Monday, March 10, 2014

Lent 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Right, being on holiday scuppered my other plans, and meant I couldn't do some of the Radvent challenges.

Lent 2: Organising.

I'm fairly organised in terms of real life planning, especially after the invention of Google Calender et al, that remind me on my phone about things and let me share plans with Tom.

I'm rubbish at keeping my house clutter free. I know roughly where everything is, but I just end up with piles and piles of stuff.

I've made a start by clearing out some clothes that don't fit or I no longer wear from my wardrobe, after spending a year using the "If I wear it put it one end of the wardrobe, put things I don't wear the other" It made choosing easy, just looked at the left side of the wardrobe and went, "Nah, doesn't fit, don't like it...." so if you're a 12 - 14, and want first dibs, let me know, otherwise it's all going to the charity shop.

I'm going to deep clean the kitchen tonight when I get in too - I know, so glamorous.

Lent 3: Writing

Write a love letter to yourself in one year

This is the kind of thing I find very hard, because like most people I think, I'm not that fond of myself most of the time.

Dear Alex,

You are loved. Whilst I can't predict how 2014 went for you, I know you will have been loved. By your husband, your friends, your family.

I know that you don't feel like you work hard enough or achieve enough, but I want you to know that you will have always tried your best, even if it doesn't always feel that way, because you care deeply about doing the right thing.

Take some time to plan an epic party with all your friends, because nothing makes you happier than eating and drinking and chatting and laughing with those you love.

Love

Alex.

Lent 4: Forgiveness

Who and what are you ready to let go of resentment towards?

Again another toughy. I like to think of myself as a person who doesn't hold grudges. But here it goes.

I want to let go of my resentment towards old school friends who've had children. Just because I'm not in the place to have kids yet, and I don't know if I can have any doens't mean I should feel resentful of their lives. Given how little I talk to them, and how little I know about their lives, I don't know if they chose to have kids, wanted them and so on and so forth.

I want to let go of resentment towards friends that have decided they don't want to see us anymore. There are a couple of people in particular who don't keep in touch, or want to come out any more, and it hurts. I want to reach a place where I'm ok with that, and be happy that they're happy doing new things.

Lent 5: Rocking out

Sounds of my year so far.

Blog, you know I'm not one for music. I shall give you but one song.



Lent 6: Adventuring

This is about doing something new - depending on what time I get, I may go adventuring this evening on my own, or I shall try and do so this week. I shall report back. Hold me to this.

Thursday, March 06, 2014

Wednesday, March 05, 2014

Lent 1 Remembering

Using Megan's Radvent series as prompt. Lent and Advent are the same right?

Where were you five years ago?

2009 or 2010 depending on how you count.

March 2009, I was living in the Palace, working for the web design company. Tom had just asked me to move in with him. I was creating lots. I was nervous and excited about the future.

March 2010. I was living at the Curry house and planning our wedding. Still working at the web design company. Trying to raise money to save the chaplaincy and starting to get involved at Church. Still creating.

I don't remember much detail. Long hours at work, cycling across Southampton, plenty of parties, travelling to France, redecorating the Curry house, marveling at building a home with Tom. Deciding the world of sales wasn't for me. Having three jobs at one point.

Some very painful moments. Some very proud moments. 



Saturday, March 01, 2014

knittedart: Four projects knitted by our very own Ángela Gómez...





knittedart:



Four projects knitted by our very own Ángela Gómez Ortega / Quatre projets tricotés par notre Ángela Gómez Ortega


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Love this






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Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Friday, February 07, 2014

Love is a pair of homemade knitted gloves @marksandspencer You...





