It's the most beautiful day here today Col, I wish you could see it. -1, sunshine, a light fog. As I entered the place where I get my weekend coffee, the trees are decked in wrap around lights at this time of year and it all looks so very pretty amidst the mist and the fog.
Just going to give you a quick run down of the week. I loved getting your update complete with pics, thank you, looks like you had an amazing time and yes, Hawaii is still, most definitely on my bucket list.
I've been full of a cold all week, ear ache, runny nose, headache, unable to sleep due to the runniness etc. Freezing cold one minute, sweaty the next. Yep, I've been consumed by your common or garden usual winter cold this week. Went to bed at 8pm on Wednesday. I've powered through but it's been hard going, it was a busy week in work, some days working through lunch and the rest of it cross checking answers and scores and it was all, how shall I put this? "Brain scrambling" will do.
Anyway, I made it to Friday, every day has been a twelve hour day and it's been hard going with the cold, the twelve hours I'm used to, the cold is an anchor around my neck, especially on the 90 minute drive home.
Saturday, I pretty much finished my Christmas shopping, I know, way ahead of schedule but better this way. Next weekend I'm aiming to get my tree, then, there is no applying of the brakes, Christmas will be here in a blink of an eye.
Hope all OK at that end, hope Internet is sorted soon. Love you. Back soon x
Saturday, 26 November 2016
Hygge
It's raining Hygge here, (pronounced HUG-gah) It's a Danish thing that is everywhere this year, it's probably been a Danish thing for hundred's of years but it only made it to the UK this year.
It's all about a lifestyle and being cosy in the winter from what I can gather and I do feel slightly brainwashed by this Danish phenomenon; super soft 'loungewear', check, enough tea lights to melt an igloo, check and just this week, I've been eyeing up a fur throw to get me through the next six months... just in case.
I do feel like I'm on the brink of some reality TV, extreme cold weather challenge show, and I do have to keep reminding myself that I will indeed survive the next six months whether I take heed of something I can't pronounce and hibernate in fur lined rooms, or not. It's true, there is probably minimal chance of a prolonged power outage, unexpected frostbite or sub-sub zero temperatures and I do not in fact have to go all Rocky Mountaineer to survive it.
That said, despite gaining an hour when the clocks went back, I'm feeling substantially jet lagged for some reason, and presently, I'm quite happy to 'hunker down'. It would be a shame to return the super soft loungewear, (really is super soft,) and I do love candle light, but, I will continue to workout as per pre-Hygge, my legs and such will remain fuzz free for the duration of this Winter and my toenails will be some smoking hot colour, albeit that they may be hidden beneath my newly acquired thermal socks.
As much as I love being cosy, let's just get through Winter and look forward to Spring shall we? x
It's all about a lifestyle and being cosy in the winter from what I can gather and I do feel slightly brainwashed by this Danish phenomenon; super soft 'loungewear', check, enough tea lights to melt an igloo, check and just this week, I've been eyeing up a fur throw to get me through the next six months... just in case.
I do feel like I'm on the brink of some reality TV, extreme cold weather challenge show, and I do have to keep reminding myself that I will indeed survive the next six months whether I take heed of something I can't pronounce and hibernate in fur lined rooms, or not. It's true, there is probably minimal chance of a prolonged power outage, unexpected frostbite or sub-sub zero temperatures and I do not in fact have to go all Rocky Mountaineer to survive it.
That said, despite gaining an hour when the clocks went back, I'm feeling substantially jet lagged for some reason, and presently, I'm quite happy to 'hunker down'. It would be a shame to return the super soft loungewear, (really is super soft,) and I do love candle light, but, I will continue to workout as per pre-Hygge, my legs and such will remain fuzz free for the duration of this Winter and my toenails will be some smoking hot colour, albeit that they may be hidden beneath my newly acquired thermal socks.
As much as I love being cosy, let's just get through Winter and look forward to Spring shall we? x
Glen Campbell
My friend excitedly messaged me this week... 'Neil Diamond!' Erm yeah, great artist.'Holy Holy!' Ahhhh yes. 'Glen Campbell!' Yeeess!
My friend and I, as close as we are, and despite being born only 9 months apart, we had totally different childhoods. I won't go into the personal differences but culturally or at least musically, we are worlds apart. My Mum didn't have a car but my eldest sister and her husband did and that was the car we travelled in for holiday's. Must ask sister but from what I can recall, it was mostly Glen Campbell and Neil Diamond on the car radio to accompany our travels.
I'm trying to fill in the gaps of my friend's musical abyss, to make sure that he gets to enjoy the full spectrum that I got to enjoy as a kid. We had a conversation yesterday about when we were young and if you liked so-and-so, then you couldn't like the other. Me? Well, I was never cool. I grew up with Diamond, Campbell and Parton. Abba sucked me in all on their own, Elton John, Take That, (for those of you who don't know then don't judge, you know how people say that Elton John wrote the songs to accompany their life? Well, I think that Gary Barlow has written the songs of my life so far, I have no doubt he will continue to do so.)
