Pace

Blogging Prompt 5 of Shimelle's My Freedom class:

How do you prefer the pace of life? Do you wish things would speed up or slow down? Illustrate with something that has been on your mind or on your calendar or share your preference between working slowly or quickly on a crafting project.

Hmm, not too sure about this one. I decided to think about it over the weekend and then didn't really get around to it so I am making this up as I go along (as per usual!).
I think I quite like anticipation...although saying that I am known to be quite impatient!
I enjoy the build up to things (like holidays or seeing people after a long time) and I am a planner and a list-maker so I tend to have fun with getting ready for things. I would only want things to speed up if I was organised (and even then I would probably decide to have more time and do a better job of getting ready!).
I can also be a teeny weeny bit of a procrastinator (okay, so quite a big procrastinator - hence the name of this blog) which can cause problems because I sometimes leave things to the last minute.
Moving to New Zealand has been about slowing life down a bit and I think I've slowed it down enough.
I think I'm fairly happy with my attitude to time overall (apart from needing to work on the procrastination of course!).
I do know I don't want to wish my life away by focusing so much on the next big thing that I miss out on all the great little everyday things that can happen.
I started a gratitude diary back in February which has been quite enlightening. I try to write down 5 things at the end of every day which I am grateful for. I've recently been going back and looking at entries from 5 months ago and it's interesting to reflect on the daily things that would otherwise have been forgotten.

If anyone reading this is keen to slow down and appreciate the everyday I would definetly recommend starting some kind of daily gratitude log. It's also made me much more positive.

Suitcases and Poems

So more of the My Freedom blogging prompts tonight.



The prompt for Day 3 was "Play a game of ‘What’s in your suitcase?’ on your blog by listing your necessities for travel, then ask your blog readers to comment with their own list. You can include pictures or links for items you consider must-haves."



And the Prompt for Day 4 was "Have you ever been inspired by the words of a poem? Share the poem with your blog readers and tell them how you came to value its words."



Hence the title of today's post! I still feel a little behind because prompt 5 is already out but I have decided to ponder that some more before blogging about it.

(The yellow suitcase is one of the bags I own that I use for travelling)

So...in my suitcase...there is always so much more then I will ever need but I am one of those people that has to pack heaps of things because you never know if you will need them or not!

In the last 18 months I have begun travelling for work. The regularity of trips away from home has taught me that I don't need quite as much as I think I do. Anyone who knows me well will know I am a HUGE list-writer and packing lists is right up there on my lists of lists I make!

I tend to just note down things on an index card when going away overnight or for a few days but when we are going further afield the mother of all lists comes out to help keep me organised! The list is a take on Flylady's suggestion and features different sections for things to do before I pack, things to do when I get home as well as items to be packed by category and bag they will go on (I know this seems insane and extremely scary to some people but it works for me and helps keep me calm when I have pre-travel nerves). The list becomes more important then what actually gets packed in the end!

Here is a brief list of what I would normally pack regardless of length of time away from home:

• iPod
• purse/keys/phone + charger
• notepad and pen
• book for reading (and in most cases a magazine too)
• lollies (especially when travelling on a plane when my ears feel like they will burst and I need something to crunch to take my mind off it)
• pyjamas
• clean clothes
• spare plastic carrier bag (because they have so many uses!)
• camera
• paracetamol

And on to poems...I enjoy poetry and always have. I love studying the flow of words and reading the words in my head to try and work out the rythym the author intended. I studied poetry a fair bit at school and English was one of my favourite subjects so most of the poems I remember are ones I originally studied at school.

I have always enjoyed 'To Autumn' by John Keats...maybe because I was originally an Autumn baby...the words he uses are just beautiful and Autumn is probably my favourite season:

SEASON of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o’er-brimm’d their clammy cells.

