Well the monthly blog thing kinda went out the window a wee bit didn’t it!! 🤦♀️ Oh well at least it’s only a wee gap…and I kinda talked about stuff that was happening in may…..so really I only missed June…..am I winning??? (and is anyone other than me annoyed that I didn’t stick to a rota only I really knew about!)
When we last caught up here I’d just started my training sessions at Johnstone sound community radio station. The training is now done, the show is well established in the station schedule and I’ve even been out and joined in with an outside broadcast at a local school fair
The book event in the library I mentioned went really well (and we were all so in to it that there were no photos taken!)and I was especially pleased that a lady who had been having a rough time with her fibromyalgia and had never had the opportunity to chat to others with the condition managed to make it along. That’s why I did the book in the first place and it’s why I continue to share about my experiences with the condition because you never know when you’ll reach that one person who needs to hear what you have to say
While we’re on the subject of fibromyalgia I also got involved with a fundraiser for Fibromyalgia action uk which involved abseiling off the forth bridge (no big deal….just 165ft from platform to ground!!!! 😱) Seriously though, despite an initial issue with getting into position (due to lack of strength in my legs) once I was over the barrier and felt the harness take the weight i actually enjoyed the experience and would even consider abseiling again at some point and, thanks to generous donations I raised over £300 for the charity and the trio of us who took part totalled over £1000 in donations which is a great amount for the charity.
And finishing off the fibro/spoonie themed section of this blog the “3Spoonies” podcast episode I spoke about has now dropped (I believe that’s the technical term for it! 😂) Listening back to it reminded me how much I enjoyed chatting to the ladies and I got some really good feedback about the stuff I shared. If you’d like to check it out for yourself you can get the apple, Spotify and YouTube links for it on their Linktree here https://linktr.ee/3spoonies
So that’s the catch up on what I spoke about it now let’s move onto what’s new and what’s happening…theres quite a few things I’m working on and developing, I’ve been enjoying exploring some drawing techniques and feel comfortable, in fact probably more proud than just comfortable, to start sharing them with you. Creative stuff was where my self employment journey started and it’s nice to be reconnecting with that side of my work more fully (there will be an “affirmations and art” colouring book coming later this year I hope). Prints of drawings are being gradually made and put out with “ sea and stars” and “the gateway” being the first two I’ve shared.
There are two big projects on the go right now for me too, one well under way and one in the early, or what I call light prep, stages.
The well under way one is the first ever “becoming a butterfly” retreat weekend….a whole weekend of workshops and wellbeing focused stuff in beautiful surroundings just outside Glasgow. It’s been great to move it from an idea into being and I’ve loved developing the programme for it. Early interest has been good and I’m looking forward to sharing the weekend with a small but engaged group of people. If you’d like to join us get in touch and I’ll send you the info pack
The early stages prep is for one of the regular aspects of the butterfly room, the feel good February festival. I’ve got the beginning of a schedule pencilled out, including one very exciting one with a returning event/person and early next week (8th July for reference when you’re reading this);I’m going to check out a new venue for the feel good fair.
So that’s to come but I need to bring it back a little because I mentioned a birthday in the title and haven’t actually said anything about it! The birthday is the butterfly room’s birthday….we (and I say we not in the royal we but we as a recognition of it being a community that has grown through and from the butterfly room that continues to keep the wings fluttering!
It’s been an amazing and very eventful five years with a move from the original space to where we have been for four of our five years, a global pandemic, 2 awards won (a community contribution one and also a national one in the shape of being selected by Theo Paphitis to join his small business Sunday group- a network of around 4000 small businesses spread across different sectors and from all across the uk….ive blogged about that already so apologies if you knew already and if you didn’t feel free to go check that blog out) and also a book published too!
So many things I never honestly expected when I set up the business and the good thing is I don’t just believe but I KNOW there is SO much more good stuff to come. Right now though, amongst all the dreaming and doing I’m taking time to be grateful and to extend that gratitude to each and every person who has been part of the journey be that through attending something, allowing me to work with them one to one, by buying a book, watching a Facebook live, reading this blog…..the list is pretty much endless
So there we are a catch up and a look at the future all in one blog. As always if you want to know more about anything or I can be of service in any way please reach out via the website, socials or call me.
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