heading to 2013

I'm looking forward to 2013. This year, I have new year resolutions, a list of intentions that doesn't include eating less or working out until I drop... I like to keep it real and achievable, as well as happy! The list is making me smile, as is knowing the 1 January 2013 is just a day that follows another day that is followed by another day. There's the promise of the new with the certainty of the same all same all; just perfect!

I would like to wish you all a fabulous 2013!

Life is good!

grateful

It’s Wednesday (not Monday) and I don’t feel inspired. To be honest, I feel quite boo. However, I don’t feel as boo as I could feel, really. The more I think about it, the more I realise that while it’s not great Michael is now in a hot country far far away, the core thing is we have each other and we’re working on changing that Summer/Winter minor difference we have going on (some people would just call it distance, but that’s boring). Once I let that sink in, I am open to realising another thing: I am one lucky girl! I’m made of pure people luck.

Yesterday was not my finest day. I was sad and quiet and trying really hard to get on with things. For that, I had a little help from my friends.

:: mini brownies. Home baked. In a cute wrapping with a ribbon. I cannot explain how this lovely gift and gesture touched my day. Not only did it make it happy inside, but I got to stuff myself with these little pieces of heaven every time I felt a bit more boo. Thank you!
:: hugs and sweetness all around the office. I needed it!
:: running. Faster than I normally run. Tiring me out for the evening!
:: dinner and lemon curd maccaroons. With wine. And good chats. Delaying going home for as long as possible!

life and us

How does one go back to one’s ‘normal’ life when one has tasted how much sweeter ‘normal’ life can be?

Michael (for that is his name) has left this morning. I did not cry. I was holding a cup of coffee with one hand and my heart with the other, for he was taking it with him (worry not, I have a spare one for bodily functions). I waved goodbye and shrank inside myself as the bus pulled away and I was left there, just me, not alone, but just me. When I go back home this evening, the house will be empty of him and our silliness. I do silly well, but there’s nothing quite like doing silly with the ones you love.

So… how does one go back to one’s ‘normal’ life? I don’t know yet. And fortunately, I won’t have to know for a few days yet. I have our Project Life album to finish, of our time together this winter before I go home for Christmas. Then there’s Christmas and Little Brother and the parents and the cats and the rest of the family and friends and all the sunshine to absorb and pack up in my happy sunshine cells. Then there’s New Year and Second New Year and…  then there’s ‘normal’ life.

I may not know how to get back to ‘normal’ life, but I know I don’t want to go back. That’s a start. A start in the direction of change.

little snippets of life

LMrJ is in Oxford and has been for the last 14 days. He’s staying until the 18th, a date too far away for me to think about, but so soon I can already see it. For now though, I’m putting that to the back of my mind and I’m enjoying the ‘normal’ life we get to have.

Having a long distance relationship is hard. I thought about ways of writing this sentence in an LMJ way, but couldn’t. I couldn’t because I didn’t want to. As well as being silly, LMJ is honest (some would say blunt) and prefers to deal with reality rather than a well-dressed version of it. Long distance relationships are hard and mine is no different.

I am grateful for skype and my iPhone and mobile phones in general. And the post office for the special treats. I am grateful that we both live in countries where wireless internet is as common as electricity. I am grateful for the time difference we have that makes our life styles fit in to it just perfectly (all things considered!). But…

There’s nothing like a warm neck to heat up your freezing nose on in these cold winter days. Especially when you’re allowed to ‘steal’ its warmth. Nothing compares to the gentle touch of soft lips or a foot massage when you’re tired; or everyday, preferably! There’s no replacement for the chats you can have in person… or the silences. I love the peaceful shared silence as much as I love the talking. And let’s not even mention eating ice cream together; pure heaven!

So when people ask me what amazing things I have been doing with LMrJ I say “the ‘normal’ things”. Aren’t they amazing? I think people often forget how ordinary life is the most important bit of life. Treats are great, holidays are fabulous, special dates are brilliant, but I’m afraid we’re stuck with ordinary for the most of it and we don’t even realise how truly good that can be. Or should be.

For me, in a long distance relatiosnhip, the most amazing thing that happens everyday since having LMrJ around is waking up next to him. So simple and yet so wonderful. But there are other amazing things. Stealing his warmth (I’m cold all the time, like a little lizzard!). Deciding what’s for dinner. Doing the laundry. Watching a film under a blanket, with ice cream! Popping to tesco’s to get milk. Watching Big Bang Theory and hearing him laugh. Talking at breakfast. Having breakfast with him every single day, actually. Calling dibs for the shower…. and winning almost always!

My amazing things are all the simple things. And you know what? I love it!

P.S. – I may have to write a post on my take on long distance relationships when LMrJ is not around

anymore. But not now. Now I want to pretend he’s here forever.

