Five Minute Friday: Present

Linking up with the lovely Lisa-Jo like it's my job.

Grateful for a calming of pace, a time to loosen the grip on the reins a little and settle into a gentle trot instead of the full-kilter gallop of the end of term.

5 minutes to write, to think out loud, to let the words take you.

And today's word is....present.

GO.

It's a gift, this moment, this time, this present.  All too often we are called to worry, to fret, to nurse the wounds and hurts of the past; to hope and plan a little too hard for what tomorrow might bring.  We can spend so much time doing so that the present, this precious now, gets neglected.  And that would be a shame.

As much as I'm unhappy in my body right now, its lumps and bumps cumbersome and unattractive, I know I'm lucky in my present form - strong and healthy, smiley and rested.  As much as I can't wait for our wedding next year, our present is beautiful too - shared jokes, big dreams, cuddles with our kittens.  As much as I long for more of a voice at work, the chance to help more people, I know my present is special too - my little form of eighteen and I make big leaps together and our stories are woven together in a cool way.

The present is a blessing.

I'm learning, as I grow older, to appreciate the present more and more.  Where the younger me, impetuous thing that she could be, found only frustration or worry, I can now relish most moments and find the sweetness within.  I say 'most' purely because some things (some big, some small), alas, must be endured, not enjoyed!  But in most moments, in most 'presents', there's goodness to be had.  An hour long commute is a chance to read more of my book.  An evening along means writing and TV can move up the agenda.  There are many people on this planet who would give much for a present just like mine, sat here in my home, typing on a computer, safe, using words learned from years of education, before heading downstairs to cuddle my cats, have a drink of water, and decide what food to take from my amply stocked kitchen to make dinner for me and my fiancé.

Truly I am blessed with this gift, this present.

I hope that you too have a present worth cherishing.

STOP.

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Blog Every Day in May: Dream Job

Today on BEDM, we're two-thirds of the way through and today we are writing about our dream job.

I'm very lucky, because I do my dream job.  Well, one of them.

In my youth, once my fantasies of becoming Oprah, Meryl, Mary Poppins or John Craven had subsided, I had boiled down my career choices to four clear favourites: teacher, writer, singer, mum.

I always tell my class that I'm very lucky.  I have not just one, but three or four vocations, and I get to enjoy them all.

I love to teach.  Spending my days surrounded by wee folk, helping them, encouraging them, guiding them....that's my idea of a good time.  I also love the sector I teach in - being in an independent school is a different ball game (while still startlingly similar - all teachers have plenty in common!), with some different skills required (while others which are needed in spades in state education are left unused).  I love that I get to specialise in certain areas - English, Maths, Humanities and pastoral care - while still working with the age group I adore the most (7-11).  I'm also most fortunate in finding my niche so early in my career - it turns out my boundless energy, sense of humour and Labrador-esque levels of enthusiasm works well for teaching classes of boys!  That said, I loved teaching co-ed too, and every so often the thought of trying girls only education flits across my noodle (when I'm not marking/planning/workshopping!).

My other loves work into my life in other ways.  I write a lot, both here on my blog and elsewhere - poems, stories, limericks for my class.  While my singing has taken a back seat since I moved to London, I can still carry a tune, and have enough remembrances from my youth to recall my singing adventures.  The mum thing may or may not happen, but I'm lucky enough to have a bundle of friends whose children I will spoil rotten if it doesn't!

I am an infinitely lucky girl.  I get to live my dream.

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Five Minute Friday: Friend

 

Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

After a hiatus of sorts, I'm linking up again with Lisa-Jo for Five Minute Friday.  Love the chance to write and read and think and share!

This week's prompt?  Is friend.

Writing about my friends?  Is nothing but a pleasure :)

GO.

Of the many, many blessings in my life - family, health, home, talents, job, kitties, adorable fiancé - my wonderful friends often stick out as one that I must appreciate and take joy in.  Every single day.  If you had told me back in childhood how full to the brim my life would be with inspirational, loving, giving, hilarious people who I adore and who love me just as I am, I'm not sure I would have believed you.

