Weekly Musings

2018 - Week Eleven

'When we were kids a year would last forever. Then we grew up and were told it was all over. Now we are old and the memories returning are like the last stars that fade before the morning.'

(When We Were Kids - Clive James)

This week I feel like I have spent a lot of time discovering and digesting new knowledge, a pastime which since uni has hugely dwindled. I was starting to feel really stagnant and uninspired; my magazine job keeps me up to date with new music, and I am a dab hand at Key Stages 2 and 3 from nannying, but I don't do a lot of learning just for myself. So I decided to make a change, and I now set aside time each day to enjoy a decent book. I finished John Williams' Stoner this week that I've been dipping into on and off for about the past year (!), and sped through the first in a tweenager fantasy series of three connecting trilogies that I love called The Edge Chronicles. I also discovered the joy of podcasts to fill my 2.5 hour daily car journeys, listening to everything from Intelligence Squared (episodes such as 'The Science of Buoyancy' and 'An Anatomy of Truth') to Savage Lovecast, a show based on answering questions that people ask on a sex and relationships helpline.

 

On Tuesday I had the afternoon off, so went into Altrincham with Jasmine to Common Ground, one of the many coffee shops to open there recently. We started with lattes, but then progressed onto wine - a spontaneous day off deserves a tipple right?! On Wednesday my new CHVRCHES vinyl arrived so I danced around the flat to that, and after work Chris came to mine and I had a full Swedish massage as I am one of the case studies for his course, girlfriend perks!

On Friday I stayed at the boat, and Chris and I popped out to Pizza Express in Poynton for tea. We each had a pizza; I got the Camponata with aubergine, olives and capers, and Chris sampled the new vegan one which he said was tasty, and we shared some polenta fries. Chris also tried Seedlip which is an alcohol free gin, mixed with mediterranean tonic; I was impressed at how similar to real gin it tasted, and would order it in the future as an alternative if I were driving. Good ol' Tesco vouchers meant the whole meal and a tip cost us less than a tenner each, definitely worth saving on the washing up!

Yesterday I had a proper cosy boat day, it was snowing and Chris was out teaching guitar lessons until lunchtime so I holed up next to the fire with copious brews and my book whilst the doggies dozed. I went straight from there to my mum's to get ready for a night out with my sister in town. We started in Dive as some of the lads were watching the football in there, and then ended in Hula in Stevenson Square for some dancing. Double spirit and mixers were an eye watering 8 quid though, so I moved onto tequila zombies, if I'm paying that much for a drink I want to feel it!

Today I woke up to news of road closures and potentially cancelled plans... Mum and I were booked in for afternoon tea at Shrigley Hall as a belated Mother's Day present for her, but the snow was chaotic during the night and a lot of the more rural areas of Cheshire were inaccessible. Luckily for us as our table wasn't reserved until 3.30pm, the majority of roads had been cleared so we managed to get there, with a quick swing by to the boat as it was en route and my mum had never seen it. When we reached Shrigley we had prosecco, finger sandwiches, homemade scones, macarons, chocolate cake, Victoria sponge and bakewell tart, washed down with lots of tea. It was really lovely to get my mum on her own for a natter; much as I love my sister some one-on-one time is always appreciated.

  

So yet another busy week! Although I still found just enough time to get a new poem up on Instagram here, and above, my track for this week is the return of Everything Everything, a band who I have seen countless times and always entertain me.

Weekly Musings

2018 - Week Nine

'Come closer than my skin, I'll show you what it's like to begin again.'

(Perry Poetry)

It has been bliss this week being back in the comfort of my flat with my trusty hound, and it's been a really easy one for me work-wise; Aum had barely any homework so I finished early on a few days, and I even had Wednesday afternoon off due to a school meeting meaning his mum collected him, bonus! My weird mood from last week quicky dissipated, I heard it was something to do with an unusual moon which really affected some people? My track for this week is CHVRCHES new one featuring Matt Berninger from The National, which I am obsessed with, it is almost embarrassing how many plays of it I have racked up this week, but I love the contrast of the band's classic upbeat '80s synth with the sadness of the vocals and lyrics.

Due to my spontaneous free afternoon, I ventured out to grapple with the 'Beast from the East' with Ferryn on the football fields behind mine. It was like walking through the tundra! The wind was howling and kicking up all the snow into swirls in the air, and stupidly I had chosen to wear gym leggings so could barely feel my legs when I got back; I swiftly prescribed myself a steamy hot chocolate to cure the affliction.

On Friday Chris came and took refuge at mine for the day due to the insane wind rocking his canal boat and blowing all the smoke from the fire back inside it. It was cute us both just cracking on with our work sheltering from the elements, and in the evening he made us vegan pizzas from scratch, so I treated us to some Sweet Octopus goodies - a mocha bean stack, and a chocolate orange mousse dome, which we ate whilst watching Crash, what a classic.

Yesterday my mum came 'round and we drove into Cheadle to the Maker's Market for a wander and some lunch. We shared a roasted veg, goat's cheese and chilli jam pizza twist, and a cherry cheesecake brownie for dessert. We then broke our Lidl virginity (anywhere that sells fresh chocolate hazelnut croissants for 45p has my heart) and she dyed my hair ready for a much awaited night out with the girls.

Tasha and Abi came to mine for a couple of predrinks before we got an Uber into Didsbury village to The Botanist. We had some cocktails whilst a live duo played, and then left at midnight to move on elsewhere before we realised there wasn't really anywhere to go! After a pitstop in a random pub to get out of the freezing temperatures we got another taxi to Burton Road and went to Hula. It seems to have the same playlist every time we go, is always rammed and takes about half an hour to get served for a drink, but we got to have a dance at least!

Today Chris and I both had the whole day completely off in the flat, which has only happened once in the entire time we've been together! We had a lie in, drank coffee and ate pastries in bed for breakfast, and have just finished eating an adapted roast dinner (toad in the hole) whilst chain-watching House of Cards. What Sundays are made for!

Weekly Update!

Zombies, Articulate & Sneaking!

On Monday I saw Bombay Bicycle Club (see previous post), who were amazing, and definitely worth me buying a ticket last minute for. I went with Lydia and Lizzie, and we bumped into Kelly and James there too which was cool. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nothing much happened, I had a gorgeous dinner at Mum and Dad's of meat, falafel and halloumi on the sizzler, gymmed and stayed at Mo's, and babysat for a bit of extra money, where I made a lovely prawn rice dish.

On Friday after work I got the train to Luke's and had some Mexican food with him and his two friends from school. We were going to do the Christmas markets, but it was pouring down, so we opted for a few drinks instead. We started in Soup Kitchen, and then moved on to Hula Tiki where we hit the zombies. We didn't want a super heavy night so went home at 12pm, and played a couple of games of Articulate, very civilised!

Yesterday I got the train home and met Abi for a spa day at the Country Club which was really chilled and great to have a mammoth catch up. In the evening we went out to Manchester for Jasmine's birthday (see previous post) and today after sneaking Mo out of my parents' house this morning (my dad doesn't know we're seeing each other again, awkward!) I had a roast dinner and am now chilling at Mo's for the evening.