When my sister and I were younger, we'd lie on our lounge floor, as still as we could, to see if we could feel the world spinning. We were convinced that we could and thought it was the best thing ever.
Nowadays, sometimes that world spins just too damn fast.
The craziness of the life-spinning takes over and makes you feel like there's not enough hours in the day; you can't quite get everything done and when the overwhelming backlog of really important stuff mixed in with all the mindless crap gets too big, you wish time would stand still.
For just enough moments.
Enough time for you to gather your thoughts, cross a few things off that mile long to-do list, decrease the mindless crap pile, get those really important things tended too, and to just breathe.
Breathing is important, but I find it's often forgotten. Smelling those figurative and literal roses seems like such a treat and the thought of that quickly gets pushed back onto the to-do list.
Remembering the important things in life - those special magical moments that only you might treasure, the little things that make you happy and smile and all warm and nice and human, they're one of the most important ingredients in life's magical mystery.
It's hard being so far away from some of the most special people in my life, especially on weeks like these. But then I just remind myself of how many awesome opportunities I've had and got at the moment; the memories I've got from the last two and a half years.
Ma and Pa and me on Wellington waterfront, trip home July 2013
When I was training at uni to become a teacher, I never in my life thought I'd be teaching deaf kids in London. The London part had crossed my mind briefly, but teaching kids with complex needs? Na-uh.
An impromptu trip to the travel agents one lunch break landed me with a one-way flight to London five months later. I had my 21st, graduation ceremony, leaving one of my favourite jobs and my departure all with a matter of 10 days. Yeah, doing things by halves isn't completely my style.
I've left some of the best friendships behind, like this one...
One of the best. Wellington, August 2013
and this one.
The last goodbye. Wellington airport, August 2013
But then I've made some pretty freaking awesome friendships over here too. This girl is alright I guess...
Sara and Dan's engagement party. October 2013
And so is this bunch.
Danielle's birthday. October 2013
I've been able to travel to destinations I had only ever dreamed of. Porto, France, Malaysia, Stockholm, Budapest just to name a few...
'Borrowed' from Cara from our latest adventures to Budapest. October 2013
I've been able to meet some very loved family members in the UK who I've only ever heard of my whole life. I've been able to celebrate my grandparents' lives, as they all came from Scotland or London.
My precious Great-Aunt Nell. She's one in a million. July 2011.
In amongst all the business of London, I've been finding it so important and I guess soothing, to remember all of these amazing times and opportunites I've had.
Like meeting my second cousin, Patti Clare, who plays Mary Taylor in Coronation Street! October 2013
In a way, it's kinda like the gift that keeps on giving.
I can keep travelling. People can keep coming to visit. I can keep working at an amazing school. I can keep building a lifetime of experiences and memories.
On my way home from work this evening, I started making a mental to-do list. I erased it and started again loads of times, mainly because I couldn't remember what was on each list. I just couldn't bear to put my hand into my bag and get my phone, cos then the list would be for real.
I still can't remember most of what I had planned out to do and all those 'important' things but here's what's in my head now...
- I really need to put my photos from Budapest onto my laptop for a few reasons. 1) So I can look at them. 2) So I can email Cara the ones of her. 3) So I can blog about it all - I've got a few lined up for ya! 4) So I can keep remembering a pretty choice holiday I had. In the mean time, you can pop over to Cara's blog, Britventures, and check out what she had to write about it all!
On the walking tour we did. All the Hungarian history got a little bit too much!
- I joined the gym yesterday. I got a pretty sweet deal - the gym, classes and the pool all for £18.50 a month! - all because I teach in Islington! Choice! And you can use any of the facilities in the Islington borough under the Aquaterra scheme!
Luckily there's one right behind Archway station which is super close to my house. I popped along tonight, a little bit nervous as it's been a wee while since I've actually done proper exercise. I play netball once a week, but I needed more!