::inspiring Mondays::

Fairy tale morning light. The kind that stays in your memory and induces a happy smile no matter how long your day has been. The kind that makes you long for the morning no matter how late you went to sleep. The kind that makes you jump out of bed at 7am on a Sunday to go to the park and see the spires give shape to the magical morning light.

I have a very heavily sore chest and throat. My eyes are on the verge of tears by no fault of my mood. And I had to talk for a great part of the day. Somedays are just like that, huh? And some of those days happen to be Mondays. The way I see it, the week can only improve, so I'm not bothered I started Monday on a small dip. It could have been worst; much worst! I could have turned green and grown a second nose, or a third arm; my hair could have turned rainbow colour overnight from out of date shampoo; my porridge could have been cold, or too hot! In fact, I should thank this Monday for its lack of evil creativity! A cold and a chesty cough, Monday? That's a bit like children's insults... good effort, but low strength!

:: morning photography with my new lens ♥ my bed may miss me from now on!

:: Little Brother's calls. just because. ♥

:: spinach soup. warms body and soul!

:: hot water. you fabulous invention!

:: honest conversations with my boss. a good man!

:: green cardi has buttons. pockets on their way.

:: arm warmers. the kind that have no holes and are soft and lovely and made by LMJ.

:: Strefen. when life gives you a sore throat, give it Strefen... and laugh at it!

:: a Sunday filled with knitting and warm soup and silly films and Homeland.

:: Lindt chocolate balls. so smooth and soft and yummy!

:: oven roasted sea bass. Mum, you'd be proud!

:: early bedtime. so the bed doesn't miss me too much after all!

How was your Monday? Dry, wet, or so and so? Happy? I'd hope for happy! Have a lovely week!

::inspiring Mondays::

 

A good Monday has a new lens one is too in love with for words. A good Monday has a registered brand. A good Monday has a nice hot shower to begin the day fresh and warm. A good Monday has lemon drizzle cupcakes brought to the office. A good Monday has white paint to finally finish decorating one's bedroom. A good Monday has a little bit of rain to remind us of how important water is. A good Monday has the smell of freshly made soup, almost like Mum's but not quite because my Mum's soup is the best.

All that to say today was an excellent Monday. If you see all those full stops as plus symbols, adding up all those good things could only lead to awesomeness. Eat that, grey sky, the Joey wins again! 

:: my new lens. 16-85mm of pure bliss. thank you, Little Brother, Mum and Dad! ♥♥♥
:: our registered brand! ♥
:: Bristolian weekend with my girls.
:: sunshine for our Sunday run. just perfect!
:: luck.
:: chilling. that feeling of just chilling.
:: knitting soft things.
:: Homeland on a Sunday.
:: painting things white. oh room, you look more inviting each day.
:: lemon drizzle cupcakes. yummy.
:: my housemates.

This was an edited version of an eventful Monday. As with everything, things are what we choose to make of them and I choose to make this Monday great, for all of the above. I'm off to kiss my lens goodnight. I hope your Monday has amazing!

::inspiring Mondays::

It's cold in Oxford. That cold that makes you want to have several hot showers a day, especially when you come home and you can put your PJs on afterwards and feel all snuggly for the rest of the evening.  What a feeling! And I'm feeling it right now because I'm lucky!

The week after I come back from Portugal is the hardest. I can still feel the warmth of the sunshine... but I can't!, I can still taste the food... but I can't!, I can still smell all those familiar smells that are home... but I can't!, I can still cuddle the cats... but I can't! Chasing after the memory of it all, the taste and life of the memory, is the hardest, and something the Portuguese people do oh so well. We're a nostalgic people, home to saudade and fado! When I realised I was happier and more cheerful than my  natural nostalgia would like me to, I told it to shut it and go sit quietly in the corner; but occasionally I miss it and let it out to keep me company for a little while... like when I come back from home and want to make the sweetness linger.

I woke up at 4am for no good reason and could not go back to sleep, but that meant I could wish LMrJ a good trip to Cuba as he boarded the plane. He'll be there for two weeks, with limited wifi access (if any!). So I guess waking up at 4am was a good thing. It's all about perspective, really!

:: the memory of home ♥

:: Little Brother phone calls. the phone rings in happiness, as do I.

:: LMrJ laughing when I'm trying to be annoyed. it's so sweet. and annoying. and sweet!

:: getting back into a running routine with Nicky. I'm lovin' it!

:: Oxford chilly autumnal clear mornings. gorgeous!

:: morning walk with porridge and my favourite podcast. bliss!

:: my hot water bottle. the snuggly feeling lasts and lasts!

:: post. what a great invention!

:: James Bond awesomeness! been there done that!

:: looking up. and smiling. it works every time.

:: central heating. what a fabulous thing!

:: wifi... we only notice it when it's gone.

:: chamomile tea. always!

In spite of the cold, this was a beautiful and dry start to the week. Isn't that amazing? Yep, it is! How was your Monday? Inspiring? Happy? I hope so :)