A story to restore your faith in humanity

Once upon a chilly blowy weekend day last year I was feeling frustrated and cooped up and that what I needed was some exercise and an achievement and to generally blow the cobwebs away. So J and I pored over the map and made a plan. We would all go and climb Cocklawburn Hill near Abbey St Bathans*, about 45 minutes drive from here. 

It started badly. The Smalls did not want to go. Tall Girl in particular felt it was an infringement on her right to mong in her bedroom reading books in bed all day. We jollied and cajoled and maybe bribed and threatened a little and got everyone to the start. 

Tall Girl then sobbed and gurned the entire way up the hill. Little Man was headed off the same path for a short while by being put in charge of the map and Big Trouble demonstrated his ability to be an angel, exactly when the others are most devilish - until his legs hurt from climbing the big hill, then he winged and moaned too. About half way up I had a tantrum. The whole point of even going on the walk up the big hill was to cheer me up and the ratbag Smalls were not exactly helping. At the top (which was suitably spectacular by the way) Tall Girl passed the gurning baton to Little Man who bickered with Big Trouble all the way back to the car. Once ensconced in the car I had a second tantrum about spoiling my day and about how weekends are for mummies and daddies too and how horrible and selfish they were and ... 

All in all it was a shit trip. 

Imagine my surprise then, when a couple of weekends ago I tentatively pointed out how lovely and sunny it was and what a shame it would be to waste it. And Little Man suggested a walk up that great hill that we went to that time, and Tall Girl agreed and added what about a picnic and Big Trouble asked could we take the map, and his mini beast catching kit and a frizbee.

So we went.

And it was great!

And we had a fab time.

And found snow.

In fact we had such a great time that I wasn't even too upset when we realised that somewhere along the way Little Man has lost his hat. Which was actually my hat that he had borrowed. My favorite gardening hat that I was given up a mountain in Hawaii pre-Smalls. I wasn't too upset, but I was a bit upset. Upset enough to leave a note in the information shelter in the car park with a description of my hat and a plea to anyone who found it to text me. My efforts were scoffed at by the rest of the family but I left my note and made a wish. And a week later the lovely Rosie texted to say that she had not only found my hat, but she had washed it and what was my address. A week after that look what came through the door...

The best best best kind of happy post!

The End

xx

*Can we just pause for a moment to appreciate the greatness of both those place names.

Be careful what you wish for...

My sister-in-law wished for a brightly coloured yarny tea cosy.

As you know, I just do as I am told.

xx

My new happy place.

Don't you just love freecycle! For the price of a bit of hard work and some paving slabs and mortar, look what we did over Christmas...

My new happy place!

xx

#Bashsad reflections

Day 22 Read a little bit of this which was brilliant! I can highly recommend it for a short but easy and delightfully joyful read. 

Day 23 I phoned my Dad in Cornwall . Cornwall is further away than I would like and I once again I am going to ask Santa for a teleporter for Christmas.

Day 24 Well, I didn't feel I could go around complimenting people and then taking their photos so you'll just have to take my word on this one...

Day 25 I forgot to take a pic of my dinner which was bacon and sprout risotto (don't knock it 'til you've tried it), but the day was an extremely bonny one.

Day 26 Attempting to de-procrastinate on a weekend is never going to go well. I have a family with no sense of urgency, no instinct to take a great big bite out of the day and no desire to do much of anything, where as I want to do, and go, and be, and see, EVERYTHING. And preferably with company since I spend a lot of time on my own during the week. My solution was to try to not mind their dithering and to use the time well.

Day 27 My weekend desire to MOVE is usually towards water of some sort, but with J off playing lacrosse and me on homework duty with three Smalls, I wasn't holding out much hope. However, with a little bit of sneakery and some help from Grandma we managed a little walk up the river.

Day 28 My most huggy and cuddly Small usually comes with the added bonus of Piggy and taggy along for a squeeze too.

Day 29 My company for a cup of tea was most excellent.

