Slow Living - Doing It Old Style!

Smudgeismydog

Went with my partner and mum for a walk through a local Sculpture and snowdrop woodland walk this afternoon. It’s just up the road from me, and yet I never knew it was there.

It seemed to be largely run by very friendly, enthusiastic volunteers, and they are looking for people to help with planting snowdrops over the next couple of weeks ready for the 2025 season. That’s not something I can do yet, but it does demonstrate the breadth of things I could do once I’ve finished work.

The birds were so loud, and I never knew there were so many varieties of snowdrops, thoroughly enjoyed the sunshine after all the rain we’ve had this week.

leftatthetrafficlights

Sorry I've been awol - dd has a nasty bout of flu so been looking after her and my grandbaby so very little free time - hopefully normal service will resume next week 🤞 have a fab slow weekend 🙂 

KajiKita

leftatthetrafficlights said:

Sorry I've been awol - dd has a nasty bout of flu so been looking after her and my grandbaby so very little free time - hopefully normal service will resume next week 🤞 have a fab slow weekend 🙂 

Hoping DD recovers swiftly, that grandbaby and you don’t fall victim to it and you and GB enjoy your time together 😊

KK

sunshineli

I posted on this thread at the beginning of the year, and I have been awol since. Life hasn’t been very slow over the past few months as we have put our house of the market. I’m really happy that we have now accepted an offer on our current home, and we have made an offer on our dream home which has been accepted! It’s a little detached bungalow in a quaint market town. It has a lovely sized garden and space for a greenhouse. I just hope everything goes to plan then, and I can’t wait for this new slow living chapter 😊

Wednesday2000

I have had the feeling that I have forgotten to do something the past few weeks and I remembered when I woke up this morning. I'm going away for the weekend next month and I had forgotten to book my cats in at the  cattery! I booked my dog in at the kennel, but forgot them. Luckily they weren't booked up so I did that this morning and paid them a deposit.

I've been just sitting in my living room watching Youtube and TV today. I will go out for a walk later to get some steps in. I made a really lovely salad for lunch today. That recipe will be a keeper. I am going to give myself a facial later on as I fell asleep with makeup on last night! My skin feels like it needs a deep cleanse and a nice drink of some moisturising oils. 

Florafauna

Morning Slowsters 
I had a great day yesterday. DD and I went for a lovely afternoon tea and then did pottery decorating. I did a little jug and a French bowl. Then a slow drive back home over misty moorlands. Chilled evening and I have finally finished the fancy scarf.
Tip and charity shop run today as house is going up for sale soon.
Then up north where I'll be doing some sea swimming over the next couple of days 

mrs_slapshot

Hi everyone - hope you're having a lovely weekend!

Just been re-reading some of the recent posts - @leftatthetrafficlights thank you for the Cruse recommendation for my son. I've recommended a couple of bereavement organisations but he's just not in a place to accept that sort of help yet. Cruse helped my sister when she lost her husband, with counselling which I think she benefitted from (although found it emotionally draining).

The blind date was ok - we got on well, and arranged to meet again so I'm seeing him tonight for dinner. However, I feel like he probably wants more of a relationship than I do - he was keen for us to see each other a couple of times last week, and I had to manage his expectations that once a week is enough for me!

And I do hope your daughter is recovering from flu - I've had a nasty cold myself this week and am left with a very attractive hacking cough. There's a lot of it around!

My thoughts around retirement have continued to dominate my thoughts, and I *think* I have come to a decision to actually hand in my notice! The original plan was to do it at the end of this year, but I may well decide to do it in April after I have spoken to an independent advisor and looked at moving my personal pension to a low cost fund. I can't remember who on here recommended it, but I've been reading the 'number' thread over the last couple of weeks which has been very eye opening in terms of seeing how little people can actually manage on! 

The plan to have a few months off work and then find a less stressful role on fewer hours will help in my quest for a slower way of life.

Moorviews

@leftatthetrafficlights - I hope your daughter feels better soon. She must be so thankful that you are there to help her. 

