Project 365: 89 - 95

89. A Saturday afternoon (almost) to myself, reading in the conservatory, enjoying the warmth of the spring sunshine, with this beautiful beagle for company.

90. Mother's Day Lunch at a favourite restaurant. Mal definitely won the competition for the best starter as we all looked enviously at this. A lovely family afternoon.

91.I decided to treat myself to some new music. I was driving home, thinking I would really like the Elbow album, and it occurred to me that I could simply buy it for myself. I still don't tend to think of treating myself to things (except flowers!), and I realised that it wasn't a major extravagance to get myself something small every now and then. I was so excited when they arrived, I think I might be tempted to give a small gift to myself a little more often!

92. Not the best picture but I'd already put most of the ones from my walk with Millie in this post. The purple caught my eye amongst the undergrowth.

93. I realise this isn't a particularly attractive picture, and I apologise for showing you my leftovers. As I finished eating, The Husband burst out laughing and turned my plate around to show me this, I must have been subconsciously expressing my happiness!

94. Met up with a close friend for the first time in ages. It was nice to get glammed up (although I was in bed for 10.30!), we shared a meal, a bottle of wine, stories, memories and put the world to rights, as we always do. A lovely, lovely evening.

95. Start and end the week with this lovely lady. A rough day today, we had another death in the family, and, although insignificant in comparison, I'm having some frustrations trying to get a placement organised. After a rotten day all in all, some cuddles from Millie still gave me something to smile about.

stair wars

I was going to write a post tonight, a post about Millie I think, I hadn't quite decided. Then suddenly the night ran away with me, and I couldn't decide whether it would be better to get an early(ish) night, or write a post. I find myself typing, so I guess the urge to write won out.

At the moment, we are facing a new episode in the trials of dog ownership. Millie isn't allowed upstairs. Which means that her favourite place in the house is upstairs. Hilariously she hasn't grasped the idea that even if we can't see her, we can hear her, resulting in her walking, just a few steps behind me every time I attempt to ascend. Life is like one long game of statues, or a much less creepy version of those angels from Dr Who. I stop on a step and she stops behind me, I turn round and she stares me out, I take a step towards her and she suddenly understands that I have spotted her and dashes back towards the kitchen, skidding along the hallway (occasionally redirecting into the lounge if she is feeling particularly cheeky).

The minute we are out of sight though, she decides the coast is clear, and her footsteps (pawsteps?) clatter back towards the stairs, and she bounds up them. She becomes increasingly perturbed when we shout at her to stop from some unseen room, clearly perplexed as to how we can possibly know. She takes a few cursory steps in retreat, and waits a moment, before resuming her mission to discover the great unexplored upstairs.

She also hasn't gathered that if we have gone upstairs before her, we will still be up there. So when I have finally given up with the shouting and the chasing, and wait for her to come to me, she jumps out of her skin as she skips into the forbidden territory assuming herself unobserved, only to find me staring. Sometimes she goes at that point and sits patiently on the threshold of the kitchen door, one paw insolently poking into the hallway, a small defiance to prove she has not quite relented entirely.

Tonight, as I pottered about, having given up trying to send her on her way back to the kitchen, she settled down on the carpet by the bed. She looked so restful, and so content, that I decided to let her be, just for a little while. It was far more peaceful than beginning another round of chase, and after all, what harm would it do. I figured I could write my blog, she could doze at my side, and then I could take her back downstairs. I decided to take the picture above, and as the shutter clicked, she opened her eyes. She smiled, I swear I can see a smile...

...a smile that tells me she knows what is upstairs, and she likes it. A smile that says she has been victorious. A smile that says she knew we wouldn't be able to resist indefinitely. A smile that says we may have won the battles, but she has already won the war.

first things first

The first of April.

The first day of the financial year (which means long days for The Husband this week).

The first time I have walked Millie after work without wearing a coat this year. Possibly ever. It was wonderful to go striding out across the fields and feel warm. Even better to not have the soil squelching underfoot and instead to see bursts of colour in the undergrowth.

The first barbecue of the year. Not ours, but there was that unmistakeable aroma as Millie and I headed for home, the divine scent of slightly singed sausages, with top notes of tomato sauce.