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reap’d furrow sound asleep,
Drows’d with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

And reading that back has also reminded me of my favourite hymn - another Autumn theme:

Autumn days, when the grass is jewelled
And the silk in a chestnut shell
Jet planes meeting in the air to be refuelled
All these things I love so well
So I mustn't forget
No, I mustn't forget
To say a great big thank you
No, I mustn't forget.

(rest of words can be found here)

I'm also a fan of How Do I Love Thee? by Elizabeth Barrett Browning:

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

And finally - when you need to smile you can't beat a bit of Spike Milligan - this one has always been a favourite of my Mum's...

Today I saw a little work
Wriggling on his belly.
Perhaps he'd like to come inside
And see what's on the telly.

Phew - that's more then enough blogging for today I think! But I'm hoping to be back tomorrow with some thoughts on Prompt 5.

Back to class and potential regular blogging

I am taking this online scrapbooking class at the moment but it is so much more then just a scrapbooking class. The class meets several of my goals...it involves my creativity and scrapbooking, my writing and learning more about myself.

It also includes daily blogging prompts! Now, I don't promise to blog everyday but I will try and be a bit more regular and answer some of the prompts!

The class is over 5 weeks and the themes this week are time and travel. At the start of each week we get photograph assignments, then some journalling/writing assignments mid week before design assignments to get it all down on scrapbook pages at the end of the week.

I have been giving a lot of thought to both of this weeks themes...especially during the 3 hours of driving I did today to attend a course for work.

I will attempt the first 2 blogging prompts now.

My Freedom Blogging Prompt 1 - Post a picture you take from your clock adventure as you look for all the time pieces in your house. Tell your blog readers about this project and you hope to make time for it.

I haven't had much of a chance to take many time piece pictures yet because it's been dark when I've been getting home from work but I will do some work on this later on in the week and try to post a picture then. I thought I had a picture of me at the human sundial in Wellington and was going to post that but I can't find it. I did find this sketch though (courtesy of Google images) so you can see what I am talking about!

My Freedom Blogging Prompt 2 - If you could travel in time for just one day, where would you go and what would you do?

I don't want to have regrets about my life. I am trying very hard to look at everything that happens from different angles to find the good in everything (this is very difficult sometimes but with a little time I normally find at least one good thing to say about something I would have previously regarded as bad). For this reason I don't want to go back in my own lifetime to change something I did because I like to think that I wouldn't be the person I am now if I did that. I am also not keen to go forward in my own life because with my positive outlook (or attempt at it anyway!) I want to think that what happens will happen and yes I can choose my path but I want it to be a little bit of a surprise.

So I think given the chance I would like to go back in history to a time before I was born. I have always had a fascination with egyptian times as well as the regency era so I think it would be cool to go back to either of these times to experience life as it was. And again, thanks to Google images for these two...

And now - who knows - I might be back tomorrow with another blogging prompt answer!

Quizzy

Just emailed this to a few people so decided to post it on here too. I 'stole' it from a blog I subscribe too. A very interesting trip down memory lane.

Ten years ago:
It was 1998 (wow, aren't I clever!) which would have made me 16 and just finished school and my GCSE's - I would have finished my exams and my results wouldn't be out until August. I had plans to carry on at Sixth Form in September to do my A levels. I was working at Sainsbury's Supermarket, Southend. I was an Aunty (just once at this stage). And wait a minute....I think I was in Spain with 3 girls from school (only 1 of which I am still in contact with). I was drinking alcohol but think I had given up on the idea that smoking was cool at this point. I had big plans for seeing more of the world and am quite happy to report I didn't do too badly. I was friends with Vikki and Sarah but hadn't had much to do with Lou yet and Graeme was not even on the radar! I'm fairly certain that I thought I knew everything and was extremely grown up when in actual fact I had a hell of a lot still to learn. Hmmm, 1998 doesn't seem like long ago but the person I was then seems a million miles away from the person I am now.

