How Did It Go? Reflections on #BEDN 30

I failed. Twice.

I was so excited to start #BEDN because I had been finding it hard to blog. I just haven't been able to muster up the energy or inspiration to put fingers to keyboard and write something. So the idea that the topics were already set out for me really appealed. That has been half the battle for me and someone else has done it for me.

I also liked the challenge element. Sure, I've been struggling to actually get on and write things but the idea that is is a challenge was a big motivator for me. And for the first week or so, I did it. I sat down and I wrote. I enjoyed it.

And then, I got poorly.

I had been fighting of this horrible cold that had been going around the office for over a month. I wasn't going to be I'll. I didn't have time. I was busy. So busy. And I kept going and going and then I crashed. I couldn't go to work let alone write a blog post. And I got behind. First I missed a day. Then two. Then three or four, I can't remember. I failed.

One of my favourite things I have ever heard about success and habits and achievement is 'Fail Small, Not Big'. What this means is if you are trying to achieve something, like trying to blog every day or going for a swim every week or anything else and you mess up... You don't just give up. You say, 'hey, so I missed a blog/day/week etc, that's okay, I'll just carry on from here'. The idea bring that having a small hiccup is better than totally quitting altogether.

So that is what I did. I picked myself up and I got back in track. I caught up. I did all the blog topics j missed and the current ones. And it felt good. So that was Failure number one. Just a small one.

Failure number 2 came later. Other things happened. My brain was full. I couldn't think. I couldn't process. I couldn't focus. And I couldn't write. This was failure number 2. A failure of two halves.

At first, I felt like a failure because I had been unable to complete something I had committed myself to doing. But then, I slowly decided to embrace my failure. And I embraced it as my choice. In direct contrast to my earlier point I made the choice to not start again. There is a lot of stuff going on in my head right now, and having a mandatory blog to write is just not a priority. It is not good for me. So I decided to fail big. I chose to fail for my own mental wellbeing and in that way, I feel I have won.

I would definitely do this again, and I would like to make it through the whole month. I would try to be more prepared though if I did attempt it again. I would try to write in advance and to be less tough on myself.

Last year I did Blogmas, which I won't be attempting this year in light of my #BEDN shenanigans. But I will be doing a few posts here and there if and when inspiration and frame of mind strike.

Thank you if you read this.

Love Charlotte x

Travel #BEDN 21

I haven't really travelled.

I've been to Disneyland Paris when I was younger and Austria on a school ski trip but other than that I have only been on UK holidays. I've been to lots of places in the UK but by no means have I been everywhere. Not even close.

 

I am in the position that next year I might be able to go on a holiday with The Boy, here are my current suggestions.

 

1. Hire a campervan, pick somewhere and brum around it.
   
2. Go to Cornwall, because I miss the Eden Project.
   
3. Look at the Fjords in Norway
   
4. Take the train to Barcelona.
   
5. Get one of those interrail tickets.
   
6. The Isle of Wight, chines, St Michael's mount. It's all good.
   

 

So even there I've picked three 'local' trips.

The thing is, is because I've never done it, I don't know what to expect. It feels overwhelming. I don't know how to book a flight or a ferry or n international train ticket. I'm not confident finding places here, let alone a hotel in another country. I'm terrible at languages. What are you allowed to pack? I'm terrible at packing light, no matter how hard I try.

 

I'm sure it's not actually that hard. Google translate will surely be a big help right?

Maybe I should start with a package holiday?

I don't know.

I have a friend at work who is always looking for good deals on flights and hotels and does it all herself but I wouldn't know where to begin!

I see all the adverts for last minute deals and flights and so on but I just can't get to grips with it all.

 

Dear world of people who know what they are doing, please help!

What is the best thing to do? What are your top tips?

 

I'm sure The Boy would look after me, I just need to commit to a destination and go for it!

 

Love Charlotte x

Beauty #BEDN 19

Beauty... Is in the eye of the beholder.

Beauty... Is skin deep.

Beauty... Comes from within.

Beauty... And The Beast.

 

I am not into beauty.

I don't wear make up. Not on a day to day basis. Not for most events either. Maybe twice a year.

I don't do my hair.

I'm not even very good at moisturisers and perfumes and things like that.

I am very low maintence in this way.

 

I obviously wash my hair with shampoo and conditioner. Sometimes they are even a matching pair!

I really enjoy a good face wash, but only with warm water and a face cloth.

Every now and then, I crack a lush face mask out but this isn't a frequent occurrence.

The closest thing I have to a regular 'beauty routine' is the I have to regularly wash the skin around my eyes with warm water and baby shampoo due to some eczema type thing I have going on.

 

I like the idea of looking after myself and not having to look like a tired wreck all the time but I just can't do it.

