Today

Today I am reminded of more things I take forgranted.  I have a lovely massage therapist who's a 10 minute drive away, & the chat is a huge part of the "treatment".  That I don't have to sacrifice to afford things like that.  The car is reliable.

I've taken husband to work early enough to avoid the traffic (whilst still getting a lie in) & am now ready to face my day.  The cake I made (which was fun to make) was well received at work. A benefit of taking husband to work on my day off is that the cake made it in too ;-)

I'm enjoying a leisurely morning & am off out with a friend in a bit.  Exercise & company & outdoors, a great kind of day.  I have friends.  Friends who enjoy doing similar things to me, & that I can just be with, enjoying their company.

More later :-D

ETA: I had a fab day with a mate.  I managed to peel my grapes when her kids weren't around so they'll never know.  We had a fab catch up.  I have an idea for my next blog post, based on being in situations by choice.  It was sunny, & stayed dry for us.  We just had enough change for the carpark & left 5 minutes before the expiry time (great prediction on the timing!)  the play area was empty enough for us to have our choice of apparatus, there was a little assault course that was big enough for us adults to play on.  I got to go on the swings!  The nest swing by myself, all of us on the caterpillar swing, & then the normal swing by myself, a well deserved break as everyone else was in the loo.  I got to encourage her, give her food for thought without an opinion, & just remembered to send her the link to my blog.  Turned around grumping at husband, he let me explain that it's not really him I'm grumpy with.  Thankful that he gave me a chance to not be grumpy, to reset & start over. Thankful he's easy to make up with.  The washer arrived while I was out (meaning the car wasn't in the way).  It's bedtime, my bed is cosy & inviting & I can go now & get back into my weekday routine. 

Space

I have the time & space to chill, I took advantage of that today.  Husband took a day off too so I didn't have to be disturbed by the alarm or by him getting up (or by taking him to work), & I had a lovely relaxing morning.  Reading, & thinking about what I was reading.  I like blogging about the books, it encourages me to think about what I'm reading, & makes it easier to go back over those thoughts.

Bacon for breakfast, a worthy reason to finally get out of bed.  How spoilt I am that husband does the cooking, & he makes things how I like them too.  More relaxing as we watched a couple of episodes of the latest series we're into.  I'm thankful of the variety, of finding things we both like, thought provoking topics sometimes, the opportunity to discuss.

& then onto heroes, there's a card game we enjoy, & what else would we use the dining table for.  The set-up we're currently playing is a good one, it looks really tough but actually we've beaten it twice (or 3 times, I've forgotten how many times we've played).

Thankful that I have the days to take off work for relaxing, no demands on my time.  & I have found a surface I can use for my jigsaw!  I just need to clear stuff off the table in the spare room, hope we have no visitors staying over until it's complete :lol:

I ordered a new colouring book, then instantly went & did some colouring.   I'm going to break my 10k streak today & I'm ok with that (phew).  Sometimes it's worth losing just to prove it's ok to.  That would be like being wrong occasionally or making a mistake.  These things happen & it's good to be in the habit of accepting that.

Today I have written paragraphs instead of bullet points.  I like that I can write.  I like the variety that surrounds me.  Loads of my favourite things await me over the next few days, & / or have been indulged today.  I am glad I have the opportunity for self-care, the ability to recognise when I'm starting to wobble & the resources to right myself.  Today has been important for that.

more beach

Met one of my friends at the beach, had a lovely walk, hot doughnuts!  & a go on the swings.
Also had another "encourage people to walk" (Pokémon go type app) explained to me, & this one downloads on my phone.  I'm rubbish at it but it could be fun.  Impressed my phone had enough memory for it.

Also played a new game with them, it was out on the table.  Must've explained it adequately because they got the idea & it was fun.  We won, he won the last game so left happy.  Now I remember him losing most of the other games & me deciding that we should play co-op next time.

Husband came to make dinner & the shop was still open when I went for bacon, & the walk got me to 15k steps.  Messaging with a few friends who're keeping me sane.

