go placidly...

Routines

2012-01-27T08:13:00.001Z

Here's a thing I'm realising-being on long-term sick affords little structure to my days. They kind of bleed together a little. Which is fine: when you're still woozy from anaesthetic there's not a lot of need to worry about getting stuff done other than "healing" - but for me it's been a while now, and I'm finally (touch wood) on the home stretch, and I'm well enough and with it enough to start wanting to manage my time a little better - especially since the Dr gave me leave to move around a little more {I'm still waiting on final all-clear and new glasses, so anything that requires close vision is still on hold!}

But I am at heart a creature of habit and I like my routines, so I did what I do whenever I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with the general day-to-day doings of life and housework - I fluttered over to The Fly Lady. confession time: the first few times I checked out her website I freaked out at all the stuff on it! But I decided to just jump in, reading her welcome letter and baby steps and working my way through whatever looked interesting until I had a reasonable grasp of her system. And then I ignored it. Lather, rinse, repeat every few months for a couple of years. It just seemed too big and integrated to
ever work for me.

This time, though, I thought about my life and looked at Fly Lady again. I read through her "baby steps". I sat down and figured a solid "bedtime routine", then cut half the stuff out and re-wrote it. Then I tackled my "morning routine", making it manageable enough to implement now and hopefully keep in place once I'm back at work. I "shined my sink" - apparently, January is "shine your sink" month! - and let me tell you, the amount of satisfaction going to bed with a clean and shiny sink (and EMPTY drainer!) is ridonkulous, and probably evidence that my inner-Monica is waking up again after an enforced hibernation. I also figured out a routine to clean house each week that shouldn't take more than about 15 minutes a day, providing I'm diligent.

Ok, if you don't like regular shedules this won't work for you. And I don't advocate following every single one of Fly Lady's schemes to the letter. Don't worry about being perfect, just figure out what works for you and leave what doesn't.

It's only been a couple of days, but I am feeling so much more on top of things, and like I'm in control of a few things (even if that's just "how shiny my sink is") and after months of drifting from one hospital appointment to another by way of anxiety and slow-recovery, that means a lot.

So come on, spill. How do you handle the house? Are you a "Monica" like me? Does cleaning make you feel like the world makes sense again [/sadconfessionfriday]? or are you one of those free-spirit types who just can't be bound by schedules and plans (I envy you!)? Thoughts?

Gratituesday

2012-01-24T19:17:00.001Z

I've been in a bit of a funk the last couple of days...but what better time to break out the gratitude list? My current "thankful-for"-s include...
* conversations with dear friends on twitter, Facebook and {old school} on the phone!
* kitteh following me around the house and happily keeping my lap warm at every available opportunity.
* Marmee still being chief errand-runner and helper-outer while I'm still not driving...Mum's=ace.
* learning to play the ukelele! <-- ha! I have mastered about four chords. Tuning it is a beast, harder than violin for sure! But it's great to have a silly/fun new project.
* I've rediscovered Fly Lady today and I'm starting to plan new routines...feels so much better to have schedules and plans! [/organisationnerd]
* flowers! I treated myself to a bunch of beautiful irises, and Mum bought me some daffodils. Definitely need to buy more flowers. They are so cheerful!

What are you thankful for this week? :)

{Unofficial} goal for 2012: go to the cinema more

2012-01-18T20:10:00.001Z

Now my eyes are on the mend, I want to make the most of going to the cinema more. Sure, it's ~~overpriced~~ expensive, but there is an atmosphere you just don't get in a lounge on a TV. So, I've told myself that another unofficial goal for 2012 is to see more films at the cinema.

But as my eyes are only "on the mend" I don't want to overdo things, so I'm trying to be circumspect about my screen time. I needn't have worried as the last two films I saw (The new Sherlock Holmes...not "Sherlock" Sherlock, but very good fun!) and today - War Horse - have been a great start to the year.

I will admit that I was blubbering from about thirty seconds into the trailer for War Horse the first time I saw it. And i'd be lying if I said I managed the whole film with nary a tear. But. Oh. If you care even a little about history, animals, World War I, or just enjoy a good story go and see this film!

But take tissues.

For real.

Wise words...

2012-01-16T17:31:00.000Z

{ici}

A lot of people are waiting for Martin Luther King or Mahatma Gandhi to come back — but they are gone. We are it. It is up to us. It is up to you.

― Marian Wright Edelman

Simple Saturday

2012-01-14T12:54:00.001Z

Today I decided to wrap up warm {it is so cold here today!} and take a quick walk, and I thought I'd take you along with me!

