Joey goes to Typepad

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I really hope you'll join me there!

choose :: February update

It's now mid-March and whilst I'm behind on my blogging, I'm not behind on my goals and goal setting.

In February, I became a godmother and love it. As I held that baby girl and kissed her sweet cheeks, life was good and time sat still for just a moment. For the first time ever, I wasn't scared of breaking the baby; it felt natural and easy and perfect!

I achieved all my goals for February and that makes me happy. I made a baby quilt which I'm proud of (more on that to come), as well as the most adorable and cutest baby tunic (much thanks to the fabric choice!). And I accepted the greyness; that really was key to making the most of February.

I find myself more and more thinking about my choices; the daily power of my choices and their consequences. Who I want to be in my choices. It's a good feeling and I like how it's helping me become a better person.

Joey goes to Barcelona

I love Barcelona. My second time in this wonderful city and I'm once again convinced I could live there. Happily. If not forever, almost forever.

As a Portuguese person living in the UK, visiting Barcelona in January means one thing and one thing only - an obsession with its AMAZING bright blue sky! I spent so much time looking up my neck hurts, but hey my soul is filled with happiness and light. Gotta agree that's a good trade-off!

The good thing about second visits is that you don't have to do the touristy things and instead you can get lost in the city. You can wander around; oh the joys of just wandering around under a bright blue sky. You can absorb the city's atmosphere, people's grumpiness and all and think it's endearing. You can fall upon a certain fabric shop (yep, it's Nunoya) which you can still remember how to reach and indulge in a small adorable purchase. You can people watch and appreciate the little things. You can be happy. And you're even happier if you can enjoy a fantastic hidrotub in your hotel room at the end of a long day of wandering.

I ate ever so well in Barcelona. Always. Everything is fresh and full of flavour. Tapas are a current favourite and I have a few recipes in my book to make us go back to Cataluyna without leaving the sofa; even if I would much rather leave my sofa and go there frequently. 

The trip wasn't all perfect. Sadly, I've realised my photography has really gone backwards. I mean, really! Whilst I still think I have my eye, I don't feel creative about it nor able to achieve what I have in my head when I do. So glad it's an aim for the year to go back to photography and let my camera capture what my eyes see.*

I saved the absolute best of this trip for last and will largely save most of it for myself. I met up with a very dear Portuguese friend and her adorable Cataluynian family. We went for one dinner and one lunch by ourselves, so much catching up to do, you know? It never ceases to amaze me how things work between good friends, that feeling you met up yesterday whilst you enjoy every minute you have with them now knowing how much you'll miss again when you leave. And as much as our time together as two was wonderful and precious, my absolute favourite was going for dinner at her home, her family of three and my family of two, and knowing life can be this good. Yep, it really can. 

*This is what explains the lack of variety of photos in this post.

2014 in dreams and goals

I have goals for 2014. I do. And I have dreams and plans and hopes which will carry on past 2014 and into the rest of life. Some will come true, others maybe not, others yet I may forget along the way. Such is life. It all changes, always, slowly and yet so fast you can barely grab a moment.

In addition to my monthly goal setting, which I will be keeping in 2014, I also want to set goals for the year, embracing my dreams and one little word - choose. 

:: Guiva. Make our dream business a reality.

:: Run a half-marathon this Spring and run the Lisbon Half-Marathon in the Autumn.

:: Embrace my role as a godmother and finally learn how to hold a newborn. 

:: Keep in touch with dear friends.

:: Reconnect with my camera and let my lens capture what my eyes see.

:: Be happy.

As you can see, my plans for the year are a blend of dreams, goals and aspirations which are making my heart tick and my eyes smile. 

a fair bit to come

Happy New Year to you all!

2014 is here and so am I, even if it hasn't quite looked like that so far. Very much like what happened last summer, I ended up taking a break from the online world and making the most of my time at home for Christmas. I think I will be making these two breaks - summer and Christmas - a regular affair; clearly, it's what works for me!

I do have a few things I'd like to share with you, past and future. I am writing and writing and will soon be posting about my views on my one little word 2013, the December update of my monthly goals, my one little word for 2014 and my goals for January (yep, doing it again!). Stay tuned for that.

