word of the week

It has felt like there have been a number of small milestones over the last week or so, and the days have, as a result, been filled with flowers, which is my word of the week. 

Just over a week ago I finished work, for what will be, hopefully, a year of maternity leave. This last week has actually been annual leave, so I don't officially start the maternity leave until tomorrow, but my last day in work for rather a long time has now passed. As The Husband has been off this week too, it hasn't quite registered yet, but I imagine as he heads to work in the morning it might suddenly start to be a little more real! I actually left my placement permanently, as when I return I will be starting somewhere new, so there was an added sense of finality. My colleagues had very kindly got us a gift, and a bunch of flowers, to mark the occasion, and I left with promises to return soon, with our new arrival.

The following weekend involved an afternoon tea with my mum, and a few lovely ladies who happen to be our neighbours. It was the second time we have had a gathering in recent months, and it was another lovely afternoon. The icing on the cake was when my best friend arrived as a surprise to join us, it was lovely to see her, and she had also brought me some flowers to celebrate the start of my leave.

The Husband and I have both been off this week, partly to celebrate our fourth wedding anniversary. We went away for a couple of nights, not too far from home, and it was lovely to spend a few days together. As the traditional gift is fruit or flowers, some of my presents were floral themed, including a lovely notebook and pen, and also some specialty flours (great minds think alike Tess!). We returned home to a chilli plant from my parents, and the beautiful roses you see above from my Grandad. Then, on Saturday, a knock at the door brought a bouquet of roses from The Husband too, who hadn't wanted to let the occasion pass without buying me actual flowers too.

So from tomorrow, I shall be 37 weeks, which is officially full-term, and officially on maternity leave. There are a few small trips planned this week, so my days aren't looking too empty, and when I am at home, I am lucky enough to have a house filled with flowers to keep me company too!

word of the week

Well the calligraphy went a little better this week, back to using the proper pen. Unfortunately my photography left a little to be desired, so some of the edges were cut off in a bid to get the lettering straight. I think I need to be a better student and draw out my lines before I go rushing in with the pen!

There have been lots of lovely conversations this week. I was also considering the word confidence, as a few of the conversations have been ones that required a bit of self-confidence too! For the first time in my life I walked into a new hairdresser and asked for a consultation. Since going short, I've been realising that you can't grow it out easily, or quickly, and have been wondering whether to go down that route or persist with the crop. Having decided to try a new hairdresser I called in on the offchance, and had a very helpful chat, and have booked an appointment. I don't know why, but I always find walking into the hairdressers quite intimidating, and this one is quite a smart looking salon so I was a bit wary about wandering in off the street, but I was pleased with the outcome. I only hope I'm pleased with the outcome of the haircut too (I decided to stay short for now!).

I also walked into a perfume shop, as I'm on the hunt for a new perfume - it doesn't take much psychoanalysis to wonder if all of these changes might be linked with the impending 30th birthday! Rather than my usual tactic of avoiding eye contact with shop assistants and turning down any offers of help, instead I had a nice chat about what I was looking for, and tried a few options. I don't think I've found the winning one yet, but it was a helpful discussion. I've had a few bits of small talk with people in shops this week and it did make me realise how even a little spontaneous human interaction can cheer up a day.

There have also been a few conversations with colleagues and supervisors about a piece of work I did recently that seems to have been well-received. I got some really positive feedback and we are having discussions about how it can be developed further, so they were some more confidence boosting conversations. Particularly as it is in the area I'm quite interested in pursuing long-term, it was really reassuring to know I had made a decent attempt at it.

Then today The Husband and I went to visit some friends. It is one of those lovely friendships where I met someone through work, and we got on brilliantly, and managed to make the transition to friends in "real life" too. Because I was away on a placement last year, and she then went off on maternity leave, we haven't seen them in a while, so it was lovely to spend the afternoon there. They did us a lovely Sunday lunch, and there were conversations aplenty, catching up, sharing stories and meeting their new baby. It was a brilliant end to the week, a really relaxing way to spend the day, and its always fabulous to see a friend after time apart and realise you are able to pick up exactly where you left off. I hope you have all had good weeks too.

first things first

The first of September.

