May 2nd, 2022: imagination and reality for young novelists

Welcome May!

I have been reading Umberto Eco’s: “Confessions of a young novelist”, exploring the boundaries between fiction and nonfiction. How the author builds the imaginary world and the connexions with different forms of reality, the different readings from different readers. Some of these readers, experts in the medieval worlds he mentions might look for facts and connexions in his writings he wasn’t aware of.

Despite having read “the name of the rose” and loved it absolutely, and then ‘Foucault”s pendulum”, I admit that Umberto has not stirred my interest in the same way here. Yes, I am a young novelist and I love his work and personality overall. But right now, it seems that medieval Europe is not for some reason my biggest passion.

Still, the book is only half-read, so I still have hopes, or it could be that recovering from covid is incompatible with Eco. We’ll see!

https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674058699

November 29, 2021: Friends, new and old

Hello November,

A lot of new things happen in my life since September when I moved back to London to work on-site. I have arrived stressed and tired after continuous lockdowns, to realize that most people suffered in their own way, even the luckiest among them who were physically ok.

I spent some time worrying that I don’t know that many people in London, and then I realised I haven’t been in touch with some of my dearest old friends who are not living nearby. Do I still have their contact details? For some, it will take work because I haven’t uploaded all of my old contacts in the cloud, and they might be in parts of the world where they don’t use the same social media.

Still, I need to make the effort to see: where are friends from the student’s residence of my first years far from home?

Time to find out!

New friends are great, but old friends are like rocks you build on your foundation of happiness!

October 17, 2021: Designing my Perfect Life

Hello October,

I feel a bit more relaxed after a month in London, and I start wishing for more: so here I am, planning what I would love to see materialising in my life: everyday life, friends, home, career, anything. I would like a magic wand to attend to it, but sometimes, taking a step at a time is also great. I came accros my goals set in 2017 in an old notebook, and was happily surprised to see I have reached them, almost all!

In the meanwhile, there were times that looked disastrous, as if not only I was not reaching any goal, but I was also losing what I already had! Somehow, I kept my faith, in the middle of these adventures, and I can now talk from a much better place.

So, how do I create magic again? Apparently Good Things come to those who Create, so I will draw the best possible picture and I will see myself into it. I see myself aligned with my work environment, friends I can trust and who can be trusted and a mission that inspires me! A loving family created, pets, travelling to unite with like-minded people on Earth, Beauty and my personal Utopia materialised!

Can we be happy in the middle of unhappiness? Yes, because LIFE has always a way to get ahead, and by involving as many others as possible to this happy bubble of ours! May Happy Bubbles become many and include the whole world!

May 4th, 2021-Secret to getting up at 5am: a hungry cat!

Hello May,

my secret for getting up at 5am? A hungry cat!

Let me explain: my parents’ cat had an upset stomach and the vet suggested a diet with less and lighter food. The cat didn’t exactly appreciate this new habit. She is hungry early in the morning and cries next to my head at 4.45 am.

You could say, why not close the door?

I have tried, but then she not only cries loudly outside, but also bangs the door which makes even more noise.

After 10 days, the cat has lost a bit of weight, her stomach is better and what is more, she has helped me install a new morning habit, even if initially, I didn’t think possible to reach the 5am goal many self development guru’s preach for.

So, my advice?

If you want to install a 5am habit, put your cat on a diet (after the vet’s advice, not to starve the poor thing), and then, forget all about alarms etc.

The hungry cat will take over!!!

April 18 to 29th- doing something new every day for 35 days, mission accomplished!

Hello April,

yes, I did it! I have done something new every day for the last 30 days, actually 35 days, and now I intend to prolong it to 66 days, so that the habit sticks with me!!!

What exactly? A lot had to do with food: trying different types of milk for the latte (soya, almond and coconut milk) was one version. And I ended up with coconut milk latte, but I admit that my guilty pleasure is cow milk for a delicious latte with chocolate and cinnamon.

I have also tried all the varieties of coffee I could have access to: Kenya, Ethiopia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Brazil.

Next thing? Different types of tea and herbal tea (chamomile, and all the possible herbs and blends). Great stuff!

I have taken up colouring for adults, and today I am to buy my second colouring book. And offer colouring books to members of my household.

I have started dancing in the morning, using “Just dance” workouts.

I have gone out with my glasses instead of my contact lenses (because I had a minor eye infection). And I realised how difficult it is to breath with glasses and face mask.

I have decided to try new recipes for our lunch. Vegetable burgers, shrimp spaghetti, I had never cooked before, …

And some other new stuff that take more time:

I have mentioned statistics before, so yes, now I know my way around multiple regression! (more or less, less or more).

I have looked for presents to my godson.

And yes, I feel that doing something new everyday is definitely making me more creative, fun and motivated!

