That's one off my bucket list! I've learnt to swim properly (front crawl, face in water etc) with the help of Pete. I still need to slow my breathing down and Pete is very keen on me breathing out through my mouth (I'm currently furiously breathing out through my nose to stop water going up it). I can do two continuous lengths (50m) before stopping for a minute or so to get my breath back. I'm pleased to say that I'm faster than some of the blokes there which pleases me no end.
I got a job offer last week and start next week after a quick jaunt up to Leeds this weekend. So I made Pete keep his word and promptly moved into his house before he knew what was happening. Lily (the cat) is settling down well, she's being kept in for a week so she'll know where her new home is. She's loving the bigger space and has already commandeered all the window sills (something I didn't have in my flat) and the spare bed where she can keep an eye on the neighbours.
I will move the rest of stuff in in a few weeks time when I hire a van to get the bigger stuff across (like TV and mattress). So I just brought clothes and stuff with me which I need immediately, this has already filled Pete's house to the max so we're having to get used to stepping around boxes and not being able to find anything. Things should get better when the new bedroom furniture arrives (bless you Argos) so I can spread my stuff around and put more of it out of sight.
Otherwise, things are going well. It's a big change for both of us, we've already had discussions about laundry, washing up and cooking. It'll take time for everything to settle down and get into a routine, it'll be easier when I'm working too (I think Pete is jealous that I'm laying on the sofa all day while he is lazing around at work).
Thursday, 6 August 2009
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Bucket List (part 2)
11. Get a tattoo - I've picked out the design and know exactly what I want, just need to find the time, money and courage to get it done. For those of you who want to know, it's a swirly sun design to go at the base of my back.
12. Get a penpal and keep in touch - I used to have loads of penpals who I'd met on holiday as a child, I'd love getting letters (real paper letters) from them and kept them for years (they are probably still stashed somewhere at my parents house). I miss getting letters in the post, these days it's much easier but less romantic to keep in touch on email, text or through facebook. When I joined facebook last year I was randomly putting people's names in who I knew just to see if they were there and I found the sister of one of my penpals! We met their family on holiday in Spain and they used to go to the same places at the same times of year we did, so spent years meeting with them. They had two sisters who were roughly mine and my sister's age so we each had a penpal. It was great to get back in touch with them, my penpal isn't on facebook but her sister keeps me up to date with what's going on.
13. Own an original piece of art - This is going to be an expensive one, initially I thought about getting a large piece of canvas art but now I'm drawn to sculptures as well. I need a place to put it and also have the home which will fit in with it. I think this is more of a lifestyle aspiration, I'd love to have the home and life which demands art in every crevice. Unlikely to happen as those homes also tend to be minimalistic and clean, mine is neither.
14. Set up my own business - This is probably a retirement thing, I don't think I'd want to risk everything setting up something which might go belly up so this will only happen when I have enough money for it to fail. Ideas could be, dog walking, candle making, knitting, bookshop, teashop (with lovely cakes).
15. Tell the people I love everyday how much they mean to me - See my previous post about life being short. I'm not good with emotions and showing them so I need to make an effort with this. I'll give Pete a big hug tonight to get this one started!
16. Write a book - I know this is a predictable one and I can't write for shit but we can all aspire can't we? Maybe a short story would be more realistic ...
17. Learn to sail - I went canoeing with Ladies Circle a few weeks ago on Black Swan lake (Dinton Pastures) and it was a lovely warm evening paddling about on the lake. There was a sailing lesson going on with about 10 little boats following the teacher and it looked so calm and lovely to be able to that.
18. See the Pyramids - I don't know why but I love Egypt and it's history. I'd like to sail down the Nile (a la Poirot, another of my great loves) and ride a camel through the desert.
19. Get married - This is not a hint to Pete. I like the idea of being with someone for the rest of my life and the security of knowing that they'll always be there. I don't like the idea of having a huge party with me being the centre of attention, or wearing a huge meringue and having endless photos taken. I do like the idea of having a huge diamond ring though.
20. I don't have a number 20, I'm sure I'll think of something and there'll always be more things I want to do, this list is only a start.