Slept really well & had a lovely morning with husband.  Thankfully tomorrow is a bank holiday so another lie in & day chilling - yay!!

safe & warm

Listening to the storm, glad to be inside.
The roads were clearer & emptier today, driving was easier.
Husband's on his way home having managed to get a seat on a train & leave the South.
I made progress on my report, thinking time yesterday so it all fell into place today, & I have stage 1 of my project complete.
Stage 2 might require some revision of stage 1, I will be wiser for the next cycle.
I cancelled at meeting so got my best focus time back which really helped me crack on with that.
The meeting is rearranged for a time when I'll be better prepared for it.
I phoned the cook at work to check breakfast was on, & it was so she put aside the well done bacon for me.  Because breakfast was served all day I even had a bonus sausage at lunch.
I was wondering whether to speak to someone at their desk today, they saw me dithering by the door (far enough away to not be hovering) & smiled so I went over & we had a really good chat.

safe & warm

• I'm thankful I got to work safely, & so did my workmates that attempted the journey.
• & that my boss was encouraging when I wanted to leave early
• & I got home safe, & so did my workmates
• It was dry & sunny when I went out to check the bunnies, & they're ok
• I gave them fresh (unfrozen) water
• am so glad I have spare bottles so I can just replace them without delay
• went back out to check their bottles after dark, carrying fresh supplies.  Glad I checked - little one was straight for drinking the fresh (unfrozen) water. 
• Have also given them a little pot of water, even if that freezes they can still lick it.
• As cold & miserable as it is outside I have a warm cosy house, so thankful for that, & for heating & cosy clothes, & being dry & sheltered. 
• Thankful for the conveniences that make it easy to get a hot drink & warm meal.
• Remembered to ring my Granddad, he's doing well
• Pre-emptively phoned an old friend, she was pleased I rang cos she was worried about my driving in the bad weather.
• Had a lovely relaxing afternoon, & got the kitchen cleaned a little for husband's return
• husband's due home tomorrow :-)

a day of bounce

Big bunny was merely teasing me this morning & soon settled down to munching when she thought I wasn't looking.

Running late in the snow is fine, I made it safely to work.  I knew I was going to be late when I chose to stealth watch big bunny. No-one minds that I was late.

Left sharpish in a snow flurry for a safe trip home, nothing snow-wise at home so a dry walk to the shop for a treat for the bunnies.  They are definitely both eating.

Had a fab day, a positive chat with my boss.  A fun lunch out with a workmate, & the promise of making it regular.  It does us both good.  Reasonable progress on my project.  I closed a chore of a document - yay!!  Hopefully close another one tomorrow.

A decent little chat with lifeboat guy to catch up with what he's at.  He's ok, happy & entertained out of work.  Actually a couple of decent chats with people today.  A good day :-)

Happy

• I remembered to lubricate the padlock, in dry daylight :-)
• remembered to put padlock on the shopping list so we have a new padlock for the shed & a key to it each
• husband agreed to feed the bunnies for me when I was running later
• he went to the shop for hay for them because I had the only shed key
• Husband trimmed the bunnies claws with me, in dry daylight, before their yearly trip to the vets
• made dinner & it was tasty, & bread which was really good
• got a thank-you card finished for a friend.

the best

I had another really good day

• husband is home & surprised  me with hot chocolate for breakfast
• that meant I had smoothie in the café meeting friends (instead of their hot chocolate, which I don't really enjoy - the smoothie is way more enjoyable but hot chocolate is my go to drink)
• had a lovely time with friends
• remembered to say thank you to one who'd helped me
• remembered to return books I'd borrowed, & borrowed another one
• had a lovely time chilling on the sofa with husband
• he's leaving from work tomorrow so I get my morning cuddle with him (rather than him leaving at stupid o'clock)
• had a cuppa & catch-up with neighbours while husband fixed their pc.
• husband's so awesome, so competent
• still enjoying the book a friend recommended
• have been reading it most of the weekend, I love being so engrossed
• it makes so much sense to me, explains things clearly & I'm finding it really helpful
• am enjoying discussing ideas from the book with her
• managed to put it down to meet friends
• am feeling very thankful for my friends
• (see above) am feeling blessed & well supported by the people around me, people take good care of me when I've needed it
• I've remembered to show appreciation to husband, he's obliging & it's important he knows I don't take him forgranted (but I'd love another glass of hot chocolate 💝)
• My 5 things a day don't need to be 5 things

I'm thankful that I enjoy fruit, & that I remembered to eat it.  Because I eat it my way (peeling everything, de-sacking oranges) it takes me ages & is messy, so I do it watching tv (so I don't resent the time), & husband watches tv with me because that's how I like to watch tv.  Am glad I remembered fruit at the end of dinner & then he watched another show with me so I had time for my fruit.