In the meantime, if you'd like to know how I've addressed monthly goals in 2013 and get a few tips on how you can do it this year, you can read my monthly contribution to Fe-line here.

Back to writing... :)

7 things I learned commuting by bike

I have been cycling to work since mid-June and love it.

I started commuting to work by bike because I was plumping up, in a nutshell. Several things happened last winter which culminated in a big loss of inserted-into-my-day type of physical activity for me and by the time we reached spring I was a more huggable version of myself, shall we say.

I decided the best thing to do was make the most of the summer and cycle to work. I prefer to have physical activity naturally part of my day, it’s easier to stick to it and you do it regularly. Going to the gym can be ok, but it can also be a pain and requires will power. Cycling to work is just how I get there and basically it’s either that or nothing… I should say I don’t have a car and lift sharing requires organising in advance, so I can’t just feel lazy on the morning; that helps too!

When I started, I had a bike I loved, panniers and my running clothes. That was more than enough to get me biking. A couple of weeks in and I realised I was in love with my new commute. So much so I started making plans to cycle through winter for as long as I could. A couple more weeks and I already had a pretty good idea of what worked for me and what could be useful to others thinking about commuting by bike. My commute is around 8.5K each way, which takes me 30-35 minutes on the bike (clearly I’m not the next Wigans Wiggins).

1. Start today*. 

I mean it. If you have a choice, commute to work on your bike. It’s healthier, ecological and great fun. I feel more energised and happier. For the first week, I was a bit more tired but once I got in the groove of it, my energy levels went up. If I feel tired for some reason, I cycle slower, and I have no problem with that. 

*unless today is raining; then start tomorrow. You can’t see potholes if they’re filled with water!

2. Eat breakfast. 

I repeat, eat breakfast. Breakfast is incredibly important to give your body energy for the day, and more so if you’re about to cycle a fair bit. I have a slice of homemade bread with cream cheese and some yoghurt or fruit. I have breakfast around 7am and then have a piece of fruit with cheese around 9:30/10:00. For me, it’s important to eat regularly and also more enjoyable ;)

3. Clothing.

I change in work, so I can cycle in more appropriate gear. When I started commuting by bike, I already had running stuff, which largely sufficed; some running capris and running T-shirts did the trick. For the colder weather, things are not as simple and I’ve had to invest in a couple of base layers which I wear under the summer T-shirts, gloves and a very basic lightweight high viz cover I picked up at TKMaxx. As winter settles in and temperatures plummet, I've had to wear a thinner pair of gloves underneath my decent winter ones. It's very important to keep the extremities warm, so I wear two pairs of socks or thick walking socks if it's really cold. I also wear a headband and a thin buff to cover my ears and head. I'm thinking of maybe getting shoe covers, but have survived without so far...

LINKS to my gear.

4. Be nice. Be careful.

Smile at other cyclists, say hello. It does brighten everyone’s day. 

Know the road code. And then always assume the car has priority… as a cyclist, you are the weakest link (even if you are in the right!). Whilst I’m not a nervous cyclist, I’m a cautious one and I would really recommend that approach, always!

5. Wear a helmet. 

Your brain rules your body. Protect it! Bike helmets are frequently overlooked by cyclists; reasons for this are plenty, but the most frequent one seems to be hair style. Without wanting to sound alarmist, your hair won’t protect you if you fall and it will get messy too! 

6. Have lights.

According to my favourite bike shop* guy, there are three types of bike lights: 1. Lights to avoid a fine; 2. Lights to be seen; and 3. Lights to see. I would strongly recommend you go for sets 2 or 3, visibility is key on the road. I have had lights to be seen forever, and have recently invested in a good set of lights to see. I cycle in dark areas and want to see where I’m going.

*Beeline Oxford

7. Get a sports watch (optional, but oh such fun)

Any sports watch. It really adds fun to your journey! Luckily, I was given a very cool Polar watch for my birthday. Originally, I wanted it for running but have since found it works beautifully for cycling and it’s such fun too! I know exactly how long it takes me door to door, I know exactly on how many kilometres I’ve done in a day, I know time and distance differences between routes instantly, I know if I need to speed up to make it, or if I can just chill and enjoy the scenery (doesn’t happen often in the morning!).