The first day of the working week. My goodness was the three day weekend welcome. It was well-spent, lots got achieved, and I fell asleep last night feeling ready for the new month. The four day week will help ease into September gently, and I have to say I love this time of year. I don't tend to mourn the summer months, or indeed the passing of any of the seasons, and I am looking forward to the slow progression towards cosy nights in, crisper mornings and the advent of autumn.

The first day without lots of things, it seems. The two Instagram projects have finished, and as much as I enjoyed them I am also glad to not feel the need to post at least twice a day now. I think they were fun and enjoyable because I knew it was for a short time. Also the first day at work without that project I got finished, and the first day in ages where The Husband isn't spending his evenings looking for a car, because all being well we bought one yesterday, hurrah!

And now, after a busy day at work, I think I shall relish the first early night for weeks.   

word of the week #30

Now obviously the drawing was done speedily, what can I say, I was trying to be authentic. This week has flown by. I think partly because I only wrote last week's word of the week post on Saturday, as on Friday we were in the Isle of Skye and 3G was not forthcoming, so this linky seems to have come around a little quicker than usual.

Those last few days of our holiday seemed to dissolve at an alarming rate, as they so often do when time off draws to a close. Having said that, those days back at work that were making me glum on Wednesday also passed in what feels like a matter of hours, and I can't quite believe it is Friday evening already (and am also slightly ashamed at how speedily the brownies I made that night have disappeared too, although I am consoling myself with the thought that I did give some away as I stare at the empty tin).

The job that I am doing is coming to a close in the next few weeks too, as the role was only for a year, and so I return to my previous position, albeit in a different location soon. As a result, these last few days at work feel very precious as I race to get things finished off, and to say goodbye to some wonderful colleagues I have met over the last twelve months. The year seems to have flown by, and although I am looking forward to moving back to my normal job, I will also miss the people and the work. 

Most speedy of all, however, is this post. It is my wonderful mum's birthday today (Happy Birthday to you - the most incredible, kind, and loving woman that I am so very lucky to call my mum), and so The Husband and I are now off to spend the evening with her; hopefully the speediness will stop, and we can spend a leisurely evening with lovely company, lovely food, and lovely celebrations, just what weekends are made for.

word of the week #26

My word was going to be coincidence. All the way into work I was thinking about my post, and the little coincides that had happened this week. Suddenly it is ten o'clock and night and I cannot for the life of me remember any of them except for the story about the hydrangea and I thought it might be a bit much to rewrite that blog post again. It has been a long few days with a trip down to London and back yesterday and an early start to see my Grandad before he went into hospital for surgery and then visiting him tonight. 

Yesterday involved quite a key piece of work coming together and a meeting with a number of people. I, introvert that I am, find things like that enjoyable at the time but then require some peace and quiet to recharge afterwards, and there wasn't much to be had on the rather busy train home! Then today, there have been the obvious worries and tensions whenever a loved one is in hospital. I think the prospect of today has been weighing on my subconscious for a week or so now, and though the surgery was elective and so far all seems ok it is difficult seeing my strong, ever-young Grandad feeling groggy and hooked up to monitors. As you get home the tiredness hits like a wave and you suddenly realise that you have been on high-alert for hours, energy being unknowingly sapped. I had half wondered about making grandad my word of the week but it seemed a bit foreboding to write a long post about him tonight so I will save that for when he is home and well. 