Day 30 My December 'could do' list.

Well, thank you fo keeping me company through my experiment... Certainly making myself do positive things was a good idea, but it didn't totally banish the sense of impending doom, especially on sun-less days, or days which I couldn't make the most of.

Usually December is so full it flashes past... lets see.

xx

Day 30 Make a December list

This is absolutely NOT a 'must do' list, or even a 'should do' list , its more of a 'could do if the mood takes me' list, or a 'would like to if it seems like a good idea at the time' list.

Day 29 Have a cup of tea.

But not just have-a-cup-of-tea... Indulge in the full ceremony of the thing. Choose your spot, comfy with a nice view, perhaps by a window, or in front of the fire, or with candles. Choose your company, a loved one or a new friend, either in person or via the magic of telephony, or perhaps you would rather savour a moment of peace. Choose your tea: Herbal, green, fancy or builders. Choose your brewing method: Pot or mug. and finally wrap your hands round your favourite cup or mug and let the warmth flow through you. You could even choose coffee instead...

Day 28 Hug

Go on, give someone a squeeze! It will make them feel good as well as making you feel good. Or hug a tree.

xx

Day 27 Find some water

The power of spending time near water never ceases to amaze me. It could be the sea, a river lake or stream but it never fails to put me back on track.

xx

Day 26 De-procrastinate

Get on, get going, get moving, get organised, get out, get it together, get a wriggle on.

xx

Day 25: Eat your greens

Eat your greens. Get a delicious dose of lovely vitamins and minerals. 😋

xx

Day 24: Compliment someone

And may I say how delightful you look, how witty is your repartee and how joyful is your company. Oh and nice hat btw.

xx

Day 23: Phone someone far away

xx

#Bashsad weekly round up part 3

Day 15: Well, dancing happened a day late. On day 15 J was working from home and had Very Important phone calls and a Very Important meeting so no loud music for me. Then on day 16 Radio 2 seemed to be in a particularly sombre mood all day...that is until Simon Mayo saved the day!

Day 16: When you need to laugh, go to choir! My lovely joyous choir always puts a smile on my face and we usually laugh A LOT.

Day 17: My attempt at a smiley selfie was taken at the end of a long and tricky day and the intricacies of taking a selfie in the mirror were almost beyond me...

... but on day 18 I went for a lovely long walk in the sunshine and took a fab friend with me via the magic of mobile telephony. The result was a much more smiley selfie.

Day 18: Apple scones - what's not to like?

Day 19: Another tricky day with uncooperative and whinging Smalls but we did manage a trip down to Holy Island and as usual being out and about improved my mood no end.

Day 20: Black current porridge. Yum!

Day 21: You'd have thought I'd have got myself organised so that the challenges fell on sensible days but apparently not. In the morning I wore my latest charity shop treasure - a cotton knitted dress with jeans, fleecy boots and a scarf. A  new cosy favourite. The afternoon and evening brought pilates and a dance class so I was forced into my version of sportswear which is definitely not my favourite. I did choose my favourite t-shirt though.

Not a bad week but as the weather has turned wet and cold and dark I can feel my resilience weakening. Staying focused and making an effort to do positive things definitely helps.

xx

Day 22 Read a book

xx

Day 21 Wear your favourite something

Today's artwork was brought to you by Tall Girl.

xx

Day 20 Have a healthy breakfast

It's the most important meal of the day, don't you know? And my favourite.

xx

Day 19 Photograph Seasonal Change

Autumn days when the grass is jewelled

And the silk inside a chestnut shell.

Jetplanes meeting in the air to be refuelled.

All these thing I love so well.

xx

Day 18 Bake something

Savoury or sweet, bake something you would like to eat...

xx

Day 17 Take a smiley selfie

Say cheese!

xx

Day 16 Laugh out loud!

Laugh out loud! Hook up with the kind of friends who make you weep, watch a film that will make you scream or listen to a show that will make your tummy ache. All in a good way of course!