Life Lately

I've been a bit rubbish about posting in this little space recently. Good intentions just seem to constantly fall by the wayside. I keep thinking to myself that I'll just get through the next busy week, then things will settle down, when something else throws me off course and I find myself repeating this thought over and over.

Also, at the moment, my work pattern keeps altering on a weekly basis, which is fine for the time being. I really do love all aspects of everything I do. No two days are ever the same, so it's never ever dull. There's a rumour going round that things might be more settled in several months time, but I've heard that one before. It certainly keeps life interesting. 

But on the whole, life is pretty great. I'm becoming much better at prioritising my own needs, and with practice, I'm finding that it's getting a little easier for me to let go of things that I have no control over. Perhaps it's an age thing :) But whatever it is, I am here for it. 

Last week we were down in London again, for a couple of days. I always love our visits to the city, and of course, the reason for them. And I still get a thrill when I see all the iconic landmarks, but over time Lily is becoming less and less impressed at the sight of the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and Big Ben. We had a lovely time, though, and she did enjoy her promised trip on the pedalos in Hyde Park. We also spent some time at the immersive Outernet experience, which was quite mesmerising. Huge wrap around screens playing images, including underwater scenes, space, and blossoming trees. It was amazing to experience, but not quite as pretty as the real thing. 

The trees here are full of blossom just now. They are so beautiful, but it's sad that their loveliness is short-lived. All too soon the petals begin to drop, like nature's confetti, creating a  carpet of pink beneath the branches.

And the bluebells...

Naturally, we had to go to the woods so that we could witness the annual show of bluebells. A very special place, where only those who know can get to enjoy this stunning display. 

Easter was spent fairly quietly, here. In the morning, we went for a lovely walk overlooking the bay. It was a little more strenuous than I'd anticipated, but the views from the top were absolutely stunning. In the afternoon, Lily insisted on an egg hunt, and we made some of our favourite chocolate cornflake nests. Just for a change, I also baked some delicious cookies using broken up mini eggs instead of chocolate chips. 

And that brings me to this weekend. Yesterday morning, I ran in my very first Parkrun. I'd thought about it for a while now, and I'm really glad that I decided to give it a try. I'm sure it did me good to push myself, and everyone there was incredibly welcoming and supportive. I think I'll try running another one soon, and see if I can beat my time.

Today, I've done the weekly shop, baked flapjack, and  I've been pottering about in the garden. I've finally re-potted the acer, which my lovely friend bought me, last year, and I used the remainder of the compost to top up the apple tree pots. This week, the spinach will be ready for it's first harvest, which is a good job, as I need some for a new recipe that I'm trying out. And the carrots, beetroot and spring onions all appear to be coming along quite nicely. It looks like I'll be getting a healthy crop of blackcurrants later in the year, as well.  The nasturtiums are also just starting to grow. I'll be keeping a close eye on them, so that they don't get out of control. 

And my forget-me-not plant, grown from seeds given to me after my dad died, and which had been killed by the hard frosts, must have self seeded into the lawn. So now, I've carefully transplanted several of the little flowers into a small pot. I really hope they'll continue to grow.  

Back soon(ish).

J. X

November-ish

 

I'm writing this beside the fireplace. It's been such a cold day. Outside it's beginning to go dark, and the sky is looking heavy and grey. It is typical of November. Snow is forecast overnight and it feels like winter is approaching. 

I don't have very much to tell you. Life has been ticking along quite mundanely, and I've been intentionally keeping it that way. I'm constantly being reminded of the quote, 'If you don't make time for your wellness, you'll be forced to make time for your illness.' So I'm doing my utmost to take care of myself. I'm prioritising getting enough sleep, and eating healthy meals. On Sundays, I've been making a big batch of soup, and dividing it up for my lunches during the week. This week, it's curried carrot and lentil, and it's absolutely delicious. Having something already prepared makes for a quick and nourishing lunch. It also means that I'm less likely to make unhealthy choices.

I'm still at the stage of only thinking about Christmas and If I'm being honest, I'm slightly panicking that I haven't yet begun any actual preparations. No matter how hard I try not to, I always put myself under too much pressure at this time of year. Perhaps this might be the year that I finally learn to let things just 'be'. I've enjoyed a thorough peruse of the 'Christmas by Booths' book - IYKYK - but so far I'm lacking inspiration. Maybe I'll feel more festive later in the week, when we go to see the Christmas lights in the town. Or maybe tomorrow, IF we wake up to snow!

