insomnia

It's midnight and I can't sleep. What has been going on here the last few months? I know something exciting is about to happen, I  can feel it. A big change perhaps? Like Hungary?  Its weird because when I moved to Hungary, life altering change didn't seem like such a big deal and the stakes were higher. Or I just don't remember the sleepless nights because the happy memories have replaced them. If only I could get some answers or get to sleep. If only life was so simple…

change

The past week was a busy one. I know change is coming but sometimes its difficult for me to come to terms with it. As much as I love the thrill of impulse and new beginnings, a little part of me always feels this sadness inside that I can't express in words. Sometimes I wish I could freeze time and stay in the moment for just a little while longer but all good thing must come to an end.

This morning Zay sent me a little clip from last summer and watching it made me instantly smile and lifted the heavy feeling inside me instantly and transported me back to the summer. I think thats exactly what I needed to end such a week. I just need to figure out how to upload this stuff.

ramblings on life

Ever have one of those talk which really puts life into perspective? I had one of those conversations with a patient today. We get so stuck in our little bubble that we forget the bigger picture. I do this so often. I am always complaining about things that are of no significance while there are others who struggling just to keep alive for a few more hours. Sometimes I feel that I look for things to complain about just so I have something to do. I will just have to remind myself a little harder that 'don't fret the small stuff' life is just too short.

Also have to keep reminding myself that I only get one life and I really should at least attempt to do all the things I have always wanted to do. In the end if things are meant to be they will work out and lead to bigger opportunities or you will walk away with an experience/story to tell.

On the subject of story telling and having conversation with patients; some of my favourite patients are old people ( the 75 and above age group). They are living storybooks. Some of them have lived these amazing lives. I once had a patient who was a community lawyer until she was 60 and then after retiring she studied art history and now she is the president of an art preservation society. She travels to many exotic countries and on art tours. If my life is half as fulfilling as hers I will consider it well lived.

home cooked meals

Although we are not even half way through the week yet, its already a winner. Have had six amazing home cooked meals already and feeling my energy levels going up and up. I love food especially home made food. Both eating it and cooking it. Cooking real offers an outlet of stress relief for me. I am always up for making a meal.

Tonight I went to a Metafit session with a personal trainer and celebrated by cooking up a salmon salad as a treat for dinner post workout. I have a huge smile face and can't tell if its the endorphins from the exercise or the delicious home cooked meal. There is even some leftover for lunch tomorrow. I think there is going to be a few people with food envy at work come lunch time tomorrow!

sunday

Yesterday, the holiday season officially ended at our house. Even though I went back to work on the 2nd, it still felt like I was on holiday the two days I was at work. As a result there was very little productivity over the weekend especially on Sunday. Of note the few things I accomplished were getting the eBay packages and returns from online shopping ready to be posted and paying for my exam (OK that one is kind of a big thing). Most of the weekend was spent like this…

Drinking lots of tea and eating up treats from Paris while enjoying some Woody Allen movies. I can watch the opening sequence from Manhattan, Midnight in Paris and To Rome with Love again and again. Sometimes that is exactly what you need to recharge your batteries. I think am ready to start the daily grind once more. Check in here in a few weeks days to see if I feel the same.

winter wedding

Yesterday I attended Katrina's wedding reception.

Crazy day leading up to the event. I felt so ill and was certain that I wouldn't be able to attend. When I finally made it out of bed and got in the shower, I realised there was no shampoo. This is where all those travel sizes and samples I collect came in handy ( Ami, if you are reading this, its not hoarding its saving for an emergency like this). I had bought a Whistles  dress in the sale a few weeks ago which was perfect for the occasion and had no plan B ( when it comes to dressing for an event, I don't believe in plan Bs, I feel it makes you lose focus). Well, as I was getting into my dress (hair and makeup done), the zipper broke! At this point I was already having doubts about going and this just made the situation worse. We tried everything but the damage was irreversible. So in the end I wore a fur gilet on top and no one could tell the difference. 

When I arrived at the reception, I went to the wrong wedding because the girl at the hotel's reception sent me upstairs instead of down. I couldn't recognise anyone, my name wasn't on any of the tables and the bride looked unfamiliar. After a good 10mins, I asked one of the other guest's who the bride and the groom were and he confirmed that, yes, I was in fact at the wrong wedding.

When I finally made it there, I was so glad I attended because the event was beautiful and the bride's dress was definitely the highlight. My iPhone camera doesn't do the embroidery on the lace any justice. Only managed to get a few photos on my iPhone.

