How do you tell your brain to shut up and go to sleep? Geez, I wish I knew. Mine just keeps on talking by itself into the wee hours, and it keeps me awake. Then, when I need it to be alert and on the job, it’s off having a little kip. It didn’t used to be like this–it’s something I inherited from Adam, my younger son. He’s had it all his life. There’s a name for it, which I can’t recall. Something like “non-24”, which is a shortened version referring to a biological clock that isn’t tuned to a 24-hour cycle. His is at 29 hours, I think. I’m guessing mine is closer to two hours.

The trouble is, when Brain is babbling on to itself, it is either about things I don’t wish to re-visit — which leaves me feeling sad or morbid or guilty — or really interesting stuff that gets me all worked up over some new idea or scheme. If that happens, I’m toast. I may as well get up and make a cuppa and start taking notes.

Right now Brain doesn’t have much time for the negatives. It’s too busy canvassing ideas for the new house/gallery/coffee shop which at long, loooong last is approaching the fun stage — that stage where I start picking out colours and door knobs and stuff.

This is a somewhat complicated house, in that most of the downstairs will be a gallery and a little coffee shop. Apart from the kitchen, most of my living space will be upstairs. I’m like a cat with two mice — I don’t know which one to torture first… first it’s one, then it’s the other, then back again…

The original house was an old (1880) shop. I think it continued to be a shop until recent years. It sits right up to the footpath, and has the old-fashioned shopfront box windows, making it perfect for a little business. My original plan was to simply renovate. Well, the renovation quickly became a total re-build. The only bits remaining from the original building are the front door and a stained glass window above it. The scaffolding should come down soon, and when it does I’ll post a photo.

Meanwhile, I’ve made a bit (hahahahaha) of a rod for my back, I’m afraid. Some of you will recall that I am somewhat…?addicted? to online auctions. Boy, they’re fun! Anyway, I came upon one that was featuring vintage Persian rugs. Aha! methinks…perhaps I could find a rug or two for the house. What can I tell you? I bought fourteen. But in all fairness (to me, of course), every single one is excellent. All in great shape, and at a very good price. If I lived in America. But I don’t. But even with the rotten exchange rate, and shipping costs, they were a good buy.

Well! Still cloaked in the flush of success, I began to take notice of a few chandeliers, didn’t I?  I really don’t know if I saved money, but that wasn’t the object of the exercise. I wanted to find lights that would add character, and an ambience of, well, age. Same as the vintage rugs. I think it will help make the brand new house feel a bit more like the vintage it represents. We shall see.

Meanwhile, what I didn’t take into account is just how many crystals there are to take off, and put back on, to clean thirteen  chandeliers. What a goose.          MM

Here are a few photos of some of my purchases: