tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69813762009-02-21T10:38:50.642Z"It's never too late to be what you might have been." George Eliot (1819 - 1880)Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.comBlogger205125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1151058937325503072006-06-23T11:34:00.000+01:002006-06-23T11:35:37.340+01:00

Pushing an Elephant up the Stairs can now be found at http://francesca_gray.blogs.com/pushing_an_elephant_up_th/

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1145258131626084912006-04-17T08:10:00.000+01:002006-04-17T08:17:37.733+01:00

Pushing an Elephant... has a new home here After a lengthy break followed by intermittant blogging I'm back!

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1122467658340316632005-07-27T13:34:00.000+01:002005-07-27T13:34:18.346+01:00

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1120375667149577792005-07-03T08:27:00.000+01:002005-07-03T08:27:47.183+01:00

'Touch' Acrylics on box canvas, 14"x10" - I have been following the Make Poverty History campaign with interest and admiration. Wishing that I could take part in the planned demonstration in Edinburgh, but I can't afford to get there and even if I did, my ability to walk any distance or to stand for any length of time is compromised. So as I watched Live8 on the tv yesterday, I got out my paints

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1118650763556890032005-06-11T09:18:00.000+01:002005-06-13T09:19:23.563+01:00

My head aches and exhaustion is a heavy blanket stifling the day. Every day pain spreads like a slow burning coal; drawing hips, knees, wrists and even fingers into the fire. Breathing is merely the remnant of an almost forgotten habit. Sleep hovers with monstrous mouth wide open waiting to devour when last struggles cease. The day already swallowed it waits for more. I awoke this morning

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1118575082123357532005-06-12T12:17:00.000+01:002005-06-12T12:18:02.126+01:00

Neither bright not dull. Neither warm nor cold. One of those days that are stuck in a nothing kind of weather. Like me. One of those days when I seem not to exist other than as a kind of cut and paste version of someone I imagin I am supposed to be. Sharp, torn edges nick the fingers of anyone who comes too close. Words are heavy lumps of iron that drop on my body crushing remnants of resistance

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1116575954076845442005-05-20T08:59:00.000+01:002005-05-20T08:59:14.080+01:00

A more recent attempt 

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1116575925436799302005-05-20T08:58:00.000+01:002005-05-20T08:58:45.440+01:00

My first attempt at life drawing - Sept 2004 

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1116575736544067952005-05-20T08:55:00.000+01:002005-05-20T08:55:37.070+01:00

'Do You See What I See?' Exam Piece 

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1116575489641101152005-05-20T08:24:00.000+01:002005-05-20T08:51:30.460+01:00

I have not had much time to write. My journals, both on-line and hand written have been much neglected. Perhaps the need to write is cyclical, something that comes and goes according to some mysterious rhythm of its own. Perhaps I was simply fed up of complaining about life. The months of my absence have been both wonderful and difficult in turn. Often both at once. Family problems have at times

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1104240895120880802004-12-28T13:34:00.000Z2004-12-28T13:34:55.120Z

Some times Christmas turns out better than one expects... 

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1103927574029449642004-12-24T22:32:00.000Z2004-12-24T22:32:54.030Z

former and as for the later, my son will be home when ever Christmas Eve parties end and my ex will be arrive with his mother tomorrow. However of plans there are plenty, none of which have quite turned out the way they were supposed to. Today was to be a lazy day. Once I had prepared those things that could be prepared ahead of time I planned to sip a champagne cocktail, listen to some music

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1103895103637752742004-12-24T13:31:00.000Z2004-12-24T13:31:43.636Z

Ho Ho bloody Ho.

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1103296342629324422004-12-17T14:33:00.000Z2004-12-17T15:12:22.630Z

and then it will be all over bar the shouting. That is the thought that keeps me going. Christmas only seems to last for ever. it does come to an end, eventually. The tree is decorated, colour fading, changing then bursting into life once more to some secret rhythm of its own. Presents, shiny with wrapping paper, are scattered beneath, waiting for December 25th to dawn. Although the only way

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1101567856621683902004-11-27T15:03:00.000Z2004-11-27T15:04:16.630Z

Ok this is weird, I think. The sleepiness has passed which is great. Trouble is now I am so wired I can't sit still...lol!