Ok, not really ;) but pictures are fun, right? This is a short stretch of the old Great Central Railway that runs right past my house. I was only out briefly as it was so cold and I'm still recovering/coping with reduced vision, but it was nice to get a few minutes' exercise and fresh air. What are you up to this weekend?

{pictures taken with hipstamatic, hence the vintagey tinge. It was actually pretty bright and clear out!}

Gratituesday!

2012-01-10T22:10:00.001Z

Ah, time to get back into the gratitude-list habit. Just a short one this week. What's on your list? Me:

* Green juice! Fast becoming a habit, but a healthy one. I'm grateful for my juicer and the finances {just!} to enable purchasing plenty of fresh fruit and veggies on my quest to eat better.
* My mum helping me cope with sick kitty and general housework-doing while I'm still on restricted activity per the hospital.
* All thing West End. Tonight BBC 4 showed part 2 of a fab show on the history of British musicals. Oh, be still my heart!
* Feeling a bit more with it than I have in a long while: albeit hampered by limited vision still :/
* Mum&Dad taped Downton at Christmas, so I was finally able to watch it today ;)
* Knitting! And the fact that I am 75% of the way through a new pair of slippers, after killing my last pair dead. Hurrah wool!

Burn, baby, burn!

2012-01-10T10:42:00.001Z

{ici}

Ok, I am not a huge one for pimping products on this here blog of mine, but I just wanted to post a quick note to say {if you haven't heard already} that the always inspiring, challenging, and all-out on fire Danielle LaPorte is having a pay-what-you-can day over at White Hot Truth selling her Spark Kit for, well, whatever price you can afford!

I purchased her Fire Starter Sessions a while back when she had another pay-what-you-can day, and let me tell you, it was a fantastic investment. Fan. Tastic. I am actually planning on working through the whole thing again as soon as my eyes are fully better, to get the creative juices flowing and start focusing a few airy fairy ideas into potential projects. It's that good, people. Plus, there are videos. And {oh hai fellow nerds!} fill-in-the-blank worksheets. Love!

I like it so much I put an affiliate link in my sidebar -->

Anyway, go check out her site. If you like what she has to say, maybe think about purchasing. If not, she puts hella awesome free content out too. Be inspired!

Wise words...

2012-01-09T08:30:00.001Z

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are nothing compared to what lies within us."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Things I'm planning for 2012...

2012-01-06T15:45:00.002Z

Resolutions after a fashion, plans and goals for next 12 months:

* GET WELL! First priority is getting the all clear from the hospital and fit for new glasses. Hopefully sooner rather than later?
*Get healthy (-ier) I really want to get healthier in terms of diet, exercise, sleep, all that jazz. To kick-start the year I've been re-reading Kris Carr's Crazy Sexy Diet and so far we are 6 days for 6 on green juices, salads, rice and veggies, water, and general health pursuing. {mostly} I'm also working on sleeping more/better and even attempted the odd bit of meditation. Jury's out so far but expect a full report if I manage to stick it a bit longer ;)
* Read more. {currently "listen more"}. At time of writing I am about a fifth of the way through my third book of the year. {disclaimer: I am spending a lot of my "sit still, recover, can't see great" time listening to audiobooks, hence the success ;) }
* Spend more quality time with the people that matter most to me {even if "quality time" is actually phone calls or even letters, for those that are far away.}
* Have more adventures
* Be open, and brave in the face of new things.
* Unplug a little
* Start writing again. More. Again.
* Pay off a good chunk of my student loan, build some savings back up {buy less rubbish}
* Spend more time outside.
* Read the Bible from cover to cover.
* Be happy.

You?

