Balancing my Life

Had a quick visit to Sidmouth before the retreat.

It’s been a lovely couple of weeks for me here – must be something to do with all that cosmic energy that I keep hearing about!

I finally got to go on my Yoga Retreat and absolutely loved it.. My yoga teacher, Jane, hired out a whole holiday complex for us near Honiton in Devon. It consisted of a barn converted into 4 beautiful cottages and then further barns which housed dining/yoga space and a small fitness room plus outdoor hot tub. The hot tub and gardens had spectacular views over the Blackdown Hills. Now, I was a little nervous leading up to the retreat – I don’t always find it easy to meet new people and before the event I knew a grand total of one person. But, I was brave and tried not to worry about the thought of sharing my room with someone I didn’t know. (We discussed this concern at work and decided that no one could be weirder than me so it should rightfully be the other person who should be worrying!)

A view of the yoga barn

However, this concern proved unfounded and everyone I spoke to was very friendly indeed. My roommate happened to also be called Karen which made things nice and easy and the other ladies in our cottage were lovely (they even brought sneaky alcohol).

A beautiful view for journaling and relaxing!

The yoga was awesome – I had lots of chance to deepen my practice and really try new things and push myself a little bit further. Added to the yoga was opportunities to meditate, enjoy some wonderful healthy food and in between the classes we were free to do what we wanted. For me this meant trying the hot tub, having a massage and mostly reading. I brought along some deep and meaningful self improvement stuff but actually ended up reading from the Game of Thrones tome. Most of all I got the chance to RELAX and think and just be. It was truly blissful!

More Sidmouth

However, the downside of all this blissed out peace was that the new week back at work hit me like a ton of bricks.... Part of my deep thinking was to make some changes to my own routine – more yoga, better diet (ie less snacking), more time in the garden/allotment, less time on mindless TV and computers. However, after a couple of days I felt a bit overwhelmed by all the new changes I was asking of myself. So I decided to slow down and make smaller adjustments but all heading in the right direction. In a moment of pure synchronicity I found this book in a charity shop. We have been struggling a bit with keeping on top of our allotment recently and DH came home a couple of weeks ago in a major downer because all our hard graft had simply provided the world’s best picnic for the slugs. Not a single pea remained, not a carrot to be seen, even the onions had been nibbled! So I decided to do a sneaky thing and not tell him that I have been doing half an hour at the ‘lotty every night after work. So far there is not much of an improvement but I can see the onions again through the weeds and I have been picking copious amounts of raspberries. I have also dug a patch (the size of a postage stamp – but small steps, remember) This method is suiting me perfectly as I have a short attention span and it means I still have time to fit in all the other self improvements. Healthy eating? Oh yes. Snacking? Not a single thing has passed my lips (well, apart from an oat cracker the other night). Yoga practice? Most mornings, even just a cat/cow stretch is better than nothing! Technology? Yes, I have neglected my blog and mostly ignored Facebook.... I just have to get the balance right!

Garden inspiration

Clematis in my garden.

The last couple of weeks have seen an explosion of exciting things happening in the garden. Not only in my garden but also elsewhere.

Here are some pictures I have taken - Enjoy!

The strangest garden sculpture!

These hostas looked like they'd been painted.

I just love the texture and shape of these alliums

A more grown up version of a cress head I guess!

I think I took a similar picture last year but I love black and white :)

Decorative garden features on a grand scale!

I'm back - again!

If anyone out there has been regularly checking out my blog then I must apologise - the observant amongst you will notice there has been precious little input from me for several weeks other than my Thoughtful Thursday posts. So, what has happened? I could make excuses and say work has been overwhelming (true, but I have still managed to get to the gym) or that I couldn’t get near the computer for teenagers (they mostly have their own computers but getting near a plug socket – now that is a problem!!). The truth is I couldn’t think of anything exciting to say. Or even mundane. Or funny, or weird, or anything.... So, I have decided today is the day I will break out of the rut and ease myself in gently with a set format and a way to give an overview of the past few weeks.... I have used these prompts before, courtesy of Marylin at Softthistle. Here we go, a whistle-stop tour of things I have done J

Making: My new shed extension into a space of beauty and relaxation. Electrics are in, insulation and wood burner still to go but that can wait a while! Now I just need to put things back in and still keep the feeling of sanctuary and not dumping ground.

Cooking: It’s a Bank Holiday and so I am trying everything in my power not to have to cook anything! Over the last few weeks I have triumphed with a chocolate cake and failed miserably with some rather overdone venison.

Drinking: I never thought it possible but I have persevered with herbal tea and now I am choosing herbal over Earl Grey! Admittedly I seem to have quite expensive tastes (Pukka only thank you) but I have discovered some that not only smell lovely but do not taste of cats wee.

