Slow Living - Doing It Old Style!

Florafauna

Hey Slowies, have had a very slow day off sick - just knitting, reading and resting. I'm going to have an early night and will be back in the crazy house that is school tomorrow. I do actually love it though and work with a good team.
Inviting some estate agents round next week to look at the house so trying to declutter a little.
Have a good evening all

BTW-the zero book looks interesting 

mrs_slapshot

@Wednesday2000 I love Harlan Coben books too! Have done for years, before he was popular on Netflix!

made my appointment with Pensionwise today for a months time. Gives me chance to get my paperwork together and note down my questions. 

I was due to go to the states in March for an event - I’d booked my event ticket but not the travel arrangements. Having looked into them every which way (there was no direct flight to the town the event is in) I’ve reluctantly decided not to go. I just know the amount of transfers needed would have exhausted me for what is a relatively short trip. Gutted as I was looking forward to it but relieved to have actually made the decision. 

Have decided to have a few days at home in March and then potentially book a cruise in April (I’ve discovered a love for cruises in the last 18 months!). 

I’ve got a dentist appointment tomorrow (today, actually…) as i noticed a line in one of my front teeth that my NHS dentist said is a hairline crack. I’m going to a private dentist for the consultation as I’m not sure I trust an NHS dentist….sorry to any NHS dentists reading this!! It’s very judgey of me. I’ve not had great experiences with dentists and my teeth are not in good shape. Anyway, will see what they say!

Moorviews

Glad you are feeling better @Florafauna. It sounds like you took the perfect approach to recovery.

I have been busy with the GC but also good fun too and lots of giggles. Definitely not a slow time but very enriching and a great side effect of being available to help. My diet is looking good as I keep up with the predominantly plant based meals, although I am not vegetarian. We really enjoy the Dr Rupy recipes and they are quite quick and easy to prepare too. It’s easy to adapt with whatever ingredients I have in. I also like Rukmini Iyer for her roasting tin recipes. My aim is to eat well without spending hours in the kitchen clearing up afterwards. On Sunday I managed a good chunk of the afternoon reading by the fire and properly relaxed into it. I have realised that if I am to do any crochet it needs to be done when the light is good so I will do some this morning instead of after the ‘chores’. 

It has been extremely interesting to read about retirement ideas and plans. There is an mse thread called “How much to live on” which I found very helpful. It is in the Over 50s section rather than the pension bit. 

It’s lovely to read this thread and I enjoy all your contributions and ideas 😊

Bluegreen143

Hello all.

Hope it’s ok to join this thread, though I’m not anywhere near being semi-retired (I know a lot of you have been talking about that).

I’m 35 and DH is about to turn 40 so alas there are plenty of working years ahead!

I have had several years as a stay at home mum in the past and loved that slower-paced lifestyle, but I currently work 32 hours per weeks (over 5 days - I finish early to do the school run each day) in a corporate job which can be fairly stressful. My DH works as a smart meter fitter and loves his job. He is often (not always, but about half the time) home by the time we are home from the school run so neither of us work overly long hours. Still, life can feel busy and fast-paced with two kids at home. My DS is 8 and my DD is 5 (at preschool and starts at school in August).

We love to get outdoors, ineptly try to grow things in the garden, I love reading and reading to my DC, I knit and cook and occasionally sew. My DH is very talented at woodwork and all things DIY. My DS is very outdoorsy, loves fishing and DIY and books and my DD is arty, musical and loves stories and imaginative play. So I like to think we embody our aims of slow living as a family but it feels a constant fight against busyness, screens, commitments and work to fit in what’s important to us. Hopefully by taking part in this thread I can celebrate our successes more and make small tweaks as we go.

I remember a couple of years ago someone I knew told me her family values she was raising her daughter by were ‘love, nature and magic’. It’s always stuck with me, I’ve had several attempts to formulate my own family values over the years but they have never resonated in the same way as hers do - they evoke a real image of a slow, simple, meaningful family life and childhood to me, rich in play, warmth, fairy stories, time outdoors, hand crafts and food made with love. I think I may adopt these even if I didn’t come up with them myself!

Florafauna

Hi Slowie Slowsters 
Today's work day went well though I'm still on max painkillers and antibiotics. All healing well though. Spent another evening knitting, I'm doing an ambitious (for me!) fancy scarf. It's half the size it should be so should be finished next week.
Once done, I'll block it and then give it as an Xmas present. Just need to choose a recipient who will appreciate it.
@Bluegreen143 my child is grown now but we had years of simple pleasures, barbies on the beach, faffing about in streams, holidays in youth hostels, picnics etc. She's told me as an adult that she had a great childhood and I told her everyday that I loved her, still do. Your children will love the way you are rasing them

Elisheba

Evening, all,

I've finally managed to catch up - I've been reading the thread all week 😊. I'd love to join in if I may? My theme for this year is slow and simple, and I'm slowly moving my way towards that.

I'm 43 so nowhere near retirement. I live on my own with a daft dog, and a very elderly cat. I work full time - four days a week at home, and one day in the office which involves a truly insane commute.

I suppose for me what slow and simple means are trying to be mindful and appreciating the moment, and moving back from a crazy, capitalist world which just wants us to constantly consume to keep the wheels spinning. Being environmentally conscious and less of a consumer, mainly through frugal ways, is important to me and always has been. Even in the bad old spendy days when I ran up all the debt I'm still paying off, it was on meals and trips and experiences, never on stuff like fancy clothes and things for the house.  

