Feeling like Indiana Jones and that 'leap of faith'!

Morning everyone on this beautiful warm sunny day - that's five in a row!

I'd better be careful what I say - this could be it - the summer of 2012 and next week we could all be back to jumpers, brollies and wellies!  Hopefully that won't be the case and my plans to dig out flip flops, summer dresses and giving myself a pedicure over the weekend will be worth it.
(I love the sun but it does mean having to face reality and realising there are certain bits of our bodies which the general public should never be exposed to until they've been properly scrutinised and had a sympathetic makeover.....know what I mean??)

Talking of exposure I was in a Bistro having lunch with a couple of girlfriends the other day and a young couple came in and sat at the table just across from us.  He was sat with his back to me, dressed in jeans and a tea-shirt which was fine.  Unfortunately he was wearing a popular style of straight leg jeans which although sat nicely on his hips when he was standing slipped considerably lower than that when he was sat down.  Which wouldn't have been so bad except the tea shirt probably sat nicely on his waist when he was standing but again rode up when sitting. 
You're probably already way ahead of me  - 'builders bum' I can just about cope with on a building site.  But in a restaurant, when I'm eating my lunch......oh dear. 
Poor man, he obviously didn't realise but fortunately his companion made a trip to the ladies and on her return had a discreet word in his ear and he valiantly attempted to get jeans and tea shirt to meet whilst still being able to sit down.  He didn't fully succeed but let's just say it was a big improvement and I no longer found my eyes drawn to this vision of the 'grand canyon' whilst tryng to enjoy my lunch.  

As I say, I love the sunshine and want to make the most of it as I'm sure we all do but when I remembered the 'grand canyon' incident I knew this was just the start.  The sun coming out does have this bizarre effect of causing people to expose varous parts of their anatomy in rather inappropriate settings.  I'm sure I'm just as bad  - and my grandsons and son-in-law no doubt will let me know when I make a fashion fo pa - bless them.

Now I was supposed to have uploaded my first 'verbal blog' by now but have hit some technical probems.  Mainly, I have no idea what I'm doing and need someone with far better technical knowledge tham me to help me!  I was getting so frustrated wth not having the time to write very often and I know I've got a few regular readers now so I hit upon this idea to record some short soundbites.  I've started recording short notes on my mobile phone to remind me about certain things, subjects I wano t write about, maybe an idea I feel God is giving me to give a talk on - that sort of thing.  The only problem is I've only discovered how to record on my camcorder! (Yes, I can hear the laughter now - I'm sure there's a better way of doing it I just haven't found it yet!)

So I made a recording (on the camcorder) about 3 weeks ago.  I've even managed to finally get it uploaded on to my PC.  So - I should be able to 'attach' it to this blog - yes?  No! - at least I can't which is as I say probably the main obstacle to getting it sorted out.  The fact it's me trying to do it.
I think it's time I finally conceded defeat and sought help.  Anyone between the ages of 12 and 16 should be a good bet .........................................

I'm still here folks!........

This is bliss.  I've finally found the time to write my blog, in my favourite place (propped up in bed) with a nice cuppa the side of me.  Even though it's Monday morning the sun is shining and as I write I can feel the stress and tension of the last few weeks slowly oozing out of my fingers.

It's just been so busy!  The last time I wrote I was preparing for a performance at the show in Bromham.  Now, playing at the local village show may not exactly be the X Factor or Britain's got Talent but to me it was just as big a deal.  There would be quite a few people there who know me.  OK - I did invite my family and made them promise to clap and cheer madly but what are grandchildren for if not to be hugely embarrassed by Nana playing a trumpet in a red sequin dress in front of lots of people...eh?  

Not on stage - but a friend kindly took
some pics of me with his vintage sports car!

There was a big central arena, a small raised stage - and me.  I made sure I was well prepared, had done plenty of practice, felt very glam in my favourite red dress (which I was delighted to find I could still get in to!)  and was there in plenty of time.

My biggest enemy is nerves.  My mouth dries, my breathing gets restricted and lets just say the sound coming out the end the trumpet can end up resembling a pathetic half hearted raspberry rather than rich, melodic tones aka Harry James (for the uninitiated very famous trumpet player with beautiful sound who someone once said I reminded him of.........sure he must have had a hearing impediment..?)