Reading: Onto book four of the Game of Thrones series and loving every moment. Although I now have the dilemma – do I continue apace and then know what happens in the TV programme before it plays out or do I continue to know what will happen in the book before I read it???

Wanting: Inspiration for my blog and more time to do things that aren’t work or housework related.

Looking: At all the seeds that we have planted starting to come up. And all the weeds. And the dead dahlias that I forgot to cover before we had a frost, oops.

Playing: The new Paloma Faith cd and Emiliana Torrini.

Wasting: Too many of my evenings in front of mindless TV (not including GoT in this) and too much of my nighttimes worrying about pointless shit and not sleeping L

Sewing: After my Clothkits skirt I have sadly not made anything else yet but I do have fabric to sew a new yoga mat bag. I bought new mats for my Saturday class and my old bag is not big enough. The class is still my oasis of calm on a Saturday morning and I have even booked a weekend yoga retreat in June. Will def have finished the bag before then!

Wishing: That just sometimes I could know exactly what the best decision to make would be.

Enjoying: That the weather is slowly getting better and that we are blessed with garden and allotment and space to grow things. I love that the garden gives me the chance to ground myself after a busy day at work, even if it’s 10 minutes of mindless mindful weeding.

Waiting: For someone else to offer to cook tonight J

Liking: All the new learning I have been doing (see loving).

Wondering: If we will make full use of our new English Heritage memberships this year. DH has already used his card whilst at a bike rally (visiting a castle without me!!)

Wallingford Castle - I found this one!

Loving: My daily Reiki practice. Over the Easter weekend I did my First Degree Reiki training and absolutely loved it. I am now currently undertaking my 21 days of self practice before I meet with my tutor again. I am reading around the subject and practising every day. Even on houseplants. This can only be good for them as usually I am hopeless with houseplants. I am studying the Reiki Principles too and seeing how they relate to my own life. It’s not a religion but I am embracing big changes!

Hoping: My Amazon parcel arrives soon. Can’t believe they deliver on a Bank Hol but the email assured me it was on its way!

Marvelling: At how many clothes I have managed to part with. Big declutter happening here. It’s hard but I need to face the fact I am very nearly a hoarder (not TV scale hoarding yet!) but I definitely have too many things for my tiny home and the truth is I don’t need all of them. Think this might have been spurred on by my magazine declaration – which you will be pleased to hear is still going mostly well. Mostly.

Needing: A cup of herbal tea about now.

Smelling: Cut grass. We have to pay a child to do it. Hang on, I did it two weeks ago and I didn’t get paid!!??

Wearing: An ‘interesting’ top from the charity shop. It has weird seams so you’re not quite sure which is inside out and outside in. And it’s a weird shape but it’s very comfy and I love the blue colour. Also, since the purge I have less to choose from. It also hides any post-Easter chocolate bulges!

Following: Sadly nothing. I haven’t been near the computer for a while but I am determined to catch up with some favourite blogs today.

Noticing: That although I have still managed the gym every week, I have not managed more than once every week and it is showing. A lot L

Knowing: That I need to give myself a gentle and loving kick up the arse to make sure I am motivated to do the things I love instead of being boring and lazy.

Thinking: Too much at night. My yoga teacher showed us some good insomnia moves but I’d have to go all the way downstairs to have room to practice as apparently it disturbs DH if I try to do a shoulder stand in bed.
My photography needs motivating too. However, now the nice weather is here I can dig out my analogue cameras again and spend 3 weeks remembering how to use them! Sunny 16 rule anybody?

Feeling: Sad that we lost 2 chickens to Mr Fox and DD lost her lovely rabbit too (not to Mr Fox). Capie the cat is also feeling sad as he lost a couple of things that were making him fighty and bitey. Now he is mostly sleepy and hungry and less of a boy!

Bookmarking: Gardening sites and Pinterest to make inspiring boards.

Opening: Up to the certainty that my grey hairs are getting more noticeable all the time and I DON’T CARE! Wearing the grey with pride...

Giggling: At the question someone allegedly asked Derek Acorah on a Q&A session – Are duvets actually just fat ghosts? (I know, but it made me laugh!)

There,  I have done it – I have blogged – maybe now the block has been blasted away for a while... Thank you for your time, see you again soon x

The Power of Positive Thinking

Pussy Willow and Blue Skies.

