134 // Thoughts on a Thursday

Image Credit: Emily Carlin, flickr

Image Credit: Ben Joyce, flickr

Image Credit: found on Life on Sundays, tumblr

I don't know what it is about snowy scenes, but I couldn't help but be drawn to the above images when scrolling through tumblr. Despite the fact it's beautiful, and I love the way it's captured in photos, I'm not a big fan of snow in real life thanks to the 'drama' it brings. Although, in all honesty, Nottingham dealt with it well last year (or the beginning of this year? I can't remember). Back home, however, there's always bus problems or train cancellations of something to stop people going about their daily business and that, my friends, is why it's a pain in the bum if it hangs around beyond a day or two!

Right now I'm in a very odd mood. I'm not going to go into it, because it's uni-related and it bores me to even think about it, so I'm not going to expose you to it also (I'm not that horrid), but it has meant a return to the kind of frame of mind that means even when I have posts in the pipeline - and I do, I have a couple lined up, that I've been spending time on - I can't bring myself to put too much energy into them, too much of my time, because - although I love doing so - I know it's not what I should be doing when I have so much work I actually have to do. And for this bloody degree, no less. 

So, it may mean a time out. It may not. I'm not sure. But for now I'm putting the longer, more effort-full (and, thus, interesting) posts on the back-burner, and will have to make do with updating you in this very short-and-not-so-sweet manner. It ain't exciting, insightful or inspiring but, in all honesty, it's a situation born from my own university-work-ineptitude so it's no more than I deserve! 

The winter evening's are drawing in on us now, which means duvet-covered sofas, condensation-covered windows and frown-covered faces (thanks to the lack of warmth in our flat - heating is going on tonight!). The mornings, though cold, up until now have been crisp, which I can deal with. But today's dampness? It got in my bones and doesn't want to leave. Which means a warm bath for me before bed. 

Image Credit: Tatyanna Gois, flickr

A few updates from my week:

• I managed to get out to watch Catching Fire last night. Having been driven insane by my lack of essay-writing meant an 'I have to get out of the flat!!!' mood. Thankfully my friend Emma from uni was free and we ended up visiting the local Imax together, on a bit of a whim.  It was fantastic. If you are a fan, and haven't seen it, do so asap. If you aren't a fan, or haven't seen the first one, a) watch the first one and b) get you arse over to watch the second. You won't be disappointed. 

• I went to Physio on Wednesday - I think it was maybe my fourth appointment - and this time I got to talk about my shoulders. I have joint-hypermobility-syndrome, which basically means weak muscles and un-stabilised joints (namely hips - meaning back ache - shoulders, fingers, ankles, knees and my jaw). Turns out my posture is poor and my shoulder blade muscles are almost non-existent, which causes my sharp, 'oh my god my shoulder/neck is on fire' heat/pain I get in them daily. Like right now. Cue more weird 'exercises' for me.

• It's only two days until I attend the #EastMidsMeetUp and only 9 until I head to Bath for the weekend and the #BathXmasMeet. I'm super excited to meet lots of new people and greet lots of familiar faces too! 

• Another uni friend lent me Rent, the theatre performance and film - both on DVD, one of which I'm hoping to watch Saturday evening when I'm back from the meet. Hit me up with recommendations as to which to watch first! 

• I haven't been able to pick up a book since I put down Wonder and I'm beyond frustrated that, yet again, uni stress is getting in the way of my reading for pleasure. If you have any tips on how to get around/cope with this, please let me know!!

Image Credit: Vic. flickr

And while I'm here, and it's Thursday (oh, and thanksgiving - Happy Thanksgiving to all of those across the pnd!), I'll add a few things that I'm thankful for this week, just so I don't leave you on a sour note! Don't forget to head over to Lisette's blog to check out all her 'Thankful Thursday' posts!

• My new wheat bag heat thing, which helps relieve some of the pain from my shoulders.

• English Breakfast tea, and lots of it!

• My Handy Gurugu hand cream - a miracle worker

• The sweet little notebook my parents got me for my birthday. It comes in handy for jotting down all manner of bits and pieces!

• My new gloves, for the bitter mornings

• Asda Smartprice jaffa cakes. Better than the real thing ;)  

• Memories of toy duck!! (this is what I named the ducks - seen below - which we came across, frequently, in Germany and Austria. They are so beautiful!)

Taken by me in Kassel, Germany, in 2010

Turns out that post was a little longer than I thought it would be!!