Breathing out, I smile – Bringing ZEN to the life of a DFW

Marru

OOooh - I love my slow cooker. Wednesday night I had broccoli cheese soup in it. One portion I had for lunch yesterday and four portions are in the freezer. Yesterday I had sausage and veg casserole thingy for tea and I have now one portion for lunch today. None of it made to the freezer . And now as we "speak" a meatball soup is in cooking ready for our tea tonight. I would hope that some of that will be frozen for future meals.

Frog tasks still sitting pretty on notice board. Aim to complete them before the weekend is over. House bliz also in the cards as letting agent wants to come and do inspection next Saturday and I really don't have time during the week to do any cleaning.

I have tried to read a book about enlightment but for some reason I keep reading same page over and over again. Perhaps I am not ready :rotfl:

Yes I know that I have been neglecting my blog but on the other hand I have done some head way with my little online business that I am planning on setting up. Very exciting :j

Marru

I might come across as a real loony but I really can't go to Mr T as I come out exhausted. Mr S here is not that bad. Also I am avoiding some people (my mum and my ex especially) as I feel that my energy levels go down as a consequence.

So it was quite nice to read this morning (while having my coffee in the conservatory - bliss) about how human energy fields have been measured. In her book "Hands of Light" Barbara Ann Brennan is telling about experiment she did with two of her colleagues. They were measuring light level in a dark room when different people where there. Most of the time the light level incresed but in occasion where the person in the room was exhausted and full of despair the light level actually decreased. Also the book went on and told how experiments on the light level had been done using yoga masters.

The funny thing is that before picking up the book I was thinking on doing some yoga as I must have slept on my shoulder badly and it was hurting. I didn't need any more convincing, went upstaird, dug out my yoga mat and did few Surya Nanamaskara As. Ok, I am going to be gentle with myself and leave the Surya Namaskara B for another day.

Horace

I am taking some books to Coughton Court on Friday - would you like me to get you a bag of English apples? I know that I can get 10 apples for £1 - they are organic too. I can get cookers as well and quince (if they have any left).

Is there an Aldi near you? I spotted large bags of dried herbs in there when I was in the other week, I may have some refills in my store cupboard that I haven't used yet if you would like them?

Marru

Horace, thank you, very sweet of you. I will get TC on Tuesday so will be ok again. And so far what I have in my spice cupboard and the stock cubes have more than provided, nom nom.

Talking of which, we are just back from Finnish school, about to grab lunch, put tea in SC and head out again... busy busy...

Marru

Yes I am feeling better, yes I have more energy. However I still need to pace myself as this morning I was really tired. It took me hours to get going. We had late breakfast and then I popped DD to have a splash in the bath (we never have time for that in the evenings so it is quick shower for her in the mornings) and sat knitting while she was playing happily there.

So I haven't done any of the things from my todo list. Today was needed for rest. This means that during next five days each day I need to clean one area in the house and also complete one frog task from the board. And then during the coming weeks I can concentrate on studying. At least that is the plan, wish me luck...

Marru

Ok, todo list out of the window - again!

I am taking part on this teleseminar once a week. Problem is that it is on Tuesday morning from 2 to 4. First two weeks weren't too bad but today I have been a zombie. I really need to get to bed early today.

Tomorrow is beaver night which would normally be a shopping night but I did an emergency shop today with the money I had left from TC after paying for DD's swimming lessons (hopefully leaving enough for diesel). So tomorrow I have time to sit in the car and do the menu plan until 12th. I don't think I have managed ever to do a meal plan for that lenght of time. But I shall give it a go.

I am promising myself now that I am making a date with myself to start practising essence qigong. I have the DVD so I just need to get up even just 10 minutes earlier in the morning to do some. Sorry I couldn't find any Youtube clips of the style I am doing but HERE is a nice video of another way of doing it (there are tens thousands of different methods). Sorry - it is a bit long so get a cuppa in hand and enjoy.

