Slow Living - Doing It Old Style!

leftatthetrafficlights

Part 2....

@cherryfudge – I’m glad you enjoyed your walk and the silence. Having buds developing on the greengage is very exciting – I saw a few daffodils the other day and it really cheered me up! 

@mrs_slapshot – I love spider plants but my DH doesn’t!! I used to have loads of them and they were so easy to propagate and look after 

@florafauna – hope you are feeling less tired now and enjoyed your knitting. 

@Slm6002 – gardening is lovely, I can totally understand your happiness at seeing your bulbs spring into life – I am always amazed by how a tiny seed or bulb can grow into something so vibrant! 

@wednesday2000 – I hope you have been able to use your washing line. It’s been torrential rain here on such a regular basis that I have given up on mine for now – I’m hoping that once we get into March I’ll be able to consider bringing it out of retirement! 

@Sammy_kaye18 – I hope you found your bulbs and managed to sow your peppers, chillis and beans! We sowed our first seeds this weekend so kitchen currently looks like a garden centre!! 😂 Good luck with the de-cluttering – I have a list that I am currently working on but with DH being on leave and needing to cover some stuff for my DD it’s a slow process but I’ll get there. Pizza bases are a great idea for your bread flour – I make them then let my dgs pick his own toppings

@mrs_motivated – I’d definitely consider your options on when/how to stop work, different things work for different people as is apparent on this thread!  I love the idea of scheduling things to make sure they happen – I know that it’s a really useful tool for a lot of people and is a great idea for building habits. Window cleaners are a nightmare to obtain/keep – I’ve had one for a couple of years and despite originally agreeing a monthly schedule, he’s seems to only turn up when he feels like it! Breaking it down into smaller tasks is definitely the way forward

@zcrat41 – your ‘if your boss doesn’t listen he’ll be doing it himself in a month’ comment really made me laugh!!  I do think that being able to see achievements is incredibly satisfying – I know that when I’ve had a busy day in the garden I get a sense of real pride in the results. I’m glad you enjoyed your book. 

 @mrs_slapshot – well done on sorting the fence – I hope that it is still holding strong with all the rubbish weather recently. 

@dND – thanks for the heads up on the Nancy Birtwhistle kindle deal. 

@Wednesday2000 – I hope the plumber got your leak sorted – water leaks are a nightmare!! 😔

@florafauna – I hope your first day back after sickness went well – good luck with the estate agents! 

I may be back later today but I'll see how it goes 😉 unfortunately my technology makes this a really slow process - suffice to say that I won't be leaving it this long again!! 😳😂😂😂

Cherryfudge

@leftatthetrafficlights, thank you for paying such attention to us and all the personal replies! This is a lovely thread.

Having spent the morning with a load of pre-schoolers, I'm looking forward to a quiet rest of the day. We had fun and I'm grateful for time spent with them: there's now a big Noah's Ark drawing with the animals they coloured and stuck on, and it's wonderful how good pink giraffes look.

I've finally begun a project that's been waiting a couple of years: having rediscovered a skirt I loved years ago, I'm refashioning it so I can wear it again. I took the waistband off yesterday and today it's line-drying in the hope that a wash will freshen it up and help it adapt to the new waistband.

I think it's been too wet overnight to work on the garden today, but I notice there are suddenly lots of crocuses blooming. Spring is coming to North Yorkshire: in a few weeks Farndale will be full of daffodils again and the self-sown Mirabelle plum in our garden is eager to blossom too.

mrs_slapshot

Yes, as @Cherryfudge said, thanks for taking the time to read through and make such a personal reply! I love this thread although I have to admit my ‘slow living’ is hard to manage on a regular basis. Working (almost) full time and having a challenging personal situation is taking up a lot of my energy! 

However, today I have slowed down - it’s an enforced slow down as I’ve got a cold but I’m trying to catch up on the little jobs like putting stuff into storage, doing the little sewing jobs etc. I’ve just eaten lunch (chilli and rice prepared last night) and spent an hour on the sofa watching tv and scrolling. I’ve washed my sheets and will remake my bed when they’re dry. I’m also going to attempt to re attach the fastening on my patio table cover that got wrenched off in the storm. I was automatically going to buy a new one (£30) and then realised I could try and mend it first!! I’d also like to do a stock take of my cupboards and freezer to meal plan for this month. 