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1101399452291007872004-11-25T16:06:00.000Z2004-11-25T16:17:32.290Z

I think this post belongs in 'Diet Coke', however having opened this blog up I don't have the energy to go back and change it. I have been reading blogs rather than writing them recently. Lurking without comment in the background, my favourite place. At least this time I was aware of the darkness creeping up on me and have tried to do something about it. Tuesday was my appointment at the

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1100430794048155342004-11-14T10:57:00.000Z2004-11-14T11:15:47.013Z

I'm back, again. I think I should make a macro that types those two words each time I log on. This time my absence has been my computer's fault. I series of intermittent problems with the keyboard, printer and mouse/pen grew increasingly worse until computer became near enough unusable. I tried all sorts of things, removing peripherals and reloading software, rewinding to earlier 'save points'

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1099355356123562642004-11-02T01:23:00.000Z2004-11-02T00:29:16.123Z

My novel is underway for National Novel Writing Month (check the sidebar for links) and I am in good company with lots of other Nanoblogmo writers. I think we must all share a common form of obsession with words to get involved with this ~laughs~ I intend to keep this blog as well as A Novel Idea up to date and of course plough on with 'The Shadowed Path'. Then there is college and all

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1099265608017669892004-10-31T23:32:00.000Z2004-10-31T23:33:28.016Z

Could some kind soul explain to me how to make my haloscan comments visible on the archived posts? Please? Pretty please?

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1099249205411813382004-10-31T18:56:00.000Z2004-10-31T19:00:05.410Z

For the first time in a few years I have no celebration to go to. But my heart is with all those whose celebrate this evening. Blessings on you all as the year turns.

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1099052510232579002004-10-29T13:57:00.000+01:002004-10-29T13:21:50.233+01:00

I watched a cringe worthy programme on the television last night. A double episode, saints preserves us, of 'Girls on the Settee' on Channel 5. Now I am not an easily embaressed type of person who blushes at anything more than an oblique reference to sensual fun, nor am I by any means disapproving of the open discussion of sexual matters. But (isn't there always a butt? if you excuse the pun),

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1098961445138053252004-10-28T11:55:00.000+01:002004-10-28T12:04:05.136+01:00

I'm back, tired and without much sleep last night because of back pain. Why is travelling by train never simple? Thanks to cancellations and delays I arrived in Bristol about an hour late, which is not to bad I suppose, but the journey home! I left my friends flat at 11.30 am and finally sat down in my own home at around 6.30 pm. Most of the day was spent in Birmingham station. Two

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1098690169457571092004-10-25T08:15:00.000+01:002004-10-25T08:43:42.060+01:00

The two subjects are not connected, honest! Beginning with the sex crazed cat, its Pru. She has come into her first season and like all female cats of the oriental persuasion, she is busy letting everyone know about it. It is described as 'calling'. Calling? Its more like listening to a toddler having the mother of all tantrums. Her wide vocabularly of sounds is being put to imaginative use as

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1098633785181583092004-10-24T17:03:00.000+01:002004-10-24T17:03:05.180+01:00

Although I will be adding this to my portfolio, I could not resist adding it here to. My very first painting! I'm not particularly thrilled with it and I am really fed up of drawing flowers (lol), but never the less, it came out better than I expected.  

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981376.post-1098595922762044672004-10-24T05:48:00.000+01:002004-10-24T06:32:02.763+01:00

After three, maybe four hours of sleep I woke with a start from some unremembered dream. 5.48 is a silly time to be awake on a Sunday morning unless one has places to go and things to do which I do not. With a little luck, that illusive occupation will return and I will have a 'lie-in' (disrupted though it may be) after all. My sofa sleeping habit appears to have made a hopefully temporary,

Francesca Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673316344892916122noreply@blogger.com0