Love is a pair of homemade knitted gloves @marksandspencer You have to make them to fit the recipient perfectly, you’re making something that you know will wear out and you have to knit all those damn little fingers, but its worth it to keep your loved one warm. #sharethelove / on Instagram http://ift.tt/1nZDhzW






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Thursday, February 06, 2014

halftheskymovement: Nicholas Kristof’s column today features...





halftheskymovement:



Nicholas Kristof’s column today features Catherine Hamlin, an Australian gynecologist and 21st century Mother Teresa. Dr. Hamlin has revolutionized the care of a childbirth injury called obstetric fistula that leaves the woman incontinent and stigmatized. Through the hospital she set up in Addis Adaba, Ethiopia, she has trained generations of doctors, helping to restore dignity and hope to 35,000 women. Here she is at her 90th birthday last month (photo by Joni Kabana). Happy Birthday, Dr. Hamlin, and many happy returns!







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Thursday, January 30, 2014

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Silent Night/Night Of Silence Spinning Jenny Cover





Silent Night/Night Of Silence Spinning Jenny Cover






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Night of Silence - Silent Night





Night of Silence - Silent Night






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Bishop’s University Chamber Choir - And So It Goes by...





Bishop’s University Chamber Choir - And So It Goes by Billy Joel (arr. Bob Chilcott)






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And So It Goes - Billy Joel, arr. Bob Chilcott





And So It Goes - Billy Joel, arr. Bob Chilcott






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Take o take me as i am





Take o take me as i am






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Jesus Christ the Apple Tree!





Jesus Christ the Apple Tree!






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ADVENTIST VOCAL ENSEMBLE-UP ABOVE MY HEAD





ADVENTIST VOCAL ENSEMBLE-UP ABOVE MY HEAD






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ADVENTIST VOCAL ENSEMBLE-THERE IS A BALM IN GILEAD





ADVENTIST VOCAL ENSEMBLE-THERE IS A BALM IN GILEAD






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Monday, January 27, 2014

"A boy sprawled next to me on the bus, elbows out, knee pointing sharp into my thigh. He frowned at..."


A boy sprawled next to me on the bus, elbows out, knee pointing sharp into my thigh.

He frowned at me when I uncrossed my legs, unfolded my hands

and splayed out like boys are taught to: all big, loose limbs.

I made sure to jab him in the side with my pretty little sharp purse.

At first he opened his mouth like I expected him to, but instead of speaking up he sat there, quiet, and took it for the whole bus ride.

Like a girl.


Once, a boy said my anger was cute, and he laughed,

and I remember thinking that I should sit there and take it,

because it isn’t ladylike to cause a scene and girls aren’t supposed to raise their voices.

But then he laughed again and all I saw

was my pretty little sharp nails digging into his cheek

before drawing back and making a horribly unladylike fist.

(my teacher informed me later that there is no ladylike way of making a fist.)


When we were both in the principal’s office twenty minutes later

him with a bloody mouth and cheek, me with skinned knuckles,

I tried to explain in words that I didn’t have yet

that I was tired of having my emotions not taken seriously

just because I’m a girl.


Girls are taught: be small, so boys can be big.

Don’t take up any more space than absolutely necessary.

Be small and smooth with soft edges

and hold in the howling when they touch you and it hurts:

the sandpaper scrape of their body hair that we would be shamed for having,

the greedy hands that press too hard and too often take without asking permission.


Girls are taught: be quiet and unimposing and oh so small

when they heckle you with their big voices from the window of a car,

because it’s rude to scream curse words back at them, and they’d just laugh anyway.

We’re taught to pin on smiles for the boys who jeer at us on the street

who see us as convenient bodies instead of people.


Girls are taught: hush, be hairless and small and soft,

so we sit there and take it and hold in the howling,

pretend to be obedient lapdogs instead of the wolves we are.

We pin pretty little sharp smiles on our faces instead of opening our mouths,

because if we do we get accused of silly women emotions

blowing everything out of proportion with our PMS, we get

condescending pet names and not-so-discreet eyerolls.


Once, I got told I punched like a girl.

I told him, Good. I hope my pretty little sharp rings leave scars.






- 'My Perfume Doubles As Mace,' theappleppielifestyle. (via queenofeden)



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Friday, January 24, 2014

Tom’s very colour coordinated honey and lemon...





Tom’s very colour coordinated honey and lemon presentation. What a good nurse! / on Instagram http://ift.tt/1jqXOwB






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