I'm not a naturally domestic person, and don't really enjoy things like cooking. I do see the value in home made food though, so my compromise is gadgets - my breadmaker and soupmaker are my most used kitchen gadgets after the kettle and toaster 🤣. I'm a full on convert to Nancy Birtwhistle and her eco cleaning recipes, and other folks like Rhonda Hetzel (although she's Australian and not all the ingredients she mentions are available in the UK). I've been veggie for over 30 years now but have never quite managed to convert fully to bring vegan despite it aligning with my values. Due to being such a reluctant and lazy cook I end up eating too many convenience foods when I try to go vegan, which is expensive, full of UPF ingredients, and high on single use plastics. So yeah, I'll stick to being veggie. Plus, I really like cheese ☺️.

I've recently moved to a village in the countryside and I aim to get outdoors walking with my dog everyday. I'm trying to learn the names of all the birds I'm seeing and the plants as they appear. I love nature and being out in it, and see that as a really important part of a slow and simple life. I want to appreciate our natural wonders, not constantly surround myself with commercially created experiences.

I love reading and am challenging myself to a book a week in 2024, and hopefully a few more. I can knit although it's a little challenging with my dog around as he wants to play with the yarn 🙄. I've never quite gotten the hang of crochet but I'm going to give it another go this year. I love meditation, and haven't been doing it regularly, so that's another thing I want to make sure I'm doing everyday. 

I'm a spiritual person and believe we have souls we need to tend to and nourish, so that tending and nourishing is my aim for the year. I have a history of depression and anxiety which is mostly under control these day, but keeping it that way is my number one priority. I can't do anything or help anyone when all my energy is spent trying to survive the black dog and not getting any enjoyment from life.

So yes, a little potted summary of me there. And in good slow fashion I'm going to sign off and get a good night's sleep now 😊. 

Moorviews

My plan of getting into the crochet early didn’t entirely work out. It was such a good drying day that I washed the bedding and put it on the line. The sheets did need a quick tumble afterwards but still smelt line dried and fresh when I enjoyed getting into bed. Various other things had to be done too but eventually I sat down with my crochet just before lunch. Unfortunately, I could see that I had made a mistake so had to sort that out first which just emphasised that I do need to work in a good light. It made me think about how I am in the habit of doing jobs first and then creative things later. I am going to try turning that around and do something creative earlier in the day. It does seem to give me a lift and extra energy. 

Bluegreen143 - they do sound like wonderful values to live by! It’s a lovely time of life when you can enjoy spending time with your children in nature and being creative together. I think that time away from screens gives more freedom in mind and body, to create, play and develop the imagination. We made the most of being able to go to the beach or onto the moor, taking picnics and going for walks. Spending lots of time outside in the garden or sitting around the kitchen table drawing, painting or making things. We all look back very fondly on those times, although I know that life was also very hectic! 

Elisheba - It does sound as though your recent move will be very supportive of your values and I do agree with you very much about tending and nourishing. It is easily overlooked and yet essential to whoever we are to tend that inner life whatever our beliefs may be. 

Florafauna - glad you got through the day okay and that everything is healing well. Good luck with finishing your scarf. 

dND

@Elisheba, Welcome.  I used to follow Rhonda too a lot of years back but then RL took over. Would you remind me of her blog title so I can follow again - thinking about how long ago it was, I don't think I I-gram and the birdy were commonly used then. 😱🤣

Slowdown

Hi Slow worms,

My long Saturday walk along the Flitch Way was wonderful. Just me, lots of birds and the occasional walker/runner. As a disused railway it’s a linear walk but the perspective is always different on the return leg so it’s like a new walk anyway. Stopped for my sandwich on a bench with my flask and managed about 7.5 miles. It’s my intention to walk it all but as I have to double back for the car it’ll be twice as long as the path itself! 

Yesterday was a very slow day. I work two days a week in a library. A small village one so very little stress in comparison to the 28 years as a teacher! Spent many hours on the sofa binge watching Anatomy of a Scandal! 

On the pension front, I took my teachers pension at 55. It was well worth it and now my DH is retired too, pretty much essential. The library might be less stress but it’s also low pay. 

My DH was a headteacher of two schools in a tough London borough and enjoys the lack of stress. He is a workaholic though and is now working on his doctorate and goes into London to work in the uni libraries 3 days a week. I feel it’s still slow living though as it’s all done on his own terms. 

It’s interesting that money means less to me as I get older but time means more. I guess as we move through life we realise what matters most to us and put our mind and energy to work in those directions. The garden, walking, reading, learning, loving my family, spending time with friends, developing my skills, taking care of my health all take precedence over gathering yet more stuff and then tipping it into a landfill a few years later. 

We’re only here for a short time and everything is on loan. I feel nothing truly belongs to us, we’re just minding it all for the time we’re here. And if that is the case I might as well choose wisely and care for the things that matter to me. 

dND

Slowdown said:

We’re only here for a short time and everything is on loan. I feel nothing truly belongs to us, we’re just minding it all for the time we’re here. And if that is the case I might as well choose wisely and care for the things that matter to me. 

Beautifully put @Slowdown