These are the people who make me me.  Who have listened to my ridiculous songs, my stories, my problems; dried my tears of sorrow, pain or frustration; supported me; whooped with joy when I've announced a new job, a new home, an engagement; hugged me when I need the warmth and comfort of a dear friend; set me straight when I've needed to woman up; and made me laugh, time and time and time again.

The love and joy and wonder they pour into my life is amazing.  It's the late night text message, the singalong in the car, the facebook post when I'm feeling a little low, the insistent belief that I'm pretty / clever / worthwhile (even when my own disloyal heart cries out otherwise!).  I'm so lucky to walk through life with such an awesome cast of characters.

My friends teach me something daily and never fail to inspire.  In their own, very different ways, these men and women show me how to live well, and make me want to be a better person because of how brilliant they are.  Their talent, intelligence and kindness frequently leaves me agape and I am so blessed by their generosity, warmth and love.  Like almost everyone, I've had poor friends too in the past - the unkind, the gossipy, the manipulative - but now I'm even grateful for them and for those tricky times.  Having dealt with those people makes me all the more aware how lucky I am in my friends now.

If I'm half the friend to them my friends are to me, I would happily consider myself a success.  I give thanks for the people I call 'friend' every day, and I truly hope that everyone reading this has people in their life that make them feel just as happy.

STOP.

Happy Friday, all!

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Free from the February Funk

You may (or may not) have noticed that I’ve posted a little less recently.  It’s not that I haven’t wanted to, it’s more that the annual battle between February and me has been raging on, and while I can now say I have the upper hand (half term break does that to a girl!), it was iffy for a couple of weeks!

February has long been the least favourite of my months, and it always kicks my butt a little.

Luckily, several lovely things (the arrival of our beautiful niece, on whom much much much more later; a valiant attempt at a difficult goal; a gorgeous wedding in York with some people Matthew and I adore; a change in the weather - from grey and wet to crisp and bright; more time together with Matthew; half-term break) have all arrived/happened in the past week, so the February funk has well and truly been defeated.  Like a boss.

And it feels good to be back in my regular groove, with fresh insights providing me with the necessary perspective to see how lucky I am.  My life is not perfect (but really, whose is?), but it is beautiful.  I’m so blessed to live the life I do.  

To be kind and and gentle and sometimes a little shambolic, and to have people need me and appreciate this part of me.

To loved and be loved.  

To see the wonder in a spiderweb, a dancefloor, a baby’s gurgle.

To wake up beside my love and to go to sleep after chatting the evening away.

To dream big and to hope just as big.

To be inspired by the people and things around me.  

To have the chance to help.

To have not just one family, but two, who treasure me for me and who let me be part of their stories.

To have three little furballs who make me giggle every day and whose cuddles soothe many of the hurts of the day to day.

To have a job where I feel I’m making a difference, which challenges and stimulates me - and frequently cracks me up.  

To have friends who challange me, inspire me, love me and make my world beautiful and strange and wonderful.

To sleep long and hard and deep.

To be reasonably healthy - sure I’d love to be skinnier, but I am hale and hearty and healthy.  

To have a hundred stories and thousands of words in my head at any one time, ready to play and sing and share.

To have time to read and write and yomp up hills in the blue skies and frosts of a February morning.  

To have a past to learn from and a future to look forward to.

To live in one of the most beautiful, vibrant, ridiculous cities on earth.  

To have money.  Sometimes with savings and student loans and the stuff of life it may nor seem like much, granted, but enough to send birthday cards in the mail, buy a new cardigan when the old one frays, or grab a mocha on a murky Monday morning.

To own a home, in all its ‘getting-there, projects-and-plans, ‘oops-I-inadvertently-ironed-the-carpet’ glory.

And that’s why I can’t hate the February funk, even though it makes me a little blue for a week or two.  Because it never fails to remind me just how lucky I am.  I feel renewed.

Glad to be back.  How are you, lovelies?

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Our Christmas

What a lovely Christmas!

How were your celebrations?  I dearly hope that you all had a sweet and lovely day.  Our Christmas really has been a triumph of comfort and ease.  I'm sat here typing this post in the wee hours of Boxing Day, tapping away on my Christmas present (thank you, badger!), watching Downton Abbey and sipping a frosty G&T.  Here are a few pictures from the days events.

