Tuesday 15th January 2013
It is 21:23 according to my Mac.

I have just come by my computer to do some work on my Blog. I have a post to do, and my project 365 pictures to file and then all of a sudden Alexa popped into my mind. It is time to record a Simple Moment for January.
It is dark and extremely cold outside tonight with snow forecast for tomorrow but it is warm and cosy in my room and in the house.
The lovely smell of macaroni cheese is drifting up from the kitchen. It is Ben’s supper, he has just come in from work and taken it out of the oven. Our cauliflower cheese was beautiful earlier. I don’t like macaroni and Ben doesn’t like cauliflower!
I have just spoken to Lotta, she is coming for a visit the week after next. She is having a tough time with exams at the moment. I do so love her coming to visit.

I have lots of things on my mind.
This might turn in to ‘Morning Pages’ but in the evening!

I worked from home today and got loads done. I am concerned about the amount of paperwork I have to do before I retire in less than four weeks, but after my marathon today I have broken the back of it and hopefully I will sleep better tonight.

I am thinking so much about work; I keep asking Paul if I’m doing the right thing. Of course I am but I feel nervous and I have no idea why. I suppose it is change.
It will be a big change in my life, but I need to do this. I need to get well and concentrate on taking care of myself, having more energy to support Paul and maybe even clean the house! Perhaps best not to overdo it straight away Miriam.

We watched a film called ‘Love Can Build a Bridge’ tonight and now I have the song in my head. I don’t mind really, it is a lovely song and much better than the one I had in my head last week. Don’t even mention that!

I am thinking of getting an iPad. Maybe a retirement present to myself? I need to talk to Ben about it. Of course I don’t need one but it would be nice wouldn’t it?

I was at the doctors yesterday for bloods, my diabetes is out of control. I am very thirsty and constantly sleepy. On the up side I have re-discovered Badoit. It is wonderful for this terrible thirst I have.

I can hear my boys talking, the sound of their voices is drifting up the stairs. It is a wonderful sound only bettered by the sound of their laughter.
When I write that I can hear them talking or laughing I am always reminded of my girlhood dream: I wanted a home of my own and my own family. It is a very strange but clear feeling, almost as though I am having the thought or dream right now.

I am so fortunate, I am happy right now and I am loved. I am also really tired and will go to bed once I have tidied this up. I do hope this isn’t too much of a ramble but it’s how I am feeling right now.
Thank you Alexa; for enabling me to take a few minutes to be quiet, to think and to write.
21:37

Alexa at Trimming the Sails will have some links to lots of Simple Moments from around the world. Drop by if you have a moment?

Two posts in the same day?
That’s because I messed up my schedule for yesterday!

Alexa at Trimming the Sails host this lovely meme around this time of every month.

Sharing a simple moment today Saturday 15th December 2012.

My Mac tells me it is 07:09
It is dark outside my window: I have drawn the curtains back and can see the lights of an aircraft leaving Bristol airport. I wonder where they are going? On a holiday? Or home maybe?
I can hear radio five playing, the sound drifts up from downstairs, Paul is there making tea and although I can’t see him I know he will be tidying the kitchen. I left it untidy last night; I was just too tired to be awake any longer. He is such a good man.
I have just heard Bens alarm ring, he has to be up for work. They were still giggling last night at midnight.
He was in late but he was still ready to regale us with more stories from dealing with ‘the public’
I am feeling pleased that the night is over, I was up every two hours, probably over tired, my brain was still whirring when my head hit the pillow.
I love this time on my Mac: just me and the quiet of the morning. I usually type up my journal (Advent /JYC at the moment) rather than look at the Internet at this time of day.
On my desk are two projects that I have on the go at the moment. Advent pages printed yesterday, waiting to be trimmed and an almost finished Father Christmas. I have one of those hard wine tubes/boxes currently wrapped in a red fur coat that I cut from a Christmas hat! I have the face & hat to make and the whole thing to be ‘finished’. My desk and me are covered in red furry bits!

I am thinking about the things I want to do today. The usual weekend type chores but with lots of Christmassy things too.
I have started to decorate the house, it feels strange because it is earlier than I would usually do so but having a few folks arriving hither and thither I need it done this year.

Lotta has asked me to make her a Shepherds or Cottage pie. She has never eaten it before as she doesn’t usually eat red meat but for some reason she has a yen for it. She knows it is Traditional British Comfort Food, it has been snowing where she is, she is feeling the cold and is missing ‘home cooked food’…No pressure then?

Her alarm has just made its tinkling, girly sound, Oh! I do love having her here. She was happy last night, even though there were problems at the airport and she was over an hour late and it would be three hours until Ben came in.

Paul has brought me a cup of tea. We will return to bed and chatter while ‘next door’ are getting up.
07:19

Thank you so much Alexa for this lovely monthly quiet time.