Things I learned in 2011

2012-01-05T19:08:00.001Z

* Be careful what you wish for {hope for, pray for}. My all stressed out, work-hatin' self asked for "a break! Just a bit of time where I don't have to do anything!" I got 4 months (and counting) enforced rest and multiple eye surgeries to fix a recurrent visual migraine that was in fact a detached retina. And now I am bored of the not-doing-anything thing, but, fortunately, on the mend :)
* PATIENCE {see above} (also, still learning this one ;)
* That family (and Mums) really are brilliant and can be relied on to help with housework and hair-washing and everything in between!
* I am blessed to have some wonderful, inspiring, encouraging and generous friends up and down the country and firmly resolve to spend more time with them in the next 12 months.
* my community is wider than I realised: I am so grateful for support and encouragement from family and friends, church members, work colleagues and online friends this year!
* Living with someone again after being on my own for a year is quite nice actually. It helps that she tolerates my wacky interests {show tunes and green juice, du jour!} and even picked up knitting again. Win!
* Travelling {to Latvia} is fantastic and needs to happen more.
* It's very unlikely that I *need* to follow yet another link to yet another link and lose hours of my life on the Internet.
* I like audiobooks! Especially when I can't sleep. Grown up bedtime stories, can I get a heck yeah?
* I actually *am* a crazy cat lady librarian, who knew?!
* God is our refuge and strength, and very present help in times of need. Srsly.
* I know more scripture by heart than I realised.
* Green juice and smoothies are awesome!
* You can have a plan, but you have to know that there's very little chance you'll follow it to the letter.
* 2012 is going to be a great, fantastic, very good year!

...and a very happy new year!

2012-01-04T16:31:00.001Z

It's a few days late, I'll admit. My eye surgery really knocked me for six (still can't see worth a damn out of my operated eye, and my other has never been brilliant. The world is soft-focus in extreme!) and then I had the spectacular misfortune to attempt drowning my phone (the device I use for blogging and Internet, as I can hold it close enough to read much easier than I can lean in close to a computer-screen) - which both conspired to keep me away from the blog-o-sphere and miss all the general 2011-catch-up/2012-resolutions posts.

Still, now my phone is working again (miracle of miracles!) and I'm feeling much better: either my eye is oh-so-slowly improving (possible) or I'm just getting used to my limited vision (likely) and I wanted to wish everyone a very happy 2012. I hope its off to the happiest and healthiest of starts!

More later, goals, resolutions, plans and adventures...

...though I'm duty-bound to report that top of my list, my current focus, is simply to rest, recover, and rest some more.

Only one more sleep til Christmas!

2011-12-24T09:06:00.001Z

I just wanted to pop my head in and wish everyone a very very happy Christmas! Wherever you are, however you celebrate it, I hope you know how much you are loved!

For my part, my last operation was a tentative success, but I need to rest a lot in order for it to stay that way. Christmas radio helps ;)

Happy Christmas Eve, guys! I hope your season is a happy one :) xxx

A few thoughts...

2011-12-15T20:56:00.001Z

My posts have been totally scattered the last few months. I often haven't felt much like blogging: I often haven't had much worth blogging about! Life is quiet, in this particular season, which is good. Quiet=space to think, and to rest. I am already planning and preparing for post-eyedrama life, seeking to keep it a little less on the stress. You read it here first, so when I start filling my time with nonsense reading on the Internet and rushing around getting a hundred and one jobs done in a shrinking timeframe, call me on it! I may talk a good "placid" talk but I'm a great one for heaping additional pressure on myself. And for what?!

I've been rereading Kris Carr's "Crazy Sexy Life" lately, and I've started drinking green juices and smoothies again. I can't much commit to anything beyond that (nor do I want to, hello tasty Christmas treats) but the green juices already are making me feel a lot more with it and energised. Come January maybe I'll try and implement a few other things from it (like, y'know, exercise and such. Once I get the all-clear on the eye front. Probably ;)

Speaking of all things eye related (kind of my baseline at the moment, not much else is going on chez moi) I'm back in for my final operation on Tuesday. Any quick healing prayers and magic vibes you have going spare would be very gratefully received...!

Thankyou! I hope you are finding time in the rush of Christmas prep to enjoy the fairy lights and carols xxx

Chick flick and kitteh cuddles

2011-12-12T23:17:00.001Z

My evening was spent blubbering through A walk to remember {which I have seen once or twice or a dozen times before and clearly shouldn't still make me cry: also it's aimed at 14 year olds. And 27 year olds who still feel 14, right?!} and laughing at Amber-cat, who has taken "kicking back" to a new level.

Cutting&sticking!

2011-12-03T18:06:00.001Z

I finally started making my Christmas cards-I'd been meaning to get them all done long before now, but inspiration was fleeting. After using stamps for the last few years I decided to go for cutting and sticking this time...though having to look carefully at what I'm doing {craft knife vs fingers!} dictates I am only doing a few at a time. But it's fun: we have the Bubble to keep us company; and my housemate is making her cards too. Welcome to my artisan workshop lounge ;)

In other news, I'm clambering back on the green smoothie bandwagon. I've been too long sans greens, and now I'm working double-time to banish my cold before I go back to hospital! This morning's foray was a variation of the "green guru" smoothie from Kris Carr's "Crazy Sexy Diet" book...bananas, spinach=fine. Cucumber, avocado, wait, what? But I have to confess it was pretty good. Not super sweet, but not hideous. Here's to greens, baby!!

