Posts Tagged "photos"
Finding Beauty
I’m a little obsessed with the idea of finding beauty just now. It’s almost becoming like this daily personal mission. Oh, it’s hard to describe… I’ll have a go.
I can’t bear the thought of wasted days, I think that’s what it is. It’s not that every day has to be endlessly productive, although those have always been my favourite kind of days if I’m honest, it’s more the sense that every day must have some meaning. I don’t mean meaning in the wider, spiritual sense, and I don’t mean it always has to mean something good. but I do like to close my eyes at night feeling like, oh I don’t know, like my world is a bit richer, or deeper. That there was a reason for me to be alive that day and get through to the end of it, even if that reason was pain or the kind of beauty that hurts a little to look at. It’s not always sunlight through trees, my idea of beauty. Sometimes it’s the kind of beauty that looks like dead things on snow. I don’t mean always pretty kind, not always the nice kind, but still full of meaning somehow, even if it hurts like hell.
Read MoreSaturday
My body is a little demanding and fragile this weekend, so I’ve knitted myself a prescription out of sunshine and a duvet in the garden, and apples and books…
Read MoreThe In-between Bit
So here we are. In this post-Christmas, pre-New Year inbetween bit which I think should have a special name but I can’t think of one. Possibly Leftovers Week, or Tripping-Over-Piles-of-Presents Week, or Kai-Will-Not-Stop-Screaming-Unless-Thomas-Is-On Week. Yes, one of them. Only wittier.
How was yours then? Cause mine pretty much rocked. I’m serious – this has been the best Christmas ever. You know ever so often the planets just seem to align for a moment in a mystical combination that means no one gets ill and nothing gets broken and Kai sleeps through the night for five nights out of seven (oh YES!) and everything, just for a moment, is perfect? It’s been one of THOSE Christmases.
I have lived off delicious food served by lovely people that I didn’t have to make. I have had frequent, long naps. I have received new books and things to make me beautiful and TWO pairs of slippers. I have eaten more Christmas meats than should probably be legal.
And most importantly, I got to see my boy’s face look like this:
and this…
and this…
and THIS…
Needless to say he’s had a brilliant time. He found the present opening bit slightly overwhelming though it has to be said. Because in the toddler mind it of course goes:
“Oooh look a present! I shall unwrap it – I am good at that. HOLY FRICK IT’S A TRAIN!!!! *uncontrollable excitement* I must play with it IMMEDIATELY! Get it out the box dad get it out the box dad get it out the box dad… oh this is amazing. What? Another present? But I’m playing with this one! Give me half an hour or so to gaze at it adoringly and I’ll be right with you…”
After three or four of these he was almost catatonic with the sheer wonder of it all and had to go and have a little lie down for a bit. (In his nap castle… did I tell you he had a NAP CASTLE?! That I can fit in?!!!)
And of course there was the digger. The real life oh-my-god-I-think-I-just-pooed-my-nappy-I’m-so-excited digger.
We’re still going. There are presents to unwrap today, and probably tomorrow too. I have never known such a lucky little boy – thank you so much to all of you that made it so special for him (and by association, so special for me).
We have another busy couple of days ahead of family, food, fun and other things beginning with F. Festivity? Frankincense? Who knows…
I hope you’ve all had a wonderful Christmas and are now nicely fat and jolly from mince pie eating and general festive cheer.
See you in a few days xx
Read MoreChristmas Break
In case you were at all worried that I had suffered some sort of nervous breakdown over the weekend and had been whizzed away to a padded room sans Wi-Fi, I’m here to reassure you: I’m fine. The being whizzed away part was true, although there were fewer men-in-white coats and electric shock treatment and more obese ducks and sitting around drinking tea watching the sunset. Either way, it was good therapy. Dad’s off to China so this weekend marked our family’s pre-Christmas gathering at a beautiful cottage nestled by the canal. The weather was gorgeous, the company witty and entertaining (well, I was anyway), the Christmas tree was only slightly crap looking. There was food, there was cheesy Christmas music, there were long walks in frost. It was fab.
Now I’m home and trying very hard to fight off all the worries that I had thought I’d left behind.
I have a ton of stuff to do before the end of the month. Cleaning is one. Pulling 2,500 words of literary brilliance out my ass is another. Finding a way to survive financially through the toughest two months of the year is pretty high up there too. Oh yeah, and it’s Christmas isn’t it. Which means I should probably write some cards or something.
Apologies if you’ve arrived looking for the Writing Workshop prompts but I’ve decided to close up shop till the New Year. There will still be blogging and twittering, but as-and-when, in between all the other stuff with no added pressure of workshop deadline’s type blogging and twittering.
There is good news though: if you’re REALLY stuck for inspiration this week then you are very welcome to email or tweet me and I will provide you with your very own, customised, one-of-a-kind writing prompt. Call it a Christmas present.
In the meantime, if you fancy looking at some beautiful scenery and some ducks and stuff then click here to be magically transported to the rest of my weekend snaps.
And because this post seems to have a slightly (and unintentionally) melancholy edge, I’m going to finish on a high note. Apologies if you’ve seen these already but it is TOO cute not to share…
Read More
