There's been a lot going on this weekend so it seems a good idea to give Sian a wave. When she wrote her first 'ME ON MONDAY' post she never intended that others would join in, but some liked the idea and now she has a following. I've only just started joining in and may not be here every Monday but I enjoy visiting others who are. Right now it fits well with my 30 day Blogging Challenge so I am here today looking back on my weekend....
And as always it started Friday for me. It was a day for food shopping, tidying, and packing. An increasing pile for a Steampunk event that was planned for Sunday, in readiness for 2 short workshops. So it was a list making, card cutting, preparation and
packing kind-of-day.
And a sinking heart kind-of-day when I couldn't find the rust powder which was an integral part of my design. A keep-calm don't-panic kind-of-day, and trust that it would all work out okay.
It was also another challenged-by-technology kind-of-day. There have been plenty of these in recent months when a simple task can take hours.... when my computer fails to start, or shuts down mid-way. A take-a-deep-breathe and carry-on kind-of-day. I won't bore you with all the details! Suffice to say it seems I need to replace it and sort out other technical glitches too.
It's a test of my patience and perseverence that I have managed to post every one of my 30 day Blogging Challenge.
It was also 'hello son' kind-of-day, with roast dinner and catch up chats. More searching for rust powder, blogging, and late to bed... get up early next morning kind-of-day.
Because Saturday was fun filled! I finally met online friend Deb Wainwright, and we found we had even more in common than we thought. We were both booked on Mark Gould's workshop at That's Crafty and I made other new friends there too. And what a great time we all had!
Then it was a dash-home dash-out-again kind-of-day. A friend had invited us over for fireworks and we stood on her balcony overlooking the grand spectical, with mugs of hot soup and great company. A perfect end, late-to-bed, early get-up-next-morning again kind-of-day.
Because the computer problems had persisted and I still needed print outs for the Steampunk event. And to find the rust powder! It was a
breathe slow, keep calm kind-of-day. A grateful for calm support and help from my husband and son kind-of-day. They carried bags, did what they could, and gave 'so what's new?' looks, as I dashed around and screamed with joy when I found the rust powder. It was a surreal kind-of-day in company of Steampunks, machinery, and excitement of running book making workshops. A pulling everything together even when things worked against me kind-of-day, and feeling relief, satisfaction and sheer joy as we packed the car homeward bound.
And before the day ended there were hair cuts, curry cooking, and on-line seaches for computer solutions. A 'good-night, what a great weekend, thanks for your help', write a blog post before midnight, and go to bed happy-happy kind-of-day.
............... You can find out more about the Steampunk event here, and I'll be posting tomorrow about the Mark Gould workshop so I hope to see you again soon. Thanks for popping by and I hope your own weekend was fun filled, relaxing, or what ever made you happy....
I started to write an update about how I am getting on with changing habits but decided to have a gentle start to my week... an unwinding of the weekend kind-of-day. So instead I am waving at Sian over at 'High in the Sky'.
Life-work balance is really important. When I worked full time I used to manage the long commute and demanding role by working longer hours on four days and having Friday off. Yes, it was physically demanding but it meant my weekends were longer, more time to rest and play. So I saw Friday as the start of my weekend I and still do.
And it started as a sitting-at-the-computer kind-of-day. A webinar to watch live, blog posts and letters to write. And a browse of blogs kind-of-day with comments left. Because that is what I am doing more of, and I did more of that over the weekend too.
It was a sort-out-the-sock drawer kind-of-day. You know the ones that lurk in the back forgotten, because they are too tight, too this, too that. Or perhaps you are more organised than me and throw them out straight away! I am getting into practice for that....
Saturday was a bathroom cupboard clearing kind-of-day. An emptying of shelves, throwing out of bottles that have stood the test of time, and rearranging what was left neatly kind-of-day. Meanwhile the washing machine spun and clothes were pegged on the line, but that was a 'what-a-waste-of-time' because the air was too damp for them to dry, despite the hazy sunshine.
It was also a dash to the shop and feeling smug coming home kind-of-day. Because instead of overloading my trolley I hesitated if things were not on my list. I am reading Marie Kondo's book 'The Life-changing Magic of Tidying'. And it is working. Instead of picking things up that I like but do not need I reminded myself they will still be there next time. And they will.
It was also a book 'making' kind-of-day. Or should I say, finishing, because I made the pages last weekend at the retreat. Now they have spiral binding and I am pleased with the result. Three books for three special little girls.
And there was book reading of a different kind and I was sad to finish Elizabeth Gilbert's 'Big Magic'. It came into my life at a good time.
