All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much.
- George Harrison.
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
Thoughtful Tuesday
All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much.
- George Harrison.
Thursday, 13 January 2011
Things I Love Thursday
SourceIt's Thursday again. Isn't it amazing how often it seems to be Thursday. Everyday I wake up and there is a 1 in 7 chance that it's Thursday... I like those odds. This weeks list:
Feeling useful – I think this quote sums it up perfectly “Piglet was so excited at the idea of being Useful that he forgot to be frightened anymore… he could hardly sit still, he was so eager to begin being useful at once.”
Staying warm- temperatures increasing, there’s even the promise of double figures this weekend but I won’t say it too loudly in case I scare it away.
These clever posters arranging text from the actual novel or short stories to depict a memorable scene or iconic image related to the novels.
Also:
Glistening greenery after heavy rainfall, the insane amount of love you receive in return for walking a dog, finding inspiration in the strangest of places, Snuggly winter pyjamas, thoughtful texts,
Alright, that sums up my TILT list for this week! What sorts of marvellous things have got you doing your own crazy-happy dance this week reader?
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Thoughtful Tuesday
As I grow to understand life less and less,I learn to love it more and more.
- Jules Renard
- Jules Renard
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Things I Love Thursday
A new year and new things to love so without much further ado here’s my list for this week:
Nibbling my Christmas chocolate (after nearly two weeks of indulgence I’m trying to ration it), Kim Jong-il looking at things- does exactly what it says on the tin, this typewriter keys print on Etsy –life really would be better with a few of *these* keys on our keyboards, enjoying a really good glass of red wine with dinner
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
Thoughtful Tuesday
Courtesy of my lovely friend Rachel:
For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~T.S. Eliot,
For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~T.S. Eliot,
Monday, 3 January 2011
Happy New Year reader!
I mentioned in my previous post that rather than making resolutions I must keep then feel a sense of epic fail when I don’t, this year I’m making a list of things I will try to do/be better at.
First and rather topically this week already I am going to try to actually reply to people WHEN they send me messages not two or three days/weeks or occasionally months later. I’ve been a bit rubbish at that this year, often for good reasons/excuses or because of good intentions like checking dates or times with confirmation emails but that’s not the point sorry everyone!
Next up on the list this year I will try to live in credit with my time, and not in a debt of time - run ahead of schedule and not behind. A lot of the things I have heard about financial debt in the last year apply to time also. The idea that if you are in debt it costs you more (you pay for what you bought 10x over), you don't have the means to bless others, it causes you a lot of stress trying to make the "repayments", that debt for the sake of consumption (having what you want now or sometimes things you don’t even really want but society convinces you that you should want, things you don't need, and as a result being unable to afford things of value later) and not investment (education, a home) is wrong.
Similarly with time - if you squander your time you will find you do not ever "save" enough time to afford the things that matter - you find you never get around to doing the things you wanted to achieve. Staying up a little too late is a debt - and the next day everything will take longer if you are tired, and the time it takes you to recover and catch up is a repayment many times more than the "loan" of time that you took. Feeling a bit too tired is stressful, and you don't enjoy the things you were looking forward to. You wonder when in your packed schedule you are going to catch up and take a rest. You wonder how long you can keep going before the bailiffs of time come to get you (i.e. burnout or exhaustion). Similarly if you stay up late doing something pointless, like reading rubbish on wikipedia, this is what I would call consumerism of time - you are squandering what you have, and getting into debt for something that is worthless and transient (though truth be told I have never regretted the time I spent an hour reading about ball lightning on wikipedia) - for immediate gratification, rather than being focussed and saving your time for things of worth and lasting value such as time spent with friends
If you waste your time and are always on the back foot you will find you don't have the time to give to people when they need it. You will find that those nice ideas for things you could do for people as a surprise never happen. You will find you don't see people very often. You will find you have this strange feeling of being very busy all the time, but can never actually remember anything you actually did.
There are a few other things on my list but the things I have shared here are those I feel most passionately about. Wish me luck reader and I hope whatever resolutions/goals/dreams you’ve made for this year really will come true.