What a beautiful weekend. The glorious weather seems to have lifted everyone’s spirits and I have definitely seen a new enthusiasm especially in the garden. But more of that later. I’ll get my confessional moan out of the way first :)

This last week has been a challenge for me in lots of ways. It has got me thinking about the kind of thoughts I have and how they impact on the way I feel. I have actually had a fantastic week at work – done things that have put me outside my comfort zone and been thrilled with the results. I have run training on my own, organised team days, led meetings and started all manner of new projects. Outside of work I even managed a lovely night out with DH, a meal and trip to the cinema. BUT.... I did make one mistake. Admittedly it was a fairly big one but it was dealt with and sorted and I owned up and made good. So, why did this one thing overshadow the rest of all the good stuff that happened this week? I have had to actually force myself to recognise all the positives and yet still this one negative kept jumping up and waving its little arms, shouting  “don’t’ forget the stuff up! Don’t forget the mistake you made!” This has had a huge impact on everything else. I have felt bad, eaten too much, didn’t make the effort to go to the gym, watched too much TV and generally wallowed in self pity.

Blossom in the garden.

So this morning I decided enough was enough. I was up early, at the gym for opening time then came home via the allotment so I could admire the work that DH did there yesterday while I wallowed. Hooray for rotavators! Once home I did a few yoga stretches to clear my mind (note to self, do not do this in the same room as a teenager watching Pewdie Pie videos) and gave myself a stern talking to. I then vowed to spend the day doing nourishing and positive things. DH and I went for a long walk across the fields to check how our beehives have fared overwinter. There honestly is nothing like nature to put you in a better frame of mind. All the budding leaves and wildlife. We saw butterflies, bugs, herons, buzzards, rabbits, so many things. And to make it even better it would appear that two hives still have signs of bees. This was totally unexpected as we thought we had lost them all. We won’t peek inside just yet but the signs are good! Later we will make our lists of seeds for the allotment and garden. I love this part of the year, all the promise of good things to come :)

At last - some dry weather!

Busy little bees - not that you can see them here!

To finish off the day I have a meal with the whole family planned and then I am going to settle down with a glass of something nice and lose myself in the world of Mr Selfridge for a hour. After that? Bed and positive thoughts of all the good things I have to be grateful for. And “meh” to the odd mistakes that I might make along the way.....

I love the weekend!

Blue skies - hooray.

It’s Sunday afternoon already – how did that come around so quickly?

I’ve had a weekend of mostly pottering about which has been blissful. Saturday started with me wandering up to the village hall to partake in an hour of yoga. I have discovered the most fabulous class right on my doorstep and first thing on a Saturday morning is just perfect for me! It’s also been really nice to reconnect with some other ladies from the village. Since I stopped working at the village pre-school to take up full time work in Oxford I have missed the contact with other villagers – I rarely visit the pub (honest, guv) and have not yet taken the radical step to becoming a fully paid up member of the local WI and so opportunities to be social are fairly limited (also, I am not all that sociable – another flaw in my plan!) But the yoga is great, physically and socially. I am feeling the benefits in supplementing my own morning practice with something more structured and it’s great to have some feedback on ways I can improve my positions. I am not yet able to put my legs behind my ears but I am a lot bendier than I was a few months ago :)

I have been working hard to tame my magazine addiction – I am still checking out the mag stands but am not buying! What a step forward. I have also made headway with the vast collection I have at home, sorting some out to recycle, passing some onto people I think might enjoy them (and not be tempted to hoard them) and I have even uttered the words “just recycle them or pass them on if you don’t want them” instead of “have a flick through then GIVE THEM BACK (please).” It’s been hard but I feel better for it. Honest.

Some of my treasures - probably rare and very valuable!

I have caught up with household chores and checked out some blogs. I have started a new mindfulness book which is proving better than Dummies (thanks Claire!) and today saw some more work in the garden. Well, I started focussed enough, pruning the raspberry canes and weeding in the fruit cage. But then I got waylaid playing Time Team. This basically involves finding ‘treasures’ and then making up preposterous stories about what the small fragments of pottery/china/whoknowswhat could have been. As our house is on the site of a 14^th century chapel there is the very real possibility that some of the fragments are actually something interesting. As I have no real knowledge of archaeology other than Time Team my wild guesses are probably far off the mark. I would imagine many of my treasures are, in fact, 20^th century Woolworths. But it’s a fun game nonetheless. In my head.

To top it off, there have been some glimpses of real sunshine this weekend too – and I am loving how this seems to lift everyone’s spirits. My friend Kathy bought me some daffodils and I have been admiring their cheery yellow loveliness and can’t wait to see more as they flower in my garden. I’d love to hear about what’s been making you happy this weekend! 

I'm back!

Not a great start to the August Break project! We have just spent the last week in Cornwall - more about that over the weekend - but lack of any kind of reliable phone signal/internet connection rather spoilt my plans of posting here :-(
Sadly Day One did not post til Day Two when we got a brief flicker of a signal halfway up a hill! I took photos for Day Two but then had no signal to post....
Still, home now and on with the posts!

Day Three - "Yellow"

Here are some of the many courgettes we have come home to in the garden!

 

 

I will set aside some time over the weekend to bring you the delights of our Cornish adventures. I promise some mannikins well worth the wait ;-P