12. Get a penpal and keep in touch - I used to have loads of penpals who I'd met on holiday as a child, I'd love getting letters (real paper letters) from them and kept them for years (they are probably still stashed somewhere at my parents house). I miss getting letters in the post, these days it's much easier but less romantic to keep in touch on email, text or through facebook. When I joined facebook last year I was randomly putting people's names in who I knew just to see if they were there and I found the sister of one of my penpals! We met their family on holiday in Spain and they used to go to the same places at the same times of year we did, so spent years meeting with them. They had two sisters who were roughly mine and my sister's age so we each had a penpal. It was great to get back in touch with them, my penpal isn't on facebook but her sister keeps me up to date with what's going on.
13. Own an original piece of art - This is going to be an expensive one, initially I thought about getting a large piece of canvas art but now I'm drawn to sculptures as well. I need a place to put it and also have the home which will fit in with it. I think this is more of a lifestyle aspiration, I'd love to have the home and life which demands art in every crevice. Unlikely to happen as those homes also tend to be minimalistic and clean, mine is neither.
14. Set up my own business - This is probably a retirement thing, I don't think I'd want to risk everything setting up something which might go belly up so this will only happen when I have enough money for it to fail. Ideas could be, dog walking, candle making, knitting, bookshop, teashop (with lovely cakes).
15. Tell the people I love everyday how much they mean to me - See my previous post about life being short. I'm not good with emotions and showing them so I need to make an effort with this. I'll give Pete a big hug tonight to get this one started!
16. Write a book - I know this is a predictable one and I can't write for shit but we can all aspire can't we? Maybe a short story would be more realistic ...
17. Learn to sail - I went canoeing with Ladies Circle a few weeks ago on Black Swan lake (Dinton Pastures) and it was a lovely warm evening paddling about on the lake. There was a sailing lesson going on with about 10 little boats following the teacher and it looked so calm and lovely to be able to that.
18. See the Pyramids - I don't know why but I love Egypt and it's history. I'd like to sail down the Nile (a la Poirot, another of my great loves) and ride a camel through the desert.
19. Get married - This is not a hint to Pete. I like the idea of being with someone for the rest of my life and the security of knowing that they'll always be there. I don't like the idea of having a huge party with me being the centre of attention, or wearing a huge meringue and having endless photos taken. I do like the idea of having a huge diamond ring though.
20. I don't have a number 20, I'm sure I'll think of something and there'll always be more things I want to do, this list is only a start.
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Life is Short
4 years ago today my brother-in-law went for a Saturday motorbike ride and died in an accident. He and my sister had been together for 16 years (ish) and married for 3 years, he was about to turn 33. I'd known Allan for half my life, he lived around the corner, would have tea at ours and watch TV with Karen in our study. I'd try to join them, their company being much more interesting to an 13 year old than my parents. I doubt I was very welcome but they mostly let me stay.
I miss him. I hated seeing my sister go through hell and I hated not being able to support her more.
Life is short, enjoy it while you can, cos everything can go to shit tomorrow.
I miss him. I hated seeing my sister go through hell and I hated not being able to support her more.
Life is short, enjoy it while you can, cos everything can go to shit tomorrow.
Friday, 3 July 2009
Bucket List
Being made redundant has had a surprising side-effect of making me evaluate what I want to do with my life and working, sleeping, working isn't filling me with glee. After thinking carefully about changing career, what that would entail, re-training and eventual salary all taken into consideration, I've come to the conclusion that it's not going to happen anytime soon. So my other option to improve my life is to do something in my spare time which excites me and makes working for the money to do stuff well worth it. Hence the bucket list (first 10, in no particular order) ....
1. Detox for a month - apart from improving my general health and making me realise what junk I put in my mouth, I think this is a good discipline exercise. I have no self-discipline and need to learn it so I can stop doing things which are bad for me and make me feel bad (eating junk and not exercising being a prime example of this). Of course I'll do a proper one and not just stop eating for a month. I have a few books on starting with a week-long juice diet and ending with introducing foods slowly until at the end of the month I'm eating proper food, but healthy, non-processed foods.
2. Cycle a national trail - Inspired by my lovely boyfriend who is a total nutter and planning on cycling Lands End to John o'Groats next year. I'd like to cycle part or or all of a national trail and I'm pretty sure there is a coast to coast one across the penines. This means I need to buy a proper bike and start cycling - Pete what are you turning me into?
