Fresh linen

Some days you just need to put a clean sheet and duvet on the bed, have a rose scented shower, don a fresh nightie and climb into bed. 

Not My Excuse

Do you ever feel you put yourself last just to help other people? A lot of my job requires that type of commitment, but I don't usually mind as I love it and find it rewarding. However, this has been a tough week. I have done my best to support someone in my team, even down to staying behind 3 times this week to meet with and and help them. But they don't want to seem to help themselves. 

Tonight they moaned, when I was trying to do with them something they were asked to do but didn't. 'The thing is,' they said a touch defensively, 'if I'm not totally committed to something than I don't put my full effort in'. I tried to ignore the complete arrogance of this remark, to continue to get the work done, to help them structure their time. They were, after all, a new trainee in the job and just learning. 

But then when they complained that they don't have time to go to the gym anymore and do what they wanted to do because of the job, I was furious. A 29 yr old complaining that the job was too much work? When they were doing half the time of most of us and couldn't even be bothered to try to do things they were asked to do? When every request was meet with another excuse as to why they couldn't do it-after all, how can they be expected to work in a room without a window? (Not that they had to work in that room- they could work in any number of rooms, with any shape and size of window!) Did they think that I really wanted to be there doing their work- yet I wasn't complaining and not putting all my effort in for them. They were utterly oblivious to this, however, and ungrateful.

I went home eventually, very late, tired and discouraged. But while I was sitting on the couch after a reviving cup of tea, I resolved not to let them drag me down. So I threw on swimmers and got to the pool just before they took last entries, and swam furiously for half an hour, determined they would not be my excuse.

Made with Love

It has been very cold at night, particularly as we have had the heating off during the day and when we get home, find that it takes a long time to warm up. So at the moment I am on the couch, snuggled under a lovely blanket my grandmother made me. Nan gave me this beautifully crocheted blanket, and it is so warm and snuggly. She made it herself in lovely modern colours which have always gone well with my decor.

Nan gave me the blanket as a Christmas present the year I was going to University. There it remained on my bed for many years, until I carefully packed it away in order to go travelling. It stayed at my mothers house, until a couple of years ago I returned to package all my treasures and send them to my new home. 

It is so lovely to have it with me now, evoking the presence of my grandmother. Since I grabbed it off my spare bed the other night I have been wrapped in its warmth and memories. 

Winter Sun

This photo was taken at 10am this morning, while the fog was still thick and the winter sun struggled to shine through. I love foggy days- the mystery, the eeriness, and the romance.

Five a day

This was my fruit bowl a week ago. Filled with pears, satsumas and apples. Delicious! I have made a conscious effort this week to eat at least 5 fruit and vegetables a day, and most days I have eaten at least that, even some days getting up to an average of 8 servings, which fills me up too much to snack on other things. This is my fruit bowl now, and my vegetable crisper has undergone a similar before and after:

It is a good start to healthy changes. It looks like tomorrow is grapefruit for breakfast and couscous with pomegranate for dinner. And then it's time for a refill!

A sense of spring

It has been a very wet start to the year, but today the sun came out and there was a sense of Spring in the air. Not quite the feeling that it was the start of that season, but more the promise that it would come. It was still very cold, but after I came back from the gym I was warm enough to crack the window open and clean vigorously, even getting behind the sofa as it was so nice to see properly! After thoroughly vacuuming, scrubbing, polishing and re-decorating, I then lit some candles, made a cup of coffee and relaxed. I love my clean house and it makes a lovely way to start the week.

Making the most of my todays- Comedy and Italian

We went into London today and meet up with some friend to celebrate some upcoming birthdays on both sides. We met at Covent Garden, enjoying the unusual street performers, and then went to Leicester Square for Hagen Dasz ice cream. Divine! 

We then went to see the comedian Stewart Lee in a matinee. He is a fantastic comedian and I particularly liked his gentle berating of the audience for not engaging with the jokes and failing to laugh appropriately. Very clever. His new show is on TV in February and his material was really clever.

We then walked through China Town, decorated and prepared for the Chinese New Year in a couple of weeks, and then had a drink in a cosy English pub before going to a lovely little Italian restaurant. It was such delicious food, and a great way for us to celebrate. 

I had been in touch with a friend this morning who had not been well over the last few years and whose life had not been what she would have hoped since she'd had a breakdown. I was trying to get a sense of how she was feeling, and she had said she was 'daydreaming of her future'. It pulled me up short as I am guilty of always looking ahead, pushing forward and not really appreciating what I have in the here and now.

I made the resolve then and there to live in the moment, to appreciate what I have, and to be grateful for my reality. This was a great day, and I am so appreciative of all I have. And I need to stop day dreaming of so many things, including changing my appearance (below is an apt sign at the Italian we ate in tonight). Today is when I've realised that I also need to stop daydreaming of my tomorrows and start making the most of my today's - and today was a great start.