Anyway, must get back to my cards. And oh hey, anyone want to swap? email me and I'd love to send a little Christmas cheer your way! There is a slight {slight} chance I have some to spare ;)

Oh by gosh by golly and all that :) xxx

Gratituesday

2011-11-29T20:30:00.001Z

It's been a while {or it feels like it has!} since I wrote a list of things I'm grateful for. As it's a good practice to be in, let's re-commit!
So this last Tuesday in November, I'm especially grateful for...
*Michael Buble, Sufjan Stevens Christmas music
*Good news on the work front for more than one friend and family who were battling the {lack of} job market
*Looong phone calls with too-far-away friends
*Knitting. Stills my mind, calms my soul, results in pretty things.
*Kitteh cuddles
*Hot baths
*Sleeping better: not brilliantly, but better. And no bad dreams.
*The Big Bang Theory. Bazinga!
*Meet-up plans with my besties {I miss you girlies!}
*Healing. Slow&steady...
*Advent: remembering a God who came for me, and stays with me.
*"The glories of His righteousness, and wonders of his love...!"

Now, you!

2011-11-22T22:29:00.001Z

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. {1Kings 19: 11}

It feels like ages since I wrote much in here properly, since I had anything much beyond the basics I felt like sharing.

Life is small and simple and quiet for me at the moment,still slowly recovering and gearing up for my last {I hope} surgery. I have lots of time to think about things which is sometimes good, sometimes not.

And I find myself overwhelmed a lot by crowds and noise {we joke that because my eyes are busted, my hearing is developing to true spider-sense level, so noisy crowds wear me out quicker and more than they used to}. Even church is wearing on me. But as ever I am drawn to this passage in the Old Testament where God appears before Elijah: not in a raging wind, not in an earthquake, not in a fire: but in a whisper.

So lately I'm trying to be quiet and listen for that still small voice in the haze and chaos that the rest of the world feels like to me at the moment.

{And prepping for Christmas. Low-key, non-stressy prepping. Definitely.}

Something for the weekend...

2011-11-19T19:50:00.002Z

My copy of Seth Lakeman's new album, Tales from the Barrelhouse arrived today.

New music+crocheting=Happy Saturday! :)

2011-11-17T23:23:00.001Z

I was feeling a bit down and dreary tonight, tiredness I guess. I spent the morning in hospital getting "ok'd" after previous treatment and pre-opped for the next (in a few weeks) and hearing all about long term post-procedure stuff and likelihood of this happening again. Statistics are statistics and I'm sure it'll be fine whatever happens but it was in the back of my mind for the rest of the day.

I made the mistake of watching the news. Financial catastrophe and ongoing court wrangles and stories that surface and resurface until you forget that they were actually real events that happened to real people. The news dies it's best to shock us and somehow desensitise us at the same time, what's that about?

But then my cat came snuffling in to claim her 3/4 of the bed and I wearily flipped open my Bible to this and felt encouraged, so I'm sharing:

"praise the lord, oh my soul, and forget not all his benefits; who forgives all your sins and heals your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion...the lord works righteousness and justice for the oppressed...[he is] compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love..." {psalm 103}

I'm tired tonight. The world seems a little too hard and harsh and heavy lately, or is that just me? I saw "The Rum Diary" yesterday which had a lot to say about life and humanity and greed (and alcohol :p) but I can't be all that coherent tonight.

More tomorrow. {optimistic and shallow, no doubt ;) it's how I roll, usually}

We will remember them...

2011-11-11T18:27:00.002Z

{ici}

I just stumbled on this and had to share:

2011-11-10T22:40:00.001Z

“Life has been your art. You have set yourself to music. Your days are your sonnets.”
~ Oscar Wilde

What a beautiful way to look at life.

Hear that, Eurozone Crisis?
Mass Media Doomcasters?
Governments who want fearful consumers instead of thoughtful, compassionate Citizens?

Enough doom and gloom.

I set myself to music.

/that's all I have tonight.
/tired.
/over&out.