Anyway, as I was driving to the show I did what I often do and had a little chat with my heavenly Father.  After all it was His day and here I was all glammed up and I certainly wasn't going to be singing any hymns today.  Then I remembered my reading from earlier that day.  It was all about offering our gifts and talents up to God, whatever they are, in a spirit of thankfulness and  praise.  So that's what I did.  I said 'Well Lord, I won't be getting to church today so when I play Fly me to the Moon, Tuxedo Junction and Sweet Georgia Brown later it will be my offering of worship back to you.  You're the one who gave me the gift of music - thank you'.
It was the best prep I could ever have done because I can honestly say I wasn't nervous at all, I didn't dry up and I was on top of the world when I came off that stage. And I'm pretty certain the Lord enjoyed my sincere if rather unconventional worship that day.......... 

Close up of the icing detail

I've had a number of projects on in the last couple of months.  I was asked to produce 2 wedding cakes this year (one in July and one in August) having not done anything like that for a while.  The first one had to be completed within a week of the show so it was a pretty busy few weeks.  I'm pleased to say they were completed on time and well received.  There's been a few other things going on as well which have been quite time and energy consuming so it has felt like everyone has wanted a piece of me recently.  Don't get me wrong I love being busy, I like being involved in lots of different things but sometimes we have to recognise we can't do it all, can't keep going at that pace indefinitely. 

Cream sugar roses -
fiddly to make but worth it

I count myself so fortunate that I have good friends and family who recognise when I'm hitting 'burn out' and know just when to lend a sympathetic ear, give a few words of wisdom and more often that not offer their shoulder to have a good cry on.  Yesterday was just such a day and as I said at the beginning of this post I feel the tension which was with me all weekend has maybe not gone completely but has lessened a great deal. 
It's not easy to admit when we feel overwhelmed, when we feel out of our depth or just plain exhausted but it is important to recognise when that's how you feel.  As I said to someone yesterday I'm a tough 'old' bird most of the time and for me, a cuppa, my bible and some quality time with my God, who always has time to listen to me, is all I need to get me back on track.  But there are times when He recognises even I need those few words of wisdom from a friend, that sympathetic ear willing to let me just pour out my heart and big strong arms ready to give me hug.  

I was feeling quite drained and spiritually dry yesterday but  instead of not bothering to go out, staying at home feeling sorry for myself (which is what I wanted to do when I first got up) I did go out.  I did get to church (admittedly only in time for coffee!) and spent a great day and evening with friends, playing and singing, eating, drinking some very nice wine and re-charging by reserves.  During that time they all played their part in allowing me to share how I was feeling and helped me re-charge my batteries ready to get up today and face life head on again.

Yep - my cup may have run dry for a little while but thanks to my faith, my friends and my family once again it's filling up and I'm pretty certain it won't be too long before it's brimming over the top again!



God bless as always and I promise (well, try as I hard as I can) not to be so long in writing again.
luv Jules xx

   

I knew there had to be a positive, practical reason for hot flushes in the middle of the night.....it’s the ideal time to write! I’ve been woken up at least twice tonight feeling hot, throwing the duvet off and then lying awake as my brain starts to kick in and all sorts of random thoughts start marching through my mind.

Must get the car washed – it’s beginning to look grey instead of metallic green.
Mustn’t forget I need to get into work early Monday morning
Hope the weather forecast is right for today as I really want to go for a walk in the park
And what is it with these flippin’ hot flushes!!!

My daughter told me to keep a pen and paper the side of the bed so if I woke up in the night I could write my thoughts down and then I’d be able to get back to sleep. So this is my version of the pen and paper technique for a good night’s sleep.

I had made a new years resolution to post at least two entries a month on my blog but like most people only managed that in January. February whizzed by and before I knew it March was laughing at me going ‘what, only one post in February – useless!’ So, have to make up for it this month. Mind you, between the hot flushes and my cranky left knee keeping me awake I’ll have plenty of spare time!