Congratulations to Kat and Ian. Wishing you both a life time of health and happiness together.

hopes for 2014

Every year I write a list within the first few days of the year and put it away until the 31st December. Even though I don't look at the list through out the year, I have still somehow manage to achieve these written tasks. For 2014 I hope to

1. Continue giving thanks and praying which started to become more frequent last year
2. Go to a Ballet performance at the Royal Opera House
3. Take a photography course
4. Complete MJDF part 1
5. Travel to Greece, Italy, Turkey, Croatia, Canada, Australia ( and maybe squeeze in a few other short trips)
6. Spend a few weeks in the summer in NYC. This has been sitting on top of my list for years now. Finally want to check it off. 
7. Venture into the Oral Health/ World food program route. Maybe look into an internship or finally bite the bullet and apply for that Masters I have been rambling on about the last few months.
8. Make and eat as many home cooked meals as possible.

Midnight in Paris

I may not have been the greatest fan of 2013. It was a rocky road. But 31st December 2013 was my favourite day of the year. Every year I send a lot of energy on avoiding people near the end of the year just so I won't have spend the last moments or the first few moments of the year amongst crowds of drunk people with very high expectations soon to be crushed. Also every year I say that I will escape on a trip but that never happens either. As a result I always spend NYE in bed. This year, however, I threw caution to the wind and went for it.  As a reward I treated myself to this view and as it struck midnight Frank Sinatra's The best is yet to come came on my iTunes. Fate? I don't know…

I couldn't have asked for more as I stood at Pont Alexander III. Oh and can't remember if there was a big crowd or not because I was to caught up in my thoughts.  It was the prefect way to end and start the year.

Happy 2014!

Paris

The more I visit Paris, the deeper I fall in love with it. Everything about it is so charming and I take a little part of it every visit.

Saying goodbye to 2013

I am personally happy to see the end of 2013. It was a very weird year because I felt that I made no progress in my professional life or personal life. I attribute that to the fact that I went in with one and one goal only and that was to travel as much as I could. I guess I achieved that to some extent but otherwise life seemed stationary. Although I did start I new job (only temp though!) and quit a job I was miserable in. So there is that.

 Below are the highlights of the year.

New years day 2013. Spent the day running in the fields behind my house and baked cookies (bad choice as I felt I craved and eat sugar practically the rest of the year!)

This lady finally came for a visit and it took me 4 hours to drive to our apartment in London ( its suppose to take 1.5 hour max) and it snowed in April. We ate our way through the city to compensate.

Took a very spontaneous and expensive trip to NYC with my best friends from university. Its always special when I visit NYC but having these two there made it even better. Highlights: people watching at the ACE hotel lobby and going to brunch in a Brooklyn apartment with panoramic views of Manhattan.

Took a Trip to California ten days after NYC. Spent my birthday in Palm Springs with a bike ride, Brunch, spa and some of the best Mexican I have ever had ( it was cinco de mayo after all…)

Got a new camera from my family as a birthday present, which is a total game changer. I think its my best friend now.

And a few days after the California trip made my way to Cannes to visit the film festival. Partied like a movie star (Literally!) 

The sun showed up and thus began my summer love affair with strawberries. 

Celebrated Midsommar in Stockholm and the surrounding countryside. I think I could move to Sweden in a heart beat. I love everything about that country ( minus the long, cold and dark winters).

Made many homemade meals through out the summer and beyond. This homemade stone baked pizza was divine. 

Quit my horrible job and made this journey one last time. So grateful for my new job.

Took a short trip to Manchester and felt pleasantly surprised by what the city had to offer from great food to great independent films ( Frances Ha was great). Also the journey up to Manchester offered some scenic views of the countryside. 

Summer sunsets are the best.

Had some amazing brunch in Notting Hill with Zay. One of the best day of the summer. 

September trip to Morocco with my sister despite the fact we both had injured feet. Fell in love with the people. They were so kind and humbling. Slept in a tent in the Sahara dessert. 

Started a new tradition with Zay. People Watching at Mulberry show LFW followed by brunch. Hope to continues this in 2014.

Embraced the mild autumn and loved the colours.

Nabilah came to visit London town and we had some crazy adventures.

Finally visited Pakistan after eight years and had the best week of the year there. It was emotional in the best way possible and also 28 degrees sunshine in November equals happiness.

Had a crazy crazy week in November which included a trip to A&E and my car getting towed amongst other things. But I survived, which makes me believe I can do anything. 

God treated us to some beautiful sunsets which made the dark winter nights a bit more bearable ( I feel that I am being dramatic because the worst of winter is yet to come).

Christmas season creeped up too quickly and parties were in and diets were out. Despite this I upped my gym game as the year was coming to a close.

Celebrated my brother's bday on boxing day with a meaty meal. Had my first cheese burger ever (not a red meat fan) and actually enjoyed it.

After contemplating taking a trip on New years for week, finally booked a last minute trip to Paris and treated myself to this view while listening to Sinatra's 'Best is yet to come' at midnight on NYE. Best decision I made in 2013.

Dear 2013, you were kind to me in many ways but I am glad we partied ways. Thanks for the memories.