Fresh Air February

It wasn’t until it ended that I realised what a long month January had been. February came and brought blue skies: a treat worth savouring, from dawn ’til dusk. (Tom got up for dawn; I stayed in bed for extra z’s.) We spent most of the day getting lungfuls of fresh air, hiking up steep downs, enjoying clear views from the top, and later climbing trees along woodland coast. Daffodils and snowdrops poked up through the moss, and ducks paired off at the pond. I think spring might be on its way and I’m ready to soak up the fresh air and sunshine.

The days are just a little longer. Though sunset is still early, there’s still time to squeeze in a trip to Newtown Creek before the light completely fades.

Someone asked recently what I felt passionate about. I surprised myself by how quickly I replied ‘being outside’. Sure, I love all sorts of making, baking, reading and writing. But it’s the hours spent in the big outdoors that gets me grinning ear to ear. I’m hoping February blows in many more fresh, bright skies.

Play It Again

It’s hard to return to something that you used to be good at, and find that now it’s actually quite difficult! With memories of whizzing through my scales with ease as a teenager, I feel like I don’t recognise my own hands now, as they stumble and stick over every key. Tom gave me a piano for my 30th birthday last summer (I know!) and I’ve revelled in returning to something I’ve barely touched in ten years. When I sit at that stool, I think of nothing other than the notes I’m playing, and I’m rarely that focused!

I love to play, and my relatively good sight-reading skills make me a lazy player. But now that I have a piano in my home, it seems a waste to do little more than pick over easy tunes. Inspired by this book, I have decided to actually learn a piece properly: to do more than simply stumble through it, mumble something about difficult key signatures, and flick to another page. So, I am going to learn this piece; not to Lang Lang standards, but just enough to get through it smoothly. And if I tell you guys about it then I figure I’ll have even more reason to actually stick with it. Wish me luck!

Pebble Dash

Contending with a chesty cough, my outdoor time this weekend was pretty still. We took a trip to Shanklin Chine, a classic old seaside destination with a quiet out-of-season feel. I’m not very good and sitting and doing nothing, but a pebbly beach certainly encourages it. The roar of waves and retreating rattle of hundreds of pebbles rolling over each other is a sound that demands full attention, and cuts out everything else. I could sit and listen to it for hours. Which is a good job, when you’re on a beach trip with a photographer.

Snow Day / Sick Day

Whilst every kid on the Island, both big and small, was whooping in delight at Friday’s snow day, I was left coughing in bed. I’m pretty sure it’s the first EVER snow day I haven’t been out the door in the first hour of its discovery. Tom more than made up for my sickly excuses, with boots on by 9, and thermos and camera in hand. He was gone just long enough for me to start getting worried, and for him to take a lot of photos.

While Tom was out exploring the unfamiliar landscape of our local area, I spent the weekend relishing some enforced rest. I took a trip home to see the family. We sat and caught up on busy lives, while I concentrated on such arduous tasks as finding the comfiest spot by the fire, and choosing my second slice of cake (gingerbread or coffeecake?) A day with family, holed up by the fire amidst a snowy scene is a pretty good way to spend a sick day. The snowball fight will have to wait ’til next time.

Monday to Friday

So the first full week back at work has ended and spit me out the other side, completely shattered. Tonight I made my way home, by car, bus, ferry and foot then found myself sat on the stairs, with a cup of tea and a sudden realisation of how tired I was!

This is a Friday for doing very little, one where TV is the best option because its the laziest, and pizza because its greasy, cheesy goodness feels like exactly what is needed. Then I can slouch across the cushions and think of lovely things to fill my weekend with: a rainy day for rock cakes and stitching, and a sunny Sunday for filling up on fresh air before next Monday sweeps in. But tomorrow I won’t be considering anything before a serious lie in and a good cup of coffee.