Anatomy Lesson - Take 2

It has been a busy weekend. Around about Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week I was worried about whether I would have enough energy to keep going. As is often the way, things had all fallen on the same dates. I had my course yesterday and today and the bash last night. However, I have managed to do all these things.

As I woke to the alarm at 9.15 this morning I was glad the studio was 5 minutes round the corner. I was not sure how much anatomy I would be able to take in today though.

The teacher is great though and I had a really good day. I "got" more of it today than the previous lesson. I have the approach. Place the bones in the right position. The muscles on top. And then strengthen, stabilise or stretch those muscles (and breathe) depending what is needed.

I have my practice session next week, before the Christmas break. I think January will be busy with the course, with all of us feeling like we need to give it a big "push" then. But I think doing this, this weekend, has made me more energetic rather than less, and also made me just get on and do the things that make me feel good. Am firmly set up on the sofa in front of the sky plus box for this evening though. This body needs a rest now and I know it. And how nice to come home to a decorated Christmas tree. Thank you Jonny.

The Masked Ball

Last night we went to the Masked Ball. The event was to celebrate the 40th birthdays of one of Jonny's football friend and his wife. I found myself in the slightly strange position of not knowing either of the hosts and yet being invited. The theme was Masked Ball - White Tie for boys, and Moulin Rouge/sluts for girls. Ahem. Bit of a challenge when you don't know the hosts and only know a couple of others going. As usual, easy for the boys. Jonny ordered a white tie suit to hire from Moss Bross. Mine was a slightly harder challenge. I ended up wearing the Burgundy Bridesmaids dress and a fur borrowed from my sister. Adding the masks we bought off the internet, this is what the JC's came up with:


But enough about us. This was someone else's bash after all. And what a do. I was amazed by the marquee - fully draped in purple velvet, with candlesticks and huge flower arrangements. The most amazing thing on arrival was the champagne table. The masked lady was inside the table to hand us our drinks:

There were magicians, a live snake, a fire eating belly dancer. The drinks and canapes were free flowing. The hosts changed their costumes about 4 times in the evening. Some had hired the most amazing moulin rouge outfits. Lots of feather bowers, push up corsets and fish net tights. So even though we didn't know that many people, there was lots of people watching to be done.

I was worried about whether I would have enough energy for the evening. But I did keep going and had a fun evening. There was a slightly worrying moment when we couldn't locate our taxi driver at about 2am this morning... he had fallen asleep whilst waiting for us. Falling asleep in a marquee in Bucks was not really in the plan. Instead we found him and I snoozed in the cab all the way home. I made it to bed about 3.30am this morning. Now that really doesn't happen very often for me. What crazy kids we are.

PS. Couldn't resist posting a picture of the very pretty fairy cakes. Yum.

Friends

Our friend with whom we are spending Christmas (and his lovely wife), was in London for a few days this week, so was with us for a couple of nights. This was very timely as meant we lifted our spirits and we had much laughter in the evenings. He turned up looking like a drowned rat on Wednesday, having missed our train station and then got caught in heavy rain. He continued this look on Thursday. When I came back from visiting a friend he had just been for a run in the park. In the rain. Very muddy indeed. I love spending time with true friends where you can just totally be yourselves with. And you can spend a large amount of time over dinner debating what really was the greatest Take That song of all time. And the merits of whisky. Even if like me you don't actually like whisky. He has an important day job you know. But I find when I am with real friends, the day job doesn't really matter that much at all.

I've also had nice cups of tea this week with friends. One of which has become such a good friend that she cut short our cuppa and sent me home yesterday. Because she could see how tired I was. She was right. I fell asleep as soon as I got home.

It's funny how some people have come in and out of my life. Some know my needs more than me. Some have drifted away and others have appeared. Some have been constant. I know I am very blessed with the people in my life right now. Friends and family. Those who see past the elephant but don't ignore it. Who still see me as me. And who I trust want to spend time with me and me with them. True friendship is a wonderful gift.

Anish Kapoor Exhibition at the Royal Acadamy

I woke earlier to a beautiful morning. Gone was the rain and the wind. There was stunning blue skies and sunshine. I still feel very tired, but as part of my weeks survival tactics I had arranged to visit this exhibition with my sister today. A friend had told me very good things about it and encouraged me to go. I was curious. I'll be honest I knew very little about what it was going to be like.

Well it was amazing. All sorts of incredible sculptures. I've never seen anything like it. The guy had literally taken over some of the rooms and transformed them with enormous splatters of wax, sculptures projecting out of the walls and enormous magic mirror type pieces. I have never visited an exhibition quite like this one, in that you literally felt like it was made for the space. Maybe it was. Our favourite was an enormous, and I mean enormous, yellow cocoon in the wall that had an incredible impact on you.

There was strictly no photos inside, but we did take this one of the magic balls outside, which gives you a taste.

Afterwards we wandered back to Piccadilly station and popped into Fortnum and Mason. They have done this place up. It was packed. It was, however, a feast of beautifully packaged and exquisite chocolates and other sweet treats. We sampled one or two things. It would be rude not to. It was good to spend some time talking and catching up. We adore my niece, but some grown up time is sometimes needed. There were a few people out and about in town this morning who could do with some growing up themselves. A couple who would not obey the steward in the exhibition and insist on going where they were not allowed. An extremely grumpy lady in F&M moaning that she couldn't get near the confectionery counter as there were too many people - hmm it is 3 weeks before Christmas you know. And a crazy lady on the train home who was offering to marry complete strangers if they didn't use plastic bags. Ahem.

Then back to Clapham Junction for Eggs Benedict and now I am in the middle of an afternoon of pampering. The masked ball tomorrow evening, along with the ditching of the peachy pills that hurt my feet, has fully justified a spa pedicure I think. Girl logic.

A time to...

So. There is a time to weep and a time to laugh. A time to mourn and a time to dance. This afternoon was an unexpected time to cry on my Mum's shoulder. I wasn't planning on this but it is the way it happened. Whilst she was doing my ironing. I feel much better for it now though.

It seemed waterworks blended in to the howling storm crashing against the conservatory roof. I do believe in signs. And this is a stormy time.

But it is also a time for me to take some rest. Back in the day, when I worked in accountancy and consulting, December always felt like a bonus month. Everything was winding down, and a real calm before the utterly depressing chaos of audit deadlines and stupid 16 hour working days in January through March. December was always one client drink to another. Maybe a bit of "planning." And even though I am not in the workplace these days, I still have that December wind down feeling.

Will the elephant please take note and take some time to give me a break too. Please.

Lady about town

My niece cracked me up at the weekend. She was determined to walk round in my fancy shoes. Just not very easy to walk in:

However, obviously it was essential to protect oneself from any passing storms when potty training:

December

Nice month. I'm not ignoring the elephant but I'm just too darn tired to go there with the emotions right now. So plan on just trying as best I can to enjoy the next few weeks. We have nice things planned. I'm going to masked ball on Saturday evening. Apparently the champagne is going to be free flowing. I'm looking forward to Christmas meals and very much to Christmas in Jerusalum. A time of friends, family, faith.

On that note. Time to go and get the fibre optic snowman village out of the loft. I will post a picture. It has to be seen to be believed. Woolworths tat at it's finest.