Our table, all set and ready for action earlier today.

 My late night leftovers sandwich - turkey, stuffing & cranberry sauce.  Absolutely delicious!  I swear, this is my favourite meal of the whole season.

Lunch!  We had such a delicious selection - beef, turkey, pigs in blankets, stuffing, roasties, gravy, sprouts, carrots, squash, red cabbage and cranberry sauce.  I feel stuffed just looking at it!

My gift from Matthew!  I am such a lucky girl.  I am typing away on it right now and am very much enjoying getting to know how it works.  It's so zippy!

Poppet enjoyed having lots of people around to tell her she is beautiful.

Pile o' gifts!

Eileen and Rory joined us for the day, and it was so nice to have them with us!  We ate, drank, and were very merry!

Dave the tree in all his glory, beladen with gifts.

Fry very much enjoyed the wrapping paper remnants.

Sweet Leela just wanted to smile for the camera (as ever!),

The evening was board games.  We were a little underwhelmed with Rummikub....

...discovered that Rory is a shark when it comes to Scrabble...

...and played a couple of games of Trivial Pursuit.  As well as having a wee relax in front of the TV for a couple of hours to let the food digest!

A happy Boxing Day to you all!

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Five Minute Friday: Thank You

It's one of my favourite times of the week.

Time to link up with Lisa-Jo for Five Minute Friday.

And in this week, what better theme than 'thank you'?

GO.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for this wonderful, busy, silly, lovely, stressful, rewarding, challenging and fulfilling life. 

Thank you even for the things I'm not always eager to praise, for I know in the frustrations there are blessings to be counted also.

Thank you for early morning alarms, because even though I struggle to get up at 5.45am, I know I'm lucky enough to have a job to get to, in an economy where not everyone is able to work.  I also know that getting up is a trial because my bed is warm and comfy, so thank you for my cosy, safe bed.

Thank you for my mortgage.  It's big, it's a little scary, and it sometimes prevents the buying of shoes/cocktails/plane tickets, but I'm so grateful to have a home, a space, a place to call our own.

Thank you for the litter tray.  I know as I clean it I can grimace a little, but it's there because I'm lucky enough to have not one, not two, but three adorable cats.  Thank you for Poppet and Leela and Fry.

Thank you for marking, for the piles of scripts and books.  All the paper cuts and late nights and missed fun times are worth it, for I have students who work well and make progress, and I'm so thankful for that.

Thank you for the quarter-to-midnight emails.  While replying to them bleary-eyed can seem a strain, I know I'm blessed to teach children whose parents are so engaged with what we do in school.

Thank you for the crush of the tube, elbows in my shoulder, face smushed to the window.  I'm so lucky to have a safe and convenient way to get to and from work.

Thank you also for all the more obvious blessings - my love, my health, my family, my friends.  A million little kindnesses, adding up to a life that should always be one of thankfulness.

STOP.

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Five Minute Friday: Welcome

GO.

What a joy to feel welcome.

To feel needed.

To feel loved.

Respected.

Understood.

Treasured.

To know that people care for you and about you.

That you're on their mind.

Whether it's a silly text, a hearty hug, or a precious note, to feel valued and heard.

We all deserve that.

I hope you have that.

Wishing you all a lifetime of warm welcomes.

STOP.

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Thank you

For everything you lovely people bring into my life, thank you.  Thank you for reading, commenting, believing, inspiring and sharing.  I really do feel so blessed to be able to write and share my little life here, and to be able to do this wonderful life alongside you all.  Your kindnesses and understanding mean more to me than I think I'll ever be able to communicate.  So thank you.

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Worth remembering

 

Source: beautybroadcast.net via Claire on Pinterest

How lucky I am. And grateful as ever to count the blessings. Have a great week, all!

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Things I Like Thursday (with a linky *and* a giveaway!)

Yay!  It's Thursday!  And I've decided to revive my 'Things I Like Thursday' posts as a weekly happening.  If something is making you smile, count your blessings, or giggle today, I'd love you to link up with the linky at the bottom.  I'm also going to run a giveaway this week, to encourage you to join in (details at the bottom of this post).  It could be a list of things, just one thing, a post about someone or something awesome, or a funny video that's garnered a smile.  Positivity for the win!

