Things are. They are looking up. The sun is shining, off to French class tonight (have, of course, forgotten how to say ANYTHING in French, so it should be interesting to say the least), dance classes continue apace, new series of Family Guy started last night and I managed to get a reprieve from the root canal surgery. It's all good baby.
Wednesday should be particularly good...will let you know.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Yoga etc
Went to yoga on Friday night - intensive hatha class. It is from 6 until 7, led by a lovely woman called Amanda. She just has this lovely energy and is a great teacher - it kind of seems like she isn't pushing you too hard, but everyone still comes out of the class kind of shaky and wobbly. Because I am obsessed with trying to keep fit - in part due to body dysmorphic disorder (how come an awareness of it doesn't make it stop? Am about the same size as I have been for about 10 years in reality, but most of the time I am convinced I am fat. And if I was just a bit thinner, then of course my whole life would absolutley fucking perfect - I know it isn't just me.)- and in part due to the fact that the endorphin hit I get after yoga or my dance class makes me feel so good and blissed out that I think I may be becoming addicted to it. Anyway, I must be pretty fit now as I even went to yoga this morning - that's right, you heard me - this morning - that's Sunday morning at 10.30 for an hour and a half hatha practice. The focus in the class this month is back bends.
There is of course, a spiritual side to yoga, which I assume is also doing me good. At the start of each session, you have to think of someone or something you would like to dedicate your practice to. It can be someone who you care about, someone who could do with a lift, etc. You can also dedicate your practice to someone you don't like, someone you have had trouble with and so on. Back bends, we were told today, are all about forgiveness and letting go. Sometimes, when people are doing back bends, they get emotional, because there is a kind of release. This happened to me today - I could feel myself starting to cry, but just about managed to hold it together. Was thinking about all the crap that bothers me, all the stuff that is just sitting on top of me, or, all the stuff that I am carrying round with me, weighing me down. And the constant state of alertness that I seem to be in. Could be to do with the job, but it is also everything else.
Suppose in particular, when Amanda said to think of someone who perhaps has upset you, or you have upset them, and to just take the time to let it go, I thought of two individuals, and I did think, I hope I can just let this go, today.
It's good to have this space to ramble.
There is of course, a spiritual side to yoga, which I assume is also doing me good. At the start of each session, you have to think of someone or something you would like to dedicate your practice to. It can be someone who you care about, someone who could do with a lift, etc. You can also dedicate your practice to someone you don't like, someone you have had trouble with and so on. Back bends, we were told today, are all about forgiveness and letting go. Sometimes, when people are doing back bends, they get emotional, because there is a kind of release. This happened to me today - I could feel myself starting to cry, but just about managed to hold it together. Was thinking about all the crap that bothers me, all the stuff that is just sitting on top of me, or, all the stuff that I am carrying round with me, weighing me down. And the constant state of alertness that I seem to be in. Could be to do with the job, but it is also everything else.
Suppose in particular, when Amanda said to think of someone who perhaps has upset you, or you have upset them, and to just take the time to let it go, I thought of two individuals, and I did think, I hope I can just let this go, today.
It's good to have this space to ramble.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Watch out, there are protesters about
Apparently. My god, the fuss over G20 is insane. I work in Westminster, where there are no protests planned, and we were all told to 'dress casually', and that we could work from home today. Cue my entire team electing to do just that. I came in as I go completely stir crazy when I work from home, and besides, since I don't work for a financial insitution, and am nowhere near the City, there is no risk whatsoever.
Suppose I will eat my words if it all kicks off and my building is inexplicably taken under siege, but, I have just managed a quick foray to Pret without incident, so fingers crossed. Well, I say without incident, but in fact, that isn't strictly true. The staff at Pret have clearly received the Rolls Royce of customer service training; they're almost too good, you know? They tread a very fine line between getting it just right and patronisingly insincere. Well, at my local branch, they are always practically falling over themselves to be super-duper nice to the extent that they sometimes trip up. The guy behind the counter welcomed me as if I was a long lost family friend; I have become accustomed to this effusiveness, but it does make for an awkward exchange. They ask you how you are - you reply in the standard format: 'fine thanks', then you have to ask them how they are, out of politeness - of course they're doing fine - they are happy! They work at Pret, for god's sake, and all this with the knowledge that the emphasis is on speed of service and people are waiting whilst this dance of pleasantries is played out. So, he then took my order in a prompt fashion, but then lost it completely and referred to the woman behind me as a gentleman. Clearly an honest mistake, but she didn't take it very well. Then she spoke really fast, and tried to make a joke about how strong she wanted her coffee - the barista, flustered by the gender blunder, ended up serving her a skinny latte, when she had actually requested a rocket-fuel strength espresso. Imagine the horror and scenes of devastation if you will. I escaped with my life, a tall latte and a little packet of brown sugar. And a stirrer.
Will keep you posted on the siege situation.
Suppose I will eat my words if it all kicks off and my building is inexplicably taken under siege, but, I have just managed a quick foray to Pret without incident, so fingers crossed. Well, I say without incident, but in fact, that isn't strictly true. The staff at Pret have clearly received the Rolls Royce of customer service training; they're almost too good, you know? They tread a very fine line between getting it just right and patronisingly insincere. Well, at my local branch, they are always practically falling over themselves to be super-duper nice to the extent that they sometimes trip up. The guy behind the counter welcomed me as if I was a long lost family friend; I have become accustomed to this effusiveness, but it does make for an awkward exchange. They ask you how you are - you reply in the standard format: 'fine thanks', then you have to ask them how they are, out of politeness - of course they're doing fine - they are happy! They work at Pret, for god's sake, and all this with the knowledge that the emphasis is on speed of service and people are waiting whilst this dance of pleasantries is played out. So, he then took my order in a prompt fashion, but then lost it completely and referred to the woman behind me as a gentleman. Clearly an honest mistake, but she didn't take it very well. Then she spoke really fast, and tried to make a joke about how strong she wanted her coffee - the barista, flustered by the gender blunder, ended up serving her a skinny latte, when she had actually requested a rocket-fuel strength espresso. Imagine the horror and scenes of devastation if you will. I escaped with my life, a tall latte and a little packet of brown sugar. And a stirrer.
Will keep you posted on the siege situation.
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