Althea's Travels

We're going traveling! I have a new blog here. That you can see it here, means that you're special enough to know about this blog. In other words, this is a one way link, with no link from my travel chronicles to this one here. 


I'm flying out tomorrow, which means a little bit of intensive packing and organising tonight. I'm not one for doing things before deadlines. But that is me. And my style. 


Going to be good!

It's time.

Exactly four weeks ago, I stopped having chocolate. In that time, my skin has cleared up fantastically, so it is a bit of a myth that chocolate doesn't affect things like that. Point is, I can do it, it does have benefits and I feel better for it. But it's chocolate.

I'm going to have chocolate tomorrow. After that, we'll see.

No chocolate again

Approximately two weeks ago, I stopped having chocolate. This was just after having the chocolate degustation at Guylian. It has worked, because I haven't wanted to have chocolate. This self-imposed exile from the Land of Chocolate will last for at least another two weeks. I must admit I do feel somewhat healthier. No real cravings either. We'll have to see how it goes.

Chocolate

I gave up. It probably wasn't the right time to try. Maybe next time!

Or maybe not.

Anti-chocolate update

It hasn't gone so well. I planned to start on Monday, but baked goods are special and needed to be sampled. Same for today.

Trying again tomorrow.

Anti-chocolate

I'm giving up chocolate, temporarily. Maybe until my birthday. It's that time of year again.

I think I'll start tomorrow.

On complaining

I've just read the Sunday magazine in one of the Sunday papers and there is an interesting article on complaining. The author writes about trying not to complain about things for 21 days. Apparently there have been wristbands made, such that you have to swap which wrist it's on, every time you complain. While you can complain about things that are genuinely complaint-worthy, it is the little things that aren't allowed.

Like complaining about trains, how they are late, how they have too many people on them, and so on. Complaining about other people, possibly categorised as gossip is also in the not-allowed basket. I know a fair few people would find this difficult. I know I'd find it difficult, to some extent, because I do complain at times. But I do notice that I do, because I see it other people and the idea that I don't like it in other people reflects on me.

I think I'd put "talking unnecessarily" into all of this too. There are some things in life that don't require comment. Like the traffic, for instant. Yes, there is a traffic jam. Yes, that is a big truck. No, that person can't drive very well. It's all noise pollution to me, at times. I'm complaining, just by saying that.

I find that I do think about what I say more, these days. If what I'm saying is unlikely to change anything, or is not informative, then it's probably best not to say it.

Incoming!

I'm sure Stace will read this at some point. Bit difficult when you're in labour, I think. The world is going to have another little one. Maybe it has already happened. Either way, best for it all.

Getting married

I've decided that I'm going to marry my PhD. In other words, I'm off the market for anything much. After another three years, this marriage will run its course and we will both apply for divorce, dissolution of the marriage, or whatever it happens to be called. And we will go our merry ways. I'm not sure who will get what at the end of those years. It won't be an even split. Being ever ambitious, I'm hoping I'll get the better end of the deal.

At the moment, I'm doing most of the work in the relationship, but that's fine. It's rare that things will be equally split.

It's hard to be motivated when it's so cold. I think I've finally acclimatised to winter, but I can't say I'm loving it. My brain seems to shut down when it's cold, so it doesn't bode well for my chemistry. I'm looking towards the warmer days and weeks. And months.

Doing more

It seems as if the older I get, the more I realise that I have to do stuff with my life, otherwise it will pass me by. I'm less content with little things; quality is what counts.

I've been playing the piano for nearly 20 years now and I can honestly say that it is something that I love to do. Other things like flute and trumpet have been fun, but they just don't do it for me. There is something special about being able to play more than one note at a time, more than one line at a time. Anything less is not much fun.

So I've decided to learn the organ. Pipe organ. Not mouth organ. I have a good teacher, a practice organ, so I think I'm all ready. I don't know how I'm going to co-ordinate my feet into the mix, so we'll have to see.