Promises of Spring

Spring began again last week. The season of rebirth, of reinvention, of cleaning and decluttering is here again. Days get longer, temperatures get milder, spirits get higher. We shed the extra layers of Winter and ready ourselves to start anew.

So what follows is part wishlist, part to-do list, part putting things on papers so I am now accountable for making them happen.

1. Park lunches. At least once a week (weather permitting) I would like to spend my lunch hour reading and chilling in the park, alone or with a workmate. I always come back to my desk feeling refreshed, so this is something to invest in at every opportunity.
2. Outside runs. I prefer a treadmill to simply running outside. There's no stop and go, no traffic and other people to consider, no unexpected ups and downs, plus it's way easier to keep track of how you're performing. But outside there is the arboretum. And in the arboretum there is pretty greenery and swings. And those early weekend mornings when I get to the park and the swings are empty are a real treat. Adulthood is way easier when you allow yourself to go back to childhood joys every now and then.
3. Garden revamp. This year I want to really put some effort into making our garden a nice place be in. I look forward to scrubbing tiles, re-potting plants, clear weeds, maybe invest in a deck chair or two.
4. New recipes. Years ago I bought a Slimming World book with recipes for Spring and Summer and I never opened it. This is the year to explore with some new and healthy recipes.
5. Decluttering. Arguably this is more of a Summer project for me, since that's when I have the house to myself and can leave a project halfway done by bedtime without it impacting on anyone else. Anyway, I'm already dreaming of the day(s) when I get to dump all my clothes on the bed and clean the closet.
6. New coat. This year I want to invest in quality items, as opposed to getting something that's nice and economical. So I am excited about getting myself a nice mid-season trench-coat, something flattering and versatile with a bit of colour. The question is do I want one in bright yellow, mustard yellow, emerald green, ruby red? Decisions, decisions.
7. Longer hussle days. In Winter I feel I accomplish very little outside of work because there is so little time. I get home and I have a two hour slot to get stuff done and to chill and unwind before it's bedtime again. In Spring and Summer, as the days get longer, my body tricks me into doing more (which also means I tend to sleep a bit less), as there is more light so it takes me longer to flop onto the sofa/bed.
8. Iced coffee. I LOVE iced coffee. Hot coffee after lunch makes me feel cosy and sleepy, iced coffee makes me feel energised and ready to go. It also feels like a treat with very few calories (thinking Americanos, not frappuccinos!)
9. Drying clothes outside. I can't explain how much this fills me with joy, but it does. Very few things scream household bliss than seeing laundry drying outside. Even the smell is better and cleaner!

On travel, quirks and kindness

Earlier this month I traveled to Lisbon, as I do every year around this time. It's a long trip; an hour bus ride to Birmingham, a coach from Birmingham to a London airport, and then a two and a half hour plane trip. I started my trip around 7 am and arrived at my dad's at 6 pm.

I do this every year, so I have fine tuned my trip. I know which of my backpacks is the best for the journey. I download films and music for the trip and I bring a charger because I know my battery never lasts the whole trip without a top up. I bring my book and a notebook (you never know when inspiration will strike). I know the best route from the bus to the coach station. I get to the coach and I google the restaurants at the airport and look at the menus so I know in advance what I'll fancy for lunch. I fasten my coat with my seat belt, so I have a makeshift blanket on my knees for the whole trip. When I get to the airport I follow the same strict order of affairs; first I do the check in and get rid of my luggage, then go past security, then find a shop where I can buy a bottle of water, then go to the bathroom, then eat. After eating I try to stay seated as little as possible, so I window shop. Once I land, I go past security first, then bathroom break, then luggage collection.

All of these things have a specific sequence and a logic to it. If you go to the bathroom right after landing you risk getting stuck in a longer queue for your passport check, as your flight mates will catch up with you. If you do it after luggage collection you then have to share your stall with a massive suitcase. Logic and experience have taught me how to fine tune my travel with choreographic precision.