Even though it's turned much colder here, I've been getting out for a few walks. When I'm feeling lethargic, I find a good brisk walk helps to energise me and lift my mood. The woods where we often go are looking really quite sparse now, and most of the trees are bare. The ground is thick with mud and leaves, and there's a damp, earthy smell in the air.

It can be a challenge motivating myself to go outside when the weather is so depressing, but if I'm wrapped up well (and as long as there's very little chance of rain) then I soon feel the benefit. And, of course, there is nothing more satisfying than returning home to a cosy house. Warming cold fingers in front of the fire. Or even better still, around a mug of hot chocolate :) 

Last week, I enjoyed Lily's first secondary school parent's evening, and I'm delighted to say that she's settled in brilliantly and doing really well. The teaching staff made some really lovely comments, and I especially liked the one about Lily being just 'an incredibly lovely person'. It made me feel quite emotional. 

Back soon. 

J. X

In and Out the Dusty Bluebells

 

Does anyone else have that song going through their heads whenever they see bluebells? I am reminded of the game, which usually started off well, but nearly always ended in chaos, as children got tangled up, beneath the 'arches'.

Since returning from London, last week, I've hardly stopped. On the Monday after the marathon, my train pulled in at the station at 12.35, then I began work for the afternoon at 1.15. Perhaps it wasn't the best approach to my recovery, but it was an unavoidable one. Thankfully, having kept moving, it meant that my legs didn't have the opportunity to seize up or feel too achy. But I did experience moments during the week when I would feel extremely tired, although that was understandable under the circumstances. I did say, 'Never again', and yet for some unknown reason, I found myself entering the ballot for next year's marathon :)

By the time the weekend arrived I felt depleted, but there were still the usual household chores that needed my attention and some coursework which needed to be submitted. Once this was finally out of the way, I was able to take a little time to recharge, with a walk to the bluebell woods. Having previously thinking that I might have missed my opportunity this year, it was such a delight to leave the main pathway and walk up the steep track to be greeted with the now familiar, yet still breath taking sight before me. Beneath the trees, was a carpet of blue, and the dappled sunlight only highlighted how beautiful they were. 

I love that Lily will still indulge me by tagging along for these walks. Even if these days it comes with a side order of eye rolling. She soon perked up, however, when we discovered a rope swing tied to one of the tree branches; thankfully there are some things we never grow tired of. We spent just over an hour in the woods, and we were lucky enough to have them all to ourselves. Not many people are aware of the bluebells there, as they are not very easy to see from the main footpath. 

I don't wish to speak too soon, but this week there has been a great improvement in the weather. The grass is finally beginning to dry out, after what has been an incredibly wet winter, and the garden is looking so much better for having seen several days of sunshine. The vegetable seeds are beginning to sprout and the lemon trees might even need to be re-potted again soon. They are growing fast. 

I've replaced the solar lights on the shed, and it has been lovely to see them from the kitchen window after sunset. Then, after I decided that some other lights, which I placed in the flower bed, were a waste of money, as they weren't working. I actually discovered an on/off switch, hidden away beneath the bulbs. I will now have to wait and see if they come on tonight :)

J. X

Spring

Welcome spring! 🌼🌼🌼

This last week has seen a marked improvement in the weather here, and it has felt so good after what has been a very long and very wet winter. How long it will last, however, is another matter. The clocks changing at the weekend means we also have lighter evenings to look forward to, which immediately has a positive impact on my energy levels, and has me looking foward to spending more time on the fells, and at the lake. 

School has finished now for two weeks, and along with the usual household jobs that I need to get on top of, I also have some lovely things planned. The garden is high up on the list of things which are in need of my attention, and I am desperate to get the raised bed planted up. A visit to the garden centre, this morning, should see that ticked off, at least.

Last Friday, we attended an Easter craft morning, which was a lot of fun, and where we met up with many of our friends. There was rock painting, cake decorating and weaving. Not to mention the complimentary sausage bun and cup of coffee for me :)

In the afternoon we went for a walk to the woods. It was a beautiful spring day. The sun was warm on our backs, and we were able to take off our jackets for a while. The ground was still very wet, however, showing just how much rain we've experienced recently. And as we walked, our boots made that delightful squelchy sound in the mud.

Everything was begining to look rather green all of a sudden, especially the swathes of wild garlic beneath the trees. We managed to gather just enough that I could make some delicious pesto. I say 'managed'. You can see the darker clouds in the photograph above. Fortunately, we were home and in the dry before the heaviest of downpours arrived. I expect a lot of people would have got caught out in it.