Now I decided to upgrade this challenge to 66 days.

Doing something new and exciting every day here we are!!!

doing

April 5 and 6, 2021- Doing something new every day for 30 days, days 11 and 12

Hello April,

you know what I did? I realised I might be a “super recogniser”, one of those people who can recognise others despite age, style, etc differences. it all started when I recognised a child actor in the early 2000, as a grownup comedian in a very different role.

Ok, you think this isn’t enough? Well, I took an online test, provided by the Open University and the University of Greenwich.

And I got a very decent score. Now there are a couple of other tests to pass also.

So this qualifies as one thing.

And today, I bought biological Kale for the first time. It didn’t look nicer, but I convinced myself, so I hope it tastes ok.

Oh, yes, and a mini bottle of Proseco.

The next step would be to take my Champagne glasses out of the cupboard and to drink the Champaign I have kept for special occasions, no matter what, even if I become drunk.

It has been challenging to celebrate and to celebrate myself with my mother suffering from health issues in the same house.

But the thing is, no matter what happens, we can always choose to feel good, and we can share and spread happiness around.

Oh, yes, I found my new action today: a reference letter for a childhood friend! It definitely qualifies as one!!!

https://forward-festival.com/article/vogue-faces-of-fashion

https://www.superrecognisers.com

April 2nd-4th, 2021-Doing something new every day for 30 days in lockdown, days 8 to 10

Hello April,

I am not cheating, I have done something new every day!

So, for April 1, I have called the vet to ask how to bring the garden cat, Felix for his vaccines. You see, he might not take it nicely to get into a box. I also bought vegan protein powder for my future smoothie.

April 2, I have prepared myself a smoothie! With kiwi, strawberries, protein powder and milk.

April 3, I went to a sports doctor to ask if I can exercise again and if I do anything harmful without being aware; apparently not, so I am getting back to exercising!

April 4, today, a walk in the direction of my old school. I realise I don’t like seeing my school a lot. Yes, I should be grateful to be a literate female, in world where girls might get married before they reach puberty and they might not learn to read and write.

Maybe it has to do with my dream to go far away and change my life. I actually did, and even though I am back due to lockdown, I appreciate everything that happened in between. All the goals I have achieved. And even those I didn’t, maybe it wasn’t the timing.

The Best is yet to come!

Turmeric Banana Smoothie with Ginger

Turmeric Banana Smoothie with Ginger

April 1st, 2021-Blog-anniversary, 7 years blogging!

Welcome April!

this is my 7th Blog-anniversary!

It all started 7 years ago in Paris. I had was a freelancer at a Platform, for the organisation of artistic events. I was under a hideous man, ‘the wannabe boss”, not appreciated and not regularly paid.

On the other hand, I was living in Paris! That was already great for a provincial girl, but it couldn’t get better.

So, I decided to forget my promising but unsuccessful love-stories and to leave France for the UK!

London, it was.

I have had adventures, I have been laid off, I have returned to my hometown and then again, made a place for myself.

I have found a new job.

With a horrid vice-director (a female b… this time).

The Pandemic happened.

I came back to my hometown.

I found a better job and resigned from the previous one!

And now, working from my parents’ home where I have adopted a second cat.

Almost.

He is in their garden. Felix.

The cat in the house, is Bella.

I am so grateful for these blogging years, they have given me supportive friends, clarity, and perspective to gain some awareness.

Thank you blog-sphere and thank you wise blog-friends for making this experience amazing!

April, as of (april4june6, the period I meant to journal every day, initially)

P.S. The photo is mine, I have taken it 7 years ago, in the Luxembourg Gardens, in Paris, for this Blog. Such a great memory!!!

March 31st, 2021- Doing something new every day for 30 days, day 7- Jajouka music Morocco

Farewell March,

I spent most of the day wondering what new and exciting thing I could do from home, after my usual working from home and a horrid weather.

Finally, I have discovered this enchanting Moroccan music “The Master Musicians of Jajouka led by Bachir Attar”, and I am happy I run into them online.

These excellent musicians play an enchanting rhythm, they have influenced a lot of western musicians also, such as the Rolling Stones. Not to mention, that apparently, this music has a healing effect.

And yes, I personally danced to its rhythm, you should also try it!!!

March 29, 2021- Doing something new every day for 30 days, day 5-

Hello March,

I had a juice with pumpkin, orange and nutmeg… for the first time. There was probably also something I couldn’t identify. But it counts as something new.

I don’t know the recipe, but looking online, I came across one in the following site.

The rest of the day I was running around regarding a big presentation for tomorrow. To a new group of people, so I also have covered the new experience for tomorrow 😉

https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/our-version-of-harry-potters-pumpkin-juice/