I also want to catch up on paperwork. Then this evening hopefully relax and watch tv. 

Actually this doesn’t sound like a slow day at all when I read it back!! But I’m sure some of this will spill over to tomorrow which is a non working day!!

I had a win on the lottery last week - not enough to retire 😉 - and decided to spend some of it on the Die with zero book, so I’ll start reading that this week and making notes. 

mrs_motivated

Evening slowies,  just about caught up with the thread.  @Brie I was very pleased to read your hubby is home and on the mend.

@leftatthetrafficlights I agree with the others, so lovely that you take the time to respond to everyone.

Beautiful picture of a cat …made me smile, apologies I can’t remember who the poster was, but I think it was @Floss. 

So a busy week for me, but I did still manage a daily walk and also made some time for my journal.

The weekend was lovely, I went to meet 2 of my daughters in the City and we went for a mooch around the shops looking at baby things, she is pregnant and expecting her first baby in early May.  We then all went and had a lovely leisurely lunch and a gd ld catch up as we haven’t seen each other for a few weeks.   Normally I drive when I go out, but caught the train for a change which made a lovely change and I spent the journey indulging in one of my favourite pastime…’people watching’ , I love just wondering where they are going, who they are meeting, what they are thinking….I realise that probably makes me a bit weird 😝 .

when I got home Mr M was at the football match, so i pottered round the garden so pleased to see bulbs and new growth beginning…..spring is just around the corner and is my favourite season.

Today has been a chilling out day,  did an online guided meditation, read some more of my new book and had a lovely Sunday roast for dinner.

Hoping we all have a lovely slow week ahead.

florianatwobob

@leftatthetrafficlights my NWDs are definitely working out well this year. Next Fri I’m off to Cambridge with a friend to meet another friend. Mostly so we can have a few drinks, a good natter and then be home in our pjs by 6pm! 😉 I’ve known them both since we were 11 and it’s really nice to be with people who knew you ‘before life happened’. 

Florafauna

Chilling on the sofa after a lovely day with family. Had a very nice lunch and still feeling full. Did some under stairs cupboard clearing out and now sitting down to the never ending scarf. Only 20cm left to knit. Back to Lido swimming after work tomorrow which I am so so pleased about. 

leftatthetrafficlights

The final catch up:

@mrs_slapshot -I’m sorry that you have had to cancel your trip to the USA but the relief you feel makes it sounds like you have made the right decision! Going on a cruise sounds like just the ticket for you! I haven’t used a NHS dentist for years, I got tired of the very poor experiences, the long waiting times, the continual need to return because they didn’t have the time on the day to complete the work etc....we all use private dentists now despite the fact that they are costing an arm and a leg as trying to get a NHS dentist would be impossible even if we wanted to  It’s a sad state of affairs when children have no access to a dentist in this day and age.....

@moorviews – I’m glad you’re having such a lovely time with the grandbabies – I’m sure that your family is incredibly grateful that you can be there for them. Well done on improving your diet too!! I think it’s always a good idea to look at priorities and the timing of activities – I’m sure that you’ll get more pleasure from the crochet when you’re not struggling for light

@Bluegreen143 – welcome!  You don’t need to be semi-retired/retired or anything even close to it to be welcome here! It’s all about living a more mindful and intentional life along with taking pleasure in the small things even if the chaos abounds elsewhere!

It’s lovely that you can do the school run and that your DH can be at home frequently once you return – doesn’t mean that it’s not busy though, my grandbaby is full on when I pick him up from school! I think that raising kids to love their surroundings, value their environment and entertain themselves is a gift that will continue for them forever. I remember once when both of my children were going through a hard time that we sat in the garden at night looking at the stars and they both said that whatever was going on in their lives, being in nature and taking pleasure in the beauty of the sunrises/sunsets and stargazing meant that they would always have a reason to smile....it was the biggest complement as a parent that I ever received. I can emphasise with the love, nature and magic ideals but don’t judge yourself on those – it’s a lot easier to say than live and the truth is that you need to equip your kids with a sense of reality too; resilience and an understanding of hardships that can manifest are just as important! 