It’s now 04.45 and it amazes me how quiet it is in the early hours. Admittedly I live in a market town so not exactly a thriving metropolis but I do live in an apartment building (it’s an old converted shoe factory so I like to say I live in an apartment – so much more interesting than ‘flat’ don’t you think?). I’m on the top floor and it’s on one of the main roads through the town but even so I can’t hear anything. Even the birds have got more sense than to be awake this time of the morning! It’s a different story in the summer. By now they’d be twittering away and the sun would soon be streaming through the big Georgian window in my bedroom which still hasn’t got any curtains to it. I love the natural light so now I don’t have any curtains up anywhere in the whole place. So come the summer there’ll be something else waking me up in the early hours......probably won’t be worth even going to bed at this rate.

Anyway, I’d better see if this exercise has worked and try and get a few more hours sleep. I’m playing in the worship group in the morning and rarely manage to get to rehearsal on time even after a good night’s sleep. The combination of a late night due to watching the James Bond film (it was Piers Brosnan so you can’t blame me...), being awake half the night and the fact I must wash my hair in the morning does not bode well..............

So night, night for now and I really hope no-one gets to read this until a sensible time of day. Otherwise it means you too have been denied a satisfactory visit to the land of nod!
God bless and sweet dreams.
Luv Jules x

Phew - time for bed already. I can't believe how quickly the days and weeks are going. It only seems like yesterday I was asking people if they had a nice Christmas and here we are just a few days away from the beginning of February! Which means I only have a few days to get my tax return done. Every year I swear I'm going to be organised, get it done well in time so I'm not under pressure at the last minute but here we are again - because it's one of my least favourite admin tasks I've just been putting it off.

I really admire those people who are so disciplined they get on and do all the jobs they hate doing so they can then relax. I've never managed to be that self disciplined but I live in hope. One year I might even manage to get my tax return in before Christmas!


07:30 Thursday morning:
As you can see I started writing this entry last night but I ran out of steam! I'm definitely more creative in the mornings hence the title. I'm in my favourite writing spot, under the duvet with my laptp propped up on my knees and my cuppa the side of me. This is when I'd love to have 'an independent income' (or a rich husband!) so I could stay here all morning writing, reading and generally 'musing'. But like most people I have to keep one eye on the clock because as those 7 vertically challenged little cartoon characters sang it's 'Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to work I go.........' in about an hour.
Actually I don't mind going to work as I do love people and being with people. I'm very fortunate really, I enjoy my own company and can happily spend a day without seeing or speaking to anyone but at the same time I'm very much a 'people person' - so I enjoy the best of both worlds.

And in the present economic climate I do try and be thankful every day I have a job to go to. Having spent 8 months not being able to work I know how demoralising it can get, how you can drift from one day to the next without really acheiving anything. Like most people though I can have a good moan about workloads, not being appreciated, not being paid enough and not getting promoted. But I never get away with it for long! - God always finds a way of reminding me as a Christian he expects me to act and react differently. I've said before how as I've grown older I really enjoy reading my bible. I particularly love the gospels - the four books which record the life of Jesus, especially his adult life. Most of us probably know some of his more well known teaching - love your neighbour, don't lie, feed the poor - those sorts of things. They form the basis of most peoples moral code and how they live their lives but the more I read, pray and try and listen each day to what God is telling me I realise there is so much more he wants me to do and be -and it's exciting and scary all at the same time!

Like a lot of people my natural personality doesn't always come out in positive ways. I can be over confident at times (confidence is not a bad thing as such but we all easily become quite obnoxious and boastful). I can be critical of others (constructive, helpful feedback can be good but it can also easily turn into viscious gossip). And I know I can be very assertive (again, getting the balance right is important - it's so easy to become arrogant!). So each morning I ask God to bring out all the good traits and remind me when the bad ones are starting to rear their heads! - and believe me He has to do the latter more than I'd like to admit! But I'm trusting as time goes on I will being making progress towards being the person God always intended I should be because I have no doubt in my mind that is the greatest, most fulfilling ambition I could have.
Anyway, time has flown (as I knew it would), I need to jump out of bed (well, sort of fall out slowly really) and start getting ready for work and to enjoy what this new day brings...............
May your day be filled with good things and you experience God's blessing
Jules x

'Back to life, back to reality.....'

