So serious!

[fidgetandscooter]

Firstly, thank you, thank you. I am staggered and humbled by your kind responses to my artwork. I think perhaps now might be a good time to rattle on about who I am and then get on with the pleasure of finding out about all of you.

I was married and had 2 daughters who are now in their 40s. I got divorced in 1980 and the real me began to emerge as I no longer felt artistically challenged. I learned to do fretwork ( the intricate cutting of shapes in wood ) and I became self employed in 1985. I did the fretwork for 26 years, both for myself and also contracted out to cut for someone else. Unfortunately much of this contracted work involved cutting MDF ( medium density fibreboard ) which is highly toxic. No matter what precautions I took it damaged my lungs. What started as mild asthma became COPD. I had to give up all woodwork and over time my mobility became worse as the shortness of breath worsened. In November last year I was still able to walk to the village albeit slowly. Then I got rushed into hospital and spent 10 days in there on oxygen and a host of other medication. Now I'm home I can't go out alone at the moment and I'm on oxygen for 15 hours a day. Life has changed considerably so I have to limit my life to what I can do within my four walls. I'm not unhappy, depressed or sad I am just bruddy frustrated that as a once very active person I am now reduced to being pushed around in a chair. Okay, now it's over to you!!!

The picture is of a piece of fretwork I did many years ago.

[Hidden]

You still have an amazing talent. You should change how you use it. You will be great on paper as we have seen it. So you use it

[Lemon7]

How sad that your work using your artistic talents has impacted your health. However your talents still shine through your drawings, wishing you happy Easter and sending best wishes.

[fidgetandscooter in reply to Lemon7]

Thank you.

[Hidden]

You do have great talent fidget, I had to stop my great love of sculpting in clay because of the lungs, I used to mix my own glazes and had my own kiln, whilst the heat from the kiln was good to heat my home at that time, the toxins from the glazes mixing and firing was not. I couldn't manage all the travelling for exhibitions and craft fairs now any way.

Come winter, I need to refocus on art and crafts of other kinds, but for now spiritual / healing study + gardening are taking up a lot of my time, I guess I am lucky I can still garden.

Keep up the fab work.

[fidgetandscooter in reply to Hidden]

I'm sure there are other crafts that you can do come winter time. Have you tried air drying clay or Fimo? I know they are very different and you could hardly make jugs and things like that, but jewellery or ornaments might be good to try. I love doing craft fairs. I could only ever do them if I had a lift to get there. Now I need more help. I did a local one last week. I managed to get a sitter for Fidget and a lift for myself. I had my oxygen with me and managed to keep going until midday. I just loved being out. It was the first time since November that I did something for myself. Enjoy your gardening.

[Hidden in reply to fidgetandscooter]

Yay I do bead work, looming, crochet or knitting during winter months I always find something to do :). But I still am thinking about painting and drawing, I have the gear but not done any for a while, so out of practise of anything worth showing

[fidgetandscooter in reply to Hidden]

You sound a bit like me in that you have the materials to do many different crafts depending on what mood you're in! I do hope you will have another go at the drawing and painting.

[Lemon7 in reply to Hidden]

Glad you can enjoy your garden. I love to work away in the garden too.

[Hidden in reply to Lemon7]

Its wonderful, I was reading earlier in the garden and the robin came right close, eyeballed me and flew off, he did that yesterday too Luv it. need to pot on the veg plants. Enjoy your garden too, we have another lovely day tomorrow.

[Lemon7 in reply to Hidden]

Potted up begonias etc today. Enjoy the good weather while it lasts.

[Carnival567]

Could you manage a mobility scooter? They are expensive, but are available second hand at modest cost. In fact I gave one away because I couldn’t find a buyer. Fidget would enjoy it too, most of my dogs have enjoyed rides on mine xx

[fidgetandscooter in reply to Carnival567]

I have bought a scooter. It is a 3 wheeled beast that looks like a motorbike!! I'v only used it once so far as it has been too cold. I don't think Fidget would fit on it, but the one I have has got a trailer one can buy as an extra. xx

[Carnival567 in reply to fidgetandscooter]

I’m glad you’ve got one, such fun to be on! This weather, if it stays, should be great for outings!

[Soul01]

You are very talented! I love the artwork. Is there a local place to display the pieces? In my area we have an annual event called ‘Open Studios’ and this gives the locals a chance to showcase their work. It is fantastic to see the creativity and talent.

[fidgetandscooter in reply to Soul01]

I do the occasional local craft fair but that's about as much as I can manage at the moment.

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Hi I can understand everything you say as I'm know we all can, I was very active but at the moment I don't have the breath to do the things I love. I am 60 but still feel 18 lol. I decided to do an OU course classic history and I'm really enjoying it. You like nearly all of us on here have a positive attitude and that's good. Please keep posting and take care of yourself 😊 Bernadette xx

[fidgetandscooter in reply to Damon1864]

Thank you. I don't want to bore everyone though. xx

[Damon1864 Volunteer in reply to fidgetandscooter]

You won't so please don't worry 😊 Bernadette xx

[sassy59]

Wow fas, that’s quite a story. You are very talented and its good to see your pictures and hear all about you.

I’m the person who will shorten long names to initials so hope that’s ok.

I care for my husband Pete who has sarcoidosis, COPD, osteoporosis, heart and back problems. We get along well and try and make the most of everyday.

Lung disease sucks though so I’m glad you’re not depressed about life. Wishing you well. Xxxx

[fidgetandscooter in reply to sassy59]

Thank you. Like everyone I do have the odd down day, but not often thankfully.xxx

[Hidden]

Wow you are very gifted with many talents all quality work. I'm afraid I have no talents like the work you do, please keep sharing your work I would love to see more.😃 🍃🌿🌱 Majt

[chubby2x22]

Hi there Mr talent, I have spent most of this glorious sunny day copying your bear in a boat, and it's not good. I too have an over active brain but the rest of me is very slow and painful, so I went to an art class 18 months ago and love it. I live quite isolated with the North sea crashing and thrashing a couple of hundred yards away, we don't have many amenities

here but our library is a source for gossip, lifts etc. So I get a lift to art our group of 5 vary dramatically. What a laugh. Try to get out and about it really helps, I shall be taking my pencils to the USA next month but the pictures won't be worth posting. Good luck, onwards and upwards. Jane

[fidgetandscooter in reply to chubby2x22]

Keep at it but don't forget to use your imagination for your drawings as well.