My apologies that in my tiredness the coincidences have eluded me, might I ask you to be so kind as to imagine a few witty, well written anecdotes, fantastically illustrated? Thank you so much indeed, I shall be back after a snooze.

word of the week #13

It has been a week filled with meetings, all of them good. Meeting up with my closest friend for a night of chatting and celebrating her new job. After I arrived home the next morning The Husband and I then went to visit some good friends and had the wonderful experience of meeting their beautiful new son. Cuddles with a 4 day old baby are a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

To London a few times this week for a number of meetings, which also offered the opportunity to meet (or at least see) some great people speak about some interesting subjects. It felt like a real privilege to be able to attend one of the events earlier in the week, and hear some really well-respected people talk.

I also managed to take the chance to go and meet up with some family who live in London on the night I was staying down there. So much nicer to spend the evening with my cousin, his partner and their gorgeous little boy, reading bedtime stories and doing jigsaws, than eating room service by myself.

And then after a train home from London, with the promise of seeing my parents and Grandad for the first time in a few days. The weekend is here, and it started in the best way, being met from the train by The Husband and Millie, and then a family walk home.

word of the week #10

 It has been a funny old week. Last Sunday night I came down with the bug that has been going around, and it has knocked me for six. It was compounded by multiple trips to London, there and back on Monday, then there again Wednesday until Friday. Work has been busy and the cloud of the cold just made everything feel like wading through quicksand. Even before I got ill the weekend seemed to fly by at an alarming pace, and looking back now I can't quite believe we have reached Friday already.

I managed to get on top of things by today, but this week has felt like a battle to get to this point. It doesn't seem to have stuck around, and I am very grateful for that. Fingers crossed I don't seem to have passed it on to The Husband either, which is always something to be thankful for, one of the unexpected benefits of working away so much! As it is I am home, feeling much better and we are off to a quiz with my oldest friend and her family tonight. The fog has definitely lifted.

365: week 9

53. Out for coffee with The Husband before we visited Escape Room - I promise a post on these will come soon! I adore them, but they need a bit of explanation I think. This was also just after I had spotted that Jane had invited me to take part in the 5 day black and white photo project, hence the sudden attempts at monochrome picture taking!

54. At a conference today I was waiting for a session to start, and managed to snap this of the jug of iced water on the table before anyone else arrived. For some reason it caught my eye!

55. In a week where I was looking for black and white inspiration, the bright red light on this building stood out. Not my best picture as I was surreptitiously trying to take it as I walked along with some colleagues, I'm still a secret snapper!

56. Those eyes, that nose, what's not to love?! 

57. Waiting at the train station with Millie for The Husband to come home. This was another potential black and white effort!

58. Not the best shot tonight. What disappoints me most, is just how much I saw that I wanted to take pictures of. I was in London for the day, and walking to and from the station there were so many incredible sights, but I didn't have time to stop in either direction, and this offering feels a bit bland in comparison. I am back there next week with more time so hopefully I will have some more promising contributions!

59. Some lovely Hotel Chocolat treats I got as a birthday gift from my Dad. They were perfect on Saturday afternoon, shared with The Husband with a coffee and Only Connect.

Linking in with The Boy and Me

word of the week #9

As you may have established from all of the black and white photos taken late at night, I have had a long few days at work this week. It was long in a positive way, as some of the late evenings were due to meals out with colleagues, so it was good to socialise and catch up with people. It still felt good to get home at the end of each day though, and after another lengthy day today, I am glad it is now the weekend.

Another thing that made the week longer, again in a good way, was joining in with the 5 day black and white challenge. I know if I hadn't chosen to join in I wouldn't have blogged at all this week, convincing myself that I didn't have the time. It's good to look back and see the days punctuated by posts, and stopped the time passing by in a blur of working, eating and sleeping.

I'm also managing to keep getting up early at the weekends, and it is making such a difference to how balanced the weeks feel. It is great to look at the clock and realise it is still mid-morning, and that I have achieved loads already, especially when previously I wouldn't have been surfacing until later, revelling in a lie in. The days feel much more substantial, and I also feel like I properly switch off for a few hours, knowing that I've got done what I wanted to earlier in the day.