@sunshineli - good luck with making your dream home your own. I hope things go smoothly for you 🍀
@Florafauna - enjoy your time away and your sea bathing. Congratulations on finishing your scarf 🎉

@Wednesday2000 - it is thanks to your posts that I am occasionally using face packs and a little more in the way of pampering 🙏
@KajiKita - I am not sure if I replied to you when you commented on my crochet post but I hope that you are getting on well with your mind shift 😊

I had a lovely time doing a moorland walk by myself, dropping down into a river valley. Plenty of time to stop and look at the views and sit listening to waterfalls. I find that sound of pounding and rushing water very therapeutic when it surrounds me. DH likes to get from A to B at pace and our dog always has her own, somewhat hyper, agenda so it was great to be alone to enjoy the plants and the trees. The gorse was emitting its scent of coconut and there was even the occasional bee on the wing. The birdsong was breathtaking. I am not so much a hiker as a wanderer and often divert for a little gentle exploring or crouching to peer closely at mosses, leaves and flowers. I would love that snowdrop woodland @Smudgeismydog. 

Getting more pleasures in my day is working well for me, although the advent of Spring is also helping me to feel more uplifted. There are things that I haven’t done, such as get my paints out, however, I think I might combine this with being out in the garden when the weather improves. It’s been a revelation to think about how many nice things I can do, rather than all the other things that have to be done, or problems that require solving. Having always been quite a practical person I have given a disproportionate amount of time and headspace to all those things throughout my life. I am enjoying the shift to paying more attention to my spiritual and artistic self. 

Happy slow living to all 😊

Moorviews

Oh wow @mrs_slapshot that’s amazing that you have got as far as to almost have made your decision! You could have the whole summer ahead of you to decompress.
I think that I may have recommended that thread as I found it incredibly helpful to read how real people manage. Otherwise, I was a little stuck in thinking that you have to have a huge pension fund to even consider retirement, whereas having just enough can actually be fine. 

Slowdown

Hello Slowies,

Haven’t posted for a couple of weeks and it’s been lovely to catch up with all the news. Looks like everyone is heading in the right direction 😊

I’ve been having quite a slow time between my part time library job, stained glass, yoga and walking. Today I’m off to walk the final stretch of the Flitchway. I shall pack my little rucksack and tootle along on my own. It’s a less rural stretch so I’m expecting more traffic noise and people. That’s all fine and I shan’t let it disturb my equilibrium. Last week I came across a cafe based in an old station and sat on the platform with my coffee and yummy cake. The Flitchway is a disused railway line so it was a lovely stop off and a reminder of past wonders. 

I’m also continuing my journey with the Roman Stoic philosophers. Reading around their lives and teachings has quite changed me for the better. The meaning most people give to the word Stoic is actually inaccurate and it’s not about having a stiff upper lip and marching on regardless. It is a thoughtful and applicable to modern life philosophy despite being over 2000 years old. It is very helpful if you’re wanting to slow down as it teaches us what is within our control thus worthy of our effort and attention. It has certainly helped me deal with my anxiety issues and step away from situations I cannot influence or change. It has helped me move away from trying to take ownership of problems that are not mine to deal with, leading to more time for my own life and thoughts. 

I’m trying to avoid the news right now. Whilst I recognise the need to be informed and aware I find the relentless atrocities and negativity very draining. I have no wish to remove myself from the world in general but it’s exhausting and creates anxiety about situations over which I have no control. Sometimes I find myself scrolling through horrendous news and and I’ve become numb to it. This cannot be good. Immunity to horrendous acts and anxiety about what may or may not happen does nothing to help slow down my life and I end up feeling like we’re hurtling towards disaster. Sorry. That was bit doom and gloom! 

So, given I’m still tucked up under the covers and need to get a shuffle on I’ll stop my musings here. I hope everyone has the slow day that’s right for them and happy dawdling to one and all. 

Slowdown 🙂