Dispatches

2011-11-09T21:15:00.001Z

I've been thinking I should blog more, but really, lately i don't seem to have much to say, and/or the ability for sustained coherence. Ergo, bullet-points!
* I made pumpkin pie and it. was. good. My favourite? Hotted up and served with ice cream. Nom.
* I'm also currently seriously addicted to hot apple juice with mulling spice. Seriously.
* I just went on an epic audiobook request-a-thon from the library. All the good audiobooks are out in the sticks, but thank Dewey for synced OPAC. I'm on the look out for recommendations though, what are you reading lately?
* I have been running and re-running my budget trying to cut things from it in light of my current reduced-income. I think I'm just about done, balancing frugality with still-having-a-life. But honestly? Money=not my friend (see also, The Government's own brand of austerity, but that's a rant for another day)
* I did read a brilliant book about money, called "God's Economy" which basically just prompted a bunch more questions and very few answers (off topic: you ever notice how often Jesus answers a question with a question? Brain. Hurt.)
* last bullet point about money: I'm getting serious about paying off debt now; I'm fortunate to only have a mortgage and a student loan (thankfully from before they got ridiculous, though mine's still big enough, thanks) but even "good debt" {pfft} is still debt. And needs shifting, or decreasing, at least.
* I managed to take advantage of a briefly sunny afternoon to get a walk in today {the only exercise I am allowed} I was doing great until about minute 21 when I suddenly was exhausted. Baby steps.
* I'm starting to plan for Christmas, and I'm aiming to make more presents this year. Are you planning at all?
* yeah I mentioned it. I'm going to do it again, too. CHRISTMAS!!
* I'm very excited for the return of The Mentalist tomorrow (yay!) only not sure my grannyish constitution will allow staying up until 11pm to watch!
* I watched The Social Network today (snuggled under a blanket with my hot applejuice plus cat) it was good...I'm kind of still processing I think. It certainly enforces my "quit facebook quit it nooowwww" feelings of late.
* most boring blog post everrr. I apologise.

But enough banality from me, what's new with you??

Coming round slowly...

2011-11-06T19:14:00.001Z

Thankyou so much for well-wishes, am pleased to report the second procedure went well (as far as I know) and they even let me home later that day, which was a definite answer to prayer as I desperately, desperately didn't want to be kept in overnight.
And I'm now sort of on the mend again, after a couple of days of feeling like I'd been hit in the face with a mallet (srsly) it's now subsided to a dull headache. My vision is still funny but provided I don't move my eyes around too much or jerk my head too quickly it's not too painful. Aaand I have an exciting new regime of drops to adjust to...

...but I mostly wanted to check in and see what's new with you! Other than eyedrama:part the second, my days are currently heavily featuring knitting, The Big Bang Theory {seriously so obsessed with this lately, much to the delight of my brother who's been trying to get me to watch it for ages} and still messing around in the kitchen, when energy and eyes allow. Today I made gammon in apple juice {nom} in my crock pot and tomorrow I'm planning on using up some jam I made that came out so so sweet in a macguyvered orange-apricot cake. Hold onto your hats, it's all-go here, chaps.

Also, also I maybe might have busted out the Christmas music to hasten my recovery (comfort music, yo.) All Rat Pack, all the time.

{ok, you can go on and hurl abuse at me for raising the "c" word if you want. There's like seven weeks, people. Seven. I'm allowed to start getting a little excited. The red cups are out and everything! (my sources inform me) hurrah!}

Normal service will be resumed...

2011-11-03T17:49:00.000Z

...when it's resumed!

Ahoy there bloggies, first off I wanted to apologise for the shocking lack of comments I've left recently...I am still reading, but I have to admit that it's a bit of a battle (as my eyes are still not fully functional) so usually by the time I finish reading your posts I haven't got the energy to comment! Lol! I apologise, and hope to get back to normal ~~comment spamming~~ thoughtful, considered contribution in time.

I have been on an epic by-hand marathon of baking and making. (as energy and eyes allow) I hope it can continue, money not being what it used to be, ya know?

But all that stops as I'm back off to hospital tomorrow for op 2/3. Erk. All well wishes/prayers/positive thoughts and swift-recovery vibes would be gratefully received. And...I guess I'll see you when I see you?

Have a great Bonfire Night! Sparkle extra on behalf of those of us who can't. Boo.

Wise words...

2011-10-31T19:20:00.000Z

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" ~ John

I'm holed up avoiding trick-or-treaters {grinchy, maybe, but I don't celebrate Hallowe'en. I'm starting to think we need to resurrect the celebration of All Saints Day - tomorrow - instead. Light is a better focus than darkness, no?} knitting, drinking hot chocolate and watching The Phantom of the Opera on DVD.

That's as close to scary as it gets in this house.

Scarily awesome.

Yeah.