It's easy to think I've chosen this word as a negative reflection of the past seven days. Before I get too saccharine, there were definitely moments this week when I couldn't wait for Friday to come, and after the late nights and early starts I am excited at the prospect of a gentler pace to the next few days. But, I much prefer feeling like the days aren't flying by, and time not passing unnoticed, and so, perhaps with the comforting prospect of the weekend ahead, I can genuinely say I've enjoyed my long week.

365: week 2

4. First Sunday roast of 2015, a lovely sight on a winter afternoon.

5. Millie keeping me company while I work from home. Love her resting her paws on my toes!

6. The dressing on my damaged thumb, from my foolish kitchen episode.

7. Millie trying to get away with being on the bed by making it look like she's helping me to make it.

8. Much needed cup of tea after a long and eventful day.

9. Nothing more beautiful than the view of the city on a Friday night as I wait for the train home.

10. Bags are packed and we are getting ready to go on our trip.

word of the week #2

Now before I explain my choice for this week, I want to be very clear that I realise, relatively, nothing I'm about to describe is particularly brave compared with the types of situations others might be facing. I thought that I was going to pick "game" as in, I'm game for that, but somehow brave worked better with what I wanted to say.

This is a hybrid of part-written posts that were all supposed to get uploaded this week but for a myriad of reasons, none made it to the point of publication. So do bear with me if this meanders a little!

I got looking back at my old blog when I was doing my first 365 post, just to see how I had got on last year when I started. I found this post, written exactly a year ago (or at least it was on Monday when I started writing about it!). It served as a good reminder, as our trip to Australia is ever more imminent, of promises I made last year. My secondment this year has resulted in lots more travelling up and down the country, and I have become far more confident with that, but I was still finding the thought of our long-haul flights ahead daunting. Reading that post was a start, but even more influential was the number of New Year posts where people had written about travel. They regretted not having done more in the months gone by, they vowed to visit more places, and to travel further afield in the year ahead. I realised what a wonderful situation it is to have the opportunity to go and visit family and cities halfway round the world, and decided to think positively, not fearfully. To be excited, and giddy, and brave when I start to panic, or worry, which I know I still will.

It was also haircut time, and I opted to get some reddish auburn highlights in my usually blonde hair, and have several inches cut off too. I had that moment in front of the mirror where the hairdresser had trimmed it, daring myself to ask her to take it shorter. I'm gradually getting used to both the occasional flash of red, and the shorter style, although new brushes have been purchased in an effort to keep it looking fairly groomed.

This week there was also, what shall hitherto be referred to as, the mandolincident. The vegetable slicing mandoline, rather than the musical mandolin, I hasten to add. The Husband very kindly purchased one for me for Christmas, and I excitedly lifted it out to make sliced potatoes for the top of a stew. Having problems with the finger guard I made the oh-so-foolish decision to carry on without it, and less than three slices later managed to take the top off my thumb. So part of my absence this week has been due to a slight level of incapacity, I had no idea just how crucial my right thumb was to daily life. Getting dressed, typing, holding cutlery, carrying a mug, I am very much suffering for my stupidity. I failed spectacularly at being brave when I had to change the dressing, instead opting to put headphones in and close my eyes whilst The Husband and mum have both had to clean it and cover it. I am doing it on my own now, having pulled myself together and stopped being quite so dramatic.

There has also been another opportunity to do some travelling with work in a few months time. On one hand it was a great chance to visit a new country, do as I had promised above and see the world, meet some interesting people, and do something different from the day job. From the minute it became a possibility I have been telling myself to be brave, to venture away from the norm and go for it. I didn't want to turn down such a one-off trip, and went back to work in January determined to go. The thought of flying without family filled me with dread, and the idea of going on a trip so far away and having other people plan the itinerary, flights and hotels also felt alien. Yet I kept giving myself a pep talk, telling myself that I couldn't miss out. Then we realised that the ideal period for getting visas and immunisations would fall at the time I was in Australia. Going on our holiday knowing I would be under significant pressure when I got back to sort them out in time felt less than ideal, and the chance that they could not get sorted felt risky. Still I felt silly, like I was wasting an opportunity, and letting people down; sticking within my comfort zone rather than exploring the world. I didn't want to pull out, but realised that it would be better to do so before bookings had been made, and better to decide now than spend our holiday worrying about coming home. So today I did just that. I spoke to a number of people and explained my reasons, I apologised and reiterated how grateful I was for the opportunity. I feel relieved, and glad that I was confident enough to change the plans when I realised they just weren't feasible for me at this time. I realised that sometimes being brave is not about pushing your boundaries but about accepting your limitations.