I hope these seven tips will encourage you to get on your bike and change your commute to work for the better. If you have any questions or comments, do let me know in the comment section. Happy riding :)

both sides of me

As I thought about what I could write for the Day of Multilingual Blogging, I came across an excellent article in the Economist on the subject of bilingualism. The article asks if different languages confer different personalities and then goes on to explore the answers brilliantly. 

This question is one I often think about and have mentioned in previous blog posts [1, 2]. My writing style and subject matter are very different in Portuguese and English. In Portuguese, I tend to be nostalgic and let the hand do the writing straight from the soul. In English, I’m happier and determined to focus on all the good in my life. Interestingly, this applies only to my writing and not me. 

What best than to just write in both languages now? Thanks to this year's Day of Multilingual Blogging, I sat in front of a blank screen and wrote. What you can read below is what came out of me in either language, unedited (sort of). In the name of science, the exercise was kept the same - fill an empty screen with a blog post. 

Sou Portuguesa.

Sou nostálgica, é uma característica que me assiste. Tenho em mim toda a nostalgia do mundo (e o drama, ao que parece). De mim saem palavras de outroras que foram e memórias que nunca existiram de dores que senti sem saber como. No silêncio dos dias, há uma angústia que me dilacera a paz de espírito. Se me sentar aqui tempo suficiente, esvaziar-me-ei de lágrimas que não tinha por tudo o que foi e não chegou a ser. Penso, como tantas vezes, no calor feliz da curva de um pescoço que me aqueceu a alma, mais do que outra coisa qualquer. Sempre a curva do pescoço, essa certeza quieta da intimidade... ainda que não certa. Lembro-nos a nós, ou outros como nós éramos, tão novos e quase felizes, que não se é feliz quando se é novo, só depois, quando o mundo não pára e os dias lentos podem ser, por fim, felizes na memória. Quero guardar-nos, ainda e sempre, no lugar fechado das recordações tristes porque tão felizes nos fizeram… um dia. 

I live in England.

There’s tea, always chamomile as it soothes me and helps me focus. My red notebook sits next to the laptop, a list of possible posts I’d like to write half crossed; this business of brainstorming post ideas is great! It’s not Monday yet but I can think of all the things which are making my belly turn with happy butterflies. Our home is one, perpetually happy with the new red cushions. And oh how I love the beautifully crisp morning light that comes in through the living room windows. I could sit here forever in awe of that light; in fact, I could sit here forever thinking of that light. 

As I read above, I realise how great this Day of Multilingual Blog has been for me. It's sometimes painful to write in Portuguese as I seem to go deep into the unknown and bring a gentle sadness with me, but at the same time... it's a part of me, the writing and what I write. Rediscovering that connection felt amazing! It also felt good to know that my happy colourful style can roam free in English. I just love the freedom multilingualism gives me!

Photo credit: Vivacious Mel Photography

(Oxford) goodbyes

"I said goodbye to a dear friend this morning... There is no sweetness in the day that makes it better..." 

You think you've toughen up. You've done it all before and as most people will tell you, it becomes easier. I'm not a toughie when it comes to goodbyes; I give everything in relationships, there is no holding back and that makes parting that little bit harder... and wetter. I've moved around a few times and I got through it, sure, and I got through it pretty alright, but tears were shed.

When I moved to Oxford, things changed. Suddenly, I wasn't the one leaving. Oxford is such a transient place... So transient some would say is not for me, a nostalgic little Portuguese soul with her fado and saudade. And some would be, quite possibly, right. I remember the first of my very good friends to leave. And then the second. And then the third. I stopped counting. One more moved and my happiness for him and them softens the ache of yet another goodbye... but just a little bit.

Today, as Autumn settles back in and the long British winter looms in the not too distant future, I said one more goodbye. Phil touched my heart in so many ways, mainly because I never wanted him to. You see, sometimes when you've said enough goodbyes and you think you're done with it all, you shy away from temporary people; Oxford has plenty of them. This is not an official decision, it's just how it is. And sometimes, in spite of your best efforts, there will be people who get through your lack of interest and show you that temporary is really what you make it. Memories can last a lifetime; so can friendships.