 

Love Charlotte x

Entrepreneurship Week #BEDN 18

I long to be those people who make crafts and sell them on etsy or craft markets or in those brilliant shops where each seller has a shelf or a bookcase to display their items.

 

The only problem with this is that I am not actually very good at crafting. I'm pretty okay and some things but I'm not actually very good enough at a thing so that I could make a living from it. I can make a nice thing for someone as a present but I can give myself plenty of time to accomplish this. Or sometimes I don't and I end up having to craft non stop to complete my ambitions.

 

I also get very distracted, I decided last year that I was going to make a Pinterest inspired pine one wreath. I went out and collected all my own pine cones and then left the sitting in a bag until now. I'm really hoping to get it completed in time for this Christmas. I have two blankets in progress. I have a half completed cushion over. I have grand ambitions for a patchwork quilt made of old t-shirts. They are all languishing.

 

This short attention span isn't even the only thing stopping me from becoming a self employed crafter extraordinaire.

1. I struggle to have consistent ideas of my own rather than just pilfering other ideas or following patterns.
2. I don't know anything about taxes or money or apart of that jazz.
3. I am not brave enough.

 

I admire anyone that has a go at setting up on their own. And I love unique things so well done to everyone that is able to make their own things and share them with the world.

 

Maybe one day, I'll have a go. I'll be sure to give you a shout if I do.

 

 

Love Charlotte x

Friday Nights Out # BEDN 20

I have been out clubbing about 6 times. It's not for me.

 

Having already said that I would prefer a Friday night in, now talking about my perfect Friday night out feels a bit fraudulent. But just because I like a night in, doesn't mean I don't enjoy some types of night out.

I don't like stopping out until the wee hours, drunk and not remembering anything. And besides, the bass in nightclubs makes me feel sick. The last night out I went on was about 6 years ago. It was Christmas time. I slipped on some ice outside a club we had been queuing in the freezing cold. I did make it in but after about 10 minutes I decided my arm hurt and I went home. In the morning I had a massive lump in my arm where I fell. I promptly decided nights out like that weren't for me.

If you actually know me though, you will know the reason that I have missed the last two days posts (I promise to try and do those this weekend) is because on Wednesday night, or should I say Thursday morning, I got in and to bed at 3am. I had 2.5 hours sleep and then went to work. It was fine, but I had to go to bed at 8pm on Thursday night. And to be honest, I might not make it much later than the time of posting this today!

Now, it wasn't a Friday night out big I wish it had been a Friday because then I could've had a lie in! What is was, was a midnight screening of the final Hunger Games film: Mockingjay Part 2. So the evening started as somewhere between a night in and a night out. Essentially, it was a night in but at someone else's house! We had pizza and snacks and watched the previous Hunger Games films. And then we went out to the cinema. It was a night out in my book. I don't go to the cinema much any more, it's just so expensive these days. But what I do still like is event cinema. Where it's something I really want to see and there's something special about it. I'll make the effort for that and boy was it worth it.

My next Friday night out that I have planned is a theatre night. We will go for a meal first. Then we will go to the show. And then, we will wend our way home, possibly looking for a dark spot to look up at that stars. Now that, for me at least, is a brilliant night out.

 

Love Charlotte x

 

Home Sweet Home #BEDN 17

I have spent the last 5 years saving up for a deposit to buy a house.

It turns out houses are expensive.

And that if you don't have a very big wage, banks don't want to lend you very much money.

And I'm a bit snobby and I don't want to buy any old dump. There are somethings that I just don't want to compromise on.

 

I am happy though, to buy a fixer-upper. I would love to put my on stamp on place and turn a house into a home.

 

Home to me means safety. It means cosy. It means refuge. It means family and friends and fun.

A home should be inviting. It should be the sort of place with lots of comfy seating and good food.

I want to create my home. To build it up over time. I can't deny I quite like IKEA but I don't want to fill my home with it. I want to curate it, a bit of furniture from here, a painting from there, a bookcase full of charity shop finds. A hand-knitted blanket in every room, just incase someone gets chilly.

I think the best homes are homes that are lived in.

Not prestine. Not beige. Not boring.

You go in and you see washing up and piles of magazines and the throw on the sofa is wonky and there's a mug in the side.

I'm not saying I want to live in a messy house. But I like to know that people are using and enjoying their home, not spending all their time tidying and straightening it and making it presentable. This probably works really well for some people, but for me, keeping my house to that standard would make it just that. A house.

 

I want a home.

I want a home I can feel safe in,

I can feel happy in.

That I can share with the people I love.

I'm not sure when I'll get it.

But I will.

 

Love Charlotte xx

A Different Post / Antibullying Week #BEDN 16

Today's post was supposed to be about Anti Bullying Week.

This is a far more noble cause than what I am going to write about so please do check out the campaign here. If you are being bullied, please tell someone you trust. This applies to everyone whether at school, at work, on social media, anywhere. Bullying isn't just a schoolyard thing but you mustn't let anyone stop you from living your life and being happy.

