From my Diary: Business, Bars and Oil

03/10/11

A little tired after a good weekend, we helped a friend to move offices, I'm impressed with what he's built up so far it takes a lot of confidence to take that leap and start your own business, I hope I'll have that one day I think I have the confidence but I lack the subject which I can sell at the moment.

We sat in the upper part of the bar, below we could see everyone moving and dancing, chatting and drinking. We're right beside the speaker and I feel the bass hitting against my skin, sinking into my bones and I feel part of it, everyone in the rooms sharing the same  waves bombarding their body. Smiles and laugher are catching, we're safe, we're lucky, we're happy.

We have lunch on Sunday with an old friend from Edinburgh, it's a little glimpse into the past from before we made the move to the evil empire that is the oil industry to the culture and working conditions we now take for granted. It's a reminder that we are lucky and that we live in an anomaly, a city fed by oil and gas a city built and maintained on oil and gas, a city it's difficult to leave once you're part of that world and lifestyle.

From my Diary: Lists, Kitchen and Food

28/09/11

We go with our list, we're so lucky we don't need to worry, find what we want throw it in the basket, couldn't tell you the cost of most items. But all around us it's different, people hear redundancy, offices close and the lights remain off. What is our back up, where is our plan. The onus is always on me, take stock, be sure, be prepared, be organised.

A tidy kitchen, it's a small step but it makes me want to cook more, to create something and to tidy up afterwards. I can't stand eating alone, I'll eat junk, thankfully I don't eat alone too often.

People talk about Eat, Love, Pray, the favourite part often being sitting and eating your the best foods on your own, I 'd rather share food with those I love. I enjoy eating along in a restaurant but not in a room with nobody else. I don't want to over analyse things we all have our likes and dislikes.

From my Diary: Vaccination / Resistance

07/12/09: Swine Flu Vaccination / Resistance to Bugs

I had my swine flu jag just before lunch, it wasn't too bad. The nurses at the practice are really nice and there were two there, one who gave me the vaccination for seasonal flu last week, so I am all inoculated against a various assortment of flus! My arm is pretty darn sore, for some reason it's worse than the seasonal one even though the nurse said the needle is smaller. I always assumed the needle damage to your muscle was what cause the ache, I'm not entirely sure why it hurts more I think it's a reaction to the bacteria they inject. Anyway it's minimal so no complaints and swine flu doesn't sound very nice.

I've had my vaccinations and a recent stomach bug and apparently your body retains this immunity to the vomit bug for 13weeks, therefore I'm hoping to stay clear of tummy bugs and flus over Christmas. I'm looking forward to just vegging out a bit tonight as I have an excuse to take it easy while my body is busy doing what it has to do with the inoculation. Although a bit of sorting may be helpful!

I’m struggling to be productive, I need some inspiration or some pressure. I'm really easily distracted and keep looking for more interesting things to do which are more of a creative outlet. I think I need something creative to work on always, that's probably why I have three blogs!

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[Wow 3 blogs, what was I thinking! One is more than enough, but it’s still so easy for me to get distracted and look for something more creative to do]

From my Diary: Dinner / Hair / Flat Stress

03/12/09: Dinner Tomorrow / Hair Cut / Flat Stresses

“We are maybe having people over tomorrow, maybe there will be six of us maybe just 2 - I am going to cook everything tonight, the lasagne sauces and assembly then leave in the fridge and also a key lime pie - yummy. If it's just the two of us that's fine and we can freeze the extra. It maybe my kooky friend and her boyfriend and our northern friends coming but we will just see. I am a bit concerned that I will get really stressed because the house is a total mess, but as Sandy says at Reluctant Entertainer we should just not worry about it and invite people in to share our home with us. My boy is not keen because of the small flat so I have to stay really positive!

My kooky friend once said that the small flat they have was starting to affect their health - hopefully we'll never get to that stage! She said there is no way she would have anyone round there - that is exactly what Sandy is trying to discourage and show us that by sharing we can enjoy where we live. My kooky friend said she stays at work late then goes straight to bed when she gets in then leaves early, trying to spend as little time there as possible. It's so important to have a home and be able to relax there, I realise you can make anywhere your sanctuary it's mostly about attitude and doing some small things.

I'm getting my haircut tonight too, somewhere a friend recommended, as long as he doesn't but it really really short I'm not that bothered. I don't know what I want, just something that looks good, I will ask his advice, maybe I should go crazy and get a fringe or something! Although that would require quite a lot of work in the mornings! My hair is the one part of my body that I have issues with, although I'm not too bad – like my stressed friend and my kooky friend. It's fine but I just don't feel like I have it under control, it's always a bit boring. I wish I could really dress it up a bit to go out if I wanted. Maybe if I invested more into my hair and got it cut more regularly I would be able to do something with it.

Anyway in general I don't have many issues so I'm thankful for that! I've really got to sort the flat out tonight and make it look as spacious as possible! I'm not too worried about it, we won't be there forever.

I'm getting on ok with my blogging, doing a post everyday at the moment - I've schedules a few in which is really helping a long as I stay a few days ahead I should be able to keep it up. I found some great blogs today by taking part in photography challenges. I realised I really need to improve my writing and write more from the heart, although now people I know from 'real life' rather than just bloggy friends read my blog I'm feeling a bit more cautious about my writing!”

