Definitely no trip for me. Can’t even get on Air France’s website to re-book; it keeps saying their reservations system is down! Looks like we might go on the weekend after next, which is bank holiday weekend here so I will only need to take 1 day annual leave.
I’m a bit bummed because it looked like the weather was going to be lovely there. But at least I can get some rest this weekend and try and sort my head out. I feel all stressed and bothered at the minute so I think the time out will be good. I can organise my thoughts and be in a much better place when I do eventually go to France, so I guess there’s a silver lining there.
At least the weather is nice today, it’s lovely and sunny. I’m going to work until lunchtime, then go and do some shopping. I need to buy some necessities so it’s not like I’m shopping for fun. I need some air and I need some toothpaste 
Spring may finally be here. It’s about 17 degrees today (that’s celcius, not fahrenheit) and the sky is cloudless. It’s warm enough to sit outside with short sleeves.
I decided to enjoy the good weather and get outside. I’ve not done any painting for ages so I decided that I would take my sketchbook out to the Meadows and draw. I found a nice spot under a tree and started drawing.
The difficult thing about drawing ‘live’ is that people move. A couple shifted their sitting position three times before I even got their outline. But eventually I got them. The other difficult thing is that people arrive into my scene that weren’t there before, so I have to decide whether to add them in or whether I’ve done enough work on the bit behind them to just leave them out.
A few minutes ago two girls walked in front of me obscuring the sun. I was busy shading so I didn’t look up, but one girl whispered something I didn’t hear, and the other one said loudly “I don’t care if I’m right in the middle, it’s her fault for drawing in public”.
I looked up at this point and as I did the whispering girl dragged her loud-mouthed friend away. It made me wonder: Why, on such a lovely sunny day, when the Meadows are full of people doing everything from having barbeques to singing to playing bongos and saxophones and football and British Bulldogs, would one person begrudge another just for drawing? Is it jealousy? Wanting attention? Perhaps she wanted to be in the picture. I have no idea, but at least her friend seemed to have enough manners to take Little Miss Obnoxious away. People are funny.
By the way, this is the view from where I’m sitting, zoomed out. I’m focusing on the church spires and the trees, with a few of the people added for good measure.
My parents were up visiting this weekend. It was really nice actually, although I’d been dreading it we got on fine.
Today we went for lunch at my favourite vegetarian restaurant then walked it off with a stroll through the Meadows. The greens were full of people, playing rugby, football, frisbee, British Bulldogs (not seen that for years), hula hooping, rounders, cricket… you name it there were people doing it. Even fire juggling, kendo and playing a clarinet. The sun was shining and the crocuses had all come up; it was really beautiful.
My Mum was amazed. She loved the way the greens were so well used by people in the city, and how everyone seemed to be having so much fun. I wish I could do that. I wish I had a group of friends (or even one friend) who I could rely on to just randomly mooch about with. As much as T was a pain in the proverbial, she was always good for random walks on sunny days, or afternoons sitting in the park reading the newspaper.
The Meadows is a brilliant place. I love watching people. But it reminds me how isolated I am; that’s a bitter pill to take.
…skating was really good fun. I was quite unsure at first. D, my instructor, asked if I wanted to don my boots and just get going, or walk down to the grass and practice there first? What the heck, I thought, let’s give it a go now.
Turns out I’m not half bad. I learned to control my speed, brake and do a-frame turns, and I was doing figure-of-8 turns by the end. But oh my gosh it is hard!! My legs are killing me now. I also have a bruise on my hip where I landed on my first (and failed) attempt to turn left.
D said that it’s great for fitness because you’re using your legs in a different way, the need for balance really works your core muscles and you need to use your upper body too, especially in turning. He said that a lot of runners do it, to get good cardio exercise without the impact. I can see why they do; it’s tough!
I’ve booked two more hours when I get back from the US. Boyfriend might learn too, he said it would be nice to go skating along the shore together; it’s really beautiful up there.
I’m going to start going running again too when I get back. I forgot how much I love exercise. I’ll have to start my ‘beginners’ training programme again, but I’d rather get fit slowly and surely and avoid injury this time. I just need to come back from the US without injury first!
