Goodbye Red January Hello February
It was a strange start to the year, I poured my heart out in my last post posing rhetorical questions like " what am I doing with my life?" I think I have the answer, well at least for the next 6 months.
I was offered a part-time lecturing job at Suffolk New College after a successful interview. Before accepting the job I wrote down all the pros and cons and with the help from one of my sons I made the decision to take the job. I start the first week of March which gives me a full month to prepare lessons and get used to the idea of having a boss!
I was last in employment 18 years ago and I know it will feel strange but one of the main reasons I accepted the job was the need for more structure in my life. For the last 2 years, I’ve been like a butterfly flitting from one adventure to the next. Now I need a period of stability, a steady income will be a welcome relief too.
Once I get used to my new routine I will write more posts. Till then, wish me luck!
Yes, there were some rough patches in January but as I reflect back on my accomplishments, there were many. For example, Red January run by Suffolk Mind, an opportunity for everyone to be active each day in January. Apart from one day when I was sick, I managed on average 10,000 steps each day. I dusted off my old Fitbit and tracked my steps throughout the day. I walked more, sometimes I would trek into the town centre to buy food rather than hop in the car to visit the local supermarket. Being aware of my daily activities was a great motivator.
Many people have been doing Dry January or Damp January as some describe it. My son, Ryan and I have been completely dry, or arid since the 7th of January. We pledged not to drink alcohol for 30 days. Again this has been a fascinating experience. I’ve discovered Seedlip, a non-alcoholic gin-based drink which costs more than a bottle of cheap gin but is so delicious.
For the last 3 weeks, my Friday night ritual has been to take a special gin glass, pour a shot, or sometimes a double Seedlip, add ice, lemon and a generous helping of aromatic Fever Tree tonic curled up in front of the fire watching an episode of the Vikings.
On my nights out at my local pub, the Duke, I discovered San Miguel 0% alcohol beer. The taste is good and after your third one, you begin to feel slightly tipsy, all in the mind of course.
Remember the 10 week Jaffa running course we signed up for? Richard and I have been going for 4 weeks now. One week it was too cold to run on the track, it had frozen so we had to run on the grass instead, even harder work. I didn’t fully appreciate we’d be outside for the entire class. We have to warm up first by doing silly walks across the pitch. That’s the hardest bit for me as it takes me a while to warm up but after a series of walks and runs, it’s an exhilarating feeling and satisfying to expire white plumes of breath as you run. We always end with a cool down and as we walk back to the car we talk about the hearty meal that's waiting for us back home.
I wonder what February will have in store for me? On the 28th February it’s the 2 year anniversary of Steve’s death. Where has the time gone? Have I really been living without him for that length of time?
How’s your January been?
#MyPrelovedLife : 1/2/19