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.

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!

Tough times

It's been a tough few weeks for one reason and another. I am considering changing the security on the blog so people have to be invited and then sending an invite to people who I want to read about my boring (!) life. Maybe once that's done I can share a bit more about what's been happening but let's just say work has been crazy but the light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer. I have been working silly hours and trying to hold the fort but soon I will have some extra help and support.

I need to have another look at my goals soon and work out where I am at. Now that the dust is starting to settle.

I have been doing some stuff I enjoy this weekend - namely scrapbooking which I love! Here is a layout I did on Friday night while Kill Bill was on (we have this movie on DVD - both volumes - and yet we watch it when it's on telly complete with adverts...weird!)

A self portrait I took because I bought a new scarf I liked and then I decided to do a different kind of page inspired by some scrappy/art blogs I've been reading lately.

And here's another one I did a few weeks ago while I'm sharing:

I also made a mini album yesterday for my sister in law's birthday. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. May post some photos of that another day.

Art and scrapping is keeping me sane at the moment. I love being creative and I must admit I love winter because it gives me a good excuse to say snuggled up inside being crafty!

Phew! It's Friday baby!

It's been a big week. A very big week.

And I am so glad it's Friday.

I don't really have any plans for the weekend so I plan to catch up on sleep, exercise, eat some healthy food and relax.

And we now have wireless internet - woo hoo! So I am writing this post in the lounge, on the laptop, during the advert for American Idol. It's fab. Now I can check my emails in bed! Seeing as I plan to spend a lot of time there this weekend this wireless malarky could come in quite handy!

As for the work situation - I didn't get a promotion but I did get what I wanted. I still get to work in a job I love and I have a new manager who sounds like she is really switched on. I am hoping to meet her next week. So it's all change at work but I am hoping it's a move forward and will all be for the greater good.

I recently did an exercise to try and determine my key values which would help me with my goal setting. I realised that balance is a very important value to me. It's interesting - I just google imaged 'balance' and a lot of pictures of scales have come up. I am a libran so I suppose I should have realised that balance would be important to me. This weekend will be about regaining some balance and trying to feel levelled (trying to use another word for balance!)

Balance was possibly the reason I was so keen to try meditation...I did go along to the class last week but I am not certain it's for me. It certainly was an interesting afternoon but I am not sure that it will help me with where I am at at the moment. So meditation will take a backburner for now and I will investigate some other relaxation methods that will help me switch off.

And I also finished my Herbs course this week which was good. I am glad I signed up for it. It's definetly given me some inspiration for using herbs for cooking, crafting and also for medicinal purposes!

I'm off to chill out in front of American Idol and have a relaxing weekend. More on the other goals later methinks.

Weekend...woo hoo!

Yay! It's the weekend - just what I need! It's been a long and tiring week.

I have quite a lot to do this weekend (eeek!)...

I am going to a Learn to Meditate class on Sunday afternoon so come the end of the weekend I should be centred and enlightened....here's hoping!

I have a job interview next week so I have to prepare for that.

I need to go to work for a wee while tomorrow to get some stuff finished before a heavy week next week.

I need to get to the gym and have a go on the Treadmill again (which I've had a couple of go's on so far and man, do I have a long way to go!)

I want to get some writing done this weekend.

Plus I want to sleep...

In fact, I'll think I'll go and make a start on that last one just now

Where I'm at

Nearly 2 weeks since I last posted - oops! I have thought about doing it a few times but then haven't got around to it. Nevermind - I am updating now! And just in time too. I think by updating this it will help me see where my goals are coming along nicely and where they need some more work!

Health and Fitness update

• Weight lost so far - I seem to be losing and putting back on the same couple of 100g these last few weeks so need to do better at watching what I am eating and getting my exercise levels up.


• I only managed 1 curves workout last week and I haven't been to curves yet this week. I am planning to go tonight and then Saturday plus either Thursday or Friday.


• I did the 7km walk last week but this week I missed it (was feeling really lethargic and had some other stuff that was more important - my job application!)


