The Year in Books - March

I am a little late to the table with my year in books post this month.  Life has been a little hectic but somehow I have managed to find some time to read a couple of books.  Those few snatched minutes at bedtime are so precious to me, a time when I can enter the pages of another world, just for a little while.  Last month I read and absolutely loved How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff.  As you may remember this book was recommended by my eldest daughter, Lucy and it certainly didn't disappoint.  Infact I was pleasantly surprised by this young adult fiction, a novel full of fear, love and coping.  Initially I struggled to work out that this was set in modern day Britain, but soon adapted to the concept of our modern world being destroyed by war.  Entwined in moments of joy, love and tenderness there were moments of unimagainable fear.  The immature understanding of the characters made this even more poignant and the believability of their situation became easier as the story progressed.  Lucy and I have definitely added Meg Rosoff to our list of favourite authors this year and will be reading more of her work in the coming months.

Over the last month I have also been dipping in and out of the Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.  I have been subscribed to Gretchen's daily email for several months and have enjoyed reading about her mission to make her life happier.  Taking a few moments a day for be grateful can help us all to feel happier and definitely something I am trying to adopt.

So this months book choice.  To be perfectly honest with you I have yet to choose from the many books awaiting my attention, both on my bedside table and loaded onto my iPad.  My biggest downfall is wanting to read more books than I have time for.  Books reguarly added to my wishlist on Amazon, nevermind the appeal of fabulous bookcovers on a trip to the library or the local bookshop.  

Right I will pick a book for a March.  The Curious incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has been on my list (and bedside table) for a little while, especially since Jack went to London recently to watch the play as part of his GCSE Drama course.  The best thing about taking part in The Year in Books is tha fact that I am taking making time to read books that I have wanted to try for ages.

What are you reading this month? I would love to know, maybe I can find space on my overloaded reading wishlist!

Until next time, take care.

Zoe

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The Beach - My Spiritual Home

Over recent years I have become more convinced that we all have a spiritual home, a place that makes life manageable, that answers questions we have been struggling with, somewhere to go to when our heads are full of cobwebs.  For me the beach is this place.  Whatever the weather a walk on the beach makes me stop worrying, to breathe. 

Do you have a place or space that feels like your spiritual home? Maybe the beach has the same magical effect on you as it has on me?

Until next time, take care.

Zoe
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A Once In A Lifetime Opportunity

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So a few weeks ago we had an email from the boys school, proposing a trip to Everest Base Camp. Wow, I thought, what an adventure that would be.  I didn't for one minute think about the huge cost involved, but just saw the opportunity for them to have an adventure of a lifetime.  They could pack up their backpacks, head up a mountain, be the explorers they loved to pretend to be before school got in the way of their childish imaginations.  I encouraged ideas of the trip, wanting them to be able to do something that they wanted. 

But now reality has set in. The cost is huge, well for us anyway.  In all honesty the cost for what the package involves is reasonable, yet it is beyond our budget.  So we now need to decide, to commit to a decision. We could say yes and aim to raise the money through various fundraising activities or we could say wait, plan a trip after you've graduated from uni, when you have a job.  They are both looking at studying geosciences, so undoubtedly will be heading off to exciting careers up mountains or volcanoes.

Trips like these are physically and mentally tough, would the boys be mature enough to cope? What if something went wrong? What if we had paid all of that money and they got altitude sickness and didn't even make it to base camp? So many what ifs to be considered.  

Adventures can be had at any time in our lives and maybe, in all honesty, they would be better to wait until they are a bit older, earning a living and fund such a trip themselves.  Sometimes opportunities need to be passed by, to be postponed.  Maybe this is one of those times that waiting will be of benefit and actually lead to more adventures.  

Until next time, take care.

Zoe

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Celebrating Our Anniversary

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Today Andy & I celebrate our sixteenth wedding anniversary. It doesn't really seem like that length of time at all, to be honest it has flown by.  I am incredibly lucky to still be in love with my best friend, my soul mate.  So many people don't have this opportunity, to love and be loved, to find that somebody who they want and can spend the rest of their life with.  