 

Today, I didn't want to write a post.

It has been a bad day.

I have spent most of it trying not to cry and feeling physically sick with worry and fear and anxiety.

And so much of that was because I didn't and don't know what to do about it.

I am not brave enough to take a leap.

But I am going to try.

It might be a small puddle jump first.

And then a little hop and a skip.

I'm not sure I'm much of a leap taker to be honest.

 

I am verging on bullying myself frankly. I tell myself I am not good enough. And then I tell myself off for for being so hard on myself. I am very harsh on myself and it's difficult to tell on yourself. I am a bit of a self sabotager. I think I, going to fix something and I end up making it worse.

 

I could've skipped today.

But it's taken me so long to get caught up I couldn't bare / bear (which is it please) missing another day.

I should've let myself skip it.

But I couldn't.

 

Sorry this is a waste a post. I'll try to try harde to tomorrow.

Charlotte

 

Video #BEDN 15

I am a slave to video. Not really, but I do spend too much of my time in front of the screen.

At the time of writing I have 198 videos in my YouTube watch later list.

I have 2 seasons left of How I Met Your Mother I have committed to watching.

At least 2 full series on my hard drive recorder that I haven't made a start on.

Around a dozen DVDs that I haven't watched yet, if not more.

 

I sometimes take snippets of video when I am out somewhere. Not often, I mostly do pictures. But every now and then I take a video. And as I discussed in my blog on photography, I don't know what to do with those clips. It's even worse than pictures because I can't even print them out.

 

I recorded some beautiful fountains on my holiday last year.

I recorded an awesome death eater wand fight demonstration the other month on a trip to the Harry Potter Studio tours.

But these clips remain, unwatched.

I watch other people's videos. I live a good vlog. But I don't have the dedication, or frankly confidence let alone an interesting enough life to do that. But recently I came across something that could work for me:

1 Second Every Day.

I came across the idea while listening to a TED radio hour podcast. I cannot recommend them enough, if you are of a curious mind and enjoy spoken word media then you definitely should give it a go. They are hour long episodes, with a single theme which encorporate a few different, yet relating TED Talks. You can watch the talk about the 1 Second A Day here.

 

Cesar (autocorrect did not like typing that) Kuriyama, came up with the idea of stitching together single second snippets together, one per day, like a massive highlight reel of his year. And this is something that appeals to me. I have tried and failed before at 1 photo a day. I have tried and failed to keep a daily 3 good things diary. And yet, this is something I want to try or at least to have a look at more seriously.

 

 

Memories are such a bizarre creature. Sometimes it is so easy to recall something, other times no matter how hard you try you can't call something you know is in there to the front of your mind. And so much stuff is lost forever. Maybe just maybe, little one second snippets could be just the aide memoire needed!

 

Please do go and watch that TED talk linked above, after all it is a video and that's what today's post is all about. I'd love to know what you think about it.

 

Love Charlotte x

 

What is your Expertise? #BEDN 14

I don't have one.

I don't think I do anyway.

I quite like the idea of being so knowledgeable about something that I could call myself an expert but actually, I don't have the patience, the attention span or the concentration to pick just one thing and focus all my energy on that.

I like variety. I like lots of things and I can't bring myself to pick just one thing. I even did a joint degree because I couldn't pick one subject to do.

 

What must it be like to be so passionate about one thing?

To get so engrossed in it that you know all the ins and outs?

To want to do just that thing?

 

I'm not sure I will ever know. But I live in hope.

 

The closest thing I have to expert is how my office works. I can change the printer timer. I can fix the photocopier. I know people's extensions. I know how to fix people's spreadsheets. I know who is most likely to break their spreadsheets. I know how everyone likes their tea. And frankly, this makes me a little bit sad. That this is what I am expert in. I could be expert in something so much more interesting. In cases, in knitting, in riding a bike, in microbiology! I don't know, just something more.

 

Are you an expert? What is it like?

 

Love Charlotte x

World Kindness Day #BEDN 13

Kindness is the most beautiful quality.

 

The other day, a woman had a panic attack on the train.

It was fine. She was fine, her friend talked to her, a man reassured her, passengers opened windows and gave her space. She made it to the other side.

I found her after in the station and told her that he had done amazing. I told her she shouldn't worry about what anyone else thought and that I hoped she was alright. I just wanted her to know it was okay. And she really appreciated it. All it was was a kind word. I don't know her but that doesn't matter. We shared that little moment and it helped.

 

It can be very easy to be kind or it can be very hard.

If I'm in a good mood, I want to help people. I go the extra mile for people at work and I do little things for people I know without really thinking. I love thinking of presents for people, and that moment of knowing I've gotten or made someone something they really like is (quite selfishly really) such a satisfying feeling.