The first time this year I left the office at lunchtime just to go on a walk. I am far too sedentary during the day, and as part of a general attempt to get fitter and healthier, I saw the sun shining and decided to go for a quick walk around the block. Again, no coat, no bag, just fifteen minutes to walk and get some fresh air.

The first time, unfortunately, that I have used the Nike Running app on my phone. I wasn't running, but I wanted to get an idea of how far my lunchtime walk was, as an incentive for the future. I was, indeed, impressed by the fact that I notched up a mile without even noticing it. However, I was less impressed by the fact that, as I tried to set up the app whilst walking down the stairs to leave the building, the app chose to announce, at top volume, in an encouraging American accent that I was beginning my workout. Even worse, as I frantically tried to turn it off, close the screen, turn down the volume, it kept cycling between declaring my workout paused, and in quick succession my workout resumed, much to my mortification and the bemusement of the gentleman following me down the stairs. I went and stood in the toilets when I finished my walk just to turn it off, but goodness knows what people would have thought I was doing if it had carried on from the confines of the cubicle. I tried again when walking Millie this afternoon, but it still gave its enthusiastic encouragement despite me having turned every voice option off in the settings. If anyone has any suggestions for similar apps without the inbuilt cheerleader I would be very grateful.

The first Hello Fresh delivery, which I have been very impressed with. The postcard, and pre-delivery courtesy call were lovely, but more importantly, the food has been really good so far. I plan to do a post once we have had all of the meals, but it has been a nice way to start the month, and made sticking to my health kick a little easier.

This is also the first day I am going to start doing the 100daysofhappiness project. I've been wanting to do it and today seems as good a day as any, so follow me on twitter to see those pictures if you like. Here's to the first of many of these posts (the original was over on my old blog here).

The Year in Books - March

The book I intended to read this month didn't get finished. Instead I picked this book up and it quickly became my preferred read.

It was a random selection from the train station but I really got into it and thought the premise was a really interesting one. It almost lapsed into self-help at times but I quite enjoyed that, although it made more sense afterwards when I read the author's biography.

My only disappointment was (and please don't flick to the back page if you come to read it) the last sentence. It felt really weak. Actually coming to think of it the closing chapters were a bit of a let-down insomuch as it felt that the author suddenly decided he had had enough and wanted to tie up the loose ends as quickly as possible.

Even so it was worth a read for the idea of the plot, and the unusual combination of fiction and life improvement advice in one.

Project 365: 82 - 88

82. Leaf skeleton on a weekend walk with Millie. I dutifully tried to carry it home, with visions of posting similar pictures to Gillian of Tales from a Happy House, and a whimsical idea of creating my own artistic display. Within thirty seconds Millie had clocked it and made it her mission to retrieve it from my hands. Apologies leaf, you survived a full winter intact, resisting floods and frost, the ultimate in self-preservation. Alas, you were no match for the wonder-beagle.

83. We got tickets to go and see Tom Wrigglesworth on tour as a Christmas present. It was a good night out, and was a lovely way to round off the weekend, which had also included my step-dad's much anticipated retirement.

84. Tulips in the hall, the perfect sign of spring. I spent a while trying to photograph them close up, then spotted the shadow they were casting and liked this picture much more.

85. I took this for the WriteALM prompt which was kitchen sink. I planned to have something pithy to write about it, but I've been struggling to write this week, quite a few started and deleted posts!

86. Another walk with the dog through the park. This picture is not my finest, but it is the best I can do with one hand as Millie lurches from tree to tree and insists I lurch along with her.

87. Midweek meal out to the Italian restaurant just near our house. The owner greeted us in Italian, and we both immediately chorused back in Italian, lapsing automatically into our Monday night class. Cue the owner thinking The Husband was Italian and a complicated explanation that we were trying to learn, which then resulted in every course being delivered with a miniature lesson. "Si subito" means "yes straight away" if you are of the linguistic persuasion.

88. Another weekend spent late-night supermarket shopping. Completely unnecessary shopping, as we had a delivery coming this morning, but The Husband wanted to put petrol in and so we just went for a wander. Bargainous flowers were bought so I consider it a worthwhile trip.

il cane ha mangiato le mie scarpe

Which I think is Italian for the dog ate my shoes. It makes a change from homework I suppose.

