Cathy Jones

Normally I like winter. It's peaceful, a calm time of year to reflect and enjoy a quieter version of the world. This year however I have enjoyed it less. I've been cold for 400 years. And it rained for four weeks straight. So I did things to make myself less miserable.

Life has changed a lot in the last two months and I'm only just now catching up to myself. I have moved back to my own little flat which is ahem barely habitable. I like to think of it as my very own little garret. Unfortunately I moved at the busiest time of the work year. So not much more than the basics have been going on. Nonetheless here is a list of the big and the small that has kept me going

Some people follow a neat and tidy path in life. Others... don't.

I'm starting a mega list. I'm not quite sure how to describe it other than it is going to have books, ideas and maybe stuff. Maybe it is my life right now, my brain just now. A snap shot of all the different threads that make up my current existence.

It is so hard to believe that we are past the summer solstice already. I still find myself saying oh I'll do that when summer comes. Ok so living in Scotland doesn't help- as I write this it is raining for the third time today. Between bad weather, illness and work the last few weeks have disappeared in a haze. Projects have piled up, plants are dying in my bedroom because they haven't gone to their home in the allotment and I have lost track of what I am doing. A review is needed. I starte dout reading the blog on Fortelabs and that sent me off on a book buying bonanza. Fingers crossed I get something done before my room turns into a compost heap.

Decaffeinated tea is becoming a horrible necessity. It is hard to describe just how comforting I find a cup of tea but caffeine is not my friend. So I am on the hunt for a decaf tea that doesn't taste like leftover Rice Krispies milk. Sadly I never remember to drink anything else. So this is my list of things I will hopefully remember to drink instead of tea.

My focus has switched to gardens lately as I have recently gotten an allotment.

Museums from my travels and ones I hope to go back to soon.

I have developed a massive book collection over the years. But I've pared it down to just the necessities- this list is just one shelf!

My local library is small and doesn't get new stock very often. So I travelled further afield and came home inspired by a library in a bigger town. So much choice! Even though I didn't come home with many business books I could find more from the recommendations in the book I did get. So I am well stocked up for the colder months.

Do I like cleaning? No. However, as I have gotten older, I find I like things being clean. You would not know this from my current surroundings (cough, compost on the carpet, cough). I find it difficult for many reasons so when I do find something I can manage to use it is amazing.

I don't have to travel too far to get to my family home in Dublin, Ireland. But I don't want to carry a heavy bag. So I keep a basic capsule wardrobe, simple and easy to wear clothes that can serve a multitude of functions.

Now that travel is a thing again, I'm trying to take regular trips to see my family and recharge my batteries in familiar territory. Because I keep a capsule wardrobe at my family home, I can take a cabin bag and get the hassle of airport time down to a minimum.

You win some, you lose some describes me in a nutshell. I used to follow the rules and money worked for me. Then life got in the way and I lost my grip on the financial reins. Here is how I am building my way back to a secure and enjoyable financial future.

I'm starting ‘life’ over again in my thirties. And experience has taught me that when I look back over my life, I don't want all my memories to be of time spent sitting at a desk. This list covers all the books I have read to help me understand how best to spend the time that I have got.