 

But when I'm in a bad mood, I find it much harder. I don't want to go out of my way. I don't think so much of others. I'm not unkind or mean, but I don't make the same effort. I'm sure this is true for a lot of people.

 

Kindness is something to be cultivated, to be constantly worked on and nurtured,

Kind is something we should aim to be every single day. There will always be horrible people. Vile people.Truly despicable people. But they shouldn't let us think that we can't be different, that we can't be better than them. I've heard that violence is like a disease. That it spreads in the same way as one might pass a virus onto another. Close contact and contamination. Perhaps kindness could spread the same way. Like a positive virus. Let's spread the cure.

 

Share your kindness with someone and they might just think to pass it onto someone else. They might not, but that shouldn't stop us from trying anyway.

 

The idea behind Random Acts Of Kindness is a powerful one.

The first place I came across it was in Danny Wallace's 'Join Me' where he accidentally started a cult. Sorry, it was a collective. And the purpose of said collective became to spread kindness. That was way back in 2002. Now, 13 years later, the idea is still going strong with one of my favourite youtubers doing a video with some suggestions of little RAOK that you can try yourself.

 

I've always fancied leaving post it notes in books or on the mirrors in changing rooms with positive messages. I'm going to make the effort to do this in the future.

 

Try something today, tomorrow, any and every day to make someone smile.

 

Love Charlotte x

 

Your Local Area #BEDN 12

Have an adventure this weekend. You don't need to jet off to some exotic location, I'm sure you can find something to do right on your doorstep (or at least wthin a short drive).

 

If you live in a city, maybe there a museum you have been meaning to go to, but never do. Perhaps there's a local art exhibition on. Maybe there's a hidden canal walk not far from where you are. I found this out about where I live about a year or so ago and I was amazed!

If you're in the country, go for a walk, go in a different direct to normal. Buy a day rover and take the train or the bus around and about.

 

I try to do this in my lunch breaks. I work in a city centre and it is so easy to just mooch around the same shops every day and either:

A) Get very bored

B) Spend money unnecessarily

C) Both of the above

 

So now days, I pick a direction and head that way until I hit the halfway point of my break, then I spin around and head back. I've been meaning to check out the local museum. And apparently the local town hall does lunch time organ recitals. That is also on my list. Because why not. The best lunch time adventure I had I ended up watching a sword fight demonstration. All because I ventured out.

 

Your local council probably has a website, and that website probably has a list of upcoming events. Find a market, find a show, find something! Twitter is an excellent resource, loads of people have accounts promoting local stuff, make a list a save everything you can find in it. Then when you want to do something, search that list.

 

I don't make the best of my local area, but I am trying to explore it more often. Try new things, do things you might not normally do. The worst that happens is you have a duff hour or so and you don't do that thing again.

 

Love Charlotte x

Lists #BEDN 11

I LOVE LISTS.

I NEED LISTS.

Here is a list of the lists on my phone right now.

1. Several to do lists
2. Specific work to do list
3. Healthy snack ideas list
4. The Christmas present list for others x 9
5. The Christmas present list for yourself
6. The books to read list
7. Films / TV shows to watch list
8. Places to visit list
9. Disc world Novels list
10. Harlan Coben books list: General
11. Harlan Coben books list: Myron series
12. List of good things
13. 99 problems list (that will one day be a blog post)
14. Project list
15. Things for my future house list
16. Ice cream flavours list
17. List of TED talks to check out

 

I normally have a few lists on the go on scraps of paper and in notebooks too.

I like the satisfaction of crossing things off a list.

I like adding easy things onto a list so that I can make sure I can cross things off.

I tend to make goal or resolution lists about 4 times a year, and even though I always fail, I still make them and put myself through that torture because I enjoy the feeling of possibility when I make the list.

 

What lists to you have on the go? It can just be me with a list of lists!

 

Love Charlotte x

 

Family #BEDN 10

They say you can't choose your family,and to an extent you can't. You really are lumped with your relatives and heritage. But you can choose who to keep in touch with and how much.

And then there is the 'concept' of family. At what point does a partner become family? Is it when you get married, when you have kids, when you move in together? What about those friends that you have that you spend more time with than your relatives, that you think of as family?

I have a work family. I spend 40 hours a week with those people, we care about each other and as such, they become like a little family group.

 

So what is family? I can't define it, but I know what it is to me. Here are my core family members detailed in pointless factoids and descriptions.

 

Mum: She is a no nonsense woman. She is kind. She is firm. She is fair. She is funny. She is the best cook and the best baker. I can already see myself turning into her and for the most part, I am okay with that. She trips up over her own feet a fair bit and she refuses to accept that TVs over 32" are acceptable. She has a strange obsession with that squeezy cheese you get in tubes.