I am a shoe person. Shoes and bags. Probably because they always look beautiful whatever size you wear. Not expensive shoes and bags, I never spend a lot, and at least in the case of shoes, having long feet (sounds more elegant somehow than big – essentially the same thing) means that I can often find the right size lurking forlornly on the sale racks. I admire shoes, like I rarely admire clothes, and the shoes in question were a much admired pair.

Not pretty so much as classic. Tan leather, the smallest of heels, high enough to wear with longer jeans, low enough to walk for hours in. Casual enough for a trip to the supermarket, smart enough for work, comfortable enough for an afternoon at the shops. In short, the ideal shoe.

They were pretty worn. The heels were long gone, and they clip-clopped on hard floors where the metal had come through. I didn’t like wearing them if I might have to take them off and reveal the discoloured, dishevelled lining. They had come close to being disposed of on more than one occasion. I always held back though, instead opting to keep them until I could find a replacement pair.

I duly purchased some in a similar style for honeymoon, and nearly put the early kibosh on the marriage as they scuppered our day trip round Toronto, inflicting blisters the size of baseballs. So the replacements were put deep in the back of the wardrobe on our return and the old faithfuls restored to that prized position right at the front, ready and in reach.

Until last night. Last night when the dog seemed worryingly quiet. Just a little too peaceful curled up at our feet under the kitchen table. I am not naïve, I peered to see what was occupying her and was relieved to see her chew toy in her paws. However clever I thought I was being, Millie was smarter. The plastic bone may well have been in reach, however it was simply a decoy. Behind it, out of view was one of the shoes. A shoe, which, when we stood from the table, was in pieces. The elegant strip of leather that had been folded into a bow on the front was now fragmented across the floor. Admittedly it was worn to begin with, but now it had more hole than sole.

The shoe, and its partner, have been binned. The search for a replacement pair will have to begin. And perhaps the search for a replacement dog too…

off to button moon

I went very late night supermarket shopping last night. I realise most girls in their twenties do not spend their Saturday nights perusing the fruit and veg aisles and trying to work out which packet of dishwasher tablets is the best value, but it is my favourite time to go.

I enjoy the calm, the space, and the fact that often the staff at our local store choose to crank up the music while they unpack the crates of produce. It's like some weird warehouse party (quite similar to other people's Saturday nights after all?!) except that someone forgot to turn the lights down. I wander up and down every aisle, buying those bizarre things you never remember when its the middle of the day, you're in a rush, and turning every corner feels like entering into a scrum.

I remembered tin foil, I took my time picking the perfect greetings card, I bought the refills for the air freshener, and even found a throw in the sale that is a perfect match for the new study. Alas they had none of The Husband's favourite brand of bread, the flowers were all half-dead, and I witnessed a woman unpacking biscuits by standing in the middle of the aisle and throwing the boxes along the floor to somewhere near the correct shelf (I think it was a sensible decision to forgo some digestives) but I can cope with all of that in exchange for a pleasant meander around.

As I got back to the car I spotted the full moon, apologies for the picture but you'll just have to believe it was far more beautiful than my photography suggests. Driving home I remembered that I used to be in awe of the moon and how I could always see it in the sky, wherever I was. Whenever Mum and I used to be in the car at night, I would look out for "magic moon" the whole journey home, making sure she (the moon is definitely a she to me) was staying with us wherever we went.

When I sat to write this just now, I got another childhood memory of going watching Button Moon at the local theatre. My mum surprised me one afternoon with a trip to go and watch it, and it has always stayed with me as being such a special day. Looking at clips now, I'm guessing the production costs for the whole tour were probably about £100! It's still one of my favourite memories, and hearing the theme tune takes me straight back to being sat in the theatre gasping with excitement at the huge button moon appearing and the music starting up. Geeky fact for you - the theme was apparently written and sung by Peter Davidson (of Dr Who fame) and his wife. Anyway, that's enough nostalgia for one night, I'm off to sing the song to the dog; I might look out of the window on the way and check the moon hasn't gone anywhere.