While we were in the woods, we also gathered up some sticks for our Easter tree. I'd left it a little late this year, as I hadn't realised that Easter weekend was right at the beginning of our spring break. Oops! Luckily, I had already got some chocolate eggs stashed away in the cupboard. 

On Saturday morning, we made our traditional Easter nests. Long gone are the days when Lily needed to stand on a chair in order to reach the mixing bowl. Now that she is getting older, she is quickly catching up with me, and I often wonder how much longer we will enjoy this activity together. 

Yesterday, was another beautiful day. Usually, I would have been packing up a picnic lunch and preparing for a walk on the fells. Instead, I went for a long run, followed by a walk along the river. Running is still taking up so much of my free time, but not for too much longer. I do (very much) enjoy running, but I don't particularly like how it has become all consuming. It feels like when I'm not running, I'm either planning a route, or trying to figure out how I can manage to fit a run into my already busy day. The end goal is now in sight, at least. 

J. X

Putting One Foot in Front of the Other

I'm still here!

Once again, I have been absent from this space for longer than I would have liked. I have still enjoyed keeping up with everyone else's news, but I haven't had much opportunity to post anything myself.  You see, most of my spare time has been spent putting one foot in front of the other. Quite literally. I've been running. 

Many (many) years ago, when I was a child, I used to listen to a friend's dad talk about having completed the Great North Run. I had no idea what it was, but what I did know is that he spoke so passionately about it. Then, as I grew older, quite randomly one day, I thought that I might just like to 'give it a try'. One application form later, I still wasn't entirely sure what it involved, but as I began training towards my goal of simply completing the course, it all became perfectly clear. 13 miles is a long way to run. 

I remember the first time I went out running. It was only half a mile, and all downhill, but even then I was struggling to breathe :) Not the best start, but I persevered, gradually increasing the distance each time I went out. I even entered some local races too, just to get an idea as to what I should expect. When the actual race day arrived, I loved it. Yes, I was slow, yes, I was exhausted, but the atmosphere was fantastic and the sense of achievement was huge. Running across the Tyne Bridge as the Red Arrows flew overhead will always be a special memory. So much so, that I went  on to run it four more times. 

After running regularly for quite some time, life, as it often does, got in the way. My running became sporadic and then almost non existent. With good intentions, I would set off again, but it simply wasn't a priority any more. I entered a marathon in the hope it would give me something to aim for, but then I injured my back, which meant that any training was impossible. So I deferred my entry and put it to the back of my mind. With an additional (and rather painful) problem with my feet, I wasn't even sure that running was an option for me, especially as walking is also uncomfortable from time to time.

Then a few months ago a friend suggested running a local half-marathon, and in a moment of madness I agreed. So I picked up where I left off and made this my target. If I could just manage to complete this, I might then be able to achieve my goal. On the day itself, I was incredibly nervous, but very excited, and taking things VERY slowly and steadily, I did it! After struggling for such a long time, it felt amazing and I was still able to walk the next day. I'm sure the stunning scenery helped as a distraction - snow capped fells with a backdrop of blue sky. The conditions were perfect. And did I mention the mug of tea and flapjack at the finish line :)

Since then, I have treated myself to a fancy new pair of running shoes, as over the coming weeks I will need to increase my training. So far, my body hasn't complained too much, but I'm very aware that I am not getting any younger, so I'm still taking things very, very slowly.  

With running taking up most of my free time just now, I haven't really been up to much else. Although we did go for a walk through the woods on Sunday. The weather was damp and misty, but we managed to enjoy a wander beneath the trees without getting too wet. There was even a glimpse of a deer running off up the hill, but we could barely see the lake down below.

In the next few weeks I am also hoping to get out into the garden. I've already given the grass it's first cut, but I could do with tidying things up a little more, before I get some potatoes and beetroot planted in the raised bed. The spring flowers are adding a much needed touch of colour, while I wait for the remaining plants to awaken from their winter sleep. 

Back soon.

J. X

Bluebells and Black Cats

 

I don't know about anyone else, but with all these bank holidays I keep losing track of my days. On a regular week I would have been at work by now, but with an empty day ahead of me, I have thoughts of being very productive and getting on top of the housework before I'm back at it again tomorrow. In reality, I expect I will procrastinate and find myself wondering how on earth I managed to waste a whole day :) I won't be too hard on myself , however, having spent much of yesterday working in the garden. I managed to get the grass cut and dug out the five large shrubs, which sadly didn't survive the extremely low winter temperatures. I also greatly reduced the size of the holly tree, so how I managed to escape without so much as a scratch, I have no idea. On another dry day, I will get the borders dug over and then I need to plan what to plant in the available space.