Phil and Bec have added so much to my life and I've been so much happier these last couple of years for knowing them that I wouldn't have it any other way, no matter how many todays I had to go through.

P.S.  Dear friends reminded me earlier that technology is there to make our lives better. And they warmed my heart.

reasons if reasons were needed

I agree. I so agree. And, perhaps more importantly, I accept it.

At a time when time is ever so precious and we're all going from commitment to commitment with pit-stops at other time consuming tasks (like doing the laundry, cooking, exercising... hum... sleeping), keeping a blog - and dedicating time to it, of course - may seem, how shall I put, a waste of time. For a while, I thought about this and questioned whether my time was well spent here. I concluded it is!

On important matters such as this (and take this as the first clue that this space is important to me), I like to consult with Little brother. It's a conversation we've had a few times and he always tells me the same and you know what? I learned it now. I love writing and I love photographing and I love putting it together here. What better way to spend your time than doing things you love?

Enjoy your wasted time this week!

cool news

So, what were the good news I alluded to on my last inspiring Mondays? I am one of the new contributors to Fe-line, an online publication primarily aimed at women.

I'm really excited with this opportunity to write for an established publication and connect with local people through my writing and little snippets of life. I will write one article a month, largely on a topic of my choosing. I did put forward several ideas in my proposal, but all of the sudden nothing seems worthy of that first article. Do you know that feeling? It's quite awesome... hehe!

There were several reasons why I wanted to be a Fe-line contributor and the cool thing is that some are only becoming clear now. I love when that happens! I love that feeling you get when things just feel right and the more you sail through, the better they feel.

Let the writing begin!

Photographing the every day

If, like me, you like to photograph little snippets of life, you will love this post by a Beautiful Mess. It's all about photographing the everyday and capturing the essence of daily life. The light in their photos is enough to make me dream and want to have my camera with me at all times. Like it used to be.

week in the life... Wednesday to Friday

I really enjoyed this project, tweaked massively to fit what I felt like doing. I didn't take loads and loads of photos. In fact, I took less photos than on an average day (but ensured I took photos every day). On Monday night, it became clear to me that what I wanted was to capture the essence of each day. I wanted a lot of white, a few photos and a little bit of text. So that's what I did.

Hope you enjoyed you're week in the life, if you're doing it, and mine too :)

Here are my Monday and Tuesday of this project.

Seven years of Britishness

Seven years ago today, on a rainy and dark evening, a younger Joey arrived in Bristol to do a masters. And the rest, as they say, is history.

I am happy in the UK. This country has been good to me and I have felt nothing but very welcome here. In return, I have opened myself to Britishness, work on my English every day and dutifully complain about the weather.

I have a bucket list of “such a British thing to do”. I have eaten fish and chips from a paper wrap, outside, on a cold and wet day. I have eaten fish and chips because I felt like it, damnit. I think it appalling to turn the heating on before November and have become best friends with a hot water bottle. I hate marmite. I love Marks & Spencer’s food. I think roasts are the best thing on a Sunday. I have more than one umbrella and always carry one (except today! it's raining). I apologise *a lot*; sometimes I apologise for just standing there when people bump into me, a classic British thing to do. I say “we” when referring to the great British public. I love pubs; Friday pub after work is like, awesome! I know what interesting means. I have a diary and I use it; we book things in advance over here. When the sun is out, I make the most of it; take it not for granted, we say! I’m doing well on this journey, if I may say so myself.