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[How did I ever think I’d manage to write a post a day on my old blog – that didn’t last long! I was posting on weekends too which was just far too much for me to keep up! Also telling people in real life about that blog made me need to censor myself a lot.]

From my Diary: Christmas Tree / Sister / Curling / Friday Dinners

02/12/09: Christmas Tree / Sister / Curling / Friday Dinners

“So it's almost Christmas and I am super super excited about it! My sister was up at the weekend and I bought an artificial tree. I've seen so many on US blogs this year and decided it's better than having no tree, there's no point getting at tree when we are both going home for Christmas. There's lots of decorations on it and it's looking really good now. I've been drying orange slices to put up on it too which should look and smell good and maybe some cinnamon sticks if I can get them.

We had a fairly relaxed weekend, Friday we went to the curling try it night which was really good. I didn't do too badly and managed to do a few decent slides and play some ok shots. The meal after was really good too.

We went shopping on Saturday, my boy was out at a stag do for someone at his work. My sister and I went round a lot of shops, we went to a cafe first for some pancakes and maple syrup - yummy. We were going just to get material but we didn't get any in the end and did some Christmas shopping instead.

Last night I went to the knitting club, there were only a few of us there so there was a good chance to gossip. I also invited my kooky friend and her boyfriend for dinner on Friday and will probably cook lasagne on Thursday evening after my haircut. I hope they don't min being squished in to a teeny tiny flat! I want to be more hospitable to I’m trying to be less concerned about the surrounding and focus on spending time with friends.”

From my Diary: Back to Work / Foraging

25/11/09: Back to Work / The Boy is Back / Foraging in the Wood

“I'm back at work today and still a little tired, still recovering from being ill or just got used to lounging around the house all day in my PJs?! Anyway I've got a ton of work to do this week which is not so good when I just want to take it easy, better get some motivation tomorrow!

My boy is back from his work trip this evening - yay! I will pick him up at the airport after later, hopefully I can leave a bit early to get there, I'm not entirely sure how long it takes to get to the airport or which way to go - I better remember to check.

I went for a walk at lunchtime today and picked up some winter leaves and some pinecone to make an autumn centrepiece. I've got sliced or halved oranges drying for it too, I'm sure it will make a nice centre piece with a candle for the coffee table.”

From my Diary: Curling / Sister / Concentration

“It's Friday already, taking a few days off sick really confused me, I've not been sure what day it is all week! I've also been really sleepy and finding it hard to concentrate, think my body is still busy recovering. I've got the flu vaccination booked for Monday, hopefully that will make it less likely for me to get the flu over December and January. Last year I had the most awful cold (very much flu like symptoms) while I was at away with Guides for the weekend, I had a cold when I got there but it just deteriorated over the few days and I could barely sleep, I was really cold and shivery. I managed to get out of there finally, I felt awful but I couldn't leave before the kids and one of the other adults was going on about how I was making a huge fuss over nothing, it's things like this that really teach you a lesson - you've no idea how bad other people are feeling. Maybe I can keep this in mind next time someone is ill.

This evening is the my sister is visiting and we’re going to a curling try it night. There is a bit at the start to have a shot art Curling then there is a meal. It should be quite a good night, I don't think my sister is very keen but I think she will like it when she is there.

I'm looking forward to doing some craft stuff this weekend and getting the sewing machine out again, I’ve not used it since we moved into the small flat. I am planning to make my boy an advent calendar but I will need to buy some material. My kooky friend showed me some bias tape which can make it much neater, so I may try that. Maybe some hessian stockings on a string or something. I probably need to pick something which can be done quickly then maybe I can add further embellishments next year or something.”

From my Diary: Yucky Days

24/11/09: Yucky Days

“I'm off work today, I got the sickness bug that my had towards the end of our trip and it's rubbish, just feeling not right in myself and really uneasy in the stomach. I was off yesterday as well but I'm getting a bit better today. I just wanted to stay off just in case - don't want to be actually sick at work!

My boy has gone on a work course this afternoon, he'll be away for a couple of days, it's odd to be on my own in the flat again. Although when I'm not well, I’ll just vegging around, so it probably best he's doesn’t have to put up with me feeling sorry for myself!

I felt quite a bit better this afternoon and put on some Miranda Lambert - I'm loving that album at the moment (Revolution) it's very passionate and I can sing loudly to it. I was having a total geek moment looking up the lyrics on my MacBook and singing along! I also sliced some oranges and dried them by lining them along the radiator, for a centrepiece I've got in mind using my big Ikea vase and some pine or fir cones I will have to find in the woods. I lit an orange and cinnamon candle too which was so yummy, the flat smells lovely now.”

From my Diary: Friday 13th / Packing / Holidays

13/11/09: Friday 13th / Packing / Do I Need a Holiday?