3. Learn to swim properly - Pete, this is your fault too. I can swim and can quite happily swim 64 lengths breast-stroke in just under an hour. But I'd like to learn how to swim front crawl properly, face in the water and everything!
4. Learn a second language and use it - Probably french is the best bet as I can still remember some from my school days. Evening classes and audio books are the way to go.
5. Have a signature dish - I can cook passable food but I'd like to be able to just pick up a pan and create something marvellous instead of squinting at a cook book every 5 seconds to make sure I'm following the recipe correctly. I bake good brownies but they're not actual, proper meal time food. So, I'm thinking a main course and a dessert, which I can cook from scratch and from memory.
6. Do something for charity every year - I'm volunteering for 'Race for Life' marshalling in a few weeks, so that's 2009 covered. This could be volunteering, getting sponsored for something or just setting up a regular payment.
7. Do a long distance walk - National trail or some kind of team event, not sure about the details of this one. But it's another chance to train myself and get some discipline in there.
8. Restore something - I'm talking furniture or antique-y type thing. This could be simply recycling a beautiful piece of furniture into a useable thing or proper restore from the scrapheap.
9. Raise dogs - I never had large pets as a child (only goldfish, hamsters and stick insects). I've graduated onto a cat which was a challenge to see if I could take on a long term commitment and put something before myself. I think I'm doing a pretty good job with Lily, she seems to like me most of the time and keeps coming home which is a good sign. So the next step is dogs, I think I'll get more out of dogs (mainly cos they don't bugger off for 19 hours a day, stalk in, eat food and disappear again).
10. See the Northern Lights - No idea of the details other than I need to travel north to achieve this.
The next 10 will be coming soon.
1. Detox for a month - apart from improving my general health and making me realise what junk I put in my mouth, I think this is a good discipline exercise. I have no self-discipline and need to learn it so I can stop doing things which are bad for me and make me feel bad (eating junk and not exercising being a prime example of this). Of course I'll do a proper one and not just stop eating for a month. I have a few books on starting with a week-long juice diet and ending with introducing foods slowly until at the end of the month I'm eating proper food, but healthy, non-processed foods.
2. Cycle a national trail - Inspired by my lovely boyfriend who is a total nutter and planning on cycling Lands End to John o'Groats next year. I'd like to cycle part or or all of a national trail and I'm pretty sure there is a coast to coast one across the penines. This means I need to buy a proper bike and start cycling - Pete what are you turning me into?
3. Learn to swim properly - Pete, this is your fault too. I can swim and can quite happily swim 64 lengths breast-stroke in just under an hour. But I'd like to learn how to swim front crawl properly, face in the water and everything!
4. Learn a second language and use it - Probably french is the best bet as I can still remember some from my school days. Evening classes and audio books are the way to go.
5. Have a signature dish - I can cook passable food but I'd like to be able to just pick up a pan and create something marvellous instead of squinting at a cook book every 5 seconds to make sure I'm following the recipe correctly. I bake good brownies but they're not actual, proper meal time food. So, I'm thinking a main course and a dessert, which I can cook from scratch and from memory.
6. Do something for charity every year - I'm volunteering for 'Race for Life' marshalling in a few weeks, so that's 2009 covered. This could be volunteering, getting sponsored for something or just setting up a regular payment.
7. Do a long distance walk - National trail or some kind of team event, not sure about the details of this one. But it's another chance to train myself and get some discipline in there.
8. Restore something - I'm talking furniture or antique-y type thing. This could be simply recycling a beautiful piece of furniture into a useable thing or proper restore from the scrapheap.
9. Raise dogs - I never had large pets as a child (only goldfish, hamsters and stick insects). I've graduated onto a cat which was a challenge to see if I could take on a long term commitment and put something before myself. I think I'm doing a pretty good job with Lily, she seems to like me most of the time and keeps coming home which is a good sign. So the next step is dogs, I think I'll get more out of dogs (mainly cos they don't bugger off for 19 hours a day, stalk in, eat food and disappear again).
10. See the Northern Lights - No idea of the details other than I need to travel north to achieve this.
The next 10 will be coming soon.
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