#atinylife 4 Oh

‘What are you doing for your 40^th?’

No one cares whether you celebrate your 34^th birthday, or your 37th, or even your 39^th,  but the minute you say you’re 40 this year, this is always the first question.

And who am I to argue?

My sister is hosting a party during October, when my actual birthday is, for our immediate family.

I’ve decided not to do a big party in the village – it feels like a stress.

 

 

But this weekend, the one thing I wanted to do this year. Myself and my three pals from school. We’ve been friends for 25 years now. I can’t believe I have held onto friends for 25 years! They are awesome, inspiring, thoughtful, supportive people. We are going away to a spa together. Just us. I will be there when I post this. I can’t wait.

#atinylife yoga

It always feels like the things I hold out against most vociferously are the ones I end up obsessed by.

I never wanted to live in Scotland. Didn’t feel I belonged, didn’t think there was ‘enough’ here for me. Now it’s home, and I wouldn’t live anywhere else. (See also, The Archers)

The same has come to pass with … Yoga. I couldn’t stand all that hippy, bendy, breathing stuff. What a piece of nonsense. And so expensive!

I was wrong though. Wrong about it all. Through my lovely school friends, I discovered Yoga with Adriene and can confirm that Adriene is not paying me to tell you that she is wonderful. She does not need my rave reviews, she has over 3 million followers. I am hooked. Folded.

 

 

AND I can touch my toes for the first time in twenty years!

#atinylife Lie-In

The alarm went off at six, because it always does. My precious writing hour. It used to be my only writing hour, between six and seven in the morning.

 

But today I just – didn’t. I was going to. Then I was going to get up at seven, get the kids to school. Be a mum.

But today I just – didn’t. I didn’t even ask Mr HB if he could deal with them (he never asks me!). I just stayed in bed, and he got the message. I would normally wake when he got up, then stay awake.

 

But today I just – didn’t. I went back to sleep, and only woke up when the ‘have you got your coats?’ reached the top of its crescendo. Then my favourite, special feeling – how the house fills, settles, feels, once everyone leaves for school.

#atinylife Snow

This week I have been thinking about … snow.

I haven’t had a choice about it either way!

Snow. Then sun, replaced by snow by sun by snow.

Snow drifted to knee height at the front door.

Snow keeping us in the house, keeping Mr HB away.

Snow stopping all travel – snow giving us the first red weather warning for years. Snow silencing the roads, burying my car a little more every day.

Snow pulling a sledge with kindling and children in it (no, hang on, that was me.)

Snow bringing a whole village out onto the streets – ‘there’s still milk in the Spar!’

Snow filling a village pub on an otherwise normal Thursday, for cake and tea.

Snow, and post after post on our village Facebook page offering help to those in need.

Snow: reminding us of our amazing community.