Working from home

In which one Social Worker has T-minus one week left before nearly a month of annual leave to Canada and still has ten open cases including several reports to complete. Resolution? Approval granted to work from home.

1. No phone calls.
2. Relaxed breakfast (Scottish Porridge, Honeyed Greek Yogurt, English Strawberries) and tea!
3. Breaks on the balcony in the sun (25•C today in London)
4. One completed Section 7 report for the Court and several updated case notes.
5. I should do this more often.

Street art in Bermondsey

I’ve often referred to the Banksy piece just down Southwark Park Road- as a famous artist, Banksys work adds a bit of intrigue to the up and coming Bermo area. My neck of the woods is a little more seedy, …

Bermondsey in bloom

It’s springtime in London and as such I am surrounded by flowers. Living amongst the blossoms makes grey days a bit brighter, particularly when said flowers are often trees covered I puffy pink bunches of petals. Apart from the lilac …

First dip in the garden

Source: offbeathome.com via Jenny-Rae on Pinterest Pinterest inspired me to plant the packets of seeds I took from Wahaca last week. I had a few empty water bottles kicking around, so got the scissors out and two bandages (plasters) later, …

Walking Southwark

On Mom’s first full Sunday in London, the boys were away at Emirates Stadium watching Arsenal lose… or win, I can’t remember. We, on the other hand, were wandering about my very own stomping ground and learning about lost graveyards …

Gardening Season Arrives (as does Buddy)

Buddy the Monster helps to plant some Rhubarb

Yesterday I had a bit of calm to wander around ‘The Blue’, our local market space. I bought some miso paste, dropped off some items at the charity shop (and also bought a few articles of clothing- finally a chocolate brown cardigan!), scored nine books from the Blue Anchor library sale for the amazing price of .90p – total(!!!), and a rhubarb bulb from the flower stand.

Earlier in the day I took a jog down to the Postal Depot to collect a package from Edinburgh containing none other than Buddy – who has been sent on an ‘around the world’ voyage by his parents at The Monster Factory. He will be staying with me in London for the next 2 – 3 weeks, and on his first day got to take off his scarf to enjoy the early spring weather.

Back to gardening…

You might recall that last year our balcony garden was a glorious sight in the early summer months, however due to a dry spell, we lost most of our plants. It was sad. I don’t want that to happen this year. And more so than ever before, I need to nest! So yesterday I was stoked to find a Rhubarb plant for £2 at The Blue Market. The vendor gave me planting instructions and said it was pretty much failsafe, so off I skipped home to collect Buddy, a spade, and make a new home for my Rhubarb.

Rhubarb is ready to grow just outside our front door.

 

Pining for Chatham?

It was a weird sort of afternoon. I had plans to go to Zumba class but upon leaving the flat came across a wounded Magpie lingering in the walkway. As I rounded the exit to the street, I was accosted by a group of punk adolescent boys who threw a cranberry – a cranberry – at me, and when I confronted them on it they became quite aggressive. Apparently living in London has made me a bit mouthy, and I probably shouldn’t have engaged in any extended banter, but I couldn’t help myself return the cussing. How dare they?! Long story short, I was fine but did call the police on them as they threatened me with a variety of outcomes. Classy, kids.

Not the Magpie in question.

 

Whilst on the phone I met a very nice neighbour who rescued the injured magpie and introduced me to her four rescue bunnies that live on her balconey. I did make it to the gym, but was not allowed to join the Zumba class because I was too late *shakes fist at stupid kids!* Thirty minutes of the elliptical and I was ready for a relaxing walk home through the Double Rainbow garden. Unfortunately my bliss was interrupted when I noticed  a bird dangling by his left foot from a tree. Poor thing had become entangled in some string and was caught. After a few phone calls I arranged with the RSPCA to attend, found a man who lives in the park to act as a contact point, and was able to go home. (Outcome: the RSCPA never did show up, but the bird got loose on his own.)

Cooking.

Crocheting.

Phone call with Mom. It was during this, a discussion about all the art classes and events she’s been involved with that the pang hit me.

Homesickness.

