Thursday morning

This has been my morning so far -


I've made my own espresso blend; not through skill or the urge to experiment but because I didn't have enough coffee left to fill my espresso pot and used the last of three different bags. I'm now on my third espresso (having had my second one stolen by the cat) and it's pretty excellent. I'll never be able to repeat it but I suppose one should enjoy the fleeting experiences of life, everything being impermanent and all. (I've been reading lots of books about Buddhism recently.)
It's hard to enjoy the small things in life when you're rushing around the way I tend to these days. I've found that the best way to appreciate the details of the life you're leading is to never become an adult. I try to look at my life with the excitement of a child pretending to be an adult. I'm playing at being a grown up but I'm not trapped in being one. I think that makes sense.
I'm also currently reading tons of ghost stories as I'm overjoyed that it is getting into Autumn and that's the best time for ghost stories. This book was set dressing for a show at work and I rescued it before it was gotten rid of. It contains my favourite M.R. James story called, "The Mezzotint". It's excellently spooky and well worth a read: you can find it free online.

Just back from a couple of days in Stratford.
There was a place that sold Harry Potter type stuff and played the Nightmare soundtrack on loop! It was amazing. There was Shakespeare stuff too. Here are some pictures;

Spent ages exercising yesterday. It felt great to be doing something again. I did a warm up with my medicine ball and then spent about 45 minutes on my spear. I don't ache half as much as I expected to this morning. Back is killing me though.
Just been for a quick walk to free up my back a bit and then did the washing up and the hoovering. Lunch in a second.
My goodness I miss Naomi. Not that it'd be much more exciting with her here, but it'd be better.
Need some string to tie up this rose bush. It's pretty mad.

So today is our 5th wedding anniversary. I'm making crispy duck with pancakes and greek salad. The same meal I made her on our first date type thing. I've just come home from having my hair cut and dropping Naomi off at work and, rather than spend all afternoon home alone I drove the long way home past Chatsworth and stopped off at the garden centre. Spent ages looking around for nothing in particular and found a really cheap cranberry bush. I got that and some ginger beer and have just got home. I got asked for ID when I bought the ginger beer. Score!
So I'm now sat at the table in the yard blogging and checking up on why the work Facebook page has stopped updating. Next it's planting my cranberry and tesco for duck and salad and off to fetch the missus.
Big day.

Forgot to actually put anything on here about the fact that Naomi is pregnant. It's still a little bit unbelievable but It's absolutely amazing. Here's our first picture -

Sexy Byron.

Oh yeah.

Blogging from my phone. Fancy.

Having always been moving house I've never managed to vote before because I've never been at a registered address at the right time. Today I managed to vote for the first time in my life and even though it may not make much of a difference I can finally see what people mean when they say they're proud that they can vote.
Walking back home knowing that in some small way I at least had a say is something everyone should be thankful for.
I'm honoured that people fought for my right to have a say in this country and I hope to always use it wisely.

Finally got started on the back garden by painting the fence white. Looks a lot better. There's just so much to do in this house it's hard to figure out where to start.

I never celebrated valentine's day. I've always tried to be romantic spontaneously rather than on a specific day.
The reason today is special to me is that on this day 7 years ago I had the first conversation with the woman who became my wife. Here's a bit of my blog post from the next day.

I answered the phone and got to spend ages talking to her. I was so scared of not being able to talk or having nothing to say, 'cause that's how I am, but she was telling me all about her night and things seemed to go pretty well. I was so nervous that I couldn't stand still. I ended up walking around most of town just to distract myself from being on the phone to her in some way. I'm sure I sounded like and idiot some of the time but just being on there with her and hearing her voice (which was beautiful) was amazing. She has the prettiest accent I've ever heard.
So yeah, that was that. I got a bit cold and a bit wet as I ran out so fast I forgot my top and was only wearing a t-shirt but none of it mattered.
It was so perfect to spend my valentine's day on the phone to her.

Whether you are in to valentine's day or not I hope everyone has  the chance to feel a connection with another human being that makes them as happy as that made me.

Finally got around to doing something with my other blog.

Here you go [link]