If you want something doing....

The saying goes 'if you want something doing, ask a busy person'...well with me it seems to be 'If you have a long list of things to do, you will be compelled to write two or three blog posts (which is NOT on your list of things to do)' What's that all about?

Anyway, I felt the need to reflect on the last third of 2012 and forward into the first third of 2013, so here goes!

I enjoyed a week's birth retreat in Northumberland at the start of September.Then I drove Josh back to Manchester for the start of his uni term, observed a class for my relax stretch and breathe training, went down to High Wickham for the first study day of the RSB.

Then hubby and I went on a little road trip-he hadn't been allowed to take any holiday over the summer as he was involved with the Olympics so this was our first chance of a holiday. We went to Glastonbury and then on to Cornwall, it was fabulous.

Glastonbury Tor

Then I was off to Birmingham with a pal to an NCT forum and study day.  Which involved a rather wild night out in a wine bar in Brum with two old friends (I should point out they are old as in the length of time I have known them, they are both actually considerably younger than me!) and a new one! No hangover the next day so all was grand.

Off to Woking for the next RSB day. An attempted trip to Doncaster to observe another RSB class (thwarted by a train that never left the sation due to an unwell passenger!).

Mid October saw us making an unplanned visit to Manchester to see Josh...he had his drink spiked (we believe) and his phone and bank card taken. We went to take him an old phone, cash and lots of hugs. A truly horrible experience but yet again something to learn from for all of us, (the trip to Manchester wasn't the horrid bit by the way! That was actually quite lovely, Josh had recovered well by the time we got there and we enjoyed a lovely meal out with him and his girlfriend and then a shopping trip to the Trafford centre before heading home.)

From mid October I began observing a colleague teach her antenatal classes an hour away from here, every Monday evening. We have to observe one class to maintain our licence to practice but I chose to observe the whole course as I knew it would be invaluable for me. And it was.

Made it down to Doncaster to observe another RSB class (there is no-one nearer to me and I need lots of observations for my course!).

At the end of October I started teaching a new NCT antenatal course every Tuesday evening, they were only a small group (3 couples) but really characterful and I thoroughly enjoyed it. And I hope they did too!

The end of October also saw me bidding a sad farewell to a dear friend (who was on my second student antenatal course!) and her lovely family as they moved back down south =(

The beginning of November I was off to Worcester for the final two days for the RSB. Throw in a couple of assignments for November and December and I am beginning to gibber!!

Off down to London with hubby and youngest daughter to see The Killers at the O2 and enjoy some retail therapy in Camden on the Sunday. And then began to turn my attention to the festive period ahead! With a shopping trip with hubby.

The Killers

A lovely reunion for the antenatal course that I taught in August was one of the last things to enjoy before the Holidays. All eight babies dressed in different festive outfits! Lots of baby cuddles for me =)

The two weeks off for the Holidays were a welcome relief I can tell you. But now I'm back at it organising everything for starting teaching my relax stretch and breathe tomorrow (yikes!) and every Wednesday evening, the Natal hypnotherapy training in March, and the NCT yoga for pregnancy which is the next leg of training after RSB.

Yesterday I rewrote my assignment for my doula preparation, I have absolutely no idea how being a doula will fit into this somewhat hectic life of mine, but I am no quitter and as I felt compelled to begin the training I felt equally inspired to complete it and move forward with it.

Tomorrow see's the first of my RSB classes, which I am really looking forward to. Next week work begins on having the driveway extended, much needed but dreading the process!

Sunday we will take Josh back to Manchester for the start of his uni term.

Then there are lots of things to look forward to. A meal with Chris's work colleagues, continuing with the RSB classes each week, the NCT Yoga for pregnancy training, a snatched weekend away with hubby to celebrate 30 years since meeting! A weeks training to begin my journey as a Natal Hypnotherapy practitioner, and then setting up my business and practising  A return visit to Florida. A two day workshop with my old antenatal teaching tutor.Celebrating 50 years of marriage for Chris's parents. Then later in the year we will help my parents celebrate the same milestone. There are already two amazing trips to see bands planned, a xmas present from Lorna to see The Rocky Horror Show at the theatre (been a long time since we last saw it live!). So 2013 is shaping up to be buzzing!

Garden visitors

At this time of year when food is scarce I try to put food out for the birds. Meal worms are one of the favourites and there are a wide variety of visitors at my garden table. There are always blackbirds, who seem to think they own the joint! Blue tits, robins, sparrows, finches, jackdaws, magpies....but yesterday there was a furry visitor who was thoroughly enjoying the seeds...

I spent quite a while snapping away...here are some of the more successful ones,

a friendly robin

Mr blackbird

a finch

blue tit

jackdaw

not the greatest pic, but I like the diversity of birds

a female blackbird enjoying the meal worms

again not the best pic but I