Over the last few days I have been dipping in and out of The Coronation coverage. As always, the pageantry and ceremony appeared to be flawless, and the parades were nothing short of spectacular. Although I have mixed feelings about the event, there is no doubt it made for a memorable weekend. I also enjoyed the Coronation Concert much more than I thought I would. 

Last week, we went for our annual bluebell walk. It really is beautiful there and being a little off the beaten track, we usually have the woods all to ourselves. 

The afternoon had started off rather dull and overcast, so it came as a pleasant surprise when the weather began to brighten up, until we found ourselves being able to cast off our thicker layers of clothing and enjoy the warmth of the sun. 

The woods are filled with native bluebells as far as the eye can see.

With paths meandering steeply up the hill.

I never tire of visiting these woods, especially at this time of year. And on that afternoon a good dose of fresh air was just what I needed. I've been feeling under a bit of strain recently, and getting outside in nature instantly calms me and enables me to relax.

And I should be able to relax even more, going forward. Getting the roof work completed was a huge weight off my mind. And although I still have more work to be done on other parts of the house, this was the issue I was most concerned about. 

I have also received the feedback on my course work, and I am very pleased (and relieved) to say that I have passed! When I first signed up to do it, I hadn't realised that I would be taking on more hours at work, so it has been quite a challenge to fit everything in, but I got there in the end. And talking of work, there is going to be quite a shake up there. For the better, I hope, but what this will mean for me and my hours, I am unsure at the moment. Time will tell.

I have previously mentioned a black cat who comes to stop by my house each day. He has since become rather persistent, and even though he is a full male, shows no signs of aggression; he is not hungry and clearly not a stray, so it is still a mystery as to why he likes to hang out with us. Boo quite likes him. Mog is indifferent. Neither of them show signs of being anxious that he is around. He does occasionally come inside the house - if I happen to leave the door open, or if Boo sits too close to the cat flap (it is chip activated) but I had no idea as to where he was coming from. Last week, having woken up to find him in the house yet again, I decided to put a paper collar on him, and less than half an hour later, a very apologetic lady rang me to say he actually belongs to her and she had been wondering where he had been spending so much of his time. It is still a mystery as to why he visits here, but at least I now know his name and where he comes from, and I can also get in touch with the owner if I have any concerns. Having said all that, I have a feeling that the visits may desist once she finally takes him to the vets ✂

Back soon. 

J. X

Spring Sunshine

 

I can't begin to explain just what a difference this change in the weather has made to my wellbeing. The last few days have been glorious, and after an intermittent start it now feels like spring is finally here to stay. In other exciting news, I now have hot water! Being able to get into my pyjamas, straight after a shower feels so satisfying. And to those of you who have been in the same situation for much longer than I have, but without complaining, I stand in awe. 

Last week, the final Warm Space, although still fairly quiet, was attended by all the regulars. I made chocolate brownies once again, and I was gifted a picture, which had been painted by one of the lovely ladies just for having baked all their cakes over the last few months. Wasn't that kind? It is on the mantel for the time being, until I can decide where I want to display it. 

School is now finished for two weeks, so I'm hoping to enjoy some slightly less hurried mornings. I do have some tradespeople turning up on at least two of the days, and there will be a short trip away at the end of the second week, but I'm sure I will find a balance somewhere in amongst the chaos. And then, before I forget, I also need to complete my coursework.

Following some incredibly cold temperatures over the winter, the garden is looking rather worse for wear. Until now, it has been far too wet to have been working outdoors, but the grass has now been treated to its first cut of the season, and I think this week I will at least get the soil dug over and any dead plants removed. Sadly, this appears to be the majority of them, so I think I will be starting again from scratch. Thankfully, my small apple trees and blackcurrant bushes appear to be unscathed. But the container pond needs a good clean out, and again the pond plants will need to be replaced.

Boo has started going outdoors now, and is loving his new found freedom. He has made a new friend who turns up every morning just to see if he wants to go out to play. The other cat is almost identical to Boo, aside from the fact he has white whiskers. Mog chooses to let them get on with it and appears relieved to be left alone finally, having little time for juvenile shenanigans. 

On Sunday, we went for a short walk in the woods. There is an abundance of wild garlic now, and it won't be long before Bluebells begin to make an appearance. We gathered some twigs and have since assembled our Easter Tree, using the little crocheted eggs I made back when Lily was still so very small. How time flies. 

J. X