Back to Mr Campbell and the day after I get the message, Sky Arts has a documentary on him called 'I'll Be Me'. So I had to record it and to relive. I wasn't expecting what I saw, I hadn't heard that Mr C had Alzheimer's and what a brave story it was to tell.
I've had my brushes with dementia and all that I knew in the face of it, was to pour out love, but as far as know, I'm yet to meet Alzheimer's. Losing someone in the traditional sense, is hard enough, losing them when they are still physically with you, well, it's hard to imagine.
I applaud the family for giving the release to the documentary, I don't think I would have been so brave. I felt that the documentary was geared towards the Alzheimer's, I'm sure to bring awareness, but my heart was geared towards Mr C, that face, that voice, those songs. Many, many, happy memories.
My friend and I, as close as we are, and despite being born only 9 months apart, we had totally different childhoods. I won't go into the personal differences but culturally or at least musically, we are worlds apart. My Mum didn't have a car but my eldest sister and her husband did and that was the car we travelled in for holiday's. Must ask sister but from what I can recall, it was mostly Glen Campbell and Neil Diamond on the car radio to accompany our travels.
I'm trying to fill in the gaps of my friend's musical abyss, to make sure that he gets to enjoy the full spectrum that I got to enjoy as a kid. We had a conversation yesterday about when we were young and if you liked so-and-so, then you couldn't like the other. Me? Well, I was never cool. I grew up with Diamond, Campbell and Parton. Abba sucked me in all on their own, Elton John, Take That, (for those of you who don't know then don't judge, you know how people say that Elton John wrote the songs to accompany their life? Well, I think that Gary Barlow has written the songs of my life so far, I have no doubt he will continue to do so.)
Back to Mr Campbell and the day after I get the message, Sky Arts has a documentary on him called 'I'll Be Me'. So I had to record it and to relive. I wasn't expecting what I saw, I hadn't heard that Mr C had Alzheimer's and what a brave story it was to tell.
I've had my brushes with dementia and all that I knew in the face of it, was to pour out love, but as far as know, I'm yet to meet Alzheimer's. Losing someone in the traditional sense, is hard enough, losing them when they are still physically with you, well, it's hard to imagine.
I applaud the family for giving the release to the documentary, I don't think I would have been so brave. I felt that the documentary was geared towards the Alzheimer's, I'm sure to bring awareness, but my heart was geared towards Mr C, that face, that voice, those songs. Many, many, happy memories.
5th
It's November 5th and it's my Mum's anniversary again. It's already been so many years but I think that if I lived for another fifty years, it would still be a sad and thought provoking day.
I know that she is fine, I know that I'll see her again one day, I know that I can talk to her any time I want to and that she will hear me, but I miss her presence. I miss looking into those7/8ths brown and 1/8th hazel eyes. I miss that dazzling smile. I miss the laughter and seeing her screwed up eyes through my screwed up eyes.
This day is always rubbish, it's a reminder of having to let go of something and someone so precious. Nothing can make this day OK ever again. All you can do is get through it the best that you can and if your best happens to suck, then so be it.
On the plus side, it's cold, just 6 degrees but we have beautiful sunshine. It's a bright and a little breezy day and I'm grateful for it, much better than a dark, rain soaked and dismal day.
Tonight will be strewn with the fervent whizzes and bangs of fireworks exploding in my sky. If I had been given the choice, I would not have chosen the 5th for this to be her anniversary but, even on that first day, that evening when the explosions began, I did see it as a celebration, a thank you, a launching towards something beautiful, towards her next chapter.
I'll miss her until I see her again.
I know that she is fine, I know that I'll see her again one day, I know that I can talk to her any time I want to and that she will hear me, but I miss her presence. I miss looking into those7/8ths brown and 1/8th hazel eyes. I miss that dazzling smile. I miss the laughter and seeing her screwed up eyes through my screwed up eyes.
This day is always rubbish, it's a reminder of having to let go of something and someone so precious. Nothing can make this day OK ever again. All you can do is get through it the best that you can and if your best happens to suck, then so be it.
On the plus side, it's cold, just 6 degrees but we have beautiful sunshine. It's a bright and a little breezy day and I'm grateful for it, much better than a dark, rain soaked and dismal day.
Tonight will be strewn with the fervent whizzes and bangs of fireworks exploding in my sky. If I had been given the choice, I would not have chosen the 5th for this to be her anniversary but, even on that first day, that evening when the explosions began, I did see it as a celebration, a thank you, a launching towards something beautiful, towards her next chapter.
I'll miss her until I see her again.
Friday, 4 November 2016
Jet Lag?