I started these posts years ago to help keep a list of all the things that make me happy.  I believe firmly in counting blessings and remembering the good stuff, and when I'm having a rough day, a surefire way to cheer myself up is to click the 'TIL' label and look back over the many posts full of lovely, funny things!

My ten Things I Like this week are:

1.  ONE MONTH TILL KITTEHS!  This time in a month Matthew and I will be getting ready to set off to the shelter to pick our very own cats/kittens.  A whole world of excitement!

2. Speaking of kittehs, this:



3. The sun is back!  Hope it stays for our away days next week!

4. Getting the giggles on the tube.  I was dashing in the other day, changed at Bond Street and jumped on the train moving away from school and back towards home. I then totally cracked up with the giggles, much to the amusement of the businessmen and women heading into work.  Crazy lady on the train, that's me!

5. Cheesey country music on my iPod.  I am in love with Brad Paisley's song, Then.  So beautiful.



6. Making time for the fun things - phone calls and friends and blogging.

7. A Feast For Crows.  I'd been told it was the worst of the A Song of Ice And Fire books, but Martin has totally drawn me in once more!

8. Naps.  They've featured on these lists before, but it bears repeating!

9. Leopard print shoes.  Comfy and just silly enough to make me grin mid workday!

10. My new pyjamas, pictured above.  Gotta love Animal!

This week's giveaway!*

Something which I really 'like' is sending mail and writing letters.  To this end, link up below (could be any time in the next week, doesn't have to be on a Thursday!) and if you win the giveaway, some Claire-mail (value £25 inc postage) will wing its way to you!  I love buying little treats and sweets to brighten someone's day, and this post seemed the perfect time to combine that particular Thing I Like with my Things I Like series :-).  Good luck - can't wait to read your posts!

*Giveaway runs until 11pm BST, next Wednesday (20th).

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Starry night

Source: ffshare.com via Linda on Pinterest

I must have said this rhyme thousands of times.  On cold crisp Forresian nights, on sultry Canarian evenings, atop hills, on beaches, with friends, with a special someone, alone....I've looked up to the sky and wished a wish upon a star.

I did just that last night.

I was tidying up a few bits in the second floor rooms in our house when I looked up, out of the Velux window.  And there, twinkling high above the rooftops and busy-ness and light pollution of East London and the Olympic Park, was a star, twinkling.  And the old rhyme sprang to mind, unbidden, and suddenly I was making a wish.

Even though I'm a grown up, and I know wishes don't always come true, the compulsion to make the wish remains.  And I'm glad I still do this, because it reminds me of all the wishes I made at 5, at 12, at 23...and reminds me how lucky I am to have had so many of my wishes come true.

Of course, I can't tell you what the most recent one was...

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Things I Like, Thursday 31st May.

1. Reading on the tube.  Makes my commutes fly by!

2. This song.  I like the Nicki Minaj version, but the Glee version takes all the swears out.  Brilliant!



3.  Jubilee weekend plans, all very chilled and lovely.

4. John Lewis being ten minutes away.

5. Sunshine (even if it's meant to go soon!).

6. Funfilled Skype sessions.

7.  Baby based emails from lovely friends.

8. Two fun weddings coming up in the next two months.

9. Girldates and the chance to spend time with my lovely girls :)

10.  The fact that at 6 pm tomorrow, Matthew and I both have 9 days off work.  There's so much to do in the house, it'll be lovely to paint and tidy and organise and relax together!

How about you?

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An evening of flowers

The hot weather continues here in London - everyone is out in short-sleeved shirts, maxi dresses, sandals and shades, and the propensity to nap, soak up the sun, and socialise is strong.  This evening I had to dash after school to get down to Chelsea for the Chelsea Flower Show.  It's a major event here in town, and I was so pleased to finally get to it in my third year here in the city.  I went with three of my lovely JLL buddies, Bejay, Christa and Samantha, and it was grand to walk around chatting and take a look at so many beautiful displays.  Gorgeous start to a weekend!  Here are a few photos of our visit:

 Beautiful Samantha.

 Bejay, Christa and I, enjoying a Pimms!