Five things in todays 'to do list':
1) Go to Curves (haven't been since 16 May - naughty!)
2) Find some corporate sponsors for the rebrand in August
3) Get warm....it's freezing in here and the heater is on full
4) Write up my interview notes from Friday and Saturday
5) Start an online scrapbooking class by Shimelle

5 Snacks I enjoy:
1) Home made cookies (I just had some and they were yum!)
2) Crackers and cheese (brie is my favourite)
3) Anything with chocolate
4) Hot buttered toast
5) Cookie slice which is completely unhealthy but so amazingly yummy.

5 Things I would do if I was a millionaire:
1) Send open tickets to all my close friends and family so they can come visit me in NZ and do some extra travelling too
2) Finally get married and have it exactly as I wish with no budget worries (This will happen anyway but just not on a millionaire scale!)
3) Get my Mum and Brother and his family into NZ to live
4) Take a sabbatical to do some travelling....definetly to somewhere warmer
5) Possibly volunteer overseas but maybe I just like the idea of that rather then actually doing it!

5 Places I have lived:
1) Palmerston North, New Zealand
2) Southend area, Essex, England
3) Glasgow, Scotland
4) Colchester, Essex, England
5) In my own little Katieland (95% of the time)

And in my next life I would like to be a fairy princess...

...although with these shoes I reckon I could pass as one just now ;-)

I love them....highly impractical...but faced with the choice of sensible shoes to wear or ones that make me smile I picked these!

Goal update (seeing that's what this blog is supposed to be all about)

Health & Fitness

Lose 20kg
Not there yet by any means. In fact, it's safe to say I haven't lost any weight (or what I had lost I have put back on). I have started a new healthy eating regime today though and I am writing down what I eat...long may it continue.

Aim for 3 Curves workouts every week
I haven't been to Curves regularly for about 2 and a half months which is shocking...I am determined to get back into it though and will be aiming for 2 workouts this coming week.

Do at least 1 other type of exercise each week (swimming, long walk, badminton etc)
To some extent I have been managing this although it's only ever been taking the dog for a walk. I got on the treadmill this morning for 15 minutes and hope to do that 3 times this week (plus 2 curves workouts will mean 5 lots of exercise).

Stop taking the pill and monitor effects to see if my health improves
I've done this! (Yay, something I can say I have completed!) Am feeling much better having come off the pill - things still aren't quite back to normal hormone wise but I'm pretty certain they are gradually coming right. I'm so glad I did this.

Attend meditation or yoga class for relaxation (and if I like it - continue to attend)
Something else I've done! I did go to a meditation class but I'm not convinced it was for me so haven't pursued that any further. I am trying to find other ways of relaxing (which don't involve emptying my mind...too difficult!)

Cut MSG out of diet completely
I've not done too badly with this. I had a relapse a couple of weeks ago where I was craving salt and vinegar crisps and all other things MSG. I'm trying to get back on the wagon now though and have discovered Salt and Vinegar Pringles don't contain MSG which is a big help!

Writing
Edit novel completed during NaNo 2007 and submit to at least one contest
Haven't got very far with this although I did start looking at the novel a couple of months back but haven't done anything further on it since.

Write at least one 50,000 word novel
I am planning to do NaNoWriMo again this year which is when I will write this year's novel.

Research and submit query for 2 magazine/newspaper articles
Nothing here yet but there is still time.

Wedding
Get a date confirmed for the wedding
It feels like we have gone backwards rather then forwards on this. There is definetly nothing confirmed and we have really had to go back to square 1 in terms of location as well.

Work out a wedding budget
We have done this to some extent which is how we ended up at Square 1. The plan to get married in Italy just isn't going to be feasible due to budget restraints.

Work out a plan of what needs to be done when and put into action
Need to work on this some more once we have decided if we are going to get married in NZ next year...which is the current plan.

Try wedding dresses on once lost 15kg
Not yet - see Health and Fitness!