Perspective

1. Husband is only away one day next week, & I've booked an entire day with him at work so I don't feel bottom of the work priority list anymore.  I probably never was it's just there's so much else on for him.  He spends plenty of time talking about work with me at home. I've always told him about my day, & done my thinking out loud to him.  I think things through by talking about them, & husband & friends have always listened or pretended to listen.
2. Friends indulge me in my endless thinking out loud or texting / messaging.  & they still want to spend time with me!
3. Boss has started 2 of our 3 meetings with an invitation to explain my tracker to him.  This is absolutely a "here's your chance to get excited about it - come on then, I'm interested". I'm glad I realised that.  I enjoyed putting that tracker together, & I'm finding it so useful for keeping track of things.  Pleased with myself.
4. Husband's home. & I get to take last minute holidays to spend with him. Had a lovely relaxing afternoon with him to ease the weekend in.
5. I'm in  good mood & have a better perspective on things now.

friends & care

friends who care, taking the time to check up on me
some enjoyable conversations
had a good shopping trip, loads of interesting new sticky notes
mate came round for a cuppa & a laugh

had a productive meeting (pretty much the first one I've chaired & it went ok)
got some housework done
remembered to go to the shop for milk before my mate arrived

a hug & a laugh

I am surrounded by good people.  People who will take 5 minutes to follow me somewhere quiet & give me the hug I need.  & know not to ask too many question, yet ask the important ones.  The "what can I do?"  "what do you need?" type questions.

I had a good laugh today.  We quite often do.  Lunch is the social highlight of the day.  Especially now I'm not part of a team.  It's good that I've figured out that I'm a little lost not being part of a team anymore.  I can work to fix that.  I need to be part of a new team.  I can start building allies.

I also have some ideas for how to move forward with my project.  & how I can start to organise.  I had a play with excel & have some structure to part 2.  Already, before I need it.  Pre-emptive I am :-)
All goes to showing the boss he made a good choice putting me in the role, & that I'm capable & in control.

Exercise class was cancelled which I'm secretly relieved about & so friend & I went for dinner & had a good laugh.  Talking to her about work reminded me of loads of things I enjoy about being there.

It was a good day,  & I have plans with a friend tomorrow & then husband's home!! 💖

little things

It's the little things.  I found lemon cheesecake in the co-op so that's what's in the fridge as a welcome home for husband.  I'm hoping lemon's his favourite.  I remembered that he likes fruity.

Neighbour came round with greens for the bunnies, she has them spoilt ;-)
& as we were chatting & I told her husband's away she's coming round for a cuppa on Thursday.  Gives me a little window to clean up slightly.   I mean to pretend I might clean up ;-)
Thankfully the people that know me know me well enough to know what I'm like.

It was dry again when I put the bunnies to bed.
The bins were emptied before I left for work so I got to pull them up to the gate (next door put the bins out (ours if we leave if the road side of the gate) & generally pull them in too).  Feels good to take a turn for a change.  & because it's half term I still got to work on time even though I left the house late.

Friends

I'm thankful for the friends I have.

The ones who make lunch such a good laugh,

the ones that lend me lunch money (or just buy my lunch)

we have a good canteen at work, & a strong lunch culture. & breakfast which coincides with errands to run in that building 😁

friends to cheer me up & to share my excitement. & to laugh with.  & to exercise with.

& I am thankful for ice-cream. & having a freezer to put the ice-cream in 😍

& for husband arriving safely at his destination.

Plenty of things to be thankful for.

Friends & entertainment

Husband is home!!  I love husband being home.
Yesterday I was dancing with someone who isn't husband. Lucky coincidence that both our partners were away the same week.  It was good that I got to go dancing while husband was away, & I came straight home & mapped out the dance so we'll be able to run through it together & won't be behind for the next class.  I noticed my shoulder tense a few times & managed to drop it / relax it.  & my wrist was good, the angle must've been different.
& because husband wasn't there I stayed back for a while chatting to some of the others.  It's a social dance class afterall.

