… Namely, rearrange my room. In this case, turning a coffee table into a desk so I sit on the floor to work.
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PS. Oh, yes. I am on the Hipstamatic bandwagon, big time. More photos of that ilk to come.
… I’ve got one.
It’s funny, I haven’t spent much time over the last few weeks thinking about my writing — except briefly to bemoan my lack of it. I’ve been away, this last week, on a yoga teachers’ retreat, which sounds lovely and relaxing, doesn’t it? Well, it was lovely, but not so much relaxing. It was hard work, physically, mentally and emotionally. As is often the case though, with hard work came reward.
When I got back on Friday I felt spaced-out. It was surreal being back in my own life after four intense days of perception-shifting. It’s taken me a couple of days to settle in again. But just at the end of that head-in-the-clouds feeling came something of an epiphany. I’m working on an essay about food at the moment, and have been freaking out about how to narrow down what my research is discovering to a few thousand words. I suddenly realised last night that I didn’t have to. I could still write the essay, but then continue on, and turn this into a bigger project as well.
It probably comes as no surprise to people who’ve spent time with me that I might end up writing extensively about food. I love the stuff. I have a ridiculously fast metabolism, related to my thyroid condition that I’ve mentioned here before, and it means I’m constantly thinking about food and how I might better consume it so that I remain full for longer (and continue to enjoy it!).
Of course, it didn’t take long for the doubt to creep in. Who am I to try to write a book like the one I want to about food (more details as I work them out myself, I promise)? Surely there are already too many books about food on the market?
Valid questions, sure. But I want to write it, so I should just do it, and think about that stuff later.
So. It’s likely that there’ll be more food posts around these parts from here on in. Yum.
I’m beginning to love my little stick men.
This is the beginning of a class plan, but I think it looks like some kind of hieroglyphics.
No wonder I feel like I’m going mad…
I just saw these complementary signs at a train station. It seems very pointed that they choose to both label the toilet as a men’s toilet AND specify that no women should enter. Is there a particular problem with women using men’s toilets in this area, I wonder? And was the second sign put up as a matter of course, or was there some sort of community discussion about it? I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall of that council meeting…
I feel like I need one, where my writing’s concerned. I mean, to be fair, I am involved in an incredibly intense yoga teacher training programme, which is gobbling up most of my brain space and generally proving to be wonderful. But still. I miss writing.
The programme for the Sydney Writers’ Festival came out over the weekend (and will be available in print in the Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday 17 April). I’m planning on going along, even if it’s only to the free events. And I’m really hoping that it will give me that little bit of a kick to get me writing properly again.
Fingers crossed eh?
Would you believe I forgot to take anything to write on while I was away? I hate packing and always leave it to the last minute, which nearly always ends in me forgetting something I really ought to have brought. At least I remembered underwear, I suppose.
And, continuing with the positive thinking, at least the little break from writing has me pretty keen to crack the lid off a pen when I get home. I’ve even found the motivation to bring out an old story again…
Happy Easter, whatever you’re doing (hopefully eating lots of chocolate).
I’m a bit all over the place at the moment. My brain has to spend time in so many different spaces; it’s starting to feel as though I can’t give any of them enough attention.
I missed the Monday Project deadline this month; I’ve not yet started studying for a Sanskrit test I have at yoga school next week; I’ve got four books on the go, a couple for an essay I’m working on, the third for yoga study, the other for pleasure, and they’re all just inching forward; I’m writing like mad most days, but I don’t feel like I’m getting anywhere with it; I’m doing a yoga asana practice most days, but not quite making it to a class.
What I don’t understand is how, if I’m only working an odd day here and there at my old job, I’ve managed to get to the point where I feel so overworked. Actually, I lie, I know exactly how: I push myself to fit more and more in and don’t give myself enough of a break (or one at all). But I don’t understand why I don’t learn!
My guess is that it’s just a matter of time. I’ll work it out at some point, hopefully. I’m bad at being patient, worse at being patient with myself. Sigh.
Meanwhile, I’m off to the Blue Mountains for a couple of nights this weekend, to hang out with my family and some friends, eating food and (probably) drinking wine. And relaxing.
Hope you have a lovely weekend, whatever you’re doing.
I didn’t mean to go silent. I guess it’s just that for someone who’s only sporadically employed, I’m really very busy.
I’ve been quiet here because I’ve started my yoga teacher training, and it’s forced so much introspection that I’m not quite sure I’ll come out the other end of it with my head intact. I won’t say much about it now, mainly because I don’t think I’ll do the teachings much justice at the moment. But I will say that the philosophy behind yoga practice has moved me slightly — that is, I feel like I’m looking at the world from a standing point a few metres to the right of where I was before.
The other reason, though, that I haven’t been here much is more writerly. I’ve been writing and writing and writing. I’m still working on the food writing that had me posting up recipes and pictures of what I was cooking a month or so ago, so I thought I’d give you another food picture. I went grocery shopping today, and here’s what I’m going to eat for the rest of this week (with the addition of some staples like pasta). Yum!
Other than that essay (well, it’s quickly turning into multiple essays), I’ve got a few other writing-related projects on the go at the moment. It’s really very exciting to have the time to give to these things I love doing. I’m very poor, but I don’t mind in the slightest!
Hopefully more on some of the other projects sometime soon; and maybe one day something about what I’m learning at yoga teacher training. But for now, I’m off to make some more bread.
PS. This month’s Monday Project is due in a week — if you’re playing along, send your response through to Kate and I sometime before Monday 29 March is over.
I’m not sure now where I got this link from (let me know if it was you!), but these tips are both useful and (sometimes) funny.
This is probably my favourite one (thanks Margaret Atwood): “… there’s no free lunch. Writing is work. It’s also gambling. You don’t get a pension plan. Other people can help you a bit, but essentially you’re on your own. Nobody is making you do this: you chose it, so don’t whine.”
On that note, back to it!
avocado and lemon 