I mentioned in my previous post that rather than making resolutions I must keep then feel a sense of epic fail when I don’t, this year I’m making a list of things I will try to do/be better at.
First and rather topically this week already I am going to try to actually reply to people WHEN they send me messages not two or three days/weeks or occasionally months later. I’ve been a bit rubbish at that this year, often for good reasons/excuses or because of good intentions like checking dates or times with confirmation emails but that’s not the point sorry everyone!
Next up on the list this year I will try to live in credit with my time, and not in a debt of time - run ahead of schedule and not behind. A lot of the things I have heard about financial debt in the last year apply to time also. The idea that if you are in debt it costs you more (you pay for what you bought 10x over), you don't have the means to bless others, it causes you a lot of stress trying to make the "repayments", that debt for the sake of consumption (having what you want now or sometimes things you don’t even really want but society convinces you that you should want, things you don't need, and as a result being unable to afford things of value later) and not investment (education, a home) is wrong.
Similarly with time - if you squander your time you will find you do not ever "save" enough time to afford the things that matter - you find you never get around to doing the things you wanted to achieve. Staying up a little too late is a debt - and the next day everything will take longer if you are tired, and the time it takes you to recover and catch up is a repayment many times more than the "loan" of time that you took. Feeling a bit too tired is stressful, and you don't enjoy the things you were looking forward to. You wonder when in your packed schedule you are going to catch up and take a rest. You wonder how long you can keep going before the bailiffs of time come to get you (i.e. burnout or exhaustion). Similarly if you stay up late doing something pointless, like reading rubbish on wikipedia, this is what I would call consumerism of time - you are squandering what you have, and getting into debt for something that is worthless and transient (though truth be told I have never regretted the time I spent an hour reading about ball lightning on wikipedia) - for immediate gratification, rather than being focussed and saving your time for things of worth and lasting value such as time spent with friends
If you waste your time and are always on the back foot you will find you don't have the time to give to people when they need it. You will find that those nice ideas for things you could do for people as a surprise never happen. You will find you don't see people very often. You will find you have this strange feeling of being very busy all the time, but can never actually remember anything you actually did.
There are a few other things on my list but the things I have shared here are those I feel most passionately about. Wish me luck reader and I hope whatever resolutions/goals/dreams you’ve made for this year really will come true.
Friday, 31 December 2010
2010 Year in Review
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Ate Chestnuts roasted on an open barbecue *ahem* flame,
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I seriously cannot remember my resolutions for 2010. I don’t think I actually had any. I don’t want to make any formal resolutions for 2011, then feel a sense of epic fail when I don’t keep them, instead I’m making a list of things I will try to do/be better at (more thoughts on that in a later post).
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes my sister-in- law gave birth to my gorgeous niece in January and in October my cousin gave birth to her 3rd child Euan.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No but this year it seemed that a lot of my close friends lost someone.
5. What countries did you visit?
I mostly travelled around within England this year
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
focus towards future stability (to feel less like an eternal teenager while all my friends ‘grow-up’)
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
18th January My niece was born
3rd July Yen (and the hubster’s) wedding-the wedding was beautiful, meaningful and simply perfect. There was practically everybody I loved in the same room, and me running around like a kid in a sweetshop MADE OF FRIENDS;
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
This year has been one of little victories rather than big achievements
9. What was your biggest failure?
Nothing major but I wish I’d taken up an opportunity to explore a bit more of the world (although I didn’t because of very sensible ‘grown-up’ decisions).
10.Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing major
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Train tickets/petrol money to visit friends
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
The older siblings of the babies mentioned in my answer to question three. Little Man, my nephew, despite initially being a little unsure about the idea of having to share mummy “forever” now loves being a big brother (and the adulation he gets from aforementioned baby sister). Similarly the twins, baby Euan’s siblings, have adjusted very well to their new arrival. A whilst very proud to be a big brother to his new playmate, lost some interest once he realized Euan couldn’t play cars with him yet. Twin sister E however, whilst initially unsure about having another brother, soon realised she had a supportive role to play in helping to keep baby happy and shower with kisses!
