The Week in Review #11

This past week has, thankfully, been good. You know those weeks when you can't quite put your finger on why, but you know it was a good week? Nothing especially eventful happened, but I have nothing to complain about.

Work has been much less horrendous than usual, which is always a good thing. The weather has been gorgeous. Not overly warm, but apparently warmer than average for this time of year. The sunshine really has been a tonic. I feel more alive, am chirpier and actually look forward to leaving the comfort of my house in the mornings. My friends and family all seem relatively content, which makes me thankful. I have had lots of contact with my Boy this week and that is always conducive to a good mood on my part.

I have managed to get through the past 3 weeks without spending more than about £10. Total. It wasn't me being ruthlessly frugal, it was an absolute enforced necessity, as I literally didn't have any money to spend. I am learning how to live without unnecessary spending and to get by with the basics. It is a lesson I desperately needed to learn and one I think I was too stubborn and foolish to learn any way but the hard way.

Regrettably, this cash-flow problem prevented me from going out for drinks and dinner for my friend's birthday last night (although her birthday is today). We went to university together and I haven't seen her or our other uni friend for about a year. We are hopefully going to catch up for lunch in a couple of Sundays. That's what I hate most about not having any spending money: not being able to go out and do things, to socialise or to plan a holiday! (Yeah, San Francisco is still a pipe dream. Any generous folk out there fancy buying me a ticket, preferably via New York? Love you!) It also means that I haven't been able to buy my Mum anything for Mother's Day this Sunday. I feel so budget.

Today I learnt more about the exciting job opportunity that has arisen and am even more motivated to go for it. I'm trying not to get too excited, but I'm going to apply and God-willing, I will be successful. There's nothing worse than being in a job that drains you of your energy, in a bad way. This other job has lots of potential for development, advancement and travel, plus it pays better. Sounds like a winner to me.

I heard from my Aussie Mrs, Erin, and am glad (and slightly jealous) to hear that she is enjoying the much-missed sunshine and warm temperatures of back home and is settling back into life in Melbourne. Meanwhile, my main Mrs is feeling the shock of being in a contented relationship! Sometimes we are so used to dealing with negativity, that when we experience a little slice of happiness, we are dazed and confused and a little freaked out!

I feel shattered right now. I'm not sure why I'm so tired. My parents went off to sleep at about 8.30pm! I've felt tired since then but am almost dozing while typing and it's only 10pm (which is very early based on my usual standard). Anyway, I like my Friday ritual of retrospect. Looking back on the week's events helps me to put things into perspective and remember the things that I have to be thankful for. I like to have a good old moan, but I am grateful for life. Things could be better, but they could also be so much worse; I am more than aware of that.

With that in mind, RIP Natasha Richardson. What an awful tragedy. I'm not sure why this hit me so much, but it's a stark reminder to us all that one never knows what is around the corner. If I lived every day expecting it to be my last, would I be living a little differently? I think so. I'm going to try and start now.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.