Relationships
Update K and G NZ blog regularly (at least once a month) so family and friends can see what we are up to
I'm managing this and trying to update weekly or fortnightly which is pretty good going. Whether or not anyone is reading it is another matter...but I feel good knowing the updates are there if people want to read them!

Commit to one evening (or weekend afternoon) per week of quality time with Graeme, by ourselves (ie, go out for dinner, watch a movie together, play a game etc)
Well, we haven't set a certain day each week for this but I think we are doing okay here. Mostly spending time together at home, for example - curling up on the sofa and watching Ice Age last night or playing Singstar.

Email, text or phone one of my close friends/family members at least once a week to keep in touch
I've been trying with this one...there's definetly more room for improvement but I'm not doing too badly. Have been texting and speaking to family and trying to email and Facebook message friends.

Creativity/Personal Development
Make time at least once per month for scrap-booking or other crafts
Am definetly achieving this goal. I am so pleased with the amount of creativity I have achieved so far this year! Lots of scrapbooking pages and other projects. I am currently taking an online scrapbooking class which is proving lots of fun, I am taking part in the monthly scrap your day challenge and I have been attending classes locally too! I am having lots of fun being creative.

Attend a class/workshop to learn a new skill (Italian for beginners, drawing, painting, ceramics)
Well - I am counting the Herbs course as this goal so another thing ticked off! I may go and do something else like ceramics later on and I am really keen to do a photgraphy course but not sure I will get that done this year.

Update this blog regularly (aim for once a week) to keep tabs on where I am at with achieving my goals and what obstacles are in my way
Well I certainly haven't been updating and monitoring my goals weekly which is probably why the health and fitness goals have gone out the window. Today is a new day though and I will be trying hard to keep on top of my goals.

Overall

I'm fairly pleased with how I have done so far. I could do with a little bit more balance in the areas...it seems I am overdoing it in some areas which is affecting my success in others...but that has always been my problem.

I feel that if I can get the health and fitness routine back up and running and make some decisions about the wedding that it will all be coming together.

I miss trains...

Handwritten on Thursday 12th June at 10am

I'm on the train from my hotel in Greenlane to Britomart in Auckland (I'm here with work) and I've realised I miss trains!
This is the first train I've been on in New Zealand (& yes, it will be 3 years here at the end of this month...crazy, huh?)
There is something relaxing about the sound of the train on the tracks and the slight rocking of the carriage.
Don't get me wrong - I don't think I could go back to a daily train journey but every now and again it would be nice to sit back and stare into space as I journey to work (rather then fight that manic Palmy traffic...yeah right!)
Of course, the train I'm on was 10 nminutes late and I couldn't be doing with going on some train company's timetable every day - that's just too annoying - but while I sit here today I'm grateful for being on a train once again and having that feeling of being chauffered to my destination giving me time to do and think whatever I want (within reason).
Maybe the fact that I am writing these thoughts down rather then staring blankly at the scenery as it flashes by or the groovy colourful pattern on the seat covers means I am just not equipped to be a train commuter anymore.
Wow - I can see the Sky Tower! I'm off to have an adventure in Auckland knowing I'll (hopefully) be back in safe, quiet, comforting Palmerston North later tonight.

PS - how badly do I need an iPhone so I could write and post this blog message live from the train...that would be so cool!

Yeuch...

Feeling yucky at the moment...have been sick over the weekend and then had to go to the dentist this morning for 2 fillings. I came home and crawled into bed feeling like a hamster with over-stuffed cheeks. Not a good look. Slept a couple of hours then finished reading a really cool book (if you like that sort of thing). Then I came down to the lounge and watched a bit of Ellen and now there is nothing on the telly and I am considering watching a good ole Rom Com Chick Flick to lift my spirits again.

I really need to have a look at my goals again soon but I don't feel like I have the energy today. Can you believe it's June already...that's just down-right crazy...we're almost half way through the year and I'm fairly certain I am not half way through my goals.