13. Whose behaviour made you depressed?
A lot of the things I read about in the newspapers. Not sure I’d say depressed but I was certainly perturbed by Julian Assange’s. Good intentions on paper, strange egotistic execution.
14. Where did most of your money go?
It never leaves a note. If I were to hazard a guess …this curious business of living, I reckon
15. What events did you get really, really, really excited about?
My niece’s birth, my wonderful nephews 3rd birthday.
Yen’s wedding
Lots of visits and visiting- my social life keeps me sane
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i.happier or sadder? Happier (last year was ‘the- year -which –shall- not- be- named’)
ii.thinner or fatter? thinner
iii.richer or poorer? Poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Taken more pictures and written more down
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
fretting and its nasty little synonyms
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Christmas day was spent at my aunt & uncles house with the family.
21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with? Tan
22. Did you fall in love in 2010? no
23. How many one-night stands? None.
24. What was your favourite TV programme?
New in 2010 favourites included Sherlock, Downton Abbey, & Glee. Oh and Misfits- yes I know late to the party but better late than never ey? I also thought Matt Smith made an excellent Eleventh Doctor
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is a strong word. I try not to hate anyone
26. What was the best book you read?
The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer- thanks Rach
27. What was your greatest musical discovery or rediscovery?
Mumford & Sons, Cee Lo Green and a beautiful musician called Kerri Arista
28. What did you want and get?
opportunities to spend time with the people (family and friends) I love most in the world
29. What did you want and not get?
to be at least a little further on the Planning My Future aspect of things
30. What were your favourite films of this year?
I didn’t get to the cinema much this year but I enjoyed ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1’ and saw it twice in the same day which I think makes up for my lack of attendance at other times.
31. What did you do on your birthday?
I had a lovely weekend of celebrations including a tea party with friends and a birthday meal with family
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I seem to give this answer a lot but it’s still true- having my nearest and dearest a little nearer in geographic terms
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Layers as a wise friend pointed out to me it’s all about the layers. Tres fashoinable for the snowseason don’t’cha know!’
During the heavy snowfall at both the beginning and end of this year I have abandoned all hope of glamour and sophistication in an attempt to not catch hypothermia.
34. What kept you sane?
The immeasurable support of my friends and family. Oh also tea, wine and chocolate.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most/least in 2010?
The usual suspects, can’t think of any 2010 specific crushes off the top of my head although Eoin Macken /Gwaine (I still want to type Gawain) in ‘Merlin’ wasn’t too difficult on the eye.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Liberal Democrats’ magnificent political u-turn, also a host of cuts to public services and the effect that will have on my friends is enough to make me want to rage.
37. Whom did you miss?
my grandparents
38. Who was the best new person you met?
My coffee morning conspirator (and fellow new pcc-er) J. I technically already knew her as an acquaintance but got to know her as a friend this year.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:
Adulthood is not a prize to be conferred for being a good child; it’s not a merit badge to be earned once and then you can coast forever. It’s a process that never ends…something I knew in theory but seem to keep being reminded of.
40. Sum up the year in a song lyric/quote:
“Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen." - Conan O'Brian
Ate Chestnuts roasted on an open barbecue *ahem* flame,
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I seriously cannot remember my resolutions for 2010. I don’t think I actually had any. I don’t want to make any formal resolutions for 2011, then feel a sense of epic fail when I don’t keep them, instead I’m making a list of things I will try to do/be better at (more thoughts on that in a later post).
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes my sister-in- law gave birth to my gorgeous niece in January and in October my cousin gave birth to her 3rd child Euan.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No but this year it seemed that a lot of my close friends lost someone.
