Keeping loneliness at bay

Michael is in Barcelona at the moment working on an event so I’m on my own for a few days. I seem to be getting a bit better at enjoying my own company – I usually find it a bit lonely being on my own although in my teens I quite enjoyed having the space and time to think. It helps that I’m quite busy at the moment though – I’ve got so many things to do this evening and over the weekend (babies permitting!), have time with friends booked in the diary and then Michael is back on Sunday evening anyway.

Ladies of letters

I’ve been reminiscing with an old school friend about some of the stories from my university days (prompted by her coming across a box containing some of the old letters I’d written to her). I was quite a prolific letter writer during my first degree at university. Back then, most of my friends didn’t have email and phoning wasn’t always so easy as it involved having to queue to use the hall payphone (and enduring the impatient sighs of those waiting whilst making the call!) Nowadays, I email or use Facebook to keep in touch, but it’s not the same.

Creepy crawlies

It’s funny how children often seem to have no fear when it comes to creepy crawlies. They will happily pick up beetles and spiders and watch, fascinated, as they crawl about. So why is it that some of us, as we get bigger (and the insects therefore seem much smaller) we become afraid of them – even those which won’t harm us? When I was a little girl, my mum used to dread going through my pockets which were always full of beetles and bugs which I would keep as “pets” – yet now nothing could induce me to pick up an insect.

Remembering the routines...

Missing too many weeks of tap class is a bad thing. With everything else that’s going on, I’ve missed the last two weeks and will end up missing a few more over the coming weeks. I seem to have an awful lot of catching up to do as a result. It wasn’t so bad on the easier levels but now we’re getting more advanced, we work through the routines so much quicker. It takes about half the lesson before I manage to remember what the routines were – now I just have to get my feet to listen to my brain...

Stop the world, I want to get off!

There are times when I wonder if perhaps I try to fit too much into my life. Tap classes, show rehearsals, doing an OU course, being involved in the process of finding a new minister at church (our lovely minister Elizabeth is moving on to pastures new in June), being part of the worship group involved in planning a couple of services whilst between ministers, editing the church magazine, keeping the website updated, being a full-time midwife, plus finding a new house –whew! At some point, I really should slow down and learn to say no to a few things!

Just an ordinary day

Some days are eventful – I rush around in a buzz of activity, my head is filled with so many different thoughts; there is so much going on that the challenge is to keep the daily reflection to exactly 100 words. Other days are just ordinary – life ticks along at a steady pace, nothing really happens other than normal day-to-day activities, my brain goes into relax mode and I am just there in the moment, calm and content to enjoy the everyday. There are no deep thoughts to harness, no sudden flashes of inspiration – it is just an uneventful, peaceful day.

Starting a new course

My OU course on writing fiction has officially started today although the first week (week 0) seems to be mostly about introducing ourselves, getting used to posting on the forums and getting to grips with what the course is going to be about. Now that it’s here, I’m feeling a little nervous about finally taking the step forward and focusing on improving my writing skills, particularly when thinking about the two assignments ahead! One bonus of being a student again means being able to have an NUS card and get student discounts – cheaper shopping trips are always a good thing!

The IT Crowd

Michael had audience tickets to go and see The IT Crowd at Pinewood this evening. I’d never been to see a TV show being filmed and so was quite looking forward to it, even though I’d never really seen the show before. It was quite an interesting experience seeing it being filmed and the show was quite funny, although admittedly by the time we were on the third take of some of the scenes, the jokes no longer seemed quite so funny and the plastic seats became quite uncomfortable after three hours, but that aside, I really enjoyed the evening.

More things I quite like about London

I grumble about London a lot but every so often, I realise there are some things I really do like about living here (although you’ll never get me any closer than suburbia!). Being able to meet Michael after he’s been working in town and then going for sushi is one of them. Free museums (not that I take advantage of that very often but it’s good to have it as option if I’m in town with a couple of hours to kill). Going to see shows in the West End (again never quite manage it as often as I’d like!)

Beginning the rebuilding process

Rome was not built in a day. And, as I am discovering, neither are burnt bridges. Fortunately, this evening’s attempts were not rebuffed as they were last week – a small start has been made in the rebuilding process which will hopefully continue and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there will be no more visiting in Coventry for me – last week’s sojourn there was not a pleasant one. I know I haven’t been the easiest person to be around at times, that my barriers are all too quick to come up but at least I’m trying to improve the situation.