Saturday 2 March 2024

Catch-Up

Thank you for all the lovely comments on my previous post. I've managed to reset my lap-top, and I think it seems to be working again. I can't complain, it must be about 14 years old. I just don't like to replace things unnecessarily :)




After  January dragged on for what seemed liked forever, February passed by in the blink of an eye. A huge improvement on the previous month (which wouldn't have been difficult), my mood lifted around the time of the Lunar New Year, and the ever increasing daylight hours and being surrounded by early signs of spring have me feeling much like my old self once again. My test results came back completely fine, which was, of course, a huge relief. So it would seem that I was probaby suffering from SAD, as several of you had suggested. Still, it was sensible to rule out anything else that could have been the cause of my fatigue.




To try and alleviate this, it has been my intention to spend more time outdoors, and now that the weather is slowly improving, this has made things much easier. I really don't like getting cold and wet. We've been out for some really lovely walks, down by the river and along the sea shore. We witnessed the Arnside Bore - zoom in on the third image above - which filled the estuary at an alarming rate.

 


Lily and I even completed our first fell walk of the year, albeit a short one. The views were still impressive though. I hope this will be the first of many this year, and that we can start adding to our Wainwright total, once again.

These last few weeks, I have also been kept quite busy working towards another little challenge, which I am hoping to complete tomorrow. It will be hugely encouraging for me if I am succesful, and most dissapointing if not. Fingers crossed I will have positive news to share after the weekend.

Talking of positive news, yesterday we recieved confirmation that Lily has been offered a place at her chosen secondary school, starting in September. This is going to be a big transition for the both of us, but she is feeling very excited. I'm just wondering where the time went. I'm sure it isn't that long since she started in reception class.

J. X





Tuesday 27 February 2024

Back Soon



Thank you for all your lovely messages. I'm absolutely fine. Just having some issues with my old laptop. 

J. X

Thursday 8 February 2024

Moving On

 


I am so relieved that we finally reached the end of January and we can move onwards towards spring. I have never been fond of this time of year. Gloomy, wet days. Leaving for work in the dark and returning home long after the sun has set. Saturdays and Sundays are usually filled with preparations for the week ahead, leaving little time for more pleasurable activities. And the cold! It isn't so much the low temperatures but usually it's  the damp and wind that fights its way through the warmest of clothing, making my body tense up and leaving me feeling achy. 

My initial plan of action, this year, was to power on through the month regardless. Surely if I could simply keep going, I wouldn't get so caught up in my dislike of January, the days would feel less depressing and, just maybe, we might even have a more wintry winter :) This did not work out as I'd hoped. The snow didn't arrive and recently I have been plagued with extreme tiredness, and persistently feeling under the weather. I am eating healthily - meal planning and getting one large weekly shop have been a huge help - and exercising, but I just can't seem to shift my malaise, which is why I haven't been spending a lot of time online. I have spoken with my GP, who expressed concern, and I am now waiting on the results of some blood tests. 

Moving forward, I intend to look upon January as my reset month. A time of quiet and calm. No expectations. Perhaps I really don't need to read up on ways with which to beat the January blues, I could simply hibernate instead.

J. X

Saturday 20 January 2024

Early January

I never meant to be absent for so long. Almost as soon as we'd rung in the new year, I was back at work and it feels like I've hardly stopped since then. Even so, January is now beginning to drag on just a bit much for my liking, and I find myself yearning for spring. Not long to wait now, or so I keep reminding myself :)




On New Year's Day we went ice skating. It was a lovely way to spend the afternoon and it felt good to be back on the ice again after my accident just over a year ago. My back is completely fine now but my confidence has definitely been knocked.

It's been an incredibly cold week here, with temperatures down to -6. We've experienced snow, frost and ice and thankfully the new boiler I had fitted last year hasn't had any issues. The same couldn't be said for my old TV, however, which after 16 years of loyal service, finally gave up, and there is now a shiny new model in it's place. 

It is early on Saturday morning and the wintry weather has been replaced by cloud and rain. Lily's tennis lesson has been cancelled, and so a more relaxed weekend is in order. It comes as quite a relief actually, as it will give me a chance to catch up. There are a few chores I could do with getting out of the way. Then again, besides the weekly shop, it's no big deal if they don't get done. The main thing I need to do is to write a menu plan. Since returning to work my hours have changed (yet again!). Only slightly on this occasion, but I am finding it even more of a challenge to make healthy choices when it comes to eating and I have noticed my energy levels have slumped. I realise preparation is the key, but with being short on time I clearly I haven't been prepared enough. I will clean out the fridge and make that my priority today. 

J. X