As after most Christmases, the arm of the chair that I am sat in is piled high with books: The new 2020 diary I got for Christmas, Fearne Cotton's 'Calm', Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch (I'm on chapter 8 and loving every second), and a very thick pad titled '642 things to write about'… Continue reading Week Fifty-Two: Reflections on a Chaotic Year and Lessons Learned for 2020
Tag: life
Week Forty-Five: A self-care Sunday
Wow. Week 45! I don't want to wish the rest of the year away, but I am itching to try and sum up this chapter: A jam packed year full of ups and downs, that was nothing I expected. I had a little look back through my diary the other day and could hardly believe… Continue reading Week Forty-Five: A self-care Sunday
Week Thirty-Six: Settling Into Our New Home
The house move has gone surprisingly smoothly for me. Especially considering my inability to accept change, close attachment to places and things and general emotional-ness. I was super emotional when we eventually said goodbye to the flat, but in my defence, it had been one of those weeks anyway and I was due a good… Continue reading Week Thirty-Six: Settling Into Our New Home
Week Four: Celebrating Small Wins
Week four of 2019 began, for all of us, with Blue Monday. On Blue Monday, I felt surprisingly yellow. I spent the tube journey smiling to myself like a fool. I was determined not to let the whole 'Blue Monday' label convince me that it was going to be a difficult day. After all, I did… Continue reading Week Four: Celebrating Small Wins
Week One: Fireworks at Embankment and a New Year Declutter
This week began with New Year's Eve. I was lucky enough to be working from home; allowing me enough time to get ready and get on a train, with Dave, into London before the rush hour. I've only ever been into London once on New Year's Eve before and even then, steered clear of central… Continue reading Week One: Fireworks at Embankment and a New Year Declutter
Another year older
I'M FEELIN' 24. And 'what does 24 feel like?' you might ask. In some ways, I've barely grown up at all. I still can't wear high heels. I'm currently listening to Avril Lavigne's Goodbye Lullaby on vinyl. I still don't like gin and tonic. I'm still terrified of spiders. I've never used an iron in… Continue reading Another year older
A Fab Time in Dublin
May is one of the best months of the year and I'm very happy it's here. The sun starts to shine a little warmer in May. The trees are leafy again and the flowers are all out and about. Summer is officially on the horizon and it feels closer every day. We're all a little… Continue reading A Fab Time in Dublin
All Sorts of Recommendations: A Month of Discovery
First up, you need to know about a little cafe in Croydon called The Ludoquist. Nearly a month ago now Dave and I were staying with a couple of our loveliest friends and spent an afternoon there. It's a board game cafe. They've more board games than you can imagine and to top it off,… Continue reading All Sorts of Recommendations: A Month of Discovery
Exploring London: Discovering Live Music in Whitechapel and the V&A Museum
Life's been busy, good busy and this weekend has been a good'un. I spent most of it in my favourite city in the world... Friday night I headed to the George Tavern in Whitechapel with some people from work. It's a live music venue and the musicians who played were all so talented! 'Friend of… Continue reading Exploring London: Discovering Live Music in Whitechapel and the V&A Museum
Letting emotions run free and learning to be happy
I'm sat on the sofa by the window, getting blinded by the sun, but refusing to shut it out. I'm two chapters from the end of Harry Potter so when I'm done writing, I'm finishing it. Then I'm rewarding myself with a cream egg or two before taking a deep breath and picking up the… Continue reading Letting emotions run free and learning to be happy
Coping with change and finding positivity again
The last time my anxiety was exacerbated by a big change, it took a lot of adjusting for me to get to a point where I felt like I could live freely again. Perhaps it's cos I'm older and wiser, perhaps it's because I have Dave or perhaps it's actually because this time I've been… Continue reading Coping with change and finding positivity again
Mind over matter: The power of mindfulness meditation
Recently, my beautiful cousin spoke to me for a long time about mindfulness. And I mention it because even more recently I discovered just how practising mindfulness can help. In the spirit of being honest, when I first spoke to my cousin, I didn't think it was for me. I thought a mindfulness meditation was… Continue reading Mind over matter: The power of mindfulness meditation
To New Beginnings
This year was for being daring, right? I put an offer down on a flat with Dave, we got it, I handed in my notice at work, two weeks later we've got the keys and I'm moving to Watford! I'm moving into a new flat, in a new town and I'm going to be living… Continue reading To New Beginnings
Let her sleep for when she wakes she will move mountains
Today is my grandad's and my sister's birthday. Waking up this morning and jumping out of bed to give them my birthday wishes made me so happy. I've been at work for most of the afternoon so I'm now feasting on left over birthday cake and drinking the last of the red wine. I did… Continue reading Let her sleep for when she wakes she will move mountains
Monday’s the new Sunday
Sun's shining. I slept in until 10. I'm still in my pyjamas. I've done my washing and tidied my room. Other than that, I spent the morning lounging in bed reading and I've spent the majority of this afternoon watching The Walking Dead. There's no roast dinner cooking. That's the only way I know it's… Continue reading Monday’s the new Sunday
Sick from work, not sick of it
Last week was great. Exhausting, but great. I was at the restaurant all day every day except Thursday (Thursday, Dave and I and his family went to see Manchester United play at Old Trafford. They played much better than they did against Chelsea today, thank goodness. It was a really great match, well worth the… Continue reading Sick from work, not sick of it
Inhale confidence, exhale doubt
Hi Sunday crew! Dave and I are sat watching the football having had the yummiest and biggest of full Englishes this morning. The sun's shining, but it is really chilly so I'm curled up on the sofa under a blanket. It's October! Can you believe it? Time's flying. Not going to lie, I'm excited about… Continue reading Inhale confidence, exhale doubt
Life has been a little crazy, that’s all
Trying to work out how to justify the fact I haven't blogged in over a month and considering giving up trying. Life has been a little crazy, that's all. In just over a month I've written five essays, finally found the courage to go along to music socials, met some amazing new people and become… Continue reading Life has been a little crazy, that’s all
There’s no place like home
It felt like the entirety of my weekend at home had been nothing more than a dream when I woke up this morning; the horribly stressful journey back to Cardiff being the disastrous ending that finally woke me up. It feels like I went to sleep after the Halloween party last Thursday and I've been asleep ever since. A big part of me wants to curl up and go back to dreaming of home so I don't have to face today. Today is my first day at work and the day of my first rehearsal for my first concert of the semester. Today is terrifying.
Conquering a Busy Student Life – The early bird catches the worm
When I woke up Tuesday morning it was still dark. I felt like I should be jumping on an aeroplane and heading somewhere exciting, jumping behind the steering wheel of my car and driving across the country or just retreating under the duvet until the sun decided to put his hat on. In reality I'd… Continue reading Conquering a Busy Student Life – The early bird catches the worm
Singing goodbye to butterflies in the shower
aught myself singing in the shower, wondered 'round with a towel turban on my head, left my stuff all over the sofa while I went out last night, sung opera in my bedroom, let my iTunes music shuffle freely without cringing when The Circle of Life started playing: One week here and it feels like home already...