241 views and not a comment? Is everyone shy lol! To be honest I was thinking more of making beads and jewellery components as I already work with hot glass making lampwork beads, but the thought of that lovely smooth clay turning and slipping through my fingers is pretty irrisistable. I have looked for local courses but there doesn’t seem to be anything local ( i am in North Wales) and the local collage sold off both the glass and ceramics depts. to invest in a printmaking centre about ten years ago. I’m not expecting miracles or anything reliable – just enjoyment. I had a brain tumour removed in November and I know how precious each fragment of joy now is – but also realistically i have no income at the moment so can’t afford to waste anything either. Any comments more than welcome.

Hi Virginia, thanks for your post. I think you’re right about the views, no-one seems to do forums anymore, everything has moved to Facebook unfortunately. Facebook is just not my thing. I love technology but hate what social media has done to society, although the “millenials” seem to be turning the tide somewhat.
Anyway, back to clay. This book looks good

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=0KWpIKC-9C0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=ceramic+beads&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjuz6_bydbfAhWEr3EKHeb9C64Q6AEIJjAA#v=onepage&q=ceramic%20beads&f=false

I’ve got a kiln for my glass so firing shouldn’t be a problem. The biggest issue (as with all the fun hobbies!) will be the cost of the ‘extras’. Glazes and cutters and tools etc etc etc

The brain tumour wasn’t that bad. My eyesight started going weird in Sept – blurred peripheral vision, and double vision. Saw optician last weekend in september, sent me sane day to ER, two days later in the clinic. Two weeks later i had had 2 MRIs, one with contrast one not, and back in clinic where I was told I had a benign tumour that would have to be removed through my nose. I was sent to a Centre of Excellence ( i was sooo lucky to have a really good Neuro Centre nearby) for a consutation. Told to loose some weight and they would remove it in January. Over the next 7 days my eyesight decreased in both eyes but I became completely blind in my left eye. No shapes, no light/ dark, nothing at all. With my other eye i couldn’t make people out on the tv or read any characters smaller than an inch. I was rushed straight in on the evening of 22nd Nov and the tumour removed. I had a few complications – my csf (brain juice!) started to leak etc – but I was only in 8 days. A lot of health issues that had been diagnosed as other things have been improved by removal so I am very happy. When I woke from surgery my vision was back and it’s still improving now, so I have been incredibly lucky. I can’t smell at all or taste properly yet, and my nose is still congested and will be for a while – but what a small price to pay for eyesight and life eh?

Right I’m off to read your blog.
Take care x