 

Dad: He is smiley. He is happy. He has a very good beard. He is the most creative person I know and I'm pretty sure the inside of his head is like a massive shelving unit collapsing under the weight of off his crazy ideas. He taught me to ride a bike. He taught me to use a band saw. He taught me that it's okay to be weird and that having a laugh is the best way to deal with things.

 

Sister: She is frustrating. She is different. She likes Eastenders which I just don't understand. She has the most organised computer files I have ever seen but yet I am the one who works in admin. She is generous. She doesn't like to shout out at quiz shows. She paints. She volunteers. She is fussy when it comes to pizza. She has multiple books on the go at once.

 

Boy: He is dedicated. He is lazy. He is under enthused about almost everything. But when he cares, the enthusiasm overflows. He drives and he loves it. He has an interesting approach to cookery. He gives good hugs. The best. He makes me laugh. He is just as bad at me at bowling. He eats too fast. He wears so much green. He is very good at packing light.

 

They say you can't choose your family. I would choose mine.

Love Charlotte x

 

Style #BEDN 9

Sorry that the below post is late. When I signed up for #BEDN I didn't realise I was going to get struck down by a rotten snotty bug and spend two days off work asleep. But even though I haven't blogged everyday, I still want to make an attempt at each topic, so here we go!

I don't really follow the fashion trends. I don't have enough of an interest to know who all the designers are. I just know if I like something at the time, not if it is actually 'fashionable'.

 

To me, there are two sides of the style coin.

Trendy style.

Personal style.

Trendy style to me is following what is in. What is now. What all the famous folk are wearing and what the shops are telling us we have to have. I struggle with following the trends. I don't have the disposable income. I don't have the space. I don't have the throw away mentality. I don't agree with wearing something because it is what you 'should be wearing' if it doesn't actually suit you. I don't aspire to follow the trends.

I aspire to personal style. I do okay. I can for the most part put together a nice outfit but I would like to be the sort of person who can put together a great outfit ALL the time. I've just not quite worked out what I take a great outfit is yet. I have a couple of winners in the wardrobe, but I don't want to wear the same thing everyday. That's boring. And I don't want to wear a variation of the same thing everyday. That's boring too. But that is what I end up doing a lot of the time because it is easy.

 

I like clothes. I enjoy finding that piece that looks great or that combination of things that just goes together perfectly. I'm not the best at it, I don't think I have an inherent flair for style. But I think that I manage pretty well.

 

And another thing? How many people experience the shopping paradox?

Have money: nothing in the shops you want to buy.

Have no money: shops overflowing with things you really want.

So frustrating.

 

I'm not sure what I am trying to say here to be honest.

If I'm being honest, which I am to trying to be, what I really want is to go through my entire wardrobe with the confidence and guts to chuck out everything that I don't 100% like. But I don't. Because that's hard, it takes effort and it would mean replacing those things without panic buying new things that I will end up wanting to chuck out in the near future anyway.

Or, a bigger wardrobe. That would do nicely.

 

If anyone has any top tips for deciding what to buy or what to keep or what to chuck out please do let me know. It's probably shallow of me, but I feel better on a day where I have an outfit I am happy with.

 

Love Charlotte

 

Self Care #BEDN 8

Sorry that the below post is late. When I signed up for #BEDN I didn't realise I was going to get struck down by a rotten snotty bug and spend two days off work asleep. But even though I haven't blogged everyday, I still want to make an attempt at each topic, so here we go!

Self Care (Should've been Sunday)

I don't think I am good at self care.

But then again, I'm not sure how to define self care.

What does it mean? Is it pampering, like going to the spa or doing a face mask? Does it just mean eating a balanced diet? Does it mean taking vitamin supplements or getting enough exercise? Is it about taking time out to relax, to reduce stress, to do what is important for you?

 

I am not sure. It's probably some sort of combination of those things and several other factors that will be different for every single person reading this.

I am a generally healthy, happy person and yet I don't think I am very good at self care. I don't neglect myself obviously but there are so many things that I could do that I am sure that I could do that would make me feel much better on a day to day basis that I just can't get myself to do. At least, not with any sort of regularity or longevity.

 

I get tired a lot, and I have a regular bedtime booked in so that's good. But I've previously been told I need to up my iron intake and yet I hardly ever take my iron supplements so that's bad. I can't say for definite if taking those tablets would make me feel better. All I know is that when they were actually prescribe, when I had to take them as instructed by my doctor, I took them and I felt better. Now it is my decision to take them, I forget, or I put it off or I do it for a week and then stop.

 

I have something much like eczema around my eyes. It is uncomfortable and unattractive. Again, I can't say for definite but I am sure I could keep on top of it much better than I currently do. As it is I am trying, I really am, to try and get a sort of preventative routine going but I still act in a more reactionary manner. I'll skip a day or forget to do part of my routine when I'm tired, or if it seems to be clearing up and then go into overdrive panic when it flares up again.

