It's been six months today since D and I have been living in the UK. And what an incredible six months it's been... We've house-hunted and found a house, we've been without work and up to our ears in it, we've spent weekends indoors and weekends away from home and we've had our fair share of cold mornings and rainy afternoons.
We arrived in Summer, where people could be spotted sun bathing in parks, the ice-cream van theme song could be heard every afternoon and catching the tube was like sitting in a moving steam room. Autumn soon washed over London and all-to-quickly, the green leaves turned brown and fell to the ground. We enjoyed several weeks of kicking the piles of leaves and stepping on crunchy ones which made the walks to work much more entertaining. Then as expected, the rain began to fall and those glorious piles of crunchy leaves turned into mushy, slushy, slimy minefields of slippery terror. It's now winter and as much as I'd like to share some romantic observation, I'm finding it hard to notice anything apart from the cold! Don't get me wrong, there is something very beautiful about frost and icicles... But when one's fingers are too cold for one's phone to recognise one touching the screen to take a photo, ONE GETS VERY FRUSTRATED.
November has been a very exciting month for D and I. We celebrated bonfire night, we wandered through Winter Wonderland and started preparing for Christmas (which is by far, the most exciting of all). Throughout the month, I've been taking the time to notice the little things that make me happy. So here they are... My latest favourite things - November edition.
We arrived in Summer, where people could be spotted sun bathing in parks, the ice-cream van theme song could be heard every afternoon and catching the tube was like sitting in a moving steam room. Autumn soon washed over London and all-to-quickly, the green leaves turned brown and fell to the ground. We enjoyed several weeks of kicking the piles of leaves and stepping on crunchy ones which made the walks to work much more entertaining. Then as expected, the rain began to fall and those glorious piles of crunchy leaves turned into mushy, slushy, slimy minefields of slippery terror. It's now winter and as much as I'd like to share some romantic observation, I'm finding it hard to notice anything apart from the cold! Don't get me wrong, there is something very beautiful about frost and icicles... But when one's fingers are too cold for one's phone to recognise one touching the screen to take a photo, ONE GETS VERY FRUSTRATED.
November has been a very exciting month for D and I. We celebrated bonfire night, we wandered through Winter Wonderland and started preparing for Christmas (which is by far, the most exciting of all). Throughout the month, I've been taking the time to notice the little things that make me happy. So here they are... My latest favourite things - November edition.
1. Christmas Costa Coffee Cups:
I don't even like Costa coffee that much but their take away cups are too cute to say no to. They make drinking often burnt and watery coffee so much more enjoyable. Just look at the little Santa and Rudolf smiles... How can you not enjoy coffee out of a cup like that?! They make my 'Christmas Spirit-odometer' explode with happiness and cuteness.
I don't even like Costa coffee that much but their take away cups are too cute to say no to. They make drinking often burnt and watery coffee so much more enjoyable. Just look at the little Santa and Rudolf smiles... How can you not enjoy coffee out of a cup like that?! They make my 'Christmas Spirit-odometer' explode with happiness and cuteness.
2. Headspace:
Despite doing supply teaching for about five months now, I'm still having trouble adjusting to the 'not knowing-ness' of it all. Sometimes I won't get a booking for the next day, which means I don't know where or if I'll have a job and that not knowing kills me. It means I can't plan my journey there, I can't fully prepare myself and I have absolutely NO idea what to expect. Apart from being a horrific over-thinker, my need to be organised and in control makes this whole situation very stressful, particularly the night before. I often get really nervous and have trouble sleeping. I've tried thinking calming thoughts, drinking decaffeinated tea, hot baths, lavender essence, scented candles, listening to music and all the other things Google suggests. But despite D and my best efforts, nothing really works.
That was until I found Headspace. It's an app for your phone that focuses on training your brain to relax. It sounds a bit hippy-ish, but I've been really enjoying it. I'm not usually a fan of mediation. I find it painfully slow and a little awkward, but this is different. The free version includes ten sessions of ten minute meditation and it's basically just a man talking calmly and explaining how you can train your brain to relax. He uses lots of metaphors to make sense of the way the brain works and some sessions also include a little animation. I love it. It's so simple and the animations are gorgeous.
I haven't found the need to subscribe and unlock the rest of the sessions. Partly because you have to pay for it and partly because it's been so effective that I often fall asleep before the session ends. So it takes a few times listening to the same session to get to the end. It's been a God-send on those nervous nights, where the only thing you can think about is how tired you are and how you can't fall to sleep.
I highly recommend it if you have trouble sleeping or if you just want a clearer mind. You can download it for free from the app store or click here to go the website to read about it.
Seven smiles out of seven.
Despite doing supply teaching for about five months now, I'm still having trouble adjusting to the 'not knowing-ness' of it all. Sometimes I won't get a booking for the next day, which means I don't know where or if I'll have a job and that not knowing kills me. It means I can't plan my journey there, I can't fully prepare myself and I have absolutely NO idea what to expect. Apart from being a horrific over-thinker, my need to be organised and in control makes this whole situation very stressful, particularly the night before. I often get really nervous and have trouble sleeping. I've tried thinking calming thoughts, drinking decaffeinated tea, hot baths, lavender essence, scented candles, listening to music and all the other things Google suggests. But despite D and my best efforts, nothing really works.