5. What countries did you visit?
I mostly travelled around within England this year
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
focus towards future stability (to feel less like an eternal teenager while all my friends ‘grow-up’)
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
18th January My niece was born
3rd July Yen (and the hubster’s) wedding-the wedding was beautiful, meaningful and simply perfect. There was practically everybody I loved in the same room, and me running around like a kid in a sweetshop MADE OF FRIENDS;
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
This year has been one of little victories rather than big achievements
9. What was your biggest failure?
Nothing major but I wish I’d taken up an opportunity to explore a bit more of the world (although I didn’t because of very sensible ‘grown-up’ decisions).
10.Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing major
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Train tickets/petrol money to visit friends
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
The older siblings of the babies mentioned in my answer to question three. Little Man, my nephew, despite initially being a little unsure about the idea of having to share mummy “forever” now loves being a big brother (and the adulation he gets from aforementioned baby sister). Similarly the twins, baby Euan’s siblings, have adjusted very well to their new arrival. A whilst very proud to be a big brother to his new playmate, lost some interest once he realized Euan couldn’t play cars with him yet. Twin sister E however, whilst initially unsure about having another brother, soon realised she had a supportive role to play in helping to keep baby happy and shower with kisses!
13. Whose behaviour made you depressed?
A lot of the things I read about in the newspapers. Not sure I’d say depressed but I was certainly perturbed by Julian Assange’s. Good intentions on paper, strange egotistic execution.
14. Where did most of your money go?
It never leaves a note. If I were to hazard a guess …this curious business of living, I reckon
15. What events did you get really, really, really excited about?
My niece’s birth, my wonderful nephews 3rd birthday.
Yen’s wedding
Lots of visits and visiting- my social life keeps me sane
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i.happier or sadder? Happier (last year was ‘the- year -which –shall- not- be- named’)
ii.thinner or fatter? thinner
iii.richer or poorer? Poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Taken more pictures and written more down
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
fretting and its nasty little synonyms
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Christmas day was spent at my aunt & uncles house with the family.
21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with? Tan
22. Did you fall in love in 2010? no
23. How many one-night stands? None.
24. What was your favourite TV programme?
New in 2010 favourites included Sherlock, Downton Abbey, & Glee. Oh and Misfits- yes I know late to the party but better late than never ey? I also thought Matt Smith made an excellent Eleventh Doctor
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is a strong word. I try not to hate anyone
26. What was the best book you read?
The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer- thanks Rach
27. What was your greatest musical discovery or rediscovery?
Mumford & Sons, Cee Lo Green and a beautiful musician called Kerri Arista
28. What did you want and get?
opportunities to spend time with the people (family and friends) I love most in the world
29. What did you want and not get?
to be at least a little further on the Planning My Future aspect of things
30. What were your favourite films of this year?
I didn’t get to the cinema much this year but I enjoyed ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1’ and saw it twice in the same day which I think makes up for my lack of attendance at other times.
31. What did you do on your birthday?
I had a lovely weekend of celebrations including a tea party with friends and a birthday meal with family
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I seem to give this answer a lot but it’s still true- having my nearest and dearest a little nearer in geographic terms
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Layers as a wise friend pointed out to me it’s all about the layers. Tres fashoinable for the snowseason don’t’cha know!’
During the heavy snowfall at both the beginning and end of this year I have abandoned all hope of glamour and sophistication in an attempt to not catch hypothermia.
34. What kept you sane?
The immeasurable support of my friends and family. Oh also tea, wine and chocolate.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most/least in 2010?
The usual suspects, can’t think of any 2010 specific crushes off the top of my head although Eoin Macken /Gwaine (I still want to type Gawain) in ‘Merlin’ wasn’t too difficult on the eye.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Liberal Democrats’ magnificent political u-turn, also a host of cuts to public services and the effect that will have on my friends is enough to make me want to rage.
37. Whom did you miss?
my grandparents
38. Who was the best new person you met?
My coffee morning conspirator (and fellow new pcc-er) J. I technically already knew her as an acquaintance but got to know her as a friend this year.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:
Adulthood is not a prize to be conferred for being a good child; it’s not a merit badge to be earned once and then you can coast forever. It’s a process that never ends…something I knew in theory but seem to keep being reminded of.
40. Sum up the year in a song lyric/quote:
“Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen." - Conan O'Brian
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