Well, the clocks fell back one hour last weekend and I have felt totally jet lagged since. I'm not sure if it's the dark nights, from 5pm or the drop in temperature or a combination or something else?
Wednesday was a long day, I knew it would be long and reversed my meals, double breakfast, extra lunch and a light dinner. I left home at 5.15am, was in meetings for most of the day, got home at 18.25, had a shower, scrambled egg and watched an hour of TV... and I was a gonna. I was so cold, tired and hungry, I just took myself off to bed at 20.00 with several hot water bottles and went out like a light.
Thursday wasn't much different but thankfully I had booked Friday off. Began to watch and then continued to watch, 'Sixth Sense', part of the Halloween film fest that was on offer this year. It's years since I've watched this and although nothing can beat the experience of watching it for the first time, even when you know the twist, it's still a great film, stellar performances from Hayley Joel Osment, Bruce Willis and Toni Collette, a true corker.
I still have, on a lighter note, "Young Frankenstein" to watch again, and of course, the obligatory, "Hocus Pocus"; Midler, Parker and Najimy.
Nuff said x
Wednesday was a long day, I knew it would be long and reversed my meals, double breakfast, extra lunch and a light dinner. I left home at 5.15am, was in meetings for most of the day, got home at 18.25, had a shower, scrambled egg and watched an hour of TV... and I was a gonna. I was so cold, tired and hungry, I just took myself off to bed at 20.00 with several hot water bottles and went out like a light.
Thursday wasn't much different but thankfully I had booked Friday off. Began to watch and then continued to watch, 'Sixth Sense', part of the Halloween film fest that was on offer this year. It's years since I've watched this and although nothing can beat the experience of watching it for the first time, even when you know the twist, it's still a great film, stellar performances from Hayley Joel Osment, Bruce Willis and Toni Collette, a true corker.
I still have, on a lighter note, "Young Frankenstein" to watch again, and of course, the obligatory, "Hocus Pocus"; Midler, Parker and Najimy.
Nuff said x
Charlotte Tilbury
We're a few days past payday and I've been longing to spoil myself with something frivolous for months now. After reading my Elle magazine horoscope as usual on the website, a link at the bottom took me to the Charlotte Tilbury website. I've been eyeing up CT since it launched and I happened to click on best sellers and then Full Fat Lashes, review after review, full to the brim of praises.
My current mascara is pretty much dust so I thought, OK, this will be my splurge. So on my lunch break, I hot footed it to one of the big department stores near work. When I just want to browse, I can't do so in peace due to the questioning on if I need any help. When I need help, well, two assistants are discussing paperwork, (binder is open,) two assistants are taking the photo of one of the assistants in front of the display.
At this point, I would usually turn and walk away, leaving behind me an invisible cloud of huff. But, I usually do so and end up without anything I have given great thought to. Anyway, I approached one member of staff and she was great. Where I thought there was only one mascara available, she began to explain that there are two. I was just about to go with the one I'd read the review on when the assistant explained that the other option is relatively new, and then I hear...
'It's the best mascara, I'll be back to buy another and I'll never wear anything else again.' This is the voice of the beautiful woman standing behind me, big blue eyes, I'm guessing in her sixties, long, doll like, perfectly painted eyelashes. 'Ahhh, but did you have long eyelashes like that anyway?' 'I've had chemo, I had nothing left.'
Well you can't really argue with that can you? The beautiful shopper is gone and I have purchased via her recommendation.
Next day, my lashes do indeed look blacker, longer and glossier. The formula is supposed to contain a serum to help them grow, on that, I will let you know.
My current mascara is pretty much dust so I thought, OK, this will be my splurge. So on my lunch break, I hot footed it to one of the big department stores near work. When I just want to browse, I can't do so in peace due to the questioning on if I need any help. When I need help, well, two assistants are discussing paperwork, (binder is open,) two assistants are taking the photo of one of the assistants in front of the display.
At this point, I would usually turn and walk away, leaving behind me an invisible cloud of huff. But, I usually do so and end up without anything I have given great thought to. Anyway, I approached one member of staff and she was great. Where I thought there was only one mascara available, she began to explain that there are two. I was just about to go with the one I'd read the review on when the assistant explained that the other option is relatively new, and then I hear...
'It's the best mascara, I'll be back to buy another and I'll never wear anything else again.' This is the voice of the beautiful woman standing behind me, big blue eyes, I'm guessing in her sixties, long, doll like, perfectly painted eyelashes. 'Ahhh, but did you have long eyelashes like that anyway?' 'I've had chemo, I had nothing left.'
Well you can't really argue with that can you? The beautiful shopper is gone and I have purchased via her recommendation.
Next day, my lashes do indeed look blacker, longer and glossier. The formula is supposed to contain a serum to help them grow, on that, I will let you know.
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