That was until I found Headspace. It's an app for your phone that focuses on training your brain to relax. It sounds a bit hippy-ish, but I've been really enjoying it. I'm not usually a fan of mediation. I find it painfully slow and a little awkward, but this is different. The free version includes ten sessions of ten minute meditation and it's basically just a man talking calmly and explaining how you can train your brain to relax. He uses lots of metaphors to make sense of the way the brain works and some sessions also include a little animation. I love it. It's so simple and the animations are gorgeous.
I haven't found the need to subscribe and unlock the rest of the sessions. Partly because you have to pay for it and partly because it's been so effective that I often fall asleep before the session ends. So it takes a few times listening to the same session to get to the end. It's been a God-send on those nervous nights, where the only thing you can think about is how tired you are and how you can't fall to sleep.
I highly recommend it if you have trouble sleeping or if you just want a clearer mind. You can download it for free from the app store or click here to go the website to read about it.
Seven smiles out of seven.
3. Greek Yoghurt with honey:
It's delicious. That is all. Go buy a tub and don't blame me when you eat the entire thing in one sitting. You're welcome in advance.
It's delicious. That is all. Go buy a tub and don't blame me when you eat the entire thing in one sitting. You're welcome in advance.
4. 2048:
This is one of the most addictive games I've ever downloaded. I remember first seeing it over the shoulder of someone on the tube. I had no idea what they were doing; it just looked like a mush of number being moved around the screen, but gosh it looked fun. Now I've got it, there's no looking back. Goodbye Noogra Nuts, it was fun cracking nuts open while it lasted, but I've got a new obsession now and I'm not stopping until I get to 2048.
This is one of the most addictive games I've ever downloaded. I remember first seeing it over the shoulder of someone on the tube. I had no idea what they were doing; it just looked like a mush of number being moved around the screen, but gosh it looked fun. Now I've got it, there's no looking back. Goodbye Noogra Nuts, it was fun cracking nuts open while it lasted, but I've got a new obsession now and I'm not stopping until I get to 2048.
5. Vincent - Don McLean:
I don't know what it is about this song that I like so much... I find it really comforting and peaceful. It reminds me of a lullaby that someone would sing to send a child to sleep. It's very pretty and makes me close my eyes sway around. I've listened to it religiously this month; my new 'go-to' relaxing song.
I don't know what it is about this song that I like so much... I find it really comforting and peaceful. It reminds me of a lullaby that someone would sing to send a child to sleep. It's very pretty and makes me close my eyes sway around. I've listened to it religiously this month; my new 'go-to' relaxing song.
6. I Spy - Mikhael Paskalev
Another song that makes me want to move is this one... But not closing my eyes and swaying around. No, no. This song makes me want to jump around and smash things.
I rediscovered this beauty on the way to the train station the other morning. I don't usually listen to music when I'm walking on my own at six in the morning when it's dark and cold and quiet and raining. But Tuesday morning was needing some brightening up, so I popped my iPod in my pocket and let her rip! I immensely enjoyed whistling along to my favourite tunes and watching passer bys' faces change from 'morning grump' to 'slightly unsure and confused as to why I look so happy, so early in the morning'.
I have mixed emotions listening to this one. It reminds me of teaching dance classes back home. I'd always use this to warm up to because it made me so happy. But listening to it now just reminds me of that and makes me a little sad. Happy-sad though... If that makes sense.
It's now become my 'walk to the station' song and puts a silly smile on my face. It's a good way to start the day and gets me pumped for the day ahead.
7. The lead up to Christmas:
Sometimes I think I enjoy the lead up to Christmas more than the day itself. Watching the shop windows turn into festive displays, teaching at schools where the corridors are decked with tacky Christmas crafts, having fairy lights wrapped around trees in the street and best of all... The carols! People who say November is too early for carols are party poopers. I love them. The more the merrier.
I love all things Christmas. Bring on the lights and the present wrapping, bring on the Christmas toys and Christmas jumpers. Bring on the street festivals and isles of decorations in Morrisons and ASDA. It really is the most wonderful time of the year.
November has been amazing. There's a buzz in the air and it seems everyone is aware of how close Christmas really is. I can't wait for December.
I can't wait to eat figgy pudding and actually wear a Christmas jumper because it's cold outside. I can't wait to sing "chestnuts roasting on an open fire" and actually do it. I can't wait to deck the halls with real bows of holly and really mean it when I sing "the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful". All these Christmas songs finally make sense and I can really belt them out with passion and understanding. I really am dreaming of a white Christmas - keep your fingers crossed for me!
Xxo
I can't wait to eat figgy pudding and actually wear a Christmas jumper because it's cold outside. I can't wait to sing "chestnuts roasting on an open fire" and actually do it. I can't wait to deck the halls with real bows of holly and really mean it when I sing "the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful". All these Christmas songs finally make sense and I can really belt them out with passion and understanding. I really am dreaming of a white Christmas - keep your fingers crossed for me!
Xxo