I arrived at work at the same time as a couple of workmates so we all walked in together (both days) which was fun.  One of them I hardly ever speak to, our paths don't really cross.  Oooh look at all these lucky coincidences.  & tonight we had a multi-department walk out, husband & I & workmate walked out together.  I love that too :-)  We used to have analyst walk outs back when I was an analyst, occasionally we'd all manage to walk out together.  I love the camaraderie we have.

& there was soup in the canteen today as I fancied soup, it was nice.  Lunch has been a good laugh this week.  I do enjoy the lunchtime laugh, & appreciate that we have a strong lunch culture in the departments (that I'm not part of anymore but I'm keeping them as my lunch buddies!)

There was a Netflix series I told husband I was interested in watching so he's been saving it to watch with me 💖.  Husband is the most fantastic person I've ever met.  I'm so glad he's home safe.

Blessed at home, at work, health, & friends & family. Feeling very thankful indeed 😀

the streak continues

A deskbound day and I remembered to take plenty of breaks.

I got a good bit done.

Got my movement every hour & got my 10k whilst doing a bit of shopping.

Went exploring to miss the traffic & now I know a new way, I knew it before but I chickened out of taking it.

Plans to meet a friend tomorrow for pilates, & have a good catch-up.

Next door just brought a broccoli stem & cauli leaves for my bunnies - happy bunnies

Remembered screen wash & fuel, really quiet at both places.

Happy

I was going to post about how I'm excited, & how I love getting excited, that I am thrilled to have things to be excited about.  Then I saw that I did that yesterday ;-)

• Today I am thankful for friends.  They encourage me & nurture me, & I love interacting with them.  I love that they enjoy conversing with me, & that I am able to cheer them up. 
• I am thankful that there are people around me who listen, & that there are people who talk to me so I can pay that listening forward.
• I found one of my colouring books.  It's a Celtic design one.  That's my afternoon sorted as I sit & colour that.  I'm happy I have a calming hobby that I can get lost in.
• Meeting friends for a drink this morning & I got to the café in time for a good parking space, whilst there was no queue, & I got us the table with armchairs (rather than dining chairs).  We had a really good chat.
• Was chatting to the woman behind me in the queue (the second time I went up for a drink) and am happy she disappeared off in a different direction ;-)

Friends & warmth

met friends, had fun.

Was thinking how lucky I was to get a taxi within 10 minutes last night.  & a safe uneventful trip home.

A safe uneventful journey each way today too, & plenty of parking & seating.
The bed is cleared for mate's visit.  The house is warm & cosy, & slightly tidier now 👍  He can at least sleep.  Plenty of time to throw whatever's on the table onto the sofa & then into a box.

Used the new hoover for the first time.  Neat. & having it hanging on the wall means it's more likely to be where it lives.

Have started a new blog & got the hang of it.

forbidden corner

• A good day out with friends,
• amazed by the attention to detail inside, & the effort that's obviously been put in.
• It's great that it's open to the public
• the weather was kind, sunny & dry.
• It was fairly quiet when we arrived so we got to enjoy, & also to experience it a bit crowded so we know to go early if we're going again.
• Glad someone else was driving
• sharing, snack sharing is the way to snack
• got 10k just as we walking back to the car

husband had been to the shop as requested, wisely chosen selection for lunch.  Yummy.  He's the best.

Family & friends

• had a good weekend with my brother & his family
• & with husband :-)

Spent loads of time reading books & encountering interesting ideas & having the time to think.

• am off work at the same time as friend is in hospital so can keep her slightly entertained.
• Have shrugged off the thought that I should be productive & am just playing computer games, lazing around, reading etc.
• Have plenty of resources
• food
• shelter
• support
• entertainment
• am lucky with lots of things that I have, thankful.

Calm & organised

• she liked her jar of stars, I'm glad
• lunch was good on the comfy sofas, a leisurely lunch

Calm, the people around me seem calmer, I am calmer.  Everything's always ok in the end.  I should skip the bit where I fret. I have that ability, & I know how to use it.

• have been pointed in the direction of useful resources.
• I like reading, I spent some leisurely hours at the weekend reading.   I have plenty enough to keep me entertained
• Shopkeeper found Christmas paper for me so I wrapped niece's present ready.