Why am I rambling about this? Because this is my routine. It works for me. And same as I have fine tuned my travel days, I bet you my boyfriend (who also does this every year) will have his own sequence that he has perfected over his years living abroad. And it's so easy to forget that our way is not the only way. That the other person's sequence will have equal merit, even if it follows a different logic. How many times do we get frustrated because other people don't see things like we do. Because they want to do things their way (the pesky bastards!). Because they keep getting in the way of something that you perfected with their ludicrous ideas or lack of sight. I mean, who forgets to carry change to use the bathroom? ;)

And what about the rest of our lives? Night owls living with early risers, coach potatoes cohabiting with gym bunnies, spur of the moment people sharing a life with lifelong planners. Even the simple things, like don't trust me to remember anything you say before I've had coffee, or I don't like to have the loo roll facing the wall. We are all a collection of quirks and preferences. We all need to make concessions. Sharing your life with other people (family, partners, friends, coworkers) means you accept putting up with their quirks because you know they are doing the same thing for you. No matter how much you try to be your best self, sometimes your quirks will get the best of you and you will forget to put the cheese grater back where your partner can find it in the morning. That's called being human.

I love my travel plans. I perfected them lovingly over many many trips back to Portugal. But I know my plans are not the only ones that work. And when I'm not travelling solo, it's great to learn to share and to remember that my partner will have his own travel arrangements he would rather follow. So we compromise. And more often than not, that makes our travel experience so much richer. So be kind, always. Even if it's in something as trivial and a trip. Be kind, always.

Thankful Thursday # 36

It's time to flex my fingers with our staple post:

1. Spring. This deserves it's own post, but I am definitely super excited about the new season.
2. My boyfriend. The funniest, kindest, most intelligent person I've ever met, and I get to fall asleep by his side every day. Winner!
3. Sunny meditations. I have a spot in the office where I like to meditate, and today the sun was hitting it for the first time this year, giving me a nice boost of vitamin D to start my day.
4. Today's food. There isn't a single meal I'm not excited about today. All of them healthy-ish, all of them super tasty.
5. Smaller tops. I am wearing a top a size smaller than my normal size. I am super excited and proud of myself for this.
6. Lunch dates. I am meeting a friend for lunch for the second time this week. I am a big fan of having quiet lunches, but sometimes I love to break my routine and catch up with friends.
7. Spotify. I love, love, love my Spotify. I don't think how I could ever cope with a work day without music and podcasts.
8. My new pin. For my birthday I gifted myself a pin that says "Prose before bros" and I wear it proudly on my coat. I just love how many compliments I get for it.
9. Clothes drying outside. I can't explain why, but there is little that can compare to sitting at my desk at home looking at clothes drying in the clothes line below.
10. Natter. I am an introvert, which in my case means I struggle to make casual conversation with strangers and shop clerks. That is starting to change and I feel happy and confident in this. It's something that definitely deserves an acknowledgment. 

Thankful Thursday # 35

Trying to get back into the swing of things by returning to a staple post:

1. My boyfriend. My pack and my family of choice.
2. Working indoors. Today it's windy and extremely wet outside, so I am very glad to work in a closed, warm office.
3. New dresses. I have a couple of new dresses I bought this year, but had yet to put them on because I felt self-conscious about how looked. Having recently lost a bit of weight, they add a treat-like quality to my efforts.
4. Disposable income. I don't earn loads of money, but I am blessed with a paycheck that allows me the occasional splurge without the fear my account won't take it.
5. Listening to music while you work. I don't think I would cope well if I had to work in absolute silence. I was definitely made for sound.
6. Tea. My fall back drink when I'm trying to cut back on sugar.
7. Rain. I am dying to go outside and buy more food, because I'm still settling back into my normal diet and trying really hard not to graze. The fact that it's raining cats and dogs definitely trumps the whims of my stomach.
8. Spotting ladybirds. It's a rare occurrence, but one that always fills me with child-like happiness. Ladybird is my pet name, so every time I see one, I innocently feel the Universe is winking at me.
9. Books. I have so, so many books, which is something that makes me very happy.
10. Fancy enamel pins. Shortly before I went on holiday I bought a pin that says Prose before Bros (I know!). It was waiting for me as I returned from holiday and it was a nice treat to help keep the holiday blues away.