Getting ready for Christmas

Did I ever mention how much I truly live for Christmas? Christmas FM playing every day, baking cookies, decorating the house with loads of fairy lights (no tree this year, as we're living in a temporary situation and it doesn't feel right), hot chocolate, and telling everyone constantly how Christmas is my favourite time of the year.

I've been hoarding every item I've bought myself since about October, got the food shopping list ready to go, and booked tickets for a screening of It's a Wonderful Life on the 21st. Yep, pretty excited over here. 

Rosehip syrup

Leo's Aunt gave us some of her rosehip syrup at Easter time, and since then I've been waiting impatiently to collect my own rosehips so I could get on it. Rosehip syrup is rich in Vitamins C, D and A and it tastes incredible, subtle and not so sweet at all. Go out and make your own, don't bother spending a fortune on buying something that grows in the park!

Here's the recipe I loosely followed, one of those hilariously vague things you could only find in an Irish newspaper. Enjoy! 

10th day of autumn

This picture doesn't look like much. And really it's not. It's just a gal, eating a danish on a lunchroom plate. But it's more than that. It is a visual representation of utter satisfaction and contentment. Really, I swear. Because the weather is perfect, I have a lovely bike, and I'm entering a truly exciting phase of my PhD: the writing-up stage. I'm back in Dublin, where I feel completely at home, and good things are happening. This danish says all that. If you don't see it, you just aren't looking hard enough.

A wee update

It's been a while since I've written here. The truth is, I've been busy. Very busy. We're in the midst of planning for one major life-altering event, and several smaller life-altering events.

First, I am expecting a baba. This first-time, mind blowing event took over my entire being for about four and a half months, and it's only in the last week or so that I've begun to feel like an independent entity again. Aside from the emotional preparation and shift in thinking that had to take place, physically it took a huge toll on me. Round the clock nausea in the first 12 weeks were later replaced by gastro-intestinal issues I don't need to go into here. I was so tired for the first few months I was worried I'd never manage to do anything PhD related again. But I'm slowly and determinedly getting back to my old self, or as much of that old self as I can get back. Accepting changes, adapting and embracing all the new, wonderful things happening to me has been an incredible process. 

Secondly, I'm moving back to Ireland. Well, I'm in Ireland right now, but I'm renting out my room  in Durham soon and moving back officially at the end of October. Doubling up on hospital appointments and ante-natal care, and flying back and forth for me and Leo is no longer practical. I want us to enjoy this experience together, in one place, our home, so that means I'll be working from my desk in UCD from now on. It also means finding a new home for the three of us, good things in the works in that respect. 

We're getting into the throes of autumn now, and I'm enjoying the cooler temperatures (I sweat a LOT in Summer) and abundance of produce. Long walks in Durham led to blackberry eating, and apples and plums have been made into crumbles and stewed with yoghurt. 

Now that I have an appetite again, I am vigorously spending as much time cooking, savouring those hours spent in the kitchen. And of course, eating a varied and healthy died is much better for me and the baba than spaghetti hoops and tinned rice pudding (don't judge me til you've been there, folks). In Durham I've been enjoying a lot of smoothies, and porridge is making a comeback. I'm also embracing pizza making, with Leo teaching me the ways of yeast, which I've never used before.

I'm cycling as much as humanly possible, my preferred mode of transport and exercise. Leo got me this gorgeous bike which is sturdy and fast, and I am looking forward to the many thousands of kilometers I will travel on it. I intend to cycle for as long in the pregnancy as is physically possible (heavily pregnant Danish cyclists are my inspiration here) and will start back with baby in tow as soon as is safe.

 Life is very good, have a good autumn!

Durham Miner's Gala

This year I got a chance to attend the Miner's Gala in Durham (I missed it last year), and I walked with the City of Durham Labour party banner. To see so many people with similar values all coming together in one place was really special. After the gala, there was a session at the Elm Tree with loads of lovely Geordies playing Irish music. It felt like home.