@florafauna – I’m loving the titles you are giving us in your welcomes!! I think we should think of a group title for the thread  I’m putting you in charge of coming up with the definitive one!

@Elisheba – welcome! I’m a total kitchen gadget lover – there are so few of them that I do not currently own!! It’s strange really because I’m total minimalist in every other aspect of my life but I just can’t resist a new kitchen gadget! My dh despairs and I am under strict instructions that I am not to buy anymore this year (although I did just buy some stuff so that I can ferment veg, make saurkraut, kimchi etc ) 

Sorry your commute is so insane! I’ve had a number of jobs where I felt that I spent longer in the car/on a train than I did doing my job so I feel your pain! Slow living means different things to different people so don’t worry if your version feels different to others, it’s a very personal journey and as long as it feels right for you that is all that matters. I think your appreciation of being out in nature and how that feels like an important part of the slow and simple life is entirely understandable, I feel exactly the same. As you have previously suffered with depression and anxiety I think that getting as much time outside is really important – it’s well known that it helps a great deal with those issues. Good luck with your reading challenge and with daily meditation – it’s good to know what nourishes you and making sure that you carve out the time to accommodate that. 

@moorviews – I think that the ability to go with the flow is a vital life skill so making the most of a decent drying day seems like a good plan to me. Doing your creative things before other stuff is a great idea when the other stuff isn’t weather dependent though!!

@Slowdown – You make a very good point about money meaning less and time meaning more as you get older. I’ve never really been materialistic to be honest but I genuinely am at a point where as long as I have enough to cover my bills and help out family if needed, I really don’t care about money at all. I’m not interested in ‘stuff’(unless it serves a long term purpose) and I have never had an interest in the ‘keeping up with the jones’s’ mentality. I am willing to spend money on improving my quality of life (ie investing in my health) but being in or around my home environment and spending time with my family gives me more pleasure than anything else money could buy. 

@Brie – I’m so sorry to hear about the health problems your DH has had. I’m thrilled that he has been allowed to come home, his progress has been so positive and that you have had a useful conversation with your employers. I really hope you get to go on your cruise! I’m pleased you managed to get back into your car without too much trauma!! I hope you’ve managed to get your kitchen sorted now and sourced a drainer 

@Wraithlady – thank you for the tip on lip balm on a sore nose!

@Floss – thank you for your recommendation for green vaseline with aloe vera for the nose issue!

@Florafauna -I’m glad you’re feeling better and hopefully you’re getting to the point where you are venturing towards solid food now

@JIL – thank you for posting that poem. It’s so very true that we need to value our time here and fill it as much as possible with the people and activities that bring us joy. 

@Elisheba – I’m glad you’re feeling better! The Black Mountains sound lovely! I’m originally from the north of England but now live in Norfolk so I miss my hills! I do get over to the Brecon Beacon area every year though so manage to get at least one walk when I’m there 

@zcrat41 – sounds like you’ve got a lot going on!! Running your own business can definitely be tough but it sounds like you’re managing it well and that you are carving out a bit of down time too which is so important! 

@wednesday2000 – your day out sounds lovely! I’m so sorry to hear that your DH had cancer but so pleased that he has been cancer free for so long and you have had so many positive changes since then. I hope you had a lovely party with your family and that you all had a good catch up – 25 years is a long time so I’d imagine it ended up being a very late night!! 

@moorviews – well done on planning your food, I sort of meal plan but its generally just a three meal plan as despite my best efforts I still cook too much so we end up with leftovers which are either eaten as they are or re-purposed into something different I hope your sleep is improving – it’s such a difficult thing to manage to do but has such a wonderful effect if you can achieve it. 

@Slowdown – your forest walk sounds magical! Fancy discovering the Iron Age fort after all this time! I want to try to explore more of my local area as we tend to go to the same places despite having an enormous network of footpaths locally – I may get myself an os map and make it a mission to do one new walk a month! 