 

My mornings would be so much easier if I could just get my clothes out and decide what I was going to have for breakfast and lunch the night before so that I don't have to try and make any decisions in my groggy half asleep state. But again, I don't. Not consistently. I always think I'll cope, I'll be okay. But coping and being okay is silly when for such a tiny bit of organisation I could be breezy and happy and have one (tree actually!) less things to worry about.

 

Don't even get me started on worrying. All I will say is I NEED TO STOP worrying about so much nonsense.

 

My constant goal is to try and look after myself better. I am hoping that by writing this it will help me to do so.

 

Thank you for reading, if you have done this far, to my pointless rants.

 

Love Charlotte x

 

Unusual Hobbies #BEDN 7

Sorry that the below post is late. When I signed up for #BEDN I didn't realise I was going to get struck down by a rotten snotty bug and spend two days off work asleep. But even though I haven't blogged everyday, I still want to make an attempt at each topic, so here we go!

Unusual Hobbies

Hobbies. They are a very good idea and I think everyone should have at least one.

But is there such a thing as an 'Unusual Hobby'? I think it all depends on your perspective.

 

I think my hobbies are pretty normal. I enjoy baking and cooking. I read. I watch YouTube. I'm spending more time on The Simpson's Tapped Out at the moment than I probably should but I'm really enjoying the Halloween feature. I am working my way through How I Met Your Mother from the very beginning. (I've only got two seasons left to go). I knit. I go for walks and bike rides. I write on here... Sometimes.

I don't do any of these things on a schedule. They don't happen like clockwork. I can go months without doing any combination of these things or sometimes I am on everything all at once. I just pictured trying to knit in a bicycle. I don't do that.

Now I think these hobbies are pretty standard. There's nothing too out there, nothing too niche. But to someone with no interest in computer games or pointless time wasting apps, my current obsession with The Simpsons would seem bizarre and rediculous. When I tell people that I like to knit, I am sometimes faced with an expression looking back at me wondering why I'm doing something so old fashioned. My mum doesn't understand the point of YouTube and I know people that think marathoning a box set is a waste of time and that I would be better off going out for a hike. I also know people who think the exact opposite.

 

When I started thinking what to write for this, the most unusual hobby I could come up with was Taxidermy. I don't get the idea of taxidermy particularly. It seems a bit strange to me to get some stuffing and sew up a dead badger or a sparrow. The more I thought about it though, the more it occurred to me that those people out there (hello if you're reading!) who partake in this hobby probably don't think it's unusual. They probably have friends and contacts who do the same thing. They probably share tips and photos of their successful stuffings on social media I the same way that I take photos of my pasta bake and knitting and share those.

 

Hobbies are hobbies. Don't worry if you think that yours is strange, or different or "unusual". It's not, you just haven't found your group yet.

 

Love Charlotte x

 

Friday Night In #BEDN 6

Sorry that the below post is late. When I signed up for #BEDN I didn't realise I was going to get struck down by a rotten snotty bug and spend two days off work asleep. But even though I haven't blogged everyday I am trying to catch up and I still want to make an attempt at each topic.

 

Friday Night In

Friday night in. Is there really any other kind? Well, of course you can have Friday nights out but these aren't really my thing. Especially not those those out on the town, dancing till some crazy time in the AM. Call me old, call me boring, call me anything you like but it's just not for me. If it's for you, then that's awesome and I hope you enjoy it to the fullest.

At the moment, my Friday nights aren't really anything special. I am a create of routine, and if I am totally honest, I go to bed at pretty much the same time as I normally do during the week. I know that is massively boring, I know. But I just can't stay up. I'm tired. I've been at worku all week. I start to fall asleep on the sofa.

 

But, given a better opportunity, I do like a good Friday night in.

You know the kind. The traditional kind. The kind that involves getting a takeaway or having a really comforting home cooked meal. For the home cooked meal option I would like it to be a collaboration with whoever is joining me for the big night in. I enjoy cooking and I find cooking with my friends or boyfriend to be a very good way to go about it. You don't have to do all the work. There's always some sort of banter and laugh and if you have my friends, a really, really good pudding!

 

I know a lot of people might crack open a bottle of wine or pop some beers in the fridge but I'm quite happy with a j2o or a Pepsi. I like a cheeky fruit cider though on the odd occasion if I'm feeling crazy!

 

I'm not really into films that much. I'll normally opt for a box set. I like the sense of achievement you get from marathoning through multiple episodes and also the flexibility to stop and do something else (board game anyone??) or fall asleep!

 

My Friday night in might look different to yours. But all that matters is that you enjoy yourself. If that means growing a party or sampling different types of cheese then go for it. Not what I would do, but as we've established, I'd probably fall asleep during it and offend you anyway.

