Life. It gets in the way. That’s why I haven’t blogged for three months because there’s been a lot going on. For the last month or so, I’ve been down with the lurgy (the flu), but after two courses of antibiotics, probiotics, lots of vitamins, good food and rest, I’m on my way to being back to full steam ahead with my year.
Exciting stuff is happening. I’ve been asked to be on the organising committee for next years Spiritual Care Australia conference which will be on the Gold Coast. As a pastoral carer who identifies as ‘spiritual’ but doesn’t belong to a specific faith group, I was so heartened to be invited. I am yet to make it to a meeting because I’ve been unwell, but I’ll make up for it in the months to come.
I cut my hair off last week. It’d been falling out at a rate of knots (ha), and having had it cut shorter, I seem to have stopped shedding. Just like that. It feels strange to be so short (yeah, I know it’s still long, but it was ridiculously long). I’m feeling … fresher. Yeah, that’s it. Fresher. Younger too, which is interesting considering I’m forty this year. I took this this photo after I rolled out of bed for my hairdresser. I know I’m looking a little grey.
So, here is what’s been happening with me …
Making: Crocheting my first blanket. There will be crying Nicolas Cage style, fist pumping and gallons of tea. My maternal grandmother who taught me how to crochet when I was a little girl would be chuffed.
Cooking: Chicken soup and green smoothies.
Drinking: Tea. Endless cups of tea. And kefir. I cannot get enough kefir with a generous dash of honey and cinnamon.
Wanting: A cabin in the woods/hinterland.
Looking: At cabin porn (there’s a theme emerging, yes?). Clouds at sunset, too.
Dreaming: About toasting marshmallows on the burn pile at the farm.
Playing: Diabetic Wheel of Fortune.
Deciding: What the fuck to have for dinner.
Craving: Sweet milky tea, liquorice and normal blood glucose levels (which are incompatible with liquorice)
Wishing: I was living in northern NSW. I feel between worlds. Or like I need a bridging visa or something.
Pissed: That I caught the flu and it’s still affecting me a month later … Get the fucking fluvax, people.
Enjoying: My growing collection of minerals. Or crystals, if you want to call them that.
Waiting: On more words to come. I know they’re there.
Liking: The unfurling of cooler climes. It was a long, hot summer.
Wondering: If I will ever get this novel finished … #yesiwill
Loving: My new balcony chairs. They are epically comfy.
Considering: Spinning wool, falconry and starting my own religion. The latter would be far more lucrative.
Reading: ‘Norwegian Wood’ by Lars Mytting, ‘Gathering Moss’ by Robin Wall Kimmerer; ‘Konmari’ by Maree Kondo; ‘A Ted Hughes Bestiary’ and ‘Hildegard of Bingen’s Medicine’ by Doctors Strehlow and Hertzka.
Buying: Nothing. I’m Konmari-ing the fuck out of my life. If it doesn’t bring me joy, it goes to charity.
Watching: I just watched ‘Dear Zachary’ and it made me want to cry forever and ever. It’s the most powerful film I’ve seen for some time and will leave you reeling (and needing therapy).
Hoping: That my friends Andrew* and Chief get donor lungs soon. They both have CF and have had way too many false alarms which is cruel, disheartening and emotionally exhausting. IT’S A GOER FOR CHIEF ON THE SIXTH CALL UP! He’s doing *incredibly* well 🙂
Pondering: How amazing life is being clean. I never thought I could feel this happy. Seriously – have I EVER felt this way? Halcyon days 🙂
Marvelling: At how music makes me feel ALL THE THINGS.
Cringing: That my Jeep needs a new gearbox. Oh, the horror.
Needing: A capsule wardrobe.
Puzzled: That I don’t ever drink coffee in winter.
Questioning: Why so many crap writers get published. I guess mediocrity is on trend.
Smelling: Not much. Since having the flu, my sinuses have been blocked, but today my olfactory senses happily returned and oh! The smell of toast, freshly laundered sheets and chai simmering on the hob – glorious.
Following: My gut. And Marie Kondo. She’s rad.
Wearing: Mecca lip balm. I cannot get enough on my mouth.
Noticing: That I really need to clean my windows.
Knowing: My purpose.
Thinking: I have SO much to do.
Seeing: An overabundance of cranes across the city. All very phallic.
Believing: In fairies and the little people we can’t always see.
Admiring: Anyone who lives with a poo bag.
Believing: In karma. Because I have to.
Sorting: Through my possessions and giving a lot of stuff away. Liberating much?
Getting: Organised to launch a big community project that I can’t tell you about. It is super exciting and slightly terrifying knowing that a friend and I are putting ourselves on the line for what we feel is for the greater good.
Gathering: Resources and support for said project.
Cultivating: Kindness, candida (sexy, right? Thanks antibiotics!), and garden ideas.
Bookmarking: Where do I start? Psychedelics in dying, extreme knitting, cob houses and the small house movement, India, birds of prey & falconry, granny squares, aromatherapy, epigenetics.
Disliking: Where my neighbourhood is heading. Think big corporates moving in, mass gentrification and hideous high-rises that hopefully no one will want to buy. I foresee a glut.
Coveting: A spell that makes me write 10,000 words a day, knowing full well that no such thing exists. The only way is ass glue and a warm teapot within reach.
Opening: Bottles of kefir like they’re going out of fashion.
Giggling: At finding feathers at the most serendipitous of times. My mantra of ‘look up, look down’ has been serving me well.
Feeling: Ready to replant my garden with the help of Mum’s green thumbs.
Snacking: I wish it was medicinal liquorice, but it’s raw veggies with cottage cheese. Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it.
Helping: Shit stir the big developers who are trying to ruin my community and create change by lobbying, petitioning, opposing etc.
Hearing: Fleet Foxes and the noble chatter of crows.
Trying: To spend more time offline and in nature.
(image from https://nostalgichobo.wordpress.com)
Thanks to Pip at Meet Me at Mikes for such a cool list 🙂
*Sadly Andy died a few months after I wrote this. He will be eternally missed.