Linking in with Word of the Week at The Reading Residence

all caught up

(The Maccabees - Seventeen Hands)

Time flies when you're having fun. It flies even quicker when your new job involves staying away from home at least once a week, which has been the case for me since August. I can't quite believe we are already in October but I suddenly find myself digging out gloves and wearing boots and finishing work when it is dark.

There has been much going on, asides from the frequent trips south. Needless to say, as with many of the other blog projects I embarked on, I didn't keep up with the GBBO bake-along. I did manage to keep up with the series, but when I had very few hours at home, spending them buying ingredients and baking recipes that needed half a day seemed like an unimportant way to spend my time!  We managed to sneak in a mini holiday, hence the glut of photos in this post! The Husband came to meet me on one of my trips to London, we tagged some annual leave on to the end of a visit and had a tourist filled few days. We had a great time visiting The Shard and timed it so we saw saw the view at sunset, watching the lights come on across the city.

We headed out into the country to visit a beautiful stately home, and happened upon a courtyard of craft shops including this array of beautiful ribbons.

There was the incredible display at the Tower of London. We tried to volunteer to plant some poppies but all of the slots were filled when we were available. It was no less amazing to see it from a distance and I may well wander back again on another of my visits to London to see how it has changed.

As well as visiting lovely family and spending a brilliant evening catching up, we also squeezed in some art and theatre too. We had our first ever visit to the National Gallery and hadn't realised until we walked in quite how many famous paintings we would see. Completely on a whim we managed to get matinee tickets to see Martin Freeman in Richard III and thoroughly enjoyed it (although it wasn't us that complained about the fish).

There were beautiful displays of colour coded treats. We wandered indoor markets, outdoor markets, and the delights of the many food halls in Harrods.

Culminating in an impromptu, and delicious Harrods takeaway which we enjoyed in Hyde Park whilst listening in to the Proms. It was a lovely hour spent sat on a bench with our fancy picnic as the sun went down. (The pictures below are not, as you might have guessed, the sun setting in Hyde Park.)

In more recent weeks there has been my final ever exam which I have since found out that I passed - hurrah. At the age of 28 I can finally say that I have officially finished my homework! Bliss! Lots of great time with family, including a relative unexpectedly visiting from Australia to stay for a few days and my parents returning from South Africa. There have been birthdays (The Husband, my cousin and my grandad), friends over for dinner, friends over for coffee, and brunch with one of my bridesmaids (and those last three were all this weekend!). It has been very sociable and very busy. We have achieved a lot, and while there has been much to enjoy these last few weeks there have been some long days and a few too many nights spent alone in hotel rooms.

I'm hoping it will settle a little now. I am sitting on the sofa at home, The Husband  next to me, the dog snoring in between us. It is sinking in that the exam is done, much of the plans that were filling the diary are now past and some gentler days are ahead. There are still plentiful trips away but the days in between should be slightly slower paced. It is lovely to be back here in this little space and realise nothing has changed since I left. 

a ticket to my destination

(Simon and Garfunkel - Homeward Bound)

I travelled by train today, for the first day on my new placement. It makes a real change from commuting by car, and although I suspect the novelty might wear off at some point over the next twelve months, I thought I'd share with you some things that I have realised:

1. I'm going to have to ditch the heels. As I made my way precariously up the cobbled hill to the train station the need for some smart flat shoes became immediately apparent.

