Great Shoes

So I'm looking at this kid, sitting on, looks like a rock, white shirt, navy pinafore, navy, lacy tights, and shoes which I apparently chose myself, (yellow, brown and red, really?)  Legs perfectly poised in such a lady like fashion, hands clasped together, like a tiny soprano. 

I've just had the print converted to 6" x 4" and changed colour to black and white to add to a collection I'm putting together.

Sometimes, I lose track and then I happen upon something like this and regardless of how I feel about myself or my life or how things have turned out, I see a picture like this and think, you know... give the kid a break, look at that face, how can you be so hard on yourself?  And if all else fails... gotta love those shoes.

High Anxiety

This week was fraught to say the least.  We're in our second week of high temps and cloudless skies, second full week of not sleeping properly due to the heat and feeling like a wilted daff by the end of each working day.

On Tuesday, rumours started to circulate in work, one particular team had been told that they really must attend Thursday's site meeting for important news.  We discussed, at length, what it could possibly be.  Closure of the building is already planned, redundancy is already a given... what else could they possibly tell us? 

On Wednesday, our team were gathered together by the manager to advise that we too should attend Thursday's meeting.  An email popped into view to advise that a union meeting was arranged for Friday to answer any questions raised after Thursday. 

Thursday morning at 4.45am, I lay in bed thinking that I only had a little over five hours to wait.  My stomach churned and my heart raced.  By 10am, seated and waiting for the meeting to begin, I was ready to crumble.

After 36 hours of worry.  There was very little information given that we didn't already know.  I was in such a state, I convinced myself that I was missing some vital piece of information, something in between the lines that was hidden.  A friend clarified that I hadn't missed anything, maybe if I was older, my choices would be different, but for me, there is nothing new.  It was exhausting.  All of that worry... for nothing.

The King's Speech

I am extremely late to jump on this particular bandwagon but never-the-less, jump I did and I had to tell you about it... just in case you hadn't yet jumped either.  "The King's Speech".  I watched it last night for the first time and was totally blown away. 

Colin Firth, the gorgeous Colin Firth is beyond words, (pun intended).  Helena Bonham Carter, who I have loved since, "A Room With a View", is perfectly cast as Queen Elizabeth and having lived through the Queen Mother's latter years, HBC's character is how I imagine the Queen Mother in her youth. 

All of the cast were brilliant, Guy Pearce as King Edward, who gave up everything for the love of his life; Wallace Simpson, and of course, the delectable Jeffrey Rush as Lionel Logue, trust a bloody Aussie to save the day.

Exquisite. 

A SATC Moment

During a casual chat with a friend in work this week, I mentioned that I was supposed to be heading to my friends in the south of the country except that it's so far down that I fly and that my passport expired in May, so I'm not going anywhere.  "You can fly domestic using your works pass, a friend of mine did."  What?  Minutes later, I'm on a flight booking website, I phoned, Googled and sure enough, I can travel on my expired passport... as it's only just expired, (sounds ridiculous to me,) or my works pass. 

That night, I booked to fly down to Southampton to see my friends in just a few weeks time.  By next morning, I had a text from JR to say I was in the diary, she would be at the airport to pick me up and everything was arranged to meet up with our other friends down there, that includes precious and new baby Joshua, and his equally gorgeous, big brother Alex.

I never used to understand people who declared emphatically that they; "needed a break."  But now I do.  I need a change of scenery and I really need some company, at least, for a while.

Major news this week, I logged on to check my emails one day and there is an email from my friend M, who I used to work with, in response to my last email, and she begins; ".... yeah, Rome was great, glad you got postcard... queue at Vatican was ridiculous... D surprised me and proposed, no big deal..."  What???? I almost slid off the sofa and had to re-read, it was literally that scene in the SATC movie, (the good one,) where Charlotte shrieks at Carrie's news in the restaurant. 

My friend has already, happily passed the 20 year anniversary mark with her lovely partner and so you can understand my shock.  I couldn't be happier for them both, however... I'm still stunned.

I asked permission to send an engagement card, my friend is a no-fuss kind of gal, but she gave me the green light and so I found a suitably stylish card for my stylish friend and her lucky partner.  Isn't it great to hear good news once in a while?

Four Words

Andy Murray : Wimbledon Champion

Rebellion

My body has rebelled this week.  In no uncertain terms, it has thrown the wobbler of a two year old.  I have had two nights of the most horrendous night sweats, whilst being freezing cold and clutching on to a hot water bottle, like a woman clinging on to driftwood in the rapids.  Sore throat, glands up, earache.  When I do manage to sleep, the pain in my left hip and knee wake me and I won't even describe the back.  I feel one hundred and one years of age, and not in a good way.

Next week, I finish the meds I've been taking for my skin.  It's an extremely mild chemo, which can cause joint pain amongst other side effects and while my skin is the best it's ever been and I can't believe six months is up already, I'm wondering if my body is saying; "enough now."

Still, that doesn't explain the night sweats and the sore throat, so I think I have a combination of things going on, including for the first time in my life... hay fever. 

I have gone easy on the exercise this week, just a little gentle toning but even that sends my hip screaming.  I'm eating pretty well but for the weekend, I have stocked up on uber healthy ingredients to try to give myself a boost.  After my usual coffee here, in my usual haunt, I'll be heading for the health food shop on the corner to peruse the supplements.

I should have been seeing a friend tonight, but I've cancelled, or rather postponed until I feel better.  Hopefully won't be postponed for long.

Anyway, I have just rocked up to the counter to get a free refill of filter and the lady and her son in front of me are over from NZ.  So I of course start chatting to her and ask her where she's from.  Turns out she emigrated over to the South Island, from here, around the same time you headed for North.  While you have remained as if you'd never stepped on the plane, (accent wise,) this lady has a nice, hybrid, twang.  I explain that I initially thought she was a Kiwi, how you and hubby have remained accent unchanged, however the kids have adopted a new twang and how I struggled in particular with our gorgeous girl and how I needed an interpreter for a good two years but how it's all good now, and I can understand our conversations... unaided.

Today is supposed to be a scorcher, well, a scorcher by our standards anyway, 26 degrees and so, I'm heading home to do as much housework as the body/heat, will allow.  Later I'll watch a DVD then dose myself up and aim for a good nights sleep.

Books Galore

Monday to Friday positively flew by.  The end of June has been heralded by heavy rain.  We are actually past the mid-summer day mark and we're yet to have more than the odd day of sunshine or warm weather.  As I cast an eye out of the patio window, I see blanket grey/white cloud and wafting tree branches being shot at... by heavy rain.

So work was busy, and frustrating at times, but it was fine.  Friday I had my BP test, blood test and an ECG.  BP was fine, (now that I'm on meds,) just have to wait for the results of the others, I've been worried about the ECG for weeks but probably won't get the results for another few weeks and so the wait goes on.

Did I tell you that I'm totally taken with any "Hoarders" programmes?  Particularly love the American ones.  Not only does it make me feel better, but it inspires me, pushes me on if you will, (did I just say; "if you will"?)  Anyway, I feel like I'm taking de-cluttering to a higher level, an Olympic sport even.  Every time I watch an episode, I feel claustrophobic and so much better about my own mess.  This weekend, I have bagged up six carrier bags worth of books and magazines.  I love both, magazines and books, but my reading time is currently as I go to bed and you can guarantee, as soon as I climb into my nest, I just want to close my eyes and catch the sleeper to nod.

So books, my books, other peoples books which I have somehow become custodian of, books as far as the eye can see.  Two hours and six carrier bags later and that's how much extra space I have created.  Feels good.