This is so great! As you can see from my last post it's been a while since I visited my blog. Life is starting to take on the old pattern of busy, busy, busy. Trouble is when we're so busy we not only have no time to 'smell the coffee' we don't even get a chance to make it!

I didn't realise until I switched on my laptop, sitting up in bed this morning (one of my favourite places to write) and looked out at the beautiful blue sky, how much I'd missed this. I get terrific satisfaction in waking up gradually, making a cuppa and coming back to bed. In not starting the day in a flurry of activity. I like starting my day slowly, quietly, allowing my body and brain to gradually rise from the depths of sleep and greet the day refreshed, renewed and ready for whatever adventure today is going to bring.

Morning is also the best time (for me anyway) to re-charge my spiritual batteries. Yesterday I got engrossed in 'Gone with the Wind' and thought 'I'll do my bible reading tonight and spend time then talking to God'. Well, needless to say by the time I got to bed (having done 2 hours of my computer course until 9pm) it was a quick prayer and my bible stayed in the bedside drawer! No - morning is definitely the best time for prayer and reading. It also sets me up for the day - like any relationship 2 way communication is vital to a Christian so it's hardly surprising if I spend all my time rushing here, there and everywhere, however worthy the activity, I'm not going to have time to chat to God and I'm certainly not going to hear what he has to say to me!

Talking of 'Gone with the Wind' - it's a fantastic novel. Like most people I've seen the film several times but I always find books so much more satisfying. My imagination puts me right in the heart of the action and I often find myself identifying with aspects of the characters personalities. I have great admiration for authors of such talent and wonder if one day I'll see some of my efforts in print.

When I got the 'writing bug' last year at first I thought 'Yeah, right - I've never written anything of note until now, what makes me think anyone will want to read what I've got to say'. But the desire was so persistent I decided to 'go with the flow'. Then this morning I read about a man who was asked 'Do you play the violin?' he replied 'I don't know, I've never tried!'

That's how I feel about my writing - I don't know if I'm any good at it but until I try I'm just someone who wants to write. At least now if someone asks me 'Do you write?' I can answer 'Yes' - even if the only published work I can lay claim to so far is this blog and the strap line on the back of a CD cover!

Yes - this is one of my great pleasures. Sitting up in my very comfy bed, listening to the gradual swell of traffic past my window as my neighbours start their day. Wondering if the weather will stay sunny and warm or if the weather forecasters have got it right and we're in for yet another wet July day (ahhh - the British summer!). Deciding if I want another cuppa and would it be very decadent to have breakfast in bed as well? Decisions, decisions - think I'll definitely have another cuppa at least...................................

First post!

This is so exciting - and just a bit scary too. I've been writing a diary (of sorts) for about 6 months now but never created a blog before. I'm wondering who's going to read it, what they'll think, what they might say! Of course, I might not get any reaction, so - we'll just have to wait and see!


Firstly an explanation. Why 'Musings from under the Duvet?' That's where I first started writing my diary and other thoughts (more about those later). The ceilings in my flat are very high and I've got a big Georgian window in my bedroom which lets in a lot of natural light. I tend to wake quite early (I still think my mother doesn't believe I'm up making a cuppa at 6.30 on the morning!) as there's no curtain at the window (I'm on the third floor and don't think the pigeons mind me wandering around in my underwear). I get my tea (earl grey) and get back under the duvet, plug in my laptop and start hitting the keys. The end result is hopefully at least readable and on a good day quite inspired (in my opinion anyway!). I felt the desire to write about 8 months ago whilst going through a serious illness. That desire is just getting stronger so hence this offering. This morning was just too beautiful to spend in bed so I grabbed a jam sandwhich for breakfast, threw on some clothes and headed for one of my favourite local spots.

Having spent the good part of the morning sitting in my new fold away canvas chair by the lake, with my laptop plugged into the car cigarette lighter (glad it's useful for something) I feel this overwhelming desire to just get my thoughts down. It does mean however I'm not actually getting any work done,which is what I turned on my laptop to do, so I'm going to finish this now and get on with something else.