When this is all over...

Week four of Covid19 virus isolating 2020!

Just felt I needed to put this up to remind me in years to come.

First of all I hope you are all well and finding ways of coping with the isolation in ways that make you smile!

For Me if I’m totally honest

 I’ve been finding it hard to take my mind away from the Pottery!

It’s our only source of income and to watch it dry up before your very eyes

has been worrying to say the least!

I know we’re all in the same boat, but here’s how I’m seeing it from my Dingy.

It’s been 11 years since I started the pottery and although over the years

I have had some amazing good fortune it hasn’t been without its struggles.

From day one I’ve never had any money behind me, giving me a cushion to lay back on

when times are hard, and I’m sure it’s that constant pressure to keep bringing home the bacon

that has kept me relentlessly pushing on.

But this past year had been going so well that I genuinely thought I was about to get on top 

of the situation and get ahead of the game.

Well that’s that scuppered!

On a more positive note I have been able to get into the workshop and lock the door, so I can make stock and complete orders.

I’ve enjoyed having the workshop to myself, catching up on Podcasts 

and trying to find more ways of being creative,

 (it’s so easy to find yourself falling into a rut when you have a routine)

But if I’m honest I’m finding it hard to motivate myself at the moment.

I’m sure I’m not alone in this.

So with time to stop and think I’ve been turning my attention to doing other things I like, at this point I was going to say Social Media!

But I’ve become more and more aware of the downside to things like Facebook!

Why people feel they can be so opinionated and judgmental is beyond me!

So when I say Social media I mean nicer ways to connect with our friends and customers.

I notice all the big companies are changing the adverts they put on telly

to be more customer focused, and socially aware rather than the previous style of push product

and then push even more product!

For me it's always been about our customers, always has been, always will be.

So I've found it interesting watching the switch in these adds.

I've always loved Advertising I wish sometimes I had known about that world when I was younger I'm sure I would have loved to be in it. 

I've always loved putting small videos together, it's one of the things I love to spend time on.

unlike most people that come to our pottery lessons, they come to get away from the computer and they find it odd that I as a potter love to get on the computer as my down time!

 I love putting together little videos like this one below.

So I hope you enjoy my little video made on a budget of £0.00

It's so nice to have the time to do this blog again.

The World finally seems to be spinning at a more comfortable speed!

Hi, it’s been a long time since I’ve felt able to get back on my Blog 

I’ve missed doing it!

When I look back at some of my early ones, I was quite raw and open, a quality 

that gave it an edge and told it how it was, the good the bad and the indifferent!

I started the blog at a point of major changes in my life that sent me on my current journey.

So now two weeks into this Coronavirus Covid-19 World Pandemic,

 at this time it feels only right to re -ignite the fire of the Blog!

In recent years I've been feeling more and more like the World is spinning

far to fast for me!

I just want to jump off and take a break!

Well be careful what you wish for 

is my current mantra!

I like to do things at my own pace, which could sometimes be described as

" did he just move? I'm not sure? "

and yet other days I'm up with the Lark and full of beans!

I seem to work in bursts (I was going to write spurts) but that sounds a bit rude!

Whatever you think about this crazy situation we all currently find ourselves in

I'm actually enjoying the lock down

Time

Time to do all the things I should have done, Like repair the front windows on our cottage.

Time to take new pictures for our website and generally do all the little extra bits involved in running a fully commercial selling website, It needs constant updating.

Earlier this year we had our 1,000th online order.

Anyone who says selling pottery online can't be done

look away now!

We can actually get into our workshop without meeting anyone all day

because the whole Barrington Court National Trust site has been closed down,

But to be honest I haven't felt very much like making anything

until we have sorted out how we are going to survive financially!

Its taken a lot of time and effort 

on both our parts but we think we have most things sorted for now.

 Going into the workshop feels very strange, but I've decided i'm going in on Monday morning

to get orders finished and new pots made.

Of course for us one of our biggest headaches is going to be the re-scheduling

of all of our Pottery Taster sessions and full day lessons,

That's Marion's job and luckily so far everyone has been really helpful and understanding

so thank you all.

We will get you on those wheels! 

Time for reading stuff

I've had this little list of rules on my Computer for a few years now

and I felt now is a perfect time to share it!

 So That's got me back into the Blog

more in depth thoughts in the coming weeks

Remember

Chill out, Make use of your time, take time to have fun

try and get a good nights sleep, that's been our hardest thing

until very recently 

don't worry about everything at once, 

just pick things off your most urgent list and concentrate on them.

Don't be afraid to laugh even if it's only at yourselves.

Give yourself time to do the things you love doing

and Finally flowers always make you smile!

So Stay safe, Stay well and Stay at Home!