“Today is Friday the 13th, I'm not really weirded out by this date, I used to have a sort of weird anticipation that something bad might happen on Friday the 13th, but anything can happen any day. One Friday 13th, a guy I liked was asked out by a girl he worked with and he said yes, I didn't know and finally after months of flirting with each other, the next day 14th Feb I asked him out too, he had already said yes to the first girl though! But he was so sweet about it and continued to give me free drinks at the bar he worked in.

At the time I said it was Friday 13th bad luck, then I started seeing my boy quite a lot at a pub we used to go to and I liked him, eventually on the night out for my birthday he asked me out. So actually the Friday 13th wasn't bad luck at all, if my friend who worked in the bar, who was kind of cute but not that interesting had said yes, I might never have got together with my boy. What's meant for you won't go by you (That's what Gran says). They say Friday 13th is unlucky for some and of course that's true but so is any other date!

Tomorrow we are going on a short city break - the holiday is finally here! I'm going to pack this evening, I want to take lots of nice clothes, lots of dresses and skirts and thick tights.

I'm looking forward to a week off work but I don't feel like I really need one. This is quite a novel feeling and it makes me think that I actually do quite like my job. I used to really need a holiday, at my first full-time job it was probably because I associated my job with being away from my boy, at my previous job I just didn't really like the job or the boss! Now I don't find work stressful and I get on well with the people I work with so I'm not desperate to get some time off, also I get to see my boy almost everyday. I'm looking forward to spending the whole week with him though.”

From my Diary: Dream Job / Kids / Let Go

12/11/09: Dream Job / Kids / Let Go

“I'm so sleepy and uninspired today, there's not much to do at work. It's quite a damp cool day but at least it's not as cold as it's been. I went of a walk at lunchtime and wandered up to the shops.

Recently I've been thinking about the fabulousness of my friend’s shop and what it would be like to be so in control of your life and work that way. I was trying to think, do I really like my job, how do I know if it's the best thing I can do and am I happy with the situation that I'm working in? I quite enjoy what I'm doing, although, I wish I was better at it. I also wish I could work from home, for some reason recently I've suddenly developed the desire to have kids and be at home. Maybe it's an age thing, maybe it's because my friends are starting to get married and some of them have kids. Who knows, anyway I've mentioned it to my boy and he didn't really make much of a comment, I don't want to pressurise him into anything but I'd like to know what his long term plan is - I don't think he knows himself, he likes to be relaxed about stuff.

I read a post on a blog today, it was Nester's blog – one of my current favourites and she said the following at the end of the post: Is there something in your life that you can choose to stop beating yourself up over, knowing that some people would love to have to deal with your "problem"? How true that is! Well I'm sure there are a lot of things I need to let go of.”

From my Diary: Remembrance / Commitments

11/11/09: Remembrances / Knitting / Evening Commitments

“Today is Remembrance Day, I remember being a Brownie and Guide when I was younger and marching on Remembrance Day to the cenotaph to remember the people killed in the war. I didn't really understand this as a child and I don't really understand it today either - I just can't imagine what war is really like. I suppose that's a good thing in that I've never really encountered war. A friend has been training for years with the Royal Engineers and will go to Afghanistan next year -this is a really scary thought, I'm not sure how his partner will cope, I think the situation will be more real to me when someone I know goes to war. I hope they cancel it and he never gets to go, even though he wants to.

Knitting was so much fun last night, I love that I'm met so many cool people in the local area, it makes living here way more fun! I sat with my flatmate’s girlfriend again last night and she helped me cast off - I look so rubbish - all fingers and thumbs but I'm getting there and might try something harder next! My friend’s shop is too cool, there are lots of things in there I would love to buy - Christmas shopping to do soon!

I've got Brownies this evening which is quite good fun, but I'm getting concerned about taking on too much stuff and not spending time with my boy. We've only had Monday together this week, due to other evening commitments. At least we have next week together with no distractions! Lots of meals out together sitting and chatting and walking around town. I miss doing first aid training but I don't want to take anymore stuff on at the moment.”

From my Diary: Bonfire night / Knitting / Breakfast in Bed

10/11/09: Bonfire Night / Knitting / Breakfast in Bed

“I'm looking up knitting patterns at the moment for my knitting club this evening. I'm really looking forward to it, there's new people to meet there; some of them are friendly, some of them are annoying and some of them are just rude. Maybe I will like more of them as time goes on. My flatmate’s girlfriend goes, she is really nice and the lady who runs the club is so much fun. I should try to be less judgemental with the others, I will see how that goes! Last week was difficult to get back into it but I'm getting there and I enjoyed it. I've found some fun projects online including a Christmas tree decoration which I will try to make for my sister. I also want to try some flowers but I will need to ask the rude ladies to show me how!

I'm not going to see my boy much this evening with rushing for dinner then knitting, I miss spending my evenings with him, he is the best company. We are going on holiday on Saturday though and I cannot wait! It'll be great to spend the whole time with him. My kooky friend gave me a great idea of getting breakfast in bed - just order some room service damn it and eat your breakfast in bed - luxury!

We had a great time at our friends for bonfire night, I was the driver again, I'm trying not to drink too much at the moment, it was all getting too much what with work trips and going out so I'm cutting back. I did have some mulled wine and a mince pie at a private sale though recently which got me in the Christmas spirit!”