Blog Archives

Simply..headspace....

30/11/2017

I have found my word for 2017, which is supposing, to be really helpful on lots of occasions. Over the last few days it has given me headspace which I really needed.

I can get a bit anxious about financial matters at times but with a lot of filing to do I told myself Supposing I just filed it without engaging with each piece of paper? (eg thinking I need to query this/re-negotiate this/get a better deal on that/shouldn't have left this for so long/wish I hadn't gone for that....) I also said Supposing I just did 15 minutes at a time? My supposing question is usually followed by Whyever not? and I've now spent several hours quite contentedly dealing with a lot of piles of paperwork and thinned down the bulging filing cabinet considerably without getting stressed!

Decluttering my brain before Christmas is upon it!

Can you give yourself some headspace in preparation? And has your word for the year been helpful?

PS A last word on wills from Viv in her comment on this post is worth reading!

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Simply..blue skies?

28/11/2017

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Two year old Daisy, who lives in Las Vegas, said 'There's something wrong with the sky. It's meant to be blue.'

We are having a most welcome run of cold sunny days with blue skies, bright sun and awe-inspiring starry, starry nights here. Fabulous.

Stunning little lemon trees with fragrant blossom and splendid lemons on sale at the supermarket. I wished I had somewhere suitable...

It brought back memories of Cyprus where we had an orange tree in our garden.

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Simply..where there's a will....

28/11/2017

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..there's peace of mind.

I think that writing a will is such a loving and considerate thing to do, and it can be simple.

Ours cost £2.99 from the stationers. If your affairs are simple, writing your own will is perfectly legal here in uk, cheap and easy to do (we had a lawyer glance over ours and she did not charge for that). Of course charities often offer free will-making with a lawyer/solicitor and ask for a donation from your estate in return, so at the time of making it it is virtually free.

At the stressful time of a death it can be one less difficulty for those left behind if there is a will filed where it is easy to find. Knowing what the person who died wanted is a comfort worth having, and since it comes to us all......maybe we should talk about it, be kind and caring, and write our will.

(We wrote a covering letter to our children with ours saying that just because we loved all our stuff didn't mean that they had to love it too, and that they must feel free to dispose of it entirely as they wished!)

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Simply..enough money?

27/11/2017

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I've been re-reading my own posts about money (see sidebar). There aren't very many posts and they are full of photos of flowers and things - both of these facts probably tell you something about my attitude to the subject!

In my first post on the subject I said I had enough - and that still stands really. I have beautiful food and plenty of it, a safe home, warm clothing, and some to spare.

Changed circumstances bring new issues around the subject.

You have written a will haven't you?

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Simply..money....

26/11/2017

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This made me think....that I should think a bit more about it!

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Simply..winter....

25/11/2017

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Winter without you.
Memories of winters past:
will they keep me warm?

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Simply..catching up....

24/11/2017

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..with some of the boring stuff. It has to be done doesn't it, but I try to make it interesting, fun even, thus Fly Lady - common sense and a touch of humour, and Marie Kondo with her interesting philosophy. Both have been invaluable in helping me simplify my life.

With a few quiet days ahead I've decided it's time to take them, gently, to the next level as they say..

Fly Lady reminds me that I am CEO of my life and home (I often think running a modern-day home is like running a small business) so I am in charge here. I already had some of the good habits Fly Lady recommends you adopt, one month at a time: I already made my bed (2 mins), wiped round the bathroom after I washed (another 2 mins). I adopted her Morning Routine and now certainly move more and drink more water. I've made some progress on paper clutter and the habit of decluttering 15 minutes a day is brilliant, but I've never quite mastered Menu Planning so...with my current favourite book and my shopping list (I do always shop with a list) to hand,

I chose three recipes

and went shopping. I have to tell you that as I write the snow is getting heavier which makes me all the more pleased to be well stocked up and have a plan!

Do you have the Menu Planning habit yet? And is it snowing where you are?

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Simply..carpe diem....

23/11/2017

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Are you free to seize the day (or even a little tiny bit of it)?

I dropped everything after breakfast to take a sunny walk this morning. The day had started out murky and dull and I was planning to do some plodding tasks which had built up, but suddenly the cloud lifted, the weather changed..

and so did my plans. Plenty of time in the dark evenings to do the paperwork.

I am so thrilled to have this outside my back gate.

I've discovered that the more I move the better I feel.

Especially with the sun on my face.

Looking back up the loch.

cloud was already coming down the glen

and I was so glad I'd taken my chance of a walk in the sun!

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Simply..the texture of a village....

21/11/2017

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Does this give you a feel of the wintry place? Though there is still quite a lot of colour.

The village is Riccall in North Yorkshire.

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Simply..a nice problem....

21/11/2017

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I've been helping my friend who has the beautiful problem of having too many antique quilts!

Each one is treasured and each has its story, but unlike say a stamp collection, they are heavy, bulky and need very special care. The time had come to reduce the number but which ones could she possibly let go when she loves them all?

We spent time lifting, unfolding, looking, remembering, categorizing, photographing and making decisions - so many decisions. It's a big task.

Maggie will be telling her own story and that of the quilts and I will link to her website as soon as she is ready (maybe early 2018, maybe sooner!).

I think you will love it.

You have perhaps already seen some of them here.

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Simply..remember November....

13/11/2017

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I'm remembering November 2011 today. Scroll ( a long way down) the sidebar to join me if you have time for a browse...

