Slow Living - Doing It Old Style!

Florafauna

Hello all you slow folk. Have had an evening of after work pottering, been making soup, cleaning my shoes and doing a bit of tidying. More knitting also. Am definitely beginning to feel much better after all the dental stuff at the weekend as I feel like my energy is returning. 
Seeing two friends tomorrow, they are having fish and chips, I am taking yogurt and half an avocado as I am still on soft foods. 
Sleep well peeps

JIL

I read this and thought it most apt. 

Brie

Nice chat with my manager today who is fully supportive of me flexing my work, taking holiday time to suit me, WFH, whatever.  She said that if I needed to stop working completely that she'd need to find out how that is handled but I don't want to do that and was clear.  Mentioned the cruise we have booked which is now in about 6 weeks and we may need to cancel (though I'm determined not to, rather go and sit on a boat watching the Norwegian fjords float by then sit at home).  She said that if we did need to cancel she'd suggest I still take the time off to ensure I had a good break from work.  Lovely lady.

And just as our chat was winding down my phone rang (hospital!) and it was my OH asking if I was ok and was I going to visit as he misses me.  The difference in his voice and speech today compared to yesterday is immense.  When I got in to visit he wanted some help as he needed a shave (first time in about 10 days, not that he's dreadfully hairy....) and asked what had happened for him to end up in hospital.  Turns out he has very little recollection of the last week which is probably just as well.  The lovely nurse that is looking after him remarked on the great progress and that they'd asked earlier than expected to get him moved to a room on a general ward.  Sat with the OH chatting for a while until he needed a nap by which time the nurse confirmed that he'd been told a room was going to be ready later today and so this was the last day in ICU!!!  

One panic bit - when I got to the hospital I opened the back door to get my bag, clicked my key to lock the car and put the keys in my coat pocket.  Then I decided I didn't need the coat in the hospital so chucked it on the back seat and slammed the door.  And swore as my keys were now locked in the car.  Fortunately I've a friend who literally does nothing so I texted him saying "help!" and within minutes had arranged for him to pop to our house and use the key safe to go in and get the spare key.  Easier than calling out the AA or whomever we have cover with.

leftatthetrafficlights

No time to catch up recently but I'll catch up properly tomorrow 😉 hope everyone is okay 😁

Elisheba

Evening all,
I wasn't feeling 100% yesterday so had a very slow day indeed -  no dog walk, and I experimented with knitting with the yarn in an adapted biscuit tin to keep it away from my dog in the evening. It worked fairly well, so the evening was spent listening to an audio book while I click clicked away.

Normal service was resumed today after a very long night's sleep (9pm - 8am) and I did an excellent new walk through some fields and back along a very quiet country lane. Amazing views over the Black Mountains - I could look at them forever.

Tonight I'm going to have another stab at today's crossword, although I didn't get very far this morning, and then read for a bit. I have also set up a work table in my large hall area where I can sit and do jigsaws or other projects, as they no longer fit on the smaller dining table I acquired last week.

Floss

@Brie good news about your supportive boss, your OHs improving health & your friend's emergency response!

zcrat41

Hello all. @Brie wish you and your husband well on the road back to health. My Dad has been poorly recently and it’s definitely been a joint effort on the recovery front between my Mum and Dad 😂😂

Definitely not slow living here right now. Music lessons, sports matches and exams for kids. Staff problems, grant applications and colds for us. Joys of running your own business!! 

Trying to incorporate elements though. Tea was a simple baked potato & tuna. Meals are planned. I’m on top of the washing and the housework. Made time to read with my daughter and dh played table tennis with ds. Now for an early night with a hot water bottle and a good book! 

Wednesday2000

I had a lovely day with a lady from this forum today. We ate at Jamie Oliver's uncle's cafe on Westcliff beach. Beautiful views of the sea and the weather was so mild and sunny. Quite delightful.

I had a revelation as I read something today that I had posted on a forum 10 years ago. At the time my husband had just been diagnosed with cancer and we spent years at home with him off work and having treatment. I barely went out socially. Reading it just struck me on how much our lives have changed since then. He is cancer free for 10 years now, we paid off our mortgage and now live by the sea instead of London, where I have always wanted to live. I just feel very grateful for how much our lives have improved since those very dark days.

I'm looking forward to seeing my family at a party in London this weekend. It has been 25 years since I have seen most of them! I realise that I am the type of person who tries to deal with stressful events on my own and I want to get to the point where I can rely on other people again.

Tomorrow I want to dust and vacuum the house,  give myself an at home facial and go out for another walk to the beach now the weather is so much nicer. I have an appointment to have my nails done with a very nice local woman and I want to read some more of the Die With Zero book.

Moorviews

@Brie - I have just been catching up and was sorry to read about your husband’s illness. As you say, things can change in an instant. I hope that he continues to improve daily and is willing to make all the necessary changes. Please look after yourself too.

@Wednesday2000 - it’s wonderful that you have achieved so much in that 10 years and that your husband has remained well. My husband has been fortunate in that way too and it still does feel like a bit of a miracle. 

@zcrat41- it sounds very busy in your household but you are so organised to be on top of it all! I hope you benefited from the early night and a good read of your book. 

I am trying to be considered in the things that I do so have planned out all the food that we need for the week and shopped with a list. It isn’t a strict timetable of menus but just all the things that I could cook as meals from the ingredients. Large supermarkets don’t make me feel great so I tried smaller shops and the market. I still ended up going into a supermarket for things that I couldn’t get elsewhere. 

Instead of having a bath in the morning, I have switched to the evening in the hope that it might help my sleep. I am using lavender shower gel and taking a supplement to aid sleep. Last weekend I slept through the night on one night and I couldn’t believe how much better I felt for it in the morning. This year I really want to improve the sleep situation as I am a chronic insomniac. There are some sources of noise that aren’t helping so I am going to try a white noise machine to see if this will help. 

Wishing you all a happy, slow, end to the week and weekend 😊

Slowdown

@Moorviews Not enough sleep is dreadful. I really hope the evening bath helps. 

To everyone with family illness, I’m sending heartfelt positivity vibes. I know how hard it can be. 

I’ve had a lovely slow day. Pottered around with my glasswork for a while, had a nice brunch with DH and then began The Forest Way, a walk between the ancient woodlands of Epping and Hatfield. Got the first 5 or so miles done which was great. You think you know a forest and then more is revealed including a large Iron Age fort. Stopped for my tea and banana in a place with a long reaching view and felt blessed. 

I’m still trying to bring the teachings of the Roman Stoic philosophers to the forefront of my life and managed to spend a good deal of the walk in the present moment, not worrying about things that I could not control. 

I’m working at the library all day tomorrow which brings its own version of slowness. Even when it’s busy! 

Here’s wishing everyone a very contented and slow moving weekend. 😊