TiLT a day late

Doesn’t very often happen on a Thursday!

Hmmm…

Vennels Cafe! My haven for actually getting MA work done and not staying at home watching One Tree Hill. It’s rather marvelous to have free coffee and a fairly quiet, beautiful, comfortable place to work. Making fast progress on getting to that distinction!

Free international phone calls. Yay, thank you my parents and talk talk broadband for the chance to call my boy for free, though sadly it still costs him a bit.

Walking Holly again. Until I figure out if and when I can get a dog I’m going to try and walk Holly most days. This week I’ve walked her with Simon, Jen and James – the latter on the Yorkshire Moors. Lovely.

Having friends to talk to. It’s a brilliant thing to be cheered up by people and have someone to vent to!

Having the house to myself. It’s been quite relaxing to be on my own a little.

New hair… slightly

I just made it a little bit dark red so the blonde bits are red and the brown bits look red in the light. I like it for a change though.

I miss Mike.

Happily walked Holly today which was really fun as always.

Living in the future…

I’m sick of living in the future! Maybe because I’ve just written out my list of things I’m grateful for and remembered some of the good things about the present. I want to plan for the future and have savings and a career and do the things I want to and be responsible, but I don’t want to be lost in a future-fantasy when I could be living on that energy now.

I’m making a commitment to myself to live in the present from now on. To grab opportunities as they come and work on long term things (MA, saving up for things, friendships, relationships, health) every day rather than putting things off for an easier day. I feel so unsatisfied with my future-focused attitude.

I intend to go for long walks and feel the breeze, walk my neighbour’s dog every day until I can buy my own, deal with issues when they arise, actually run instead of simply looking at my beautiful clean trainers, approach God more often and with less terror, focus on my work every day so that my dreamed-of future actually materialises, learn to paint if I want to paint, look at art more than once a month, make a workspace and think about getting a studio again, stop eating dairy (!), do all the things I wish I was doing even if they begin on a smaller scale than in my fantasy, make priorities, cultivate discipline and some beautiful plants on my windowsill too, stop holding back when I have so much to offer, stop holding back in case I have to move again, be more filled with wonder and compassion and listening.

A bit embarrassed by my list but also glad that I want some of this stuff. Need to go for it as well as be restful too.

TiLT

Forgot to do this yesterday… the week has gone so fast now that I’m back in Durham.

Walking Holly the wonderful labradoodle. I’m planning to get one of my own in the next year but have some saving up to do first.

The coldness, breezes and rain and thick-leaved trees over here. It’s beautiful.

Full fridge! Lots of food. At parents house until I find somewhere of my own.

Thinking about making progress this year. The autumn drawing in always makes me hungry for change and ready to do better. I’ve already worked on quite a bit this summer and need to keep going, building on the changes.

Meeting new people. One thing this year (hmm still thinking in terms of academic years) starts today as I’m going to look at a house with some people I don’t know! Not sure if I’ll take it as they don’t want a dog, but we’ll see how it goes.

That’s all for today. It’s funny adjusting back to British life. Looking forward to a certain visitor in January!

Back in the UK

Arrived back in Durham on Sunday afternoon. It’s peaceful here, beautiful and old. Plan to stay here for a while… some plans: rent a house in Sacriston, get a lovely dog, get a distinction for year 1 of my MA and get back to being an artist.

Will try and keep track of things on the blog and see if I have the inclination to keep it up in Britain.