2. There will be a queue. I completely didn't consider that anyone other than myself would need to buy tickets for the train, and consequently missed the (luckily very early) train I was planning on taking as I stood in line.

3. Headphones seem to be customary attire, it amazed me how many people were plugged in, face down into their screens. On one hand it felt more than a little bizarre how isolated everybody managed to be on such a busy train, on the other hand, I really missed having the radio on, so I may end up joining the masses of wired up workers.

4. The morning train was cramped. To the point where I couldn't even open my bag without elbowing three different people in the face, so if I do want to use my phone/read a book/take up knitting I need to have it in hand before I climb aboard.

5. Similarly, standing on a commuter train provides a logistical nightmare when it comes to positioning yourself in the aisle. Trying to find a place to put yourself that does not involve at least one person in the seats having a close up view of your crotch is not an easy task, but the vague shuffling I did to try and rectify the situation passed the journey, stranded as I was without access to my bag.

6. Standing on a crowded train in August makes you remember why it is important to have breakfast. At least, I suppose, if I had fainted, no-one would have noticed, held upright as I would have been by the people crammed in around me.

7. No-one, that I could see, has mastered the art of sleeping elegantly on public transport.

8. Train travel is a great leveller. The high powered businessman looks slightly less dominating as he drools against the window. The brunette with the beautiful hair was doing her make up on the journey, making me realise she was someone like me who chooses more time in bed whenever given the option. The two girls in jeans who looked to be off for a day shopping, turned out to be going on a course (I think) about dental nursing. I love guessing everyone's stories.

9. Don't assume the main station is the nearest. It was only when I got off the train I realised the penultimate stop would have been closer. At least I learnt it on a day when I had plenty of time.

10. I love working in the city, the city I studied in, the city I was born in, the city my mum worked in when she was my age. It feels like coming home.

first things first

The first of August and what a promising month it seems to be.

The first weekend in a while (since some time in June) that is free from plans. We have, in recent months, been somewhat inundated with weddings, stag dos, hen dos, dress fittings. All very lovely occasions, but at times fairly relentless (I am toying with the idea of some wedding themed posts, as I feel I am something of an expert bridesmaid/wedding guest these days). It is an eerie, but welcome, calm this evening, although I am so full of things that I want to get done now we have some time that it may turn out to be an even busier weekend than normal.

The first day that I can finally, properly, look forward to the new job. I have, since February, been due to start a new role next week. It is a secondment rather than a complete move, but as such it has been more than a little testing trying to co-ordinate a range of different organisations and departments to all approve the temporary transition. Today (nothing like cutting it fine) it has at last been confirmed, and I can now allow myself to get excited, and believe it is actually happening. I've also used it as an excuse to order some refills for my filofax, and some new pens. I will always associate the first day anywhere with an overwhelming desire to buy new stationery.

The first summer where we have had a garden that feels like a space we want to use. Over the last few months there has been much in the way of garden makeovers, a new drive, a new fence, a new shed, and lots of lovely new plants that so far Millie has managed to leave rooted (another post I am thinking of writing although I fear I may have missed the boat by forgetting to take before pictures). There are a few final touches required, the chairs need a re-paint and the fence needs staining, but I've got fingers crossed for some sunshine this weekend so that we can finally get it finished. I've even got grand plans for a mini herb garden on the table under the kitchen window. Then some lovely summer evenings beckon, and perhaps our first al fresco dining.

The first of Amanda's August prompts over at writealm is "modest", and I read the above paragraphs and think it feels quite fitting. An uneventful weekend, a meal in the garden, the first pages of a new diary. None of these are particularly exciting, but for me, they bring a sense of serenity, of order. There feels, finally, to be a pause, a sense of things calming down, and plans coming together. I have high hopes that August will be filled with simple pleasures, a month of modest joy feels promising indeed.

The obvious omission from the list of firsts is that this is my first blog post in a fair few months, but let's just pretend it's like I've never been away.