 The girls had never experienced a '99' ice cream with a flake before, so of course we had to have one :)

 Hugely inviting garden set.  Maybe in the next house?

Aren't these seats awesome?  I love that they are my initial too!

We took a lot of photos!

Garden skeleton, anyone?

A picnic table with a BBQ grill in the middle.  Genius!

There were a great mix of displays - old, new, funky, traditional.  Lots to see!

Plenty of shout outs to Her Majesty.  So excited for the Jubilee long weekend!

Diarmid Gavin, one of the most famous horticulturists in the UK, had a beautiful garden on display.  he caught me trying to snap him and was kind enough to give a small smile.  Cheers, Diarmid!

Gorgeous Begonias!

A 'watercolour' made entirely of petals and the like.  Stunning!

Christa taking time to smell the flowers!

Each display had its own brilliant little touches!

The four of us by the pagoda.  These girls are such fun!

What a lovely evening. :-)

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Things I Like Thursday, Thursday 17th May

1. Leyton mess - my lower fat version of Eton Mess.  Very simple recipe to follow soon!

2. Chilled beer and unpacking, listening to tunes (some current faves at the end of this post).

3. My boy being home, and not due to go away again for ages.  I love that he's all talented and busy and in demand and all, but I prefer him here :-).

4. Smiling at people on the tube/in the street/at the store.  I've decided to embrace my innate 'good-at-happy' nature and put it to good use, London protocol be dashed.

5. Sunshine + comfy bed in a south facing bedroom + good book = lazy perfection.

6. Having a bath again.  Now I just need to find and unpack my good bath oils!

7. Daydreaming about what to do with the top three rooms (which are currently filled with junk, ha!).

8. Ben and Jerry's Phish Food Froyo.  Even better when it's half off!

9. Finding a new skill - I'm fast becoming quite the Ikea furniture building pro!

10. Planning for kittens!  Pet insurance is way more fun to organise than any other kind of insurance, it seems.

What's making you super happy right now?  I'd love to hear in the comments!

As promised, here are a few of my current unpacking tunes:
My boys are very into this song at the moment, and now I seem to really like it! Warning, the next video contains some swears. But it's also hilarious and totally makes my English major self laugh! First heard it a while back but still love it. I like Jason Mraz's latest: Love this too: Et finallement, a song I've liked for ages...but only figured out the name of last month.
 

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Work in progress

So, we've been owners of our house for a fortnight, but it still very much feels like box central as we only moved the bulk of our stuff across last weekend and we're still waiting on deliveries/building furniture.  Add in the fact that it's been a busy work and social week for me and Matthew's been away, and this weekend is the first real chance I've had to do some serious unpacking/sorting (today: laundry, unpack at least a dozen boxes, finish sorting kitchen, build shelves for my room.  Tomorrow: more boxes, change bedding, build dining room set.  Monday: do all the school work I need to do, clear up some of the 'junk' we've accrued in the process of unpacking/building).

What's that old saying?  "It's not going to be easy....but it is going to be worth it."  Here's hoping :-).

Here are a few instagrammed photos of the work in progress - I'm hoping that in a couple of weeks I can update and you'll see a real difference!

Boxes all packed up at the other end and ready to move!

 

 The current state of the Claire Lair, where I'm typing this.  Shelves, boxes and baskets should be sorted later!

 Matthew's study.  Totally not even trying to organise that - there will definitely be a system going on!

 The back end of our sitting room, full of boxes and bags and bits.  Hoping to find homes for a lot of this before school starts again on Tuesday.

 Front of sitting room - we have sofas!  And cushions! And as you can see, the badgers and fish are making themselves comfortable.

 The label on this box continues to make me giggle.

Piles and piles of stuff in our room....but looking a lot better than it was!

 

 A picture from the day we got the keys.  Bollinger and a badger - what's not to love?

Dining room, yet more boxes.  This move is doing wonders for my upper body strength.

So that's the state of play.  As I type the man from Sky is popping our new dish up, and hopefully Ikea will finally fulfil our whole order later today (only 15 days late!).  Kaz and Vixie are both popping in for tea, and Eileen's round for dinner, so as well as all the work today sounds rather jolly.  So I'd better get back to it.  Happy weekend, all!

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