::inspiring Mondays::

lonely

At 5:30, I woke up in Bristol, in my old bedroom, the best place ever to sleep. And that's where the beauty of my morning ended. The bus to the centre was delayed, I had to run (literally!) in heels dragging my wheelie bag (thank you, wheelie bag inventor, those things are brilliant!) for 15 minutes to make it to the train with 2 minutes to spare. Plenty of time, I'd say! All the glamour acquired over the weekend with my wonderfully chic friends left me. And all this effort to then miss my connection at Didcot and sit there for 1h15m waiting for another one; there were delays and chaos. After all this, this Monday could only improve, says LMJ. And it did.

Today I learned a few things. For example, sometimes you really have to compromise and let things wash over you; I'm getting better at it, so much better I would once again pat myself on the back. Other times, you have to really stick to what's important to you and cherish your little things. And I learned that exercising can really clear your head; maybe you all know this, but to me it's a new thing. I also learned that if you give the day a chance, it doesn't always have to end as badly as it started; take it an hour at a time.

:: a Bristol weekend with my two lovely girlfriends 
:: bootcamp on a Monday. I cleared my head and laughed and felt "good pain".
:: growing up a little.
:: white wine.
:: a good night's sleep.
:: red finger nails.
:: Mondays that get better.
:: a hot shower.

I hope your Monday was great from start to finish, to end November in great style :)


Brazil vs UK


LMJ: Friday night in Lapa, a bohemian neighbourhood in Rio famous for Arcos da Lapa, historical buildings and... you guessed, nightlife! LMJ encountered her first caipirinha here and let's say not all photos are as much in focus as this one. It felt a bit like home, people on the street chatting away over drinks having fun. We came back to Lapa. And I will go back to Lapa and have yet another delicious caipirinha!

EP: The kebab van: the traditional end to a Friday night out on the town in Britain. This is where the people go for sustenance as they begin their weary journey home from the pub, or on their merry way to the next watering hole. Sami's Kebabs are an institution in Abingdon. I personally can't stand doner kebabs, but things wouldn't be the same without Sami's van in the market place.

Brazil vs UK





LMJ: Blue skies. Blue skies everyday, all day, no matter what funny cariocas say! I'm a fan of skies and colour and Rio is the place to be for amazing pictures of both! As my fellow Speedy Bullets ran back in Oxford, I indulged in some awesome sky scenes followed by some sunbathing at Ipanema beach... because life can be that good!

EP: One good thing about this time of year is that we get fantastic sunsets. This was the scene in front of me when I walked out of the office after work on Day 3. This photo was taken just as our jogging group the Speedy Bullets were about to go for a training run - minus one member, who had a good excuse as she happened to be in Brazil.

Brazil vs UK


LMJ: Feet. Flip-flops. My feet in flip-flops. Not just any flip-flops, Havaianas flip-flops. In yellow. Some people are just too lucky, and LMJ is definitely one of them. These were a welcome gift so I'd feel right at home in Rio. It worked! At home, I'd be wearing warm boots and thick socks, much as the Erratic Photographer. Here, the warm temperatures ask for free feet and light clothing. And that's how I fell in love with Spring in Rio!

EP: Another day, another photo in the dark. The time difference between the UK and Brazil means that by the time LMJ and I have agreed on a theme for the day's photo, daylight hours are at a premium - and most days I am at work, restricting opportunities even further. It's late Autumn and the ground in Oxfordshire is a carpet of colourful decaying leaves. The time for flip-flops and sandals has passed and sturdy shoes are now the order of the day to navigate the cold, slippery streets.


Brazil vs UK

My dear friend, the Erratic Photographer and I set ourselves a little challenge whilst I was in Brazil; to take one photo a day, on the same theme, for 10 days, to show the contrast of LMJ's holiday in Brazil and his routine in the UK. Between you and I, I think he just feared he would miss LMJ too much and wanted an excuse to hear from her everyday, but we'll keep that a secret...! The photos are done and we can now bring them to you, side by side! We'll aim to tell you a little bit about each of them. Hope you enjoy it!


LMJ: I was so excited about my trip to sunny Rio I had not one moment to lose; I was out of the house at 6:20 to make it to Heathrow with more than enough time to spare for my 12:00 flight. That's keen, I know! I patiently sat on the plane for 11:30 hours, watched films and worked on some photographs. Occasionally, I did think of my dear Erratic Photographer back at home, working away and negotiating the early sunsets and very short daytime. That's until I had to change into flip-flops because we were about to land in Rio de Janeiro!