 

Love Charlotte x

 

 

Bonfire Night #BEDN 5

Sorry that the below post is late. When I signed up for #BEDN I didn't realise I was going to get struck down by a rotten snotty bug and spend two days off work asleep. But even though I haven't blogged everyday, I still want to make an attempt at each topic, so here we go!

Bonfire night.

 

I like fireworks. I was about to say love fireworks but I'm not sure my feelings are that strong. Yes they are pretty and enjoyable but I'm not sure I would be devastated never to see them again. That being said, I do enjoy them a lot.

 

This year, bonfire night fell on a Thursday. A school night so the big local display wasn't actually on the day but from my poorly bed I could hear lots of people letting off their own fireworks. At one point I tried to look out of the window for them but I couldn't see a thing, so I imagined them instead in my sudafed, half dreamy state.

 

When I was little we used to get those nice garden fireworks. You know, fountains and Catherine wheels and sparklers. Not those big ones. Just a nice little display that we could all bundle up and enjoy. Nothing too crazy.

 

 

I know you all know this, but fireworks are dangerous and you need to play safe. And when I say play, I mean DO NOT PLAY AROUND THESE ARE SERIOUS EXPLOSIVES THAT CAN HURT.

 

 

So, back to when I was younger. I'm not sure how young but it was late primary school I think so maybe about 9ish? Anyway, that year, one of my uncles hosted a bonfire night party. It was a big family gathering with everyone getting together and having a good time.

The two things I can remember from that party were there was a jelly in the shape of a rabbit and my dad and I got hit by a firework. I'm not 100% sure about the rabbit jelly.

There had been several fireworks up to this point, but he had saved the biggest and bestest one for last. I decided I wanted to see it. My dad bundled me up and we stood next to house as my uncle carefully set up the firework at the end of the garden.

 

I had my hands over my ears.

My dad had his hands over my hands.

The firework was lit.

The firework fell.

The firework flew.

The firework hit us.

 

 

Next thing I know is all my aunties and my mum and everyone is pouring jugs of water over my head. And then someone decides that is impractical and I am taken upstairs to have my head shoved under the shower. It hurt. I think it was a power shower. I'm not sure.

 

I don't know what happened to my dad. I've never really asked. I think he got smacked up against the wall but he seemed to be okay when he drove us back home early from the party. I think we had borrowed a blanket because I was shivering from all the cold water.

 

My uncle was distraught apparently. But it wasn't his fault. He is a sensible, grown up man who was just trying to have a good time with his family. He did everything properly. It was one of those things. And I still enjoy fireworks. Especially those big ones that light up the sky. But I'll probably just stick to sparklers in my own garden and leave the big ones to the professionals in the park. Not even because I am scared. I'm not. It's just less hassle.

 

Love Charlotte x

Photography #BEDN 4

Sorry that the below post is late. When I signed up for #BEDN I didn't realise I was going to get struck down by a rotten snotty bug and spend two days off work asleep. But even though I haven't blogged everyday, I still want to make an attempt at each topic, so here we go!

Photography. A Rant.

 

It is everywhere these days. I take so many photos. Mostly of food. When did that become a thing by the way? Admittedly I take a lot of food pictures because I intend to write blog posts about them but quite often this doesn't happen.

 

I remember the good old days when you used to go out and get a disposable wow camera. Who remembers wow cameras? You got 30 snaps. That was it. I had a real camera too but they were more faff and more risky to take on a school trip. And then you used to take the camera to the shop and hand it in and then, like a week later, you got your pictures back. Earlier this year I got my photos printed via Bluetooth on my lunch break from my phone. Times have changed.

 

If I am honest though, I find photography overwhelming. I feel like I should take better advantage of the ease with which I can now take photos to document things better. I am almost never without a camera now, what with modern day phones and yet, I still only have about 4 photos of me and the boy. But yet, I don't want to spend my time worrying about taking photos and missing the actual moment! I am a massive YouTube fan and I spend too much of my time watching people's vlogs but I couldn't watch my life through the lens of a camera. I want to watch it.

 

And then the worst bit. What to do with ALL those photos? I am a hoarder so indeed the need to keep them, but how to file them and back them up?

I would like to print some out but I am too lazy to do photo albums.

I love photo books but they cost so much money and are time consuming to put together.

In my current living arrangements I have nowhere to out photo frames.

 

And so, my pictures remain trapped. In their individual devices because I am not tech savvy enough to have the, all synced somewhere. They remain unloved and unused and there in I think lies the problem. I think I need a photography system of some kind. If anyone has any advice please share it with me because I can't help feel I am missing out on the joys that photography could bring.

 

Love Charlotte x

 

Food Glorious Food #BEDN 3

I am a food person. I don't really drink. I don't do drugs. I don't buy expensive hand bags. But I do like food, and I like tasty food at that.