@mrs_slapshot – sorry you’re also having sleep troubles! It seems to be a common theme recently – I used to sleep like the dead but then hit a certain age and it went haywire  Really glad your dentist visit was positive – it sounds like a good instalment plan that you have and good luck with the braces if you choose to go ahead – my daughter had hers done a few years back and she has been very happy that she made the choice to do so. I hope you had a lovely lunch with your friends!

I’m pleased you have managed to book your cruise  It’s not something that appeals to me (due to an abject fear of water) but several people I know do them regularly and enjoy them immensely. I am so sorry to hear of your losses – it’s devastating at any point but when they are so young it seems so wrong....I hope that your son finds some peace soon, I don’t know if it’s something he would want or consider but there is a bereavement charity called Cruse that can offer support and I’ve heard good things about them. I’m glad that you are doing what you can to enjoy your life and making the most of the opportunities that you have, you’re absolutely right that this isn’t a dress rehearsal.

@Kajikita – I hope your plan on doing things differently is working out. I love the fact that people are getting ideas on how they can improve their own circumstances 

@mrs_slapshot – thank you for the video link 

@florafauna – I’m glad you had a good day in the garden and the financial chat with DH – a house sale and retirement in one year is very exciting!! 

@cherryfudge – garden work with the neighbours sounds great and extremely productive! There is something incredibly satisfying about working outdoors, especially when you have a lovely warm home and a hot drink to look forward to once you’re done 

@zcrat41 – I hope the picking up of the grandfather clock went well and that your family member was able to give you more of the history – does it still work after over 200 years or is it more of an ornamental piece? Sorry you were feeling the stress building, I hope that you are feeling more relaxed now. 

@floss – thank you for the drainer recommendation for @Brie

@Moorviews – I think a 10 mile walk for groceries is a bit much on a daily basis!! I used to walk that far once a week when I had the dogs but if I tried it now I think I’d be out of action for a month!! I don’t do sufficient exercise either but I think that it will be easier to build it once the weather improves I hope that you are starting to feel better mentally, it’s hard when a lot of things conspire to stress you out at once so be kind to yourself. 

@mrs_slapshot – how did the ‘blind date’/coffee go? Congratulations on the lottery win!! 

@wednesday2000 – I hope your fibromyalgia has settled down now – how annoying that it chose your family party weekend to resurface!! I like the points idea from the book – definitely worth thinking about!  

@florafauna – I’m glad the valuations went well, its always a relief when they don’t shock you! I hope you enjoyed your sewing class You really do have an exciting time ahead! 

@Floss – I think that you’re going to have regular competition for your heated throw by the looks of things!!;)

@Smudgeismydog – the hour dog walk sounds much better than the mega commute!! I love seeing the first of the wild daffodils growing in the verges around us, it really feels like the weather is improving even if it is blowing a gale and hammering it down!! 

@Brie- I think having gardeners is a great way to treat yourself if it’s not something you want to do yourself. Our garden isn’t massive but it is a continuous labour of love so if it wasn’t something I genuinely enjoy, I’d definitely have a gardener! Last year it had completely gotten away from us so I paid to have it restored as it would have taken me weeks to get it looking reasonable! 

@Prudent – welcome! I’m glad you are enjoying the thread and thank you for sharing your experiences. I think that it really helps those who are making decisions to hear how others have managed or found the processes. I entirely agree that trading money for simple pleasures gives you a better quality of life. I hope your health issues have also improved as a result of making the decision to retire. 

@Floss – I’m not sure that your days off are going to be particularly slow or stress free with all of that going on but I hope it all goes well for you!

@cherryfudge, @mrs_slapshot, @mrs_motivated – thank you so much for your kind words about my replies  I really didn’t expect there would be much traffic on this thread when I started it but I love the way it has developed into such a supportive place to share ideas and experiences. I’m very grateful to everyone who contributes so replying is the least I can do! 

