blue

So it's Blue Monday today - apparently, according to some scientists, the most depressing day of the day. For me, however, this didn't make any difference. I guess it is like with Friday the 13th - nothing ever happens to me on that "special" day.
Blue Monday was actually quite graceful for me, because while coming back from work I realised that for the first time this year it was still quite bright outside about 5.00pm. The blue sky, though covered partly with heavy dark rain clouds, really cheered me up. S

disappointment

Sadly I have to say that bad impressions and feelings can remain with me for a long time. The deeper something touches me, the stronger mark it leaves and doesn't let to forget about itself.
That's how it was (or rather still IS) with the disappointment and some kind of, I guess, disgust, I experienced a week ago on a Sunday mass. During the sermon our priest wanted to picture Christianity as a religion of life. However his short story didn't do a good job, at least not for me, and I am not sure how others felt about it. Basically, intentionally or not, Islam has been compared to something dead. The last words of the story, which were supposed to be the words of wisdom told by a Christian to a Muslim, were something like: "our religion is about life, yours is in a coffin". This was with reference to the coffin of Mohammad, Muslims' most important prophet, which apparently has its place in Mecca, the holy city for Muslims and the destination of Hajj, their most important pilgrimage. (there were not so many details, I just put them here for your convenience ;))
Not even getting into the whole issue of how incorrect and inappropriate this comment was - because Islam is not dead, it is not about death, and they do believe, like Christians, in everlasting life in paradise - I don't understand how a person clearly aspiring to, and trying to be a spiritual leader and a guide was able to say something so offending about any religion. I was literally shocked. Where is love and respect? Where is this famous Christian humility, not getting on the heights and into the first rows?
As a Christian, I am ashamed for those who aim to represent me and others by saying such things. I really don't want MY spiritual guide to be like that, and I am deeply sorry for all the people who listen to those like him with respect and attention. If they truly keep his words in their minds and hearts as wisdom, no surprise people of different beliefs hate each other more and more. So so sad.

soft-boiled morning

Last Saturday our morning was busy and rushed, and we had our breakfast on the train to London. Today the morning was slow and easy going. I have to admit that I love both. I couldn't live without any of those two. I need to feel the urgency of things to happen, I need to be excited and busy, I love going away from the routine, from home... But I couldn't take it all the time. I equally love the feeling of not having to do anything "right now", sitting in the cosy living room and being able to celebrate delicious breakfast at 11.00 in the morning.
Today was one of those lazy mornings...
My breakfast - yummy! Also reminded me of the eggs my Mum made for us during the Christmas break :)

moving fast

Woha, half of the first month of the new year nearly gone!
Going back to reality after a sweet break is always difficult... my solution - keep yourself busy, give it a speedy start. Have things worth waiting for, things to do, places to go, music to listen to, movies to see, people to meet, projects to start (or finish).

It was really good that after the first week back at work we could get away on Saturday to London theatre :) The musical was amazing, and I have to admit, I think I have never sat sooo high!

Will put a picture here soon!
Here it is:


After the theatrical feast we went for a nice dinner. Yes, of course, to our favourite Indian restaurant. I never thought I would like curry stuff so much. Maybe it's just the way they make it there? Grand thali with prawn malai is heaven for my mouth and stomach :)

2011

Wow, I simply can't believe that 2010 is already gone! I don't mean it went by sooo fast, but still... Such a nice year, even from its name and look, 2010... seems like a perfect number ;) And it's gone now!
It was a really good year I think. Lots of hard work and stressful moments as well, but in the end they only give more intensity to the sweet flavour of the good, happy times.
I have visited a couple of new places this year, which I consider a great achievement, because as much as I love travelling, I cannot afford just going wherever I want. I am a lucky girl - seeing Scotland and Greece for the first time and spending my birthday in Disneyland & re-discovering Paris :)
I also managed to finish my studies at Open University and now I am just waiting for the official letter/paper/document showing that I have been awarded Diploma in Religious Studies :) Unfortunately, I found out that I cannot become RE teacher that easily as I thought. It's something I rather cannot afford, considering the amount of time and money this requires (although I have MA degree, I would have to start all over again, because they want teachers just to have Bachelors' title... stupid but true!). I guess that if I want to follow my dreams and field of interest, I would have to think more about PhD... again, that's quite an investment, but if they show me green light in London (I could do PhD there at one university), I will definitely read it as a very important sign... If I just had the courage to write a couple of complicated emails and face my poor knowledge and great eagerness with their requirements!
At work it wasn't so bright, although it was fine I guess. These days I should be happy having a job :) I had very few chances to change something, I picked up every each one of them, but nothing happened in the end. I worked in three different teams, so I did face some variety and new challenges. I also became a coach and joined coaching network, which opened new ways of development for me. It's really a path to think about, an interesting alternative.

I think I did manage to work on myself a bit - inside as well as outside. But obviously there is a lot to be done yet, so some of my resolutions from the beginning of 2010 definitely remain the same for 2011 :)
Any new ones? Hmm... have to think about it. Making some decisions about my future career would be a good one, but quite blurred. I don't know how much I can really do in this area, too many things do not depend on me. But - I should not be discouraged by this, I know!

Easier options - keep on reading more and more, since I don't have any studies coming up this year (so far!). I love reading, so let's keep this rolling on :) I will start the year finishing Murakami's novel, then have a bit of E.E. Schmitt (I like evereything by him except his most popular story, "Oscar and the Lady in Pink", of which I think it's super-cheesy). Then I will move to something in English, and this will be one of Karen Armstrong's books, "The Case of God".
I would also love to travel a bit this year, and have my fingers crossed really strongly for some plans... Something I didn't even dream of... We will see what time brings.

Finally it might be a very exciting year for some personal reasons :)

I really loved 2010 and I will remember it with happiness in my heart. Let's have our hopes and dreams ready for 2011, it should be even better! :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! xxx

all that matters

Last week was mega-hectic. The changes of situation could be compared to high-class action movies... In the end, after a lot of stress, difficult, quick decision-making and long, long journey, we arrived at home for Christmas - on Christmas Eve, at 4.00am...
Now nothing else really matters anymore, since we all are here together...

Merry Christmas!

Christmas tree

Here it is. Not too big, not small either. Fits perfectly into the landscape of our living room ;)



And here with all its decorations :) Will probably look much more cute when it's dark...