Hello 2016

Well it's been an insanely long time since I blogged. Pretty much three years ago. Amazing how time flies. The foetus that was in my womb last time I blogged is now a stunning, articulate, intelligent and hilarious toddler that makes me grateful every single moment of the day. I was in Crawley in a new build in my last post, now in a pretty lush, Victorian London flat. I was still at Anti-Slavery in 2013 and now I'm surrounded by a pile of History books to be marked as I'm a History NQT. I still didn't look particularly pregnant during that post but now I'm a solid 12 stone with new mum weight that has stubbornly gone nowhere for the last 2.5 years.

Things that make you go ummmmm...

Arrived back from Ireland last week, all about ready to explode from the two weeks of being bed-ridden and then being taken off a malfunctioning plane to wait two hours for it to be repaired before herded back on. Gotta love Ryan Air!
Arrived back and never felt happier to be home. Being sick away from home somehow makes it much worse. My spirits were instantly raised by the package Dave collected from the kind neighbour who had kept if for us. It was totally unexpected goodie back of the loveliest smelling and looking soaps, body butter and lip balm, plus a chocolate that was instantly devoured. It just made me so happy to receive the package after being ill and just the fact that Rachel made time for me despite all she has going on. She is truly one of life's earthly angels and I'm so grateful she's in my life, though a kazillion miles away. Love you Rachel Green. X

Getting my drive back on...

So on Friday after work, hot-footed it to what I thought would be my first meditation class, only to find Inner Space in Covent Garden fully shut. Turns out I'd booked class for 18th Jan, not 11th Jan! Duh! Of course I can't attend as off walking in Snowdonia for the weekend. So made it back to my mum's where I undertook the mammoth task of cleaning my sister's room, like the true declutterer that I am. Exhausted, I managed to make it out of bed for my 9am driving lesson. Did ok, nervous as always, especially not having driven in over a year and a half. Instructor reckons I should take test by March, so encouraging. After driving, more decluttering, and then lovely walk through Alexandra Palace park to Crouch end for swimming. Great instructor, but again nervous as scared I'm going to choke on the water and panic as soon as it gets into my nose. I just need to relax, but managed to do backstroke halfway across the pool, so not bad going. Again with practice reckon I'll manage a full length soon. So funny how these seemingly easy and normal skills, I just haven't mastered in my thirty years but suppose that's the point of this journey. Then a very nice wander through Borough Market sampling some of the delights along the way and taking home a very nice selection of savoury tarts.... Sunday, the lovely wedding of the ever beautiful Nadine and Olu. Super lovely day, all done in their own way. Felt very much in a loving space and caught up with folks I haven't seen in eons. So all in all a super weekend. Oh yeah and got my phone back from Dave's lovely sister bringing it all the way from Ireland.

Where to begin?

So I haven't blogged since September, for a number of reasons, been busy, been disorganised etc but mainly been knocked sideways by the unexpected, unplanned news of expecting. The most amazing news in the world ever but it's also left me seriously out of action with lots of sickness and days in bed unable to do anything. Over the worst of it now I think and have a lot more energy, so can start resuming my life again. I toyed with the idea of erasing this blog and starting a whole new one, as it just seems a bit silly to keep moving the goalposts all the time, but taken the philosophical view that as google make it prohibitively difficult to close the linked gmail account and start again, that I should just stick with it. That's how life works, it twists and turns and best laid plans and all that. So here we are. I would like a new tittle for the blog though as I do feel that my journey into adulthood is pretty complete. As scatty as I am, i have a home, hold down a job, pay my bills, I'm settled with a man I adore and we have a baby on the way. Think that's definitely ticking a lot of the traits of being an adult. There are of course still 30 things I would like to complete before I'm 31. I will revamp the current list as my priorities have changed and to be honest, though not documented, I have actually managed to tick a few things off this list, so I'm going to just tweak it so that it reflects the new direction of my life. I'm not going to focus too much on the baby, as much as it is the most amazing news ever, I need to retain a semblance of self, as the only way that I'll be a good parent is by being happy within myself and having a sense of achievement of goals no matter how ridiculous, like having perfect bedding, but that shit makes me happy.

Goal 30: Learn Economics on Youtube

Watched the very straight Stephanie Flanders showcasing this youtube video on a programme about Hayek and thought it hilarious, so gonna sit and watch a series on it.

Goal 29:Do a flotation tank

       
This was the boyfriend's addition to the list. Apparently incredible sensory experience. We'll see.

Goal 28: Learn a hip-hop dance routine

Had so not intended to show this video as my inspiration for learning to crip-walk, but damn girlfriend, Crip-walking at Wimbledon. One word. R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Goal 27: Bike/Hike once a month

Done a little bit of hiking this year, the South of France was amazing and of course hiking in Mauritius and trekking the Cirques in La Reunion was just phenomenal. I love being in nature and really want to get out more as there is so much beautiful countryside in the UK and I want to see lots.