I strolled on over to what I thought was the cross-trainer, and low and behold, it wasn't. So after entering my all the important stuff and going for a few minutes, I realised that I was on the stepper. The freaking stepper. I immediately thought I CANNOT do 20 whole minutes on this thing! I lasted for 10 before my legs nearly gave out - in the mean time, I spotted the actual cross-trainers and did 30 minutes on that afterwards! 4 miles of exercise baby!
Whilst I was sweating up a storm, I also realised that wearing 'ear-muff' type headphones wasn't the best idea. I love my Skull Candy headphones, but I don't think they're going to love the pools of sweat that were congregating around my head and neck! Lesson learned.
I make a point of not weighing myself as I find it quite easy to get all caught up in the firago that comes along with. I decided that I'd just hop on it for old times sake after realising I have no idea what I weigh and I'm a little bit stoked with the results. I've had the opposite of the 'London weight-gain', and since I left two and a half years ago, I've lost 15kgs, and I'm back down to that! I don't remember the last time I weighed this much! CHOICE!
- I also love smoothies. They're rather easy to whip up but I seem to not make time to do it in the mornings! On the weekend I was craving one, popped down to Sainsburys and bought the essentials, and voila. We had a happy hungover Nikki on our hands!
- I also love Autumn. I love all seasons but for different reasons. Autumn = amazing colours, crunchy leaves, sunny cool days, refreshing air, and the exciting times when I get to wrap in warm in all sorts of woolen and winter paraphernalia!
My £5 cat dress off eBay!
- Lastly, I love this song. It gets played at least three times a day, much to everyone's disgust. But I'm obsessed with it at the moment. I like her studio version better than the video clip as it's more raw, but the video is pretty rad too!
Gabrielle Aplin - Home
Linking up with Cat this week for things I'm loving and Simoney for the grateful project!
When the air is fresh, and the sun is shining, we walk.
When the canal is calling us, in beauty and reflections, we walk.
When the sun is descending, and our shadows start dancing, we walk.
When icons come into view, beckoning us to step closer, we walk.
When the position of the sun drops suddenly, creating beauty right before our eyes. We stop. Then, we walk.
When our time has come to carry on back home, we turn for one last look. We capture the beauty and get a fruitful reminder of how precious this place is. Then, we walk.
Have you loved where you live lately?
All photos were taken by me, can be used by me, and only me. Unless you have my permission of course.
It's a super fun app, where you're given a word and you have to describe that particular word without saying other words... Sounds a bit confusing but it's such a fun game! I think you should all get it and then play it with me! It's an iPhone and android app so we have the best of both worlds here.
My new job
Like I said in my post earlier on in the week, it's about grabbing life by the balls. I know it's not going to be easy, but I'm ready for this major challenge. What makes it a bit more fun is getting the kids to try and say my name, mainstream nursery and the unit nursery kids! So far I've had: Miss Cluck, Miss Clock, Miss Dark, Miss Lark, Miss Luck, but not Miss Clark like it should be!
All about me
My updated 'all about me' page on my blog. I was long over due for a re-write, my whole blog is due for a makeover! But I put one of my new favourite photos on there. Hope you like it!
Watch this space
You should all keep your eyes out and open, cos someone might be having a guest blogpost on someone elses blog. Just sayin'.
The Kindle app
I love reading (finally say my parents!) and it's a lot handier to have the app on my phone. I do have a Kindle, but sometimes I forget to take it with me. This app is great as it syncs to your Kindle and updates exactly where you're up to in your book on both devices! Sooo technical!
2 Broke Girls
Holy macaroni, if you haven't watched this TV series - you must! It's soooooo hilarious and inappropriate but absolutely fabulous! Basically, there are 2 Broke Girls who work in a diner and want to start up a cupcake business. Max has been brought up with a very 'different' upbringing where as Caroline has had everything she ever needed at her fingertips due to the wealth of her father. Until he's sent to jail for being a fraudster. I can't describe how funny it is, I think you should all just watch it!
This song
This was my summer song when I was on Kapas Island in Malaysia. It's perfect. It's beautiful. And those lucky folk who are heading into Spring, should start pumping this song when the sun is shining and I guarantee it'll lift your mood! I listen to it everyday (when I have to test the hearing aids in my class) it's just brill.