My story in the UK would not be what it is without the bunch of people I'm lucky enough to call friends. Blimey, have I been lucky! They hug me and take me on British adventures and adventures into Britishness. I have a family of friends here… of course these seven years have been great!

week in the life... Tuesday

I photographed more on Tuesday compared to Monday. I went running but that photo didn't make it to the final selection. I photographed one of my favourite Oxford building, but that also stayed out, I wanted the layout to be all about little snippets of my life. I learned something this Tuesday regarding my style for week in the life - I have an impressionistic approach to documenting; while I love writing, I don't particularly enjoy long texts of journaling. I'm ok with that. When I look back on this project, I'm sure I'll get as much out of my approach to it as I will from the photos and little bit of journaling. 

on photography

I want to reconnect with my camera. I want to experiment again, be creative, open my eyes to what's there. The photo above was taken when I did Jackie Rueda's course L'Atelier, which I would very much recommend if you speak Spanish. I met a lovely group of people on the course, we're still in touch and their photography and enthusiasm still motivates me to pick up my good old Nikon and make it shine. That's when I truly love the internet.

As I go through my week in the life, I realise things are a bit rusty here. This project has been amazing to me just for that! I want to photograph more, not as a photographer but as a documenter of life, my life and what goes on in it, with a creative flare.

Do you ever feel you're not making the time for the things you want to do?

Notes on an unplanned break

I went on holiday to Portugal and shared my awesome feet fashion murder photo to say so on the day I left. Before leaving, I prepared the tunic post (still getting used to this planning-posts-ahead business) which came out while I was on holiday. Since then, I have been silent.

I hadn’t planned on doing a blog break. In fact, before going away I had plenty of ideas for posts I would like to write and things I wanted to share here. However, the beautiful Portuguese summer took me for a wonderful ride and I forgot all about the online world. Unbeknown to me, it would appear I was in need of a holiday even more than I thought; a mental break, a let’s-really-switch-off break.

Interestingly, one needs a holiday even from things one enjoys doing, like writing here. I finally got why some bloggers take a break over the summer; it’s good to switch off and clear your thoughts and quite frankly, think of nothing for a little while. I shall be doing that this Christmas*, oh yeah!

*First mention of Christmas 2013 in August… preoccupying?

Note to self... and others

I have written several posts over the past couple of weeks… all in my head. I think about, and sometimes elaborate on, content for posts and images I could share here quite frequently, during my cycling commute, while cooking dinner or laying on the grass soaking up as much as the sun as possible (safely, of course!). However, none of these (beautifully, or not!) written posts ever see the light of day, or even the light of a computer screen. Nope. All these posts stay in my head. And you know what? That is fine. It really is fine!

Tired Tuesday

***SPOILER ALERT – BOO POST AHEAD***

I am a nostalgic person. I’ve explained more about it here and what I do to not let that get in my way, but the truth is every so often I let myself go down the bittersweet road of nostalgia. Tired Tuesdays are particularly prone to my nostalgic episodes. Especially when accompanied by incredibly good pieces of writing, like this one. It’s in Portuguese and I’m not quite sure an auto-translator could do it justice!

In a nutshell, the writer tells us about his convoluted move to Brazil, leaving *his* Lisbon behind. Unlike me, he’s not nostalgic. Unlike me, he doesn’t look back and wonder about life back home. He made his home where he is now. Our life circumstances are quite different and I have a large family to whom I’m very attached to, but still. I admire his ability to let go, not to mention his beautiful writing.

So why I am boo today? Well, a nostalgic person can give you a very long list of reasons, but I’ll stick to two. It makes me boo to not be able to just let go. The funny thing is I know if I were to move back today, I would then have the reverse feeling for all I would be leaving behind… can’t win, really! And it makes me boo that I no longer write in Portuguese.

I started this blog much because of my friend Nicky. He wanted to be able to read what I  wrote and together we wanted to improve our photography. LMJ came of that and I’m so glad it did. My writing has evolved immensely since the first few posts and my photography has become a reflection of me. I’m happy here. However, sometimes I miss writing in Portuguese and it’s silly because I could just do it, but I don’t. I just miss it instead.

There’s a lot to be said for us, nostalgic types hey…!
I'll just have another sip of wine, for now.

on my commute in May

My commute in May has been the most diverse yet. The most frequent was liftshare, but I also took the train and drove. As if that weren’t enough, I house sat in Oxford and in a little village outside town. So many different routes, with different travel companions and in a different scenario. May also had warm spring days and really cold winter ones, making it the perfect month for me to want to take regular photos of my commute.

Looking at the mosaic makes my day. How absolutely lovely is my commute?

wandering around East Oxford