board not bored

We're going to buy some more board games. I do enjoy a good game. I was so tired after my work day I could easily have taken my headache to bed at 5 when I got back. But thankfully we were going out and the company, the food, the games re energised me.

Maybe I've shared it before but I like the quote we don't stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing. More playtime please.

cherry pink and apple blossom white

I'm very tired.
It's a long time since I've heard a live orchestral kind of band with that many instruments. It took me back to playing the snare drum for cherry pink and apple blossom white with the school orchestra. Such a responsibility.
I need to thin the tomato seedlings. I'm not a gardener. I don't want to snuff out the life a seedling to make way for a stronger plant to have sufficient space. Goes against all I stand for. Sometimes I over think things.

fast lane

Some roundabouts have two lanes as you approach, and both could be used for going straight across. Usually i queue politely with the bulk of the traffic on the left. But sometimes I'm that bit bolder and head for the right lane. I'm not doing anything wrong in fact I'm helping the traffic flow more smoothly as I'm not adding to the queue. But it's not my natural response.

Today I drove up to the roundabouts in the right lane.

This isn't just a metaphor, that was for real. In the metaphor I'm not even on the road, I'm careering on two wheels, the other two up in the air, as I skirt past the rest of the traffic that just isn't going fast enough. I'm not occupying a lane in my own right, I'm on the edge, over the edge, driving dangerously and still not making it on time. That's the metaphor.

I'm not daft, I can see that this in Not Good. Right now, I'm parking the car overnight, in the right kind of place and not getting back into it until I'm safe to drive again.

I parked the metaphorical car on the trampoline for a while,  there weren't many clouds to gaze at but the birds were lovely to listen to and it turns out lots of flowers have been blooming whilst I have been too busy to notice.  And now I've reparked in a duvet den with a new book.

gender and toilets

The division of us all into one of two genders infuriates me. The damage it can cause is so unnecessary, and sometimes it feels like small steps could make a big difference. This article got me thinking:

https://emilycheath.com/2016/04/27/on-restrooms-gender-and-fear/

I'm going to see if I can get the toilets at church become unisex. However, i also have rather a lot of other things going on at the moment so my actions may take a bit of a while to get started.

flow

The world of The Invisible Library was so intense that I needed a break before immersing myself elsewhere and so I didn't read a novel yesterday. Instead I picked up a book I'm part way through and really must get round to returning, on Happiness. Interestingly, the section I was up to was on work and how many people assume work is something to be endured rather than enjoyed. The writer states that actually lots of us experience more "flow" (when we are engrossed in what we are doing) in work rather than leisure situations. I certainly feel in my flow when I'm running a group or doing a home visit. I love supporting new mums. My main job has lots of that, my new job doesn't have any, so new challenges.

This is inspiring:
http://momastery.com/blog/2016/04/27/love-revolution/
I don't think I'll be back from work at 3pm (which is when I've calculated - with help form the internet) that this is happening. But I'll check it out ASAP. There are some awesome people involved - Glennon Doyle, Brene Brown and Rob Bell.

A long day, packed tons in. Tomorrow not likely to be any shorter.

Extra day

A grey bank holiday monday but i'm feeling grateful for what feels like a "bonus day". I feel i really need it to catch up - on lots of things. On rest, having worked some of yesterday and saturday. On chores (seeing as I worked and so haven't done my usual weekend catch up on domestic chores). And sadly, on work, as the things that need doing don't know it's a bank holiday. I'll just do a very little so that I can get them out of my mind instead of the thoughts carreering round in my head like they did last night. Hence me being up now ready to do a bit of emailing now, before 8am on a holiday.
I'm also wanting to have some family time. We've booked to see Civil Wars as the kids are uber keen to see it. i've said I might slip out to watch the Jungle Book next door, but they assure me I'll like it. I'll like being with them, so will have to leave with enough time to try and get seats together.

I've been feeling odd these last few days. Physically, a bit under the weather, but also I wonder if I had a pervasive dream that has overshadowed the day, but something is a bit weird.

There's something quite satisfying about it not being 9am yet and I've done an hours work (that's it for the day now) and tidied the house a bit and got the washing out, and no one else is even awake yet.

A wet May bank holiday Monday is the perfect time to put away the Christmas decs. This isn't quite as lazy as it sounds. I've been waiting til all the dust in the loft from the decorating was done with. The plan was to get the Christian aid bags at the same time as I need to divide all that today. The baubles are no longer on the landing, but the bags were forgotten in the process. I'll go up again later.

Lots of jobs done. Hope I like the film (especially as it's nearly 3 hours long )

higher revs

I was asked out by a lovely woman yesterday, which made my day. Turning down a date is not a familiar experience for me. I wonder what surprises today will hold. I had a practice in my boyfriend's car yesterday as from now on that's the car I'll be driving to work. So this morning is my first solo outing in it as I'm working at the hospital. There are a couple of particularly key differences that I musnt overlook. It doesn't have an automatic handbrake like I've become accustomed to. And it drinks petrol, important when filling up obviously, but also means it needs higher revs than I'm used to. So that stalling sound is just me as I get the hang of it.

No stalling today, and helpfully the car beeps if you try to drive with the handbrake on... :-)
Headache so snoozing on the sofa. Hoping to finish my book group book. Finished and not entirely happy with the ending.