There's a lot of chat these days of 'living in the moment' and there is, I have learned, a lot to be said for avoiding making plans and just drifting with the days as they come along. The last two weeks have been peppered with appointments - dentist, hygienist, chimney sweep, hairdresser, trying to escape my sciatic back, all that kind of malarkey - but I shall wake up tomorrow with nothing on the calendar for the next two weeks AT ALL! A broad plain of nothing planned stretches out before me and it is going to be marvellous!
Actually, the days of 'Nothing Planned' started on Friday evening. Drifting through the weekend, then, has proved most productive. I have read two books - 'Dear Mrs Bird' which was a delightful novel I picked up in the library - and 'Confessions of a Bookseller', the sequel to 'The Diary of a Bookseller.' Both of these are by the bookseller, Shaun Bythell, who owns Scotland's second largest second hand book shop. He has a cat called Captain who bears more than a passing resemblance to our old fat cat, Phoebe, so much so that I wonder if they are related in some way. Mother and son, maybe, or auntie and nephew. Anyway, they are both good reads (the books, not the cats) and made me snort on several occasions, especially Shaun's method for turning a Kindle into a Kindle Fire, which involves a gallon of petrol and a box of matches! Andy and I had a lovely morning in Shrewsbury yesterday, enjoying the sun and pootling around. Today it has drizzled and not in the lemon cake way. I picked another huge bowl of raspberries and did some hedge cutting until I got too soggy, lost interest and came inside. Blackberry and apple crumble for Sunday dinner pudding. Yum! Spent yesterday evening having Wedding Dress chat with Heather, which is very exciting! She has counselled me against pouffiness. I am trying hard to reign in my natural urge towards all things tulle.
So, next week, then. More studying, I think. I am very much enjoying this book learning malarkey. It is invigorating and stretching my brain. I've had thoughts of starting to make some Christmas cards which I know goes against my 'No Christmas Until the Middle of November' rule, but it would be crafting, wouldn't it? I've also begun giving some thought to this year's annual Christmas story, a process that, as the years go by, causes me greater and greater stress. I feel like I've covered all the obvious material. This year is going to be tricky - ideas on a postcard, please. Also, (get this) I fancy going to Trentham Gardens with a sketch pad and pencils, sitting on a bench by the lake and having a go at some drawing! I have NEVER done this in my life! And there are several teashops in the vicinity that I can seek recovery in if the experience proves too overwhelming. Other potential 'Things To Do' include:
Actually, the days of 'Nothing Planned' started on Friday evening. Drifting through the weekend, then, has proved most productive. I have read two books - 'Dear Mrs Bird' which was a delightful novel I picked up in the library - and 'Confessions of a Bookseller', the sequel to 'The Diary of a Bookseller.' Both of these are by the bookseller, Shaun Bythell, who owns Scotland's second largest second hand book shop. He has a cat called Captain who bears more than a passing resemblance to our old fat cat, Phoebe, so much so that I wonder if they are related in some way. Mother and son, maybe, or auntie and nephew. Anyway, they are both good reads (the books, not the cats) and made me snort on several occasions, especially Shaun's method for turning a Kindle into a Kindle Fire, which involves a gallon of petrol and a box of matches! Andy and I had a lovely morning in Shrewsbury yesterday, enjoying the sun and pootling around. Today it has drizzled and not in the lemon cake way. I picked another huge bowl of raspberries and did some hedge cutting until I got too soggy, lost interest and came inside. Blackberry and apple crumble for Sunday dinner pudding. Yum! Spent yesterday evening having Wedding Dress chat with Heather, which is very exciting! She has counselled me against pouffiness. I am trying hard to reign in my natural urge towards all things tulle.
So, next week, then. More studying, I think. I am very much enjoying this book learning malarkey. It is invigorating and stretching my brain. I've had thoughts of starting to make some Christmas cards which I know goes against my 'No Christmas Until the Middle of November' rule, but it would be crafting, wouldn't it? I've also begun giving some thought to this year's annual Christmas story, a process that, as the years go by, causes me greater and greater stress. I feel like I've covered all the obvious material. This year is going to be tricky - ideas on a postcard, please. Also, (get this) I fancy going to Trentham Gardens with a sketch pad and pencils, sitting on a bench by the lake and having a go at some drawing! I have NEVER done this in my life! And there are several teashops in the vicinity that I can seek recovery in if the experience proves too overwhelming. Other potential 'Things To Do' include:
- tidying up the courtyard (we've been visited in the courtyard by a young hare - very exciting!)
- cutting back the bastard stinging nettles that are getting in my way when picking raspberries
- continue writing my novel - shall I put a snippet on the blog, maybe?
- starting to make a quilted meditation mat, which is really just an excuse to then have to go and ferret around in a fabric shop
- trying out to new dinner time recipes involving ingredients that are very healthy and good for you and therefore will need cunning disguise before Andy will eat them
- practising the piano
- developing my Qi gong routine so it sticks in my head
- complete the knitting of Number Two jumper (pink)
Lots to choose from, then. Nothing planned. A happy position to be in. I am grateful. And blessed.
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