To support the gala and find out more information: http://www.durhamminers.org/gala 

Back in Ireland: family and friends

I've been so lucky to get to spend so much time in Ireland this year. I just spent three weeks at home, and had so many catch ups with old friends (some visiting from literally the other side of the world), and lots of special family events.

I'm determined to make more of an effort to be present at special events; I've been away for too long.

Iceland

For the Summer solstice, Leo and I took a trip to Iceland. We drove a lot, up and down the West side of Iceland, and saw some incredible things. We also got to spend their independence day there and enjoy the chaos that was Iceland winning a major football match (the men's team, the women's team of course has been doing this for a long time ;) ). Ireland won on the same day, so that was really nice.

The architecture of the houses and churches, the endlessly changing landscapes, the people, the limitless hot water and swimming pools, Iceland is without a doubt one of my favourite places.

[This is a glacier on top of a volcano. We drove up to it and just stood, staring]

On the Go

I move around a lot. A few days a week, in Durham, where I have my 'own' place (and I love it), with all my bedding, most of my clothes, my own herbs and spices in the cupboard, and a stock pile of apple cider vinegar (not joking).

It used to bother me a lot, moving around so much. The day before I'd get a 'here we go again' sinking feeling and I wouldn't be able to live in the moment and just enjoy the experience of being where I was. Not looking to the past or anticipating an imagined future has been a really hard skill to develop, but I'm sort-of getting there.

Mostly it's just learned behaviour. What we repeatedly do, we become. Every five or six days, I take a plane and arrive in my new home, either at midday or at midnight. I spend a few days there, embrace whatever's going on there, then head off again. No mess, no fuss. To be honest, it took a few years to get comfortable with moving around so much. But I got there in the end.

The things I have learned so far:

Have less things

Having way less stuff means less stuff to lug around with you, less stuff to keep organised, less stuff to clutter your line of vision and make you miserable, less stuff to maintain (servicing the 'stuff' is a big part of many peoples' lives, they just don't know it)

Learn what works for you

What will make your travel and hometime your most efficient self? Learn through trial and error, and do that. I've got the timings of my train and plane down, a backpack for laptop and shoulder bag for clothes, and two simultaneous sets of cards, keys and life-admin things carefully managed so it's all where I need it when I need it. No sweat.

Don't have a lot of different types of clothes

I know 'capsule wardrobes' are a huge thing right now, and that's cool. But the logic of having less clothes, and having clothes that go with all your other clothes, is just sound logic. I think people can become a bit of a slave to the capsule wardrobe-anticipating the changeover, documenting it etc. The idea for me is to have a setup where I can think as little as possible about the clothes I will wear but know they are all adequate. 

Learn to take comfort in the simple things

You know what's beautiful? A fresh bunch of flowers, or a houseplant that requires minimal water (heathers are indestructible), a nice smell of essential oils and a cup of tea. I painted my walls white and just walking into my bright room makes me smile. Those are the things that keep you feeling ok.

Make the most of wherever you are

When I'm in Durham, there's not a lot to do I'm interested in, but there's a great folk music community, so I go to a lot of sessions. Not only am I learning loads of new tunes, but I'm meeting great people. I went to a session in someone's house last week and it was amazing-good tunes, great snacks, and a glass of Scotch to finish! Wherever you are, embrace it. Don't think of what might be or what you're missing somewhere else.

Happy Birthday Leo

My best friend in the whole world turned 30 last Wednesday. To mark the special occasion we went on a short break to France. One night in Nice, then a local bus to a beautiful old town called Vence. Sitting in the spa, reading, doing squat jumps, eating delicious local food, and generally having the most relaxing time in our gorgeous hotel and the town. It's rare that I feel sad after leaving a place, but I do miss it now. Leo doesn't care so much about birthdays, but I tried to make it enjoyable for him, and I hope it was memorable.