EP: While LMJ was flying over the Atlantic towards sunny Rio, I was stuck in traffic on the way home from work. The clocks had just gone forward so the journey is now being made in the dark. A depressing prospect. Although I'm lucky that it's not a bad commute, the boring daily routine is in stark contrast with the excitement of Joey's transatlantic voyage.

::inspiring Mondays::

Ipanema

I wanted to be laying on the beach late afternoon and watch the sun go down from Ipanema beach. Clearly, this was not the sort of late afternoon I had this Monday. Today I had a rubbish day; not calamity rubbish, just rubbish in the way that people without real problems have rubbish days. To end this Monday though, I had the most wonderful chat with two of my best friends, M & E

As I started our conversation, I completely forgot my day and it all seemed so little and unimportant that I can barely remember what it was about. We had so much to catch up on and share and talk about and giggle about and stare at each other over that amazing little thing that is skype. I didn't learn a new fact about me today, nor will I share a long known piece of information about LMJ which I've always known; today I'll tell you that I am one lucky little Joey to have such an amazing group of people in my life. And today, it was precisely what I needed!

:: M&E on skype 
:: skype!
:: burnt turkey steak that never made it to be lunch. it's the gesture.
:: chocolate from appreciative visitors.
:: my morning walk.
:: a warm cosy matchbox to come home to in cold days.
:: egyptian cotton.
:: chamomile tea.
:: haagen dazs strawberry cheesecake. lush!

Is it cold where you are? We're really feeling the pinch here in the UK! How did this Monday treat you? Hope you're smiling away with the beginning of yet another week :)

::inspiring Mondays::

Matching feet

This was one Monday I found difficult to cope with. It was pitch black when I woke up, I was still jet lagged, the day opened into a boring cold grey tint similar to an old lady's hair, I was nowhere near Rio and my tan, for I am now brown ladies and gentlemen, had to be covered up by winter clothes. Oh that was a harsh thing! However... it is always possible to find good bits, genuinely good bits that render weather considerations meaningless and I am happy to say my Monday got filled with those.

Today I learned I can cope with the English weather. I could go into many explanations of this statement and its importance, but the true thing to retain is: I've done it! Pat on the back for LMJ... ta! So what have I done? I now have the power to make my own sunny days, regardless of the official weather. Oh yeah!

:: hot shower to wake up.
:: warm home cooked porridge for breakfast.
:: morning walk, LMJ feels alive.
:: welcome back talk, I love it, really!
:: welcome back emails. precious!
:: Nicky said he had missed me. he may deny it in the future, but I heard it :D
:: planning our weekly runs;
:: look into the next weekends and looking forward to it;
:: dinner with the flatmate to catch up on the holidays, sweet;
:: Brazilian chocolate. lush!

I hope you were able to make a sunny day for yourself too, no matter the weather where you are! Do share below, I'd love to know and see what you've been up to :)

::inspiring Mondays::

Sunset in Rio

LMJ is in Rio. I'm in love with Rio. The city is beautiful and chaotic but somehow everything seems to fit together and work in a happy way. The sun shines everyday and a carioca's definition of bad weather makes me laugh every single time they're kind enough to share it with me. It is early Spring here and evenings can be a bit cooler, but nothing a light jacket can't cope with. I have been to the beach a few times now and even though I'm not brown yet I'm not standing out in my squid-ish pastel white skin. 

Something new I've learnt just last week about moi meme: I *love* Havaianas. Yellow. They're so pretty and awesome and comfy; I never want to take them off. They're fabulous! I may have to re-think the never taking them off thought when back in the UK and my toes turn purple, but for now it suits me. Oh my, I *love* them. They were a welcome gift and I couldn't have picked it better myself had I tried; they're so me and they match the bag I made for Rio (maybe I should photograph this too!) and they're just perfect!

:: M. 
:: Rio. 
:: Sunshine. 
:: Beach!
:: The sea!
:: Yellow Havaianas. 
:: Brazilian food. One word: delicious!
:: Proper fresh bread from corner bakeries. Everywhere!
:: my very own Rio kanga.
:: The views in Rio. This place is gorgeous.
:: Pearl Jam. They played in Rio; LMJ was there. Hahahahahaha :D

Thank you to all who wished me a fab time in Rio, your warm thoughts have worked. I hope I have time on my return to fill Flickr with an awesome Rio collection! Hope you're having a great Monday, wherever you are :)

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