Sharing a simple moment today Thursday 15th November 2012.
My Mac tells me it is 16.54
It is dark outside my window: I haven’t yet drawn the curtains. All the windows in the house are closed to keep the sharp November chill out.
I can hear the boys talking downstairs and Pepsi is breathing softly behind me. My Mac is whirring, the radiator in my room is gurgling, as is its will.
My mind is occupied by the Endoscopy I am having tomorrow. I confess to being extremely anxious, not so much of the outcome as one way or other my problem will be fixed I am sure. It is the procedure that scares me. No matter how softly I tell myself, the information leaflet tells me, Paul tells me, my colleagues tell me “it will be OK” my mind won’t let go of the fear.
I am physically hurting as well today. Last night I had a really bad attack during the night: I was so very close to calling the paramedics but with the help of some music, some medication, a pile of pillows, the silky soft fur of my Pepsi lying close by and Paul stroking my back I was able to stay home.
Today of course I was unable to work. I stayed in bed until all the pain had passed, around lunchtime.
I spent a few hours this afternoon resting quietly trying to think lovely thoughts but the only thing that distracts me today is some craft. I am thankful for an absorbing hobby and for Alexa for having this lovely idea.
Writing down my thoughts, and fears is so cathartic.
17.04.

Simple Moments: Something lovely started by Alexa
I have just visited her blog, she has a gentle reminder that it is the 15th of the month. The day she writes her Simple Moment.

16.43 Monday 15th October 2012.
I am at my desk, my mac is whirring very quietly, I have just put my phone in it’s charger, it will spring into life and wake the mac up in just a moment.

Opening the window I hear the traffic, it is heavy outside this afternoon with people coming home from work. I hear a plane in the distance, it must be up high.
I can see the seagulls gliding in the sky but they are quiet today. I imagine their throats are sore after the row they were having yesterday.
I don’t hear the garden birds at the moment.
Neither of us has any music on this afternoon.
The house is warm: I have the heating on. Although it was a lovely bright and sunny day it was only warm behind the glass in the car.

Paul has been working here today which I am pleased about. He has been working so many long hours and travelling so many miles just lately. He is cheerful if exhausted because he has work after so many traumatic months without.

Pepsi is here behind me on her princess bed. She is dreaming, kicking her legs and bleating like a lamb!

Ben will be home in around and hour, he will be starving; he will open the fridge and find something to eat, something to drink and then ask me what I have planned for dinner. He does it every time he walks in from work. I love the predictability of his ritual.

It is mostly just an ordinary day for us except that we have Lotta here.
She arrived from Glasgow last Wednesday. It was their third anniversary of ‘going out’. (I don’t remember us celebrating any ‘going out’ anniversaries!) Ben had booked a lovely hotel in Birmingham, a restaurant in the evening, a pub lunch on the way home and the rest of the hours? Shopping! Which is, without doubt, Lotta’s favourite pastime. They had a fabulous time and came home loaded down with bags. I am thinking about it at his moment because I have just seen her beautiful, tiny, new, bought at the weekend, shoes in the hallway.

I have had an extremely busy day at work again. I feel as though I could sleep but that will eat into the evening and then my night will be disturbed.
I have started dreaming again. It is stress brought about by work. I still love my job but it is getting harder to do.
Am I feeling my client’s pain more deeply? It is sometimes hard to be strong and supportive for them.
The job is certainly very demanding with visits, phone calls, meetings and the never ending, always-changing paperwork!
Or am I just older and more tired?

I am so thankful that I have a wonderful hobby that takes my mind away from work.
Time to think about drawing the blinds; the darker evenings are with us and it will be time to prepare our evening meal.

This Autumn picture has Ruth Wests texture Shake on.
Alexa is linking Simple Moments from around the world on her blog, I am so looking forward to reading them again this month.

Simply a Moment is a beautiful idea from Alexa at Trimming The Sails to capture a moment in our lives. She has chosen September 15th for the first one which just happens to be our wedding anniversary.

10.15am Friday 15th September 2012.

I can hardly keep my eyes open. 2.00am is not my preferred bed time but we had such a wonderful day yesterday, I want to think about it for a moment and I want to record a Simple Moment inspired by Alexa.
I can hear the traffic this morning: it seems heavier than usual. The sound from the road comes from my right hand side through the open window of Paul’s office. I much prefer the sounds that drift up from my left as I sit here and type next to my open window. Sparrows are chattering away in the ivy, a magpie is shouting the odds at anyone who will listen; the small white dog that lives a few gardens away is barking it’s little head off. Does he want to go in for his breakfast or he is joining in with the magpie chorus.
On the spare bed behind me are the clothes I wore to the wedding yesterday. I felt happy and confident and very me! I was pleased with my choice. My makeup box is still on the bed along with hair straighteners (cold) hairdryer and brushes. The contents of my bag are strewn everywhere. I wonder what I was looking for when we came in? My phone no doubt! My camera is here beside me, I am thinking about what I will see when I have downloaded the pictures.
Beside my camera is the anniversary card Ben gave us. Was it really twenty-eight years ago that we were married? Oh how different and discreet our wedding day was compared to the lavish affair of yesterday. If I close my eyes I can still feel the smooth silk of my jacket and the nerves I felt on that morning. I can feel my hat with its beautiful white marabou feather moving gently with every tilt of my head. I am remembering the table with the oval mirror where I sat and applied my make up and I left everything just where it was before leaving for church just as I did yesterday.
My brother’s face has drifted across my thoughts, he gave me away, he was so young, but then we all were!
I open my eyes and see my lovely husband looking at the gift our son bought us. We have not bought gifts for each other this year, we have too much on our minds just at he moment, but we have the hope of a special gift when the time is right.

The day may have been somewhat different but the vows my niece and her new husband made yesterday were the same as the vows we made this day in 1984.

I will make this into a page for my book. Thank you Alexa.