I am off to use up all my remaining energy on picking a movie. Might be back later this week in higher spirits (I hope).

Handbag (Tagged by Kelly)

Kelly tagged me to do this so here it is!

1. Take a photo of your handbag

2. List what is in it (no leaving anything out!)

Okay so my bag is pretty old - the make is Custard and I got it for a bargain in a surfy type shop in Braehead Shopping Centre, Glasgow many moons ago. I'm sure it was a fiver or some other complete steal! It's not my full time bag as I tend to swap. I normally use a different bag for work but as I have been on holiday this week I downgraded to a smaller bag. It's still quite a "Mary Poppins" number though in that I seem to be able to cram a lot in.

And here is a list of what's in it currently:

• Purse (purple, make: Jag, containing: various credit and eftpos cards, loyalty cards for a number of places where I don't seem to shop, 2 pairs of earrings - I have a habit of taking them off half way through the day and chucking them in my purse, $2.20 in change)
• 2 packets of tissues - one menthol, one plain
• my red iPod Nano in it's pink snoopy bag (bought in Hong Kong at the night markets)
• a pink highlighter (I love hightlighting things randomly and I also like pink)
• a Gap (organisation I work for) pen (not pictured)
• Panadol (7 left on the strip of 10)
• a silver packet which contains a rugby trading card which you get free in packets of crisps - this is from the bag of crisps I got from the cinema last week and I'm saving it for my boss's children who collect them
• Mills and Boon Novel - The Inconvenient Bride by Anne McAllister - for some light hearted reading when the going gets tough
• Whitcoulls $20 voucher (remaining from $30 of vouchers I got from my birthday last October) - I have been saving it for something really special that I wouldn't normally buy and so far have not found anything that merits it's worth
• my crappy Nokia cell phone circa 1960 (at least that's how old it looks) - I really want a new one but don't have the inclination to spend the huge amount that phones seem to cost here in NZ
• United Video coupons - from last Saturday and Tuesday when I got movies and a Singstar game for my week off
• Purple glasses cleaning cloth although I can never find it when I want to use it and end up using my sleeve or bottom of my top instead
• Camera case (which also normally holds the camera except I needed the camera to take the picture)

Wow - that was quite fun! And for once I don't seem to have too much crap in my bag! On any other day it's quite possible by bag could have contained any of the following:

• poo bags for walking the dog
• dog treats
• Graeme's sunglasses
• umbrella
• shopping list
• craft stuff
• water bottle
• notepad
• diary
• a wad of old reciepts mostly from Starbucks

but not today!

So there you have it. I tag anyone who reads this that has the inclination to do it :-)

I'm back! (already!)

I said I would be didn't I?!

Well, day 4 (including weekends) of my 9 days off and I am loving it.

I am feeling pretty laid back and relaxed and I've also done a few things that make me feel like I've achieved something too...it's all good.

• I have baked a lemon cake (all gone) and some chocolate chip cookies (which won't last long once Graeme gets home!)
• I have scrapbooked 1 page (I am waiting for something to dry and then it will be finished and I might take a picture and upload it)
• I have decluttered the bathroom
• I have taken the dog to the vets because he had a gash on his foot on Friday night - he's now on meds and twice daily cleaning with salt water
• I have read
• I have watched one of my 6 DVDs that I hired for this week
• I cut the grass
• I have done heaps of laundry
• I have slept in
• I have been t'internet surfing
• and I am sure there are heaps of other things too!

Oh yeah - and I have taken a couple of photos too including this strange, arty shot

I really do want to learn more about photography. It would be cool to take a class in photography but I would need to find out if I could do it with my point and shoot camera - I don't have enough funds to buy a super dooper 'proper' camera right now. I am occasionally pleased with the photos I manage to take with the current camer though including this one

And as for the rest of my week off? We shall see but I am hoping for more of the same plus I should probably fit some exercise in there too!

I'm hoping to be back again in a few days!