@cherryfudge - I think you are very brave looking after loads of pre-schoolers!! I am exhausted just thinking about it!! 😂 The noah’s ark sounds wonderful – I have quite a few of my grandbaby’s paintings hung on my walls but no pink giraffes....I may have to get him to rectify that! Well done on sorting the skirt – I have no ability whatsoever in the sewing/knitting/crocheting area! Feel free to post a pic of your handiwork  A self-sown plum tree sounds wonderful....I love North Yorkshire – I lived there for a while years ago and I still remember trying to navigate the sheep!! 

@mrs_slapshot – I totally understand how difficult it can be to manage the physical ‘slow living’ idea when you have a full time job/caring responsibilities etc. but having it in your mind is definitely a good thing as you’re more likely to take the opportunity to be in the moment where you can and even if you can just have five minutes of mindfulness it helps a lot! I’m really sorry that you aren’t feeling great – this cold seems to be doing the rounds at the moment  I’ve been full of it for the past three days....I hope you managed to get your paperwork done and all the other jobs you listed (you’re right, didn’t sound slow at all!! ) Hopefully your non-working day is going well and quietly!! 

@mrs_motivated – Your weekend sounds lovely – shopping for baby things with an excited parent to be is so joyful! I love people watching too – it doesn’t make you weird at all (we used to play ‘spot the serial killer’ with our teenage kids when we were out!! 

@florianatwobob – I hope you enjoy Cambridge! I think it’s lovely that you have such long-standing friendships, it must be quite an event looking back at how your lives have changed over the years! 

@florafauna – I’m looking forward to seeing a piccie of this scarf when it’s completed  Well done for clearing out under your stairs, it’s something that I really need to get on with myself – I started but I didn’t finish!! I hope you enjoy your swimming session – hopefully it will be a bit warmer for you! 

 

If I've missed anyone or anything, I apologise - I will never be away from the thread for this long again!!!  

Wednesday2000

I just went to drop off a bag to the charity shop. I was looking for a new cushion and I did find one as well as a few other bits. It is a gorgeous day for February as it feels like Spring.

I saw this cup and thought of the knitters on here.😆

Florafauna

@leftatthetrafficlights that was a lot of catching up and chatting! I will try and think of a collective noun for us slowies. I'm loving the variety of people on here, it's so interesting to hear about other people's lives, kinda like people watching.
Went for a lovely lido swim, it was a balmy 17.5 degrees in there. Costume and booties drying in front of the fire as I'm planning to go tomorrow after work.
Cleared out some more interesting (!) items from the cupboard and hoovered it out. Now chugging through the last bits of the scarf.
Have a good evening everyone and remember to take it slow

Moorviews

@leftatthetrafficlights - gosh thank you for all those personalised replies! Also, for starting this thread as it helps with the focus on how I want to be living my days. I hope that you will have more time to yourself this week and an opportunity to get back to fulfilling your slow living ethos. 

Yesterday was quite laundry oriented as it was such a good drying day. Fortunately, I love pegging out the washing and seeing it blowing in the breeze. Bringing it in with that gorgeous fresh air smell is another bonus. Today is a different story as it is raining. 

I am mainly doing my handcrafting immediately after breakfast or lunch and this is going well. The satisfaction of making something is a great mood booster for me. I find that I don’t mind getting on with the household repetitive tasks, if I have already indulged myself in something creative. It has also been great to get out and do a little pottering around in the garden. As my mind is busy and apt to wander away from the task in hand, I am gently disciplining myself to focus on what I am doing. 

Food wise, I haven’t been this organised in years and I can’t believe what a difference it is making. It has freed up more time as I don’t have to look at what I have in and make something up on a daily basis. I can also get on with prep when I feel like it instead of cramming it into the early evening. Thanks to your suggestion @leftatthetrafficlights I no longer actively cater for the roving offspring and this has made my life much easier. In answer to your question earlier, I don’t have allergies but some intolerances to work around. Mainly though, I really seem to need to eat a lot of vegetables in order to feel my best. 

The lido swimming sounds amazing @Florafauna. Is it that temperature naturally? The nearest lido to me is only open in the summer. 

@Wednesday2000 - I think that mug is very apt!