I was still sorting and thinking about books and enjoyed answering some gardening questions on this blog which I still read, by Marie who gardens in an environment which could hardly be more different to mine. I went on my first visit to Berlin and did quite a bit of making, inspired by Making Winter. (One of the sites I tried to re-visit said FORBIDDEN and one said 'Open to invited readers only') but Emma who came up with Making Winter has moved on to yet more creative things including a book and day retreats which sound delightful. By the way you don't have to sign in to browse the site. I joined in with sharing ideas that winter and really enjoyed it, suggesting ice candles and North Points.

There was a lot, here and here about making that month of that year and I believe it has become a winter habit now. (I made a good cake yesterday.)

Have you made anything lately? I'm about to make a little trip - back in a while!

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Simply..haiku all around....

12/11/2017

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First snow on the tops.
Heron high in the larch tree,
there the morning moon.

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Simply..serendipitous....

11/11/2017

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In the town of Port Glasgow is a piece of public sculpture I particularly like and which I have been meaning to photograph for years, so when my bus broke down there the other day I took the opportunity...

The striking scarlet at the base does not show in my photographs, and the waves at the bottom are lit at night. I think the modern extension to this civic building rather elegant.

More images here.

And I took the train to the city.

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Simply..smile....

10/11/2017

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Oops!

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Simply..live....

8/11/2017

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...according to customs from other cultures.

I love how easy it is with the internet to learn about, and from, other cultures. Ikigai from Japan is new to me, and I found this piece on the Amish attitude to technology fascinating. Hygge I have adopted, and when I studied in Sweden I participated every day in Fika, and became aware of Lagom.

Do you know of any others? Thanks giving is a beautiful idea.

I couldn't resist browsing on this Swedish site and thought this article was topical!

Red berries on a grey day.

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Simply..write....

8/11/2017

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I forget, and then
suddenly, I remember.
A stab in the heart.

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Simply ..hygge....

6/11/2017

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www.elledecor.com/life-culture/a13058912/ikigai-japanese-concept-new-hygge/

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Simply..a flourish....

5/11/2017

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A simple supermarket bunch given a flourish with a tall branch of beech leaves and

a few winter lights. Lovely colour and I love the green centres.

Have you done Gretchen Rubin's Four Tendencies quiz yet? See here.

I wasn't at all surprised to find I am a Questioner.

Which are you?

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Simply..November 2010

4/11/2017

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Looking back over November 2010 (see sidebar and yesterday's post) I see that I did my first big book organise. Of course I had done it often in the past - every time I moved house, and that was quite often - but never so methodically. In fact organising was a theme that month and I realise that writing about it made it more fun. I was enjoying all the books about different approaches which were new to me then. I liked the concept of objects as companions to our emotional lives. A lot of the ideas I picked up then are truly second nature to me now.

There are some good snow photographs - I wonder if it will snow this November. Hope so!

There were far fewer readers of course. Eighty a week - I was so excited. Now according to Weebly it is thousands - gulp!

Not all the links are still live and some of the blogs I mention no longer exist sadly.

I wrote here about how I liked challenges and, looking for a kick-start to winter as I am, I think I shall try to write a haiku a week between now and Christmas. Am off to research that now!

Blogging is still such fun.

Thank you so much for reading.

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Simply..kick-start winter....

3/11/2017

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One of the problems about writing a blog for 7 years is that it probably gets a bit repetitive, but one of the joys of writing a blog (it was ages before I realised the word came from web log) is as with any diary, looking back and seeing how far you have come....

So would you feel cheated if I refer you back to November 2010 for a browse? (Scroll down on sidebar,)

I am heading there myself!

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Simply..finding direction....

2/11/2017

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I do like Neil MacGregor's short pieces about museum objects. His 'History of the World in 100 Objects' was a fascinating, if rather unlikely, radio success.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05lmh5

I am feeling rather adrift without a compass, but I took delivery today of a tree - a robinia 'Frisia' and the sun shone brightly when I went on a morning walk with a friend.

Do you enjoy radio?

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Simply..good news and bad news....

1/11/2017

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The good news is that we have raised £1669.60 in our Swim a Mile for Barry fundraiser for Ardgowan Hospice. To the swimmers and to all those who donated so very generously - THANK YOU, YOU ARE A WONDERFUL FORCE FOR GOOD IN THIS WORLD!

The sad news is that Cath, who many of you will know has been a regular commenter on this blog for years now, has had an accident which means she cannot write at present, and needs a lot of rest and care to start on what may be a tough road to recovery. I miss her thoughtful comments, links to new (to me) poets, interesting questions and gentle humour, as I am sure you do, and I know you will join me in wishing her well - it may take patience, strength and determination - but we know you have those qualities in spades Cath!

Know that we are thinking of you and look forward to you coming back to join us here.

On the ferry home tonight.

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Simply..headspace....

Simply..blue skies?

Simply..where there's a will....

Simply..enough money?

Simply..money....

Simply..winter....

Simply..catching up....

Simply..carpe diem....

Simply..the texture of a village....

Simply..a nice problem....

Simply..remember November....

Simply..haiku all around....

Simply..serendipitous....

Simply..smile....

Simply..live....

Simply..write....

Simply ..hygge....

Simply..a flourish....

Simply..November 2010

Simply..kick-start winter....

Simply..finding direction....

Simply..good news and bad news....

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