Singular Scene

Fragrant Bath, fragrant candles and dim light, the house to myself and travel programmes on the box. The laptop has migrated to the chopping board on my lap and my favourite doona is keeping me warm.

Perfect Evening.

I’m watching a tv presenter walking the Milford Track. The one in New Zealand. A 56 km walk in some of the most glorious scenery in the world. I have never done it but the sight of it on the telly makes me feel all nostalgic for bush and greenery and tramping.

That’s probably hiking to you…

Truth is, I’m not much of a tramper. The idea of it is more attractive than the reality of dragging my upholstery up hill and down dale…

Still, if I am feeling adventurous, I might just add it to the list of things that could be done on holidays… (not the Milford Track, that is… but a ramble somewhere lovely… with a waterfall…)

NZ is a VERY good place for that sort of thing…

Speechless…

The Lion King is equally stunning second time around though I still didn’t feel as though I was IN the music in the way I really wanted to be in going back a 2nd time. I still couldn’t get it loud enough, even from the 2nd row so I imagine to get the sound quality I want it will need to be in my headphones or cranking on the stereo. So I bought the soundtrack. However, am not yet ready to listen to it for fear of dulling the experience and the song [above] that is still filling my head.

There is something about seeing such creativity expressed in movement, music, costume and lighting and in this show particularly it is so incredibly clever. And beyond that, the power of the harmony in the voices takes me closer to God, whether I want to be there or not.

To develop the ability to make people’s spirit soar. That’s what I came to college for, that’s why I sing. To have been graduated for three years of the study of singing and only just figuring that out is tragic. To be expressing that side of myself outside of church seems to be an oxymoron. However, I am sure that even when Jonah and the Wailers do their thing their harmony will have that power though we singers are not worshipping as such.

And for now, that’s plenty.

Ever feel really disappointed that as an adult and a Christian, having a massive dummy spit isn’t really kosher??

Yeah… me too.

I am a little bit tired of being the person that people ask to fix things… it’s a bed I made myself by saying yes too often but I said yes tonight and I really wish I hadn’t.

You see, I am apparently the only person capable of doing screens for the prayer meeting tonight because everyone else is out travelling the world, hanging with their family or spending their time with dying relatives. That’s the bitch about being a single expatriate… no life and no reason to say no.

The reason it made me so furious is because for unknown reasons, I really, really, really love being at home at the moment… probably a little too much actually. So when I am looking forward to an evening at home and I can’t have it I feel really stressed… and not a little ranty. Clearly I really need a holiday. Thank goodness this weekend is a 4 day one and I am going to NZ in 11 sleeps!!!

All this aggro has got me to thinking that it might be a very good idea to set myself some ground rools regarding the holiday to make sure I don’t end up overdoing it there too…

So… here are the ‘Deeleea’s Desperately Seeking a Proper Holiday Rools’.

1. There will be time to read books for fun. [recommendations please – crime particularly but also chick lit desirable too!
2. There will be nothing that HAS to be done.
3. I will see the people I want to see, not necessarily everyone who wants to see me.[actually Fi, that includes you… if you’re up for a blog meet!
4. There will be some things I just won’t be able to do. And that’s ok
5. I will not fill in every minute with doing stuff.
6. Sometimes I will not actually turn the phone on.
7. While I will may be taking the laptop I don’t have to reply to email.[especially not from work]
8. If I don’t get to see everyone I have to accept that it may cause an upset somewhere along the line. I won’t feel bad about that…hopefully.
9. It is ok to sleep in.
10. I will drink less caffeine.
11. I will get some proper fresh air.
12. I will take my camera and will USE it.
13. Being alone is a holiday for me, so there will be time when I want to be alone, and probably a fair bit of it. And that’s ok too.
14. I will let people lavish me with gifts… Oh yes….

Now I am going to write the family and friends version of the rools and distribute them just so people know what to expect… And don’t worry, I’ll do it when I’m feeling less ranty.

[ed. on looking back over this… I feel like I sound like a real cow… sorry about that, but if you can’t be real in your diary where can you?]

In recent times I had got into the rather bad habit of staying up way too late and being a write off by the time I was supposed to arrive at work bright and breezy ready for the day…

The Boss could always tell when I had been gaming or surfing or blogging into the wee hours … out would come the Diet Coke… if it arrived on the table prior to 11am you knew that it really had been stupid o’clock when I went to sleep… if I had at all!!

Well, the fact is you can’t live like that right? Especially when 40 is closer than 30 (OMG!!!) So… I made a tough decision and stopped bed blogging… In fact the computer now stays on the kitchen table (which is actually the dining table and it lives in the lounge/dining room … Let’s face it, I live in a shoebox) but I digress…

Given that I have this 2nd job and am working my way through the new website projects, I have a new routine which is working rather nicely…

1. 5pm – I leave the office on time… (A very mean feat… considering I used to be the Queen of staying late)
2. I set up the laptop on the Kitchen Table^TM as soon as I get home and grab a beer or coffee (depending on the day).
3. I start work on one of the extra mural projects.
4. I work till whichever of my favourite crime shows is on (usually around 8.30) unless I am off out singing like I will be tonight, or Wednesday when I am going to the Lion King (HOORAY). (and somewhere in there I eat something).
5. Once my show has finished I check in on the blog stats and comments.
6. I head to bed.
7. At a reasonable hour.
8. I sleep well.
9. I get up and go walking on the beach
10. I go to work all bright and breezy as contracted to be…

Let’s see how long it lasts… At least I’m not scorching the Doona (duvet/comforter) cover with my hot little laptop!!!