• Also, on the other exercise front - we are looking at buying a Treadmill (from TradeMe) as we can both use it and I can build up my running without feeling like a red faced bad runner on the streets! It will be good for the winter too when I don't want to go out walking or to the gym when it's dark and cold.


• My hormones have been all over the place with coming off the pill. I am taking Evening Primrose and Bio-zinc to try and balance myself out and just need to see what happens. I've heard it can take anywhere between a month and 18 months to get back to normal after coming off the pill having been on it for a long time. The average seems to be about 6 months so I just need to wait and see.


• I have found details of a Learn to Meditate class that is taking place locally on Sunday 9th March so have called to book in for that and managed to rope in a friend to come along as well I hope. It's a 3 hour class and costing $30Nz which I thought was quite reasonable. I'm hoping it's enough of a taster to see if it works for me and if it's something I should pursue further.


• As for MSG - I have virtually cut it out. The 2 times I have eaten it in the last few weeks I have really felt the consequences afterwards - my allergy symptoms go crazy, my nose runs constantly and I feel really tired. Must remember to check all labels before I eat anything!


• No chocolate - that's going well although I haven;t been a complete angel! From 6th February to today (27th) I have had 4 days where I have had chocolate. So it's not completely out but I am pleased I have had so many days without it!

Writing Update

• I am working on editing my NaNo novel. I'm currently trying to story board my plot so I can work out where there are holes that I need to fill and also to see if there are any scenes that don't move the story on. Unfortunately it's not going to be edited in time to submit to the end of February NZ Romance Writers contest but hopefully I will find another contest later on in the year I can submit it to.


• I have had a few ideas for a 2nd story so need to start noting these down so I have something to work on when I'm ready to start.

Wedding Update

• The only thing we've been able to work on so far has been the budget. We have had some disappointing news that we aren't going to get some money through that we were hoping for and that we had planned to use on the wedding. So it's a case of trying to work out what we can afford, how we can get the money together and then getting something booked.


• Obviously with the money not coming through it's put a huge strain on the idea of getting married in a Italian castle. We talked about it though and we want to get married there - even if we have to have fewer guests and pizzas for dinner rather then a la carte food at the reception! So we need to do some serious maths equations and work out how the hell we're gonna make it happen!

Relationships Update

• I put a post on the K & G NZ blog last week and will aim to do another over the next 7 days so I'm happy people are getting a glance at what we've been up to. I think maybe I need to email round to remind people the blog is still there and I am finally posting to it again though!


• We had a lovely Valentines Day together with a meal out. We have also spent some time with friends out together which has been good. I need to try and plan something for this weekend which is cheap (to save for the wedding!) and fun that we can do together. We did play Singstar last weekend by ourselves which was heaps of fun and may be considered 'quality time'!


• I managed to catch up with 2 NZ friends that are not in Palmy anymore over the weekend which was great. Now I need to make sure I'm replying to friends and family back in the UK that have sent emails. I'm not doing too badly at this!

Creativity/Personal Development

• I've been in touch with my scrapbooking buddy (!) and we've agreed to meet up in April to get going on the scrapbooking again which is good. I've spent a small amount of time looking over pages I'd planned etc over the last couple of weeks and hope to spend some time scrapbooking over the next few weekends (if the weather turns bad - if it's good, I will make the most of it and save the crafty stuff for when it's cold and dark!).


• I've had 2 out of 4 of my All About Herbs class so far which has been interesting. I also learnt about Herbal Crafts this week so that appeased my crafty side! Next week we look at Herbs used in Medicine and the final lesson is about Herbs in cooking.


• I've not updated this blog regularly over the last 2 weeks but I'm updating it today. Will try and do little posts in between these big full update posts just to keep my goals fresh in my mind.

Phew - so that's the update on my goals!

I'm also in the process of applying for a promotion at work and have spent quite a few hours trying to decide if it's the right thing to do. I am hoping to finish my application tonight and submit it tomorrow (it closes on Friday) and then it's all up to fate. At least this way I won't look back and wished I'd done more. I can only apply and see what happens.

