My response? Try new things
First of all, this:
I don’t know about you but I’ve really felt my mood lift over the past couple of weeks. The plenitude of spring abounds all around.
Skies were blue this week and temperatures reached quasi tropical double figures serving as a reminder that it actually gets warm in the UK. The birds sing loudly with a sense of purpose, performing their vibrant vocalises with renewed verve. Row upon row of pearly notes and exquisite elaborate trills pour liberally from their busy beaks before first light beneath my bedroom window. Get up. GET UP! GET UP!! they chorus in a crescendo culminating in an apotheosis in perfect unison with the sunrise.
This week I’ve tried quite a few new things. Along with music and creativity, food is a priority and on Tuesday evening, after the writing group, I tried 2 things I’ve never tasted before from a local takeaway called Dapur Malaysia – beef rendang and bao buns:
The ingredients were super fresh and the spices in the rendang were complex and warming. The homemade bao buns melted in my mouth like soft fluffy clouds. It was sheer unashamed comfort food. There’s a lot of other delicacies I’m excited to try on their menu.
Meanwhile…
I’ve been eating bread occasionally – real bread mind you. Someone recommended Lone Loaf Bakery to me and they deliver to my doorstep! I’ve tried the Malt and Seed loaf (10/10), the sourdough (10/10) and yesterday I received a black olive ciabatta roll which I have yet to sample:
and, wait for it, wild garlic focaccia. It’s incredible. Look:
The quality is exceptional. I don’t know how they do it.
Last night I did an online writing session with the amazing and inspiring Dr Rachel Newsome. She’s a specialist in the work of Carl Jung and she makes it accessible and often fun and playful. I still don’t quite understand it but the writing is so beneficial and her prompts are varied and interesting. There’s no right or wrong way to do the writing but it’s very revealing.
The monthly sessions usually take place on a Monday but this month’s meeting was changed to a Thursday. Rachel has a loyal following and all her workshops are well attended but last night, probably due to the change of day, it was just Rachel and I. I felt a bit uncomfortable at first (I would’ve totally understood if she wanted to cancel!) but we both wrote, and then read our writing out. I got a huge amount from it, and managed to unblock my imagination. Win!
I’ve booked myself a last minute holiday! What better way to celebrate losing an hour’s sleep? I’m certain my decision to go away is a result of the above writing exercises – they definitely revealed an unconscious desire. Stay tuned, there may be a blog post or three…
Rare Bit Blogging 