A day of no appointments

Today was blissfully unscheduled.

After eight weeks where every single day had several appointments, if not entirely booked from dawn to dusk, it was quite strange to just do things 'whenever'.

I slept until I was done with sleeping.
I lay in bed until I'd read as much as I wanted.
I made myself very good poached eggs for breakfast, maybe the best ever!

Like the tablecloth? It's one of my quilts!

Then I calmly did whatever I felt like from my Sunday list, most of them very nice things. I've spoiled the effect slightly by doing a little preparation for work tomorrow, but even that has been a choice. Pretty good Sunday, and I'm making the most of it cos there won't be another day like it for a while. The next few weeks have a lot scheduled.

Barefoot...

The 4th blog of Xmas is also day 4 of 17 days of shoelessness, my annual summer holiday practice.

I love shoes. My darling often refers to me as 'Imelda', especially when I have commandeered a greater share of the wardrobe. Most days, my outfit is selected from the foot up. So it seems strange to choose to be shoeless.

Barefoot is about change of style, lack of style, complete relaxation, being natural. It's also about slowing down - the automatic way to help winter-tender feet cope with the textured world. At the same time, I'm resetting my mind to a greater degree of tranquillity.

By the time i wear shoes again, my holiday time will have toughened my soles, and desensitised my soul.

3rd blog of Christmas - hurrying towards peace

Today we drove North for 5 hours to reach my Mum's home on Doubtless Bay. It's beautiful here and of course I have already got salt in my hair, and sand under my toenails.

It's incredible how fast the holiday effect kicks in - energy to do stuff I couldn't usually be bothered with, combined with peacefulness and patience that seems effortless.