One Wedding and a Holiday

It's been a while since I published my last post. I feel a little bad about this but then again it gives me more things to write about. 
For example I finished my dress and was able to wear it for the wedding of a friend of mine.

I wore it with black opaque tights, black pumps, a black vintage (well...at least from the 1970s!) belt from my mother in law and a golden studded black clutch. I tried to set my hair in a Old Hollywood glamour style kind of way but ended up with large - "I've put my hand into a power socket" - curls. But it looked all right after some combing.


I was able to give them a DIY-Card for their wedding (the crabs are an insider-joke):

And was secretely amused by the phallic table decoration:

All in all it was a very nice evening. Contrary to popular opinion I actually like to go on weddings because they offer good food (and lots of it!), dancing, a reason to dress up excessively, a feeling of being moved to tears (always when the couple enters the church and the organ plays a traditional wedding march - love it!), more food, and the knowledge that you can relax because you're not in the center of attention (that's the best) and ... food!

Another reason why I haven't written for so long is that Timo and I went on holiday. For the first time in more than ten years I was able to be with my sister on her birthday! I was so excited especially because it was a very special birthday: her 30th. We had a great time and went on a mini-holiday within our holidays - a nice trip to Dingle the town on Dingle the peninsular.
As usual, Timo and I ate a lot and slept a lot because the change to the Irish climate somehow always make us tired and hungry. But weren't idle the whole time. We went running, shopping, for beach walks, to an exibition launch of Thomas Ryan, to the Blasket Center, more shopping, and ...for many lunches and dinners and snacks!
Some impressions from our holiday:

Marina`s birthday table

Ennis cathedral

Beach on the Dingle peninsular

Add caption

Beach near Marina`s chalet

Running...

I can't remember the time when I started to go running. But I do remember that at the beginning I wasn't even able to keep running for much more than a kilometer. Over time I got better and these past years I was at least able to run twice a week during the summer months albeit only 4 to 5 kilometers. However, I never really enjoyed running - I did it to keep fit and healthy and to stay in shape but I always had to overcome my weaker self when I went for a run. The high feeling so many runners described was absolutely unknown for me.

That's why I am very proud to say that finally this has changed! A little over a year ago I started to go for longer runs. It wasn't a conscious decision - I had had a bad day and was angry and sad and disappointed of myself and all that at the same time. The decision to go running then was rather a meant as a punishment for me. And so was the extension of my usual running route. But curiously enough somewhere on the way all my bad feelings vanished into thin air! I returned home a different person and the new running route (about 10 kilometers long) became my new normal route. During the last summer I managed to go running three times a week and the great feeling during and after the run usually returned most of the times. And even though I had a winter break I am happy to say that I have now come back to go running three times a week.

Last weekend I went into a sporting goods shop to get a running analysis and new running shoes. The fact that my sister Marina has problems with her knees at the moment (and I really hope she's getting better again now) really was a matter for reflection for me. And the trainers are certainly not an item where saving costs is advisable. In the end I bought black nike shoes. I tried them on in a different color and my first thought was: Oh my God, they are the ugliest trainers ever! But they felt rather like wearing socks and not shoes - they are extremely light and have a quite soft sole. I've been running three times since my purchase (the magical number three again!) and I think it was a good one. 

I really can recommend running to everyone and to those who wonder why they don't feel exalted after a good run: Keep on trying - when you finally attain that level where your body releases pots of endorphins it is worth the hard work!

Progress

I have mentioned before that I want to become more prolific in all kinds of creative work. And I am happy to say that - at least compared to the time before I have made that resolution - I have made progress.

Some examples:

I have finally managed to paint the frame for my poster. 

I love how you can still see the grain of the wood. All in all it is not a perfect frame but I am still proud of it. However, I must admit that my father-in-law helped me. (Oh, and yes - that's Leopold in the back in one of his favourite poses - leg-up!)

I have changed a dress which didn't really fit.

I tried to paint a picture with oil colors.

I can't really paint with oil colors. Originally, I wanted to paint a somber and eerie landscape. Instead, it looks like the gruffallo will pass at any moment. I am definitely not a great painter. But somehow I like it all the same.

I certainly could have produced more...but it's a start!