One of the very best gifts my mum has given me in my life is definitely the gift of Food Snobbery.

Not Brand / Image Snobbery, I'll eat a supermarket own brand of cereal with no issue at all and funny shaped vegetables are right up my street. Nor, do I mean Fine Dining Snobbery, give me a hearty bowl of sausage and mash and I am happy.

I just mean, I like a good quality, nicely cooked meal. My mum was brought up on roast dinners cooked each day by my granny and my mum has pretty much cooked for us every day too.

Don't get me wrong, we have burgers and chips and pizzas and all that jazz. But we home cook a lot of those things. I like to know what is in my meals and I get a lot of enjoyment from cooking meals myself. Especially if I can batch cook the, and freeze them for later! Oh yes, home made ready meals are just the best thing ever. All the enjoyment of cooking a meal combined with none of the stress of having to whip it up at the last minute.

I have my guilty pleasures, like anybody. I think my guiltiest of these has to be super noodles. Yep... Instant add water and bubble up noodles. It's not even a fancy brand that has an air of cultural-ness about it in its fancy paper up with oriental designs. They're called Bachelors for goodness sake! A brand name based on their ease and convenience and frankly laziness. But worse than this, in keeping with my lack of brand snobbery, if I see some noodles in Aldi for 15p I will snap those up! They are blooming tasty for something that I presume must be made out of sweepings up.

I don't eat them often. And I feel pretty disappointed in myself after I do. But I still go back.

I worry about how I will cope when I have to make all my own meals. My first home purchase (after the kettle for a post move in brew of course) is going to be a HUMONGOUS FREEZER and I am going to spend that first week stood in front of my hob and oven stocking that thing up to the brim. Otherwise, I'm either going to be very hungry or I'm going to eat a lot of instant noodles and spiral into shame and self pity and prolly vitamin dificiancy.

Hmm... I've got myself wondering what to have for lunch tomorrow now. Any suggestions?

Love Charlotte x

Love Mondays #BEDN 2

It's Monday.

 

Sometimes on a Monday morning (or late Sunday evening) I find myself singing 'Back to life... Back to reality...' It's just a shame I don't know any more of the song.

 

I work a regular 5 day week and as much as I wish I wasn't, I am one of those people who get so excited for Friday afternoon. I get excited at the prospect of the weekend. At the escape. And then Monday comes along, uninvited and spoils the fun. Back to the metaphorical admin coal face I go.

 

But Monday isn't the bad guy. Just like Jessica Rabbit. Please tell me someone else got that joke? It's all about perception and your attitude to it.

 

So... In an attempt to show Monday in a better light, here are my top 5 things about Mondays.

1. Catching up with everyone about what they did at the weekend: I like sharing what I did, and what they did and enjoying a good story.
2. Seeing my Monday colleagues that don't work on other days: Part-timers!
3. Enjoying the quietest day of the week: my office really ramps up Tuesday onwards.
4. Going lunchtime shopping: I refuse to go into town on a weekend when I work in a city centre so sometimes at the weekend I plan where I will go on my Monday lunchtime.
5. Crossing a day off the list! Only 4 days to go: Get that countdown to the next weekend going!

 

Okay, that's a pretty 'Clutching at Straws' list but I really don't mind a Monday. Tuesday is my least favourite day for reasons that I won't go into right now. But for all of you giving Monday a bad rap, it's not Monday's fault. The whole construct of the week is man made.

 

It's not Monday's fault that we put the weekend on Saturday and Sunday.

If the weekend was on Wednesday and Thursday we'd all hate Friday. And we chuffing love Friday.

 

Cut Monday some slack, it loves you. It is always so eager to get to see you and that's why sometimes it seems to arrive a bit early. Just embrace it and give the the affection is so desperately craves.

 

See you tomorrow.

Charlotte x

 

 

Something New About Me. #BDEN 1

Good evening all.

 

I have signed myself up to Blog Every Day in Nivemebr. Or #BEDN. I found out about it here if you want to find out more. Essentially, it's a topic per day but rather than having to come up with them myself.

 

I had pretty much abandoned this little space. I'm tired. I've been trying not to get the innumerable colds and coughs going around my office. It's hard to come up with stuff and then actually be able to write this.

 

Today's title is 'Something new about me'. I can't remember what I've told you on this blog so I'm just going to tell myself something instead.

 

I am trying.

And I will keep trying.

I am trying to be the person that I want me to be.

The person who will be happy.

The person who is brave enough to say the things she thinks or do the things she wants to.

I am not that person.

I am happy though.

But I will keep trying to be happy.

I will keep trying to improve on it.

I will keep trying.

I'm sure I will fail.

But I will fail small and try again. Not fail big and quit.

I am not finished.

Love Charlotte xx