So today we are celebrating the day we said 'I do' to a life time of love and happiness.  Whatever life throws at us in the future, one thing we can be sure of is our love for each other, this will guide us, support us, when we hit rough seas.  Everybody deserves to love and be loved and I hope you all have or will find that special someone who completes you.

Until next time, take care.

Zoe
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Spring is Coming

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It's coming, I can feel it's warm breath in the wind, it's teasing heat in the sun, the clear blue skies that grace my horizon.  I can see it in the garden as trees start to share their secrets and brighten our day with their blossom.  As little buds appear on branches and colourful pops adorn the now luscious green grass.

Oh yes I can feel Spring, as I throw open the windows and give the house new breath.  The days seem a little longer, the commute is greeted with daylight and new hope fills the air.  It's time to make plans, clean those nooks we forgot and breathe.....

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
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Retraining - Ideas A Plenty

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Once the seed has been sown to change career it is hard to ignore.  Ideas spin around your head at the possibilities.  It is important at this early stage to not ignore even the craziest of ideas.  Maybe joining the circus isn't realistic but training to teach people to ride ponies is possible.  Having brainstormed your ideas the next step is to consider which are viable.  Take time to research your ideas, which will involve taking new qualifications or gaining experience in a chosen field?  Before the reality of cost takes over take the time to explore your ideas.  Armed with the facts it maybe easier to climb any financial obstacles.  

Narrowing down your ideas can be hard, but the more research you do the easier it will be.  Suddenly the appeal of some careers will lose their shine as you realise that actually there are parts of it that you would really hate.  Or maybe you really don't want to spend three, four or more years studying then trying to work your way up a career ladder in a world that tends to favour people in their twenties.  I know that when I researched my ideas there were some that were dismissed at an early stage, as I felt I would be too close to forty once qualified.  Many will disagree that we shouldn't consider our age when looking to retrain, but let's be realistic, there are simply some careers meant for the younger generation.

Having narrowed down your ideas it is now time to gain a realistic insight of your shortlisted careers.  Perhaps arrange a day in the relevant department, this is easily done with nursing and healthcare careers.  Modern internships are a possibility and some seem to be part time so you could maybe reduce your normal working hours whilst experiencing your new career idea.  Grown up work experience is quite a scary concept but could be invaluable in your decision making.  Remember if you don't ask, you don't get, so take the plunge, contact your local architects, law firm, design studio to see if they would accomadate you whilst you consider if this could be the new start you desire.  

Be sure to share with me your ideas and I would love to know if any of you have tried 'grown up work experience'.

Until next time, take care.

Zoe

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Words to Live By

Todays post is inspired by Write Alm's writing prompts for February.  Words have always been a big part of my life, I read with fervour as a child, loved the written word so much that I studied English Literature as part of my first degree, then became a writer as I grew through my twenties and thirties.  Now as I head towards a new decade words are as important now as they were in the past.  I still love to write and read, indulging in journeys beyond my budget in the pages of books, blogs and magazines.  The printed word should never be taken for granted, almost always adored and reguarly indulged in.  Quotes have become a big part of my life over the years aswell. From scribbling the words of Martin Luther King Jr and song lyrics onto my school folder to collecting inspiring quotes on Pinterest, my life is full of favourite quotes.  One of my favourites being 'Be yourself as everybody else is already taken'.  This is the quote I teach my children, inspiring and encouraging them to not necessarily follow the crowds.  Another of my favourites is 'Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain.' Probably not the best one at the moment for those suffering in flood stricken parts of the uk, including my heavily pregnant sister.  But words that hold huge meaning to me, when things aren't so great, life isn't so easy, this quote has got me through.  When I was younger it was the prayer of serenity that helped me, but I guess this quote is a modern day version of my favourite prayer.

What words do you live by? Are inspiring quotes pinned to your fridge, above your desk? I would really love to know.

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
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