cluttering my phone with unnecessary outside world interference. So I uninstall Instagram too (for the time being)
Tribal mentality, yes I am guilty of this, but have been trying to get away from it, and yet more are being formed. Extinction Rebellion has got my goat, people following direction from Roger Hallam like he's the bloomin messiah, (apologise to Roger, he is probably a very nice, well meaning guy) They want things done their way, and expect activists to do what they want, and with a no booze no drugs policy, call themselves rebels? Yes they have done some good awareness raising, but equally it's become regime for the middle classes that want to be on trend. Also, they have made some mistakes with their actions, which I may discuss at a later date.

Many times in my home, I am looking at plastic, its on my mind. What shall I do with it? which bin bag or box? Where does it actually go after that? I'm full of remorse a million times a day. I can hear hardcore stating, don't buy it then, use alternatives. I do use alternatives, and more often than not avoid it where I can, and have done for years. But some things I buy are packaged in it (e.g meat) and there currently is no alternative, I don't have time to pop round the supermarkets with my own plastic container, I do online shopping and it comes how it comes, sometimes I might be ill haven't energy for saving the planet, or I might be too skint this month to play the game.

I'm plate spinning, and my head is the plate, I wish it would crash to the floor then I will have a break.
Lets end with something up lifting, a cute kitten photo.

Mischief Molly

Communal Off-grid living - Leaving Hibernation Spring 2020

Saturday March 14th 2020

The day has finally arrived, the first day of the year, when everyone on the moorings comes out of hibernation, and get active outside. As our boats are small spaces to live, we spend a lot of time out doors. We all get on with varying activities, or on the hotter days, we just hang out chatting, we get little else done then, its so easy to get side tracked with 5 other adults around.
Today was so inspiring, after a winter of persistent rain and storms. Fortunately our moorings did not flood like it did in 2014, but there is still a lot of flooding around our area.
There's always jobs to do as a boater. Whether its chopping logs for the fire, transporting your rubbish and recycling, or emptying your toilets. Half of us have composting toilets now, and the others have cassette toilets like you might see in a caravan.
The guys on the moorings like to make things from wood, whether its whittling, turning, or chainsaw art. Some of the group are conservationists, and we also have a willow weaver. We hand make many things, and like to be as self-sufficient as we can.
Heres some photos of the day.