What’s this? I know it comes every once in a while, but was it really her talk of ‘Art and Wine’ evenvings that brought me to this place? I quickly had thoughts of owning my very own house, working as a Mental Health Counsellor for children and adolescents, and being back with loved ones. It would be nice. But then again I’d miss out on all the good things like trips to Egypt and Iceland and trains and pubs and friends who understand what it’s like to be ‘skint’.

I think what it really boils down to is that I’m still not sure where my life is going, and I’m struggling with being in this limbo. It’s not uncomfortable – it’s just unknown. And I find that to be a little bit scary.

So I have a solution – all my family and friends back home need to relocate here to London. It’d make my life perfect. Agreed?

Want to join my Crochet-a-long?

Meg inspired me over Christmas with her avid crocheting, and she re-ignited the fire within me. I need to get back into my yarn – let me at it!
As a consequence of this, I have suggested a crochet-a-long for some of my ex-pat friends as well as anyone else who would like to join in. Interested? Head on over to Ravelry.com for the official group (and sign up to Ravelry for goodness sake – you’ll never find a better source of inspiration).

However, as a brief run-down, here is the pattern we’ll do for the first project-a-long. It’s called the Convertible Cowl and is a free pattern from The Crimson Owl. I’ve already made three – one for Meg, Flatmate A and Flatmate M – but my -along will be for me. How exciting! I’m even going to follow the pattern to a T. First time for everything, right?

Here is the original photo of the project – I see from Raverly stats that 888 have used this pattern. Speaks for itself, doesn’t it?

Update: we are going to try to find a knitting pattern that is similar so all my knitters can join in, too.

Here are some options (you may need a ravelry account to see them):

Marian
Big Cowl
Chunky Cowl
Jumbo Cable Cowl

It’s near-on Christmas

It’s one of those lazy Saturday mornings – I’m lounging in my comfy robe and reflecting on my weekend, the festive season soon approaching, and the little tid-bits that make life special.

Love this book... take me to Rome, svp.

Candace wrote about a book she had picked up at a hotel, which reminded me that I am precariously short on reading material. I was down to my last book – generously left for me by Jen – but being entirely about extensive child abuse, I just don’t want to read it. Instead I’m re-reading Eat Pray Love, which is again filling my soul with shiny jewels of happiness. Say what you will about the book – I love it. But it does remind me that it’s time to pass on more of my unused books in the Little London Observationist Book Drop. I’ve already passed on two, but I have a bag full of others to be left in various locations in London. Kind of fits in with the spirit of the season. On that note, if anyone wants to trade books and I’ll be seeing you soon, do let me know.

Last night two very dear friends of mine were joined in marriage. It was a fantastic celebration – 40 people. Seems like small weddings are the way to go. Unfortunately I didn’t get any photos as a) I only have my iPhone camera, and b) I was responsible for the guestbook, which involved the use of a polaroid (!) camera. May I just say – coolest guest book ever!

On the ‘no-camera’ note, I’m running into difficulties as my current camera seems quite dead. In August a peach melted onto it, causing the shutter button and dial to become very sticky, and in October a bottle of lemon-water spilt into my purse in which the camera was sitting. It was a deep bath that did not solve the stickiness problem… instead it has resulted in a camera that was soaked and now does not turn on. Unfortunately, the camera shops are not open on Saturdays and close before I finish work. I’m not even sure if it’s worth it to take it in for a quote. I do love this camera, but maybe I should just give up and get a new one. If I were, what would you recommend? (I’m not looking for a basic point-and-shoot.)

Update – Flatmate A lent me her camera battery to test if my camera just needs a new battery, and the answer is ‘YES!’ So off I go to buy a new battery. The shutter buttons are still very sticky, which will need some cleaning, but good news is I don’t have to buy a new camera! <3 <3 <3

Shelving

I’m such a geek – this I know. I also know that most of you will not care that my cupboard is now much better organised, but I’m over the moon. Check it out!

Prior to these White shelves, my cupboard was a mishmash of random objects. I often bought repeat products because I couldn’t see what I already had, and when the bottle of whiskey shattered across the floor a few weeks ago, that was the final straw.

I’ve been eyeing these addendum shelves from ikea for a year now, and was able to pick them up on this most recent trip. Now I can see what I have and good news is that I don’t need to restock any tine soon!