I've started a new job. It's incredibly hard and challenging. I don't know what part of teaching deaf kids with severe learning difficulties was going to be easy.
But it's a great opportunity for my career. In saying that, for me it's not about adding another notch to my belt and boasting that I have 5 years teaching experience under me whilst only being 22. (I am proud of that though).
It's the chance to grow. It's the chance to be challenged but have on-going support. It's the chance to expand my mind. It's the chance to be completely submerged into an unfamiliar environment, and whilst struggling to come up for air, it makes me realise that this isn't a rushed journey. I don't need to panic and second-guess what I'm doing.
I'm made for this.
The love, praise, guidance and inspiration come naturally. And those are some qualities a real teacher holds.
I'm sure we've all had 'crappy' teachers during our years of education, I certainly did. Sometimes they just wear out, and forget what it's all about. But that's all they've ever known, often it's the only career path they ever took.
But, right now, for me, it's a new beginning. It's a time to - excuse the dodgeball quote - 'grab life by the balls'.
It's not going to be an easy teaching year, and I know that. What fuels me is seeing the progress these children make, when maybe 20 years ago, they would've been sent to a prison-like school because no one had any hope for them.
I have hope. I believe in these kids. And my friends and family have hope and believe that I can do this too. The warm messages of support and reassurance have played a big part in believing in myself. And with that, I shall leave you with a special message from a special friend...
"If anyone can teach them with compassion and kindness, you can".
It's a lot of different things, for a lot of different people.
It's those little things that put a smile on your dial.
Like a really fat squirrel
The light in a sun set
Standing on top of a massive snow ball
Putting vegetables on your head
Receiving a card from someone very special and close to your heart
Being in London and capturing awesome things like this replica of the Stone Henge made out of cars
Being in Paris with one of your best friends
Holding a rabbit, and wearing festive pjs, and being in France.
But right now, right now in my life, this very minute, I'm happy. I'm happy because of the all the hard work I've done in the last year, has really paid off. There really is nothing like a parent saying to you "Thank you so much for your efforts. The progress my child has made has been more than I could hope for" or "My child talks about you all the time at home. They're sad when it's the weekend because they don't get to see you" or "You have really made a difference in our child's life that will last forever".
And with that, I shall leave you with a final picture. One of my all time favourites.
All photos were taken by me, therefore I own them, therefore please don't knick them. Thanks.
Linking up with Simone for best in blog, and Meg for love where you live!
Play this before you start reading - it adds a nice little touch :)
Favourite artist with favourite song - enjoy!
♥ I'm loving receiving letters in the mail! My great aunty Nell is such a dear, and often writes! She'll answer and have your letter posted the day she receives your one to her! So feel free to write me letters people :) ♥
♥ I love the book I just finished - Heaven is for real. Despite my beliefs, I found it so intriguing, beautiful, emotional and down right amazing! Thanks Meghan for it :) ♥
♥ This week I've been loving being away. In a tiny incy wincy little village called Quoditch, which is in Ashwater, which is in Devon! ♥
♥ I've loved being in the middle of no where. The relaxing environment, fresh country air, the company. ♥
♥ I loved meeting family for the first time. The kind of family that you hear about all of your life, but never meet until to venture to their side of the world. ♥
♥ I loved the photo opportunities I've had which you can see here and here.♥
♥ I love being crafty! Knitting and crocheting are so much fun! So is the collection of things I'm accumulating - wool, knitting needles, crochet hooks, samples of my work when I think I know what I'm doing! Ha ha. ♥
♥ I loved the music that I listened to on the 3 hour train trip back to London. It consisted of Anna Coddington, Hootie and the Blowfish, Paulo Nutini, and then I put on a compilation called 'old school mix' that I made when I was about 15. The songs were hilarious! I let out a giggle each time a new one came on - can't believe that some of them were my favourites! Admittedly, there are a few of them that still are! ♥
These photos are all more of my favourites from my trip!
There are a lot of nature shots, but it's so beautiful that I can't resist! I think I could make a photo garden with all the shots I've got of flowers!