Marru

I am going to talk about meaning of ZEN soon (at least about my intepretation of it). But for me chasing my tail is definitely not ZEN.

So for all of next week I am going to keep a time diary to see where my time goes. I am also aiming to record about my feelings, especially levels of tiredness as I know this has big impact on what I choose to do. Also it should help me to find out what times of the day I am at my most productive. My feeling is that I should tweak my days so that I get up bit earlier and go to bed earlier. But we shall see what my time audit will reveal.

Talking of time, it is time to start nagging DD to brush her teeth and find her school shoes...

Marru

You know what, I CBA to be positive today. No reason really.

I have had very easy week at work. I have been training my replacement and I have realised that I am a control freak. I honestly didn't know that. I really need to let go of my tasks and allow her to get on with them. I think I am doing ok despite finding it a bit difficult.

House is still in desperate need of cleaning and I have the inspection scheduled for 2 pm tomorrow. Problem is that we are out of the house at 10.30 am and I won't be back until 1 pm (and after my treatment I will be tired so can't count on being able to get anything done when I get back. So it is manic rush around with the vacuum tomorrow morning.

I have been reading Duncan Ballantyne's book how to be smart with your time. I find it to be a fantastic book. Very inspired. Problem is that as soon as I get home I accuse tiredness after a long day and fall into old bad habits. I think I need to reread the book with a notepad on my side and make a baby step plan for where to start. The time audit is part of it.

I need to make a decision about webhosting and shopping cart and internet is so full of info that I am getting so confused. I really need to get this thing going and can't be faffing around much longer. I think I found today something that people recommend quite highly so I see if I get a response from their support for my concerns before I sign up.

I am getting worried about the lack of studying. These exams that I am doing are more difficult than any of my previous ones and I don't think I can just sail through this time. Next Thrusday we have a half a day outing for staff so I have decided to stay behind and study, pssst don't tell the boss.

This weekend:
- Clean house for inspection
- Do meal plan and shopping list
- Go do shopping
- Do five tasks from frog board
- Make a decision about website and sign up for hosting
- Make first order of stuff that I am going to be selling

I managed to have 17 NSDs in September. I think that if I only allow myself to spend money on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays I will be getting at least 17 in October as well. NSD for me is a day when my purse doesn't come out of my handbag. Only exception is if I manage to sell something in fleabay and am paying for shipping, that would still be counted as NSD. (I think I should be including purchases from Am@zon as well to this )

I am going for a cours in two weeks time and I don't have a sitter for DD. Getting very panicky about that. I keep telling myself that it will get sorted but I am running out of time here. Please can I have some positive wibes that there will be a solution soon.

Ok, enough rambling. I need to get DD to bed, do some more research on the webby thingy and then I think I will do some knitting while watching Billy Connolly on itv catchup (I have always wanted to go down Route 66 so very interested in seeing it).

savingwannabe

I hope you can get a babysitter - can you ask someone nice from guides/beavers etc to see if they can help maybe?

Gosh terribly organised Marru. Good luck with sorting housey and trip out.

It is the crack of dawn for me and I am up i am going to make the most of the weekend in terms of housework and shopping. Noone faint. Speak soon.

Marru

How is this for guidance?

All week I had a nagging feeling that my acupuncturist scheduled me for next weekend and not this. I have been meaning to call her but kept forgetting. So then yesterday ex calls, says he had car trouble and he would be late picking DD up. So called acupuncturist, yes I was right it was next week. Phew!! I kept the appointment as BF can have DD then before we head up north to take him to his new narrow boat.

I still don't have anybody to look after DD while I am on a course but there is someone I can ask tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

We did drive to BF's new boat today to drop some stuff there as then there is not as much to take next weekend. It was a very long journey, 3 hours to go up and more than that to get back as the traffic on M6 was horrid. So that is Sunday gone. I am now chilling with BBC iplayer and knitting.