And maybe one of these days I'll get around to telling some of my friends that this blog is here ;-)

I hate budgets!

Today I really dislike my job.
Overall, in the big scheme of things I quite enjoy what I do and I believe in what the organisation I work for is supposed to stand for.
The bad days happen when I can see that people are taking advantage or not following the rules that are put there for a reason.
The other thing that infuriates me is when people expect you to complete a complex task (budgets for instance) with no guidance, a tight deadline and ridicoulously set up spreadsheets that have no logic.

So that's my rant over. At least when I get these budgets off my desk I will be able to concentrate on recruiting volunteers for 2009 which is a fun part of my job!

My focus for this week

I am back in Palmy after a long weekend away in Auckland for work. I didn't get much down-time at all so unfortunately got no further with the editing of my novel. I did manage to do some planning for this week though.

I am going to try and review my goals each week and decide which ones I need to focus on and how I am going to do this. I plan to do this each Sunday.

So for this week I will be focusing on WRITING and HEALTH & FITNESS.

For the WRITING side of things I want to try and manage 6 hours of editing on my novel this week. Wednesday is a public holiday so I will spend a couple of hours then and also Saturday and Sunday.

As for HEALTH & FITNESS I need to catch up on some sleep and rest after a busy weekend so plan to be in bed by 10.30pm each work night this week. I also want to eat 3 portions of veggies every day, do 3 curves workouts this week (hopefully today or tomorrow, Friday and Saturday) and go for 1 long walk (possibly the 7km Manawatu Striders walk on Tuesday, if not - a big walk with the dog on Wednesday).

I'm going to try and keep Wednesday free from any arrangments with other people. It will be nice to have a quiet day with Graeme, get some things done I want and then relax without any time constraints.

While I was away, Graeme got me the 'Eat that Frog!' anti-procrastination book from the library so I will also be taking some time to read that this week.

And it's my Mum's birthday today so I will be speaking her tonight and telling her how great she is!

And maybe...just maybe, I might go public with this blog this week and email a link to my closest friends so I can get a little support along the way...

Researching...

In typical Kate fashion I have been doing lots of reading up on goal setting.

I tend to spend lots of time doing this then run out of steam when it comes to the actions required! But I am feeling determined this time.

I came across an interesting series of articles in Next magazine written by a life coach. The issue I have has installment 4 of 12 but I was lucky enough to find the previous articles on the life coaches website. There are also some work sheets and things on there that might be useful.

I am also interested to read a book that the life coach recommends...mainly because of it's quirky sounding title: 'Eat that Frog: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done' by Brian Tracy. They have it at the library so will try and get my hands on that one. I, obviously, could do with some tips for stopping procrastination!

I'm off to Auckland with work tomorrow (Thursday) until Sunday. It's a new part of my job which I haven't experienced yet so I'm looking forward to that aspect but I'm not really happy about that length of time away from home at the moment. Having just got settled again at home after our big trip overseas and feeling really run down, working long days and being away from my bed and Graeme and the dog is going to be upsetting.

On the health side of things, I ended up at the doctor's on Monday lunchtime due to on-and-off chest pains I'd been having since Friday night. After an hour of being monitored I got to see a doctor and apparently I have acid reflux which really doesn't seem all that bad compared to the excruciating pain I was in. I've got some medication to take although I have been warned (by a friend) that the tablets can cause more problems then good. At this stage it's good because the pain has stopped but I shall monitor how I am feeling and make sure the pills don't do me any harm.

I haven't done much exercise this week and won't get started on that now until next week.

I do plan to take my NaNo manuscript with me to Auckland on the offchance I get some time to myself and can continue with my read through and editing. And I will be giving lots of thought to my goals and doing some more 'research' if I get the time.

And today I picked out images from Google Images that suit each of the catergories for my goals (2 examples above)...to help me visually link what I am saying to each of my goals.