Sunday we defrosted the freezers. There was chipping of ice, moppingpuddles, and some throwing out. Because like the sock drawer some things had got relegated to the back because they had lost their label or appeal. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has taken out rhubarb for a crumble only to find it is braised red cabbage and onion! There was also a couple of pairs-of-sausages. You know the ones? When the pack you bought has more sausages than you needed so you freeze the rest thinking they will be just right to go with a
mixed grill or in a sandwich? The ones that slip to the back and get forgotten and are never enough for a meal for two on their own.
They were home-cooked meal kind-of-days, custard tart treats, and cosy evenings watching the tv. A catching up of favourites programmes like Gogglebox, Four in a Bed, and Come Dine with Me.
Sometimes I just like to switch off and watch something easy. And other times I like something more captivating, so let's not forget the films I watched. I love films! And one in particular grabbed my attention throughout: 'Hector and the Search for Happiness'. Have you seen this? It was one of those films that I want to watch over and over again. I know I won't, because as Marie Kondo says, we have every good intention but rarely go back to read a book or watch a film because others take their place. But I reckon I will watch this at least once more, because it ticked all my boxes! And Big Magic? I'll be looking at that again too!
But right now another day looms ahead, so on this Monday morning:
I hope your own weekend has been enjoyable and I'd love to hear what you have found lurking in your own cupboards and freezers. Meanwhile I'll be back tomorrow with another post for my 30 day Blogging Challenge. Thanks for popping by!
Today I am waving at Sian over at 'High in the Sky'. I love her
weekly meme 'Me on Monday' and lots of my blog friends take part. I often think I will join the party but never do. Until now. Because I have a post to write as part of my 30 Day Blogging Challenge and I have had a fun weekend. So why wait any longer?!
Friday was the start of my weekend. It was a get-up at silly-hour kind-of-day so that I could fit more in. Out of necessity that is, rather than choice, because I had places to go and things to do. I try to be organised and prepared. Really!
I had planned to pack for a weekend away before I went to bed but I was tired and sometime I need to listen to my body and rest. And as it happens I am more active in the morning, so I set the alarm and then spent the next couple of hours packing my materials and equipment into bags while trying to think what projects I wanted to work on. There was also bags with clothes, bedding, and bits-I-can't-leave-at-home, you know the kind of things, mobile charger, reading book, journal, and wine....
It was also a shower, dress up and wear a necklace kind-of-day.
I had booked to attend a business woman's experience day, so I had workshops to attend, parking space to find, and a smart bag instead of my usual one. It was also tense drive in traffic kind-of-day, thinking I will be late and all the car park spaces taken. Instead, everything flowed. I arrived early, parked and booked in. I got a
bag of goodies (sorry, I tried a spirula cereal bar and decided the chickens may like them more than me!) and then it was successive workshops, each thoroughly worth attending. One of these was presented by Sarah Arrow, who runs the 30 Day Blogging Challenge, and it was lovely to meet her in person. I enjoyed a Reiki session and a workshop about Inner Warrior, and let's face it, it is important to work, rest, and play!!
It was a leave early kind-of-day, because my friend Jill would be on my doorstep when I got home. And she was! So it was open the front door, load all my bags and boxes into her car, and be off again kind-of-day.
It was excited-chat in the car journey, and finally, a letting-go as we pulled into the car park and unloaded our things into the hall. It was a hello-lovely-to-see-you again kind-of-day, as we blew up lilos, made up beds, and prepared for our weekend camping in a hall. We know how to live it up!! And as friends arrived, and paper and glue spread, the busy day slipped into a memory. Despite my early start, who wants to be the first to go to bed? Not me! I was up with the rest til gone midnight. Because that's what weekends are about.
Saturday was another create and chill kind-of-day, with cake o'clock and lovely home cooked meals. With Kerry pulling-it-together, this weekend is easy flowing and as relaxing as any expensive spa. It was a thinking-of-you card making, and lots of book making kind-of-day and with clocks going back we gained an extra hour too. But Sunday comes all to soon and in the afternoon it was a pack up kind-of-day. But for once I left feeling as relaxed as I arrived. A lesson learned kind-of-day. Because usually I am last to finish packing and tables and chairs are being cleared around me. I feel under pressure and each time I try a different tack - start packing earlier in the day, clear up as I go - but nothing made any difference. Until yesterday. I started to pack after lunch and just kept out a few materials that I was using. It worked! Come time to go I was packed within minutes and ready first! It was a drive home feeling refreshed and content kind-of-day.
Back home it was time to catch up with the family. My son had stayed over and the men had spent their weekend playing with camper vans and buying a Nexus tablet. It was a cook a curry and chill
kind-of-day to end. And that was just perfect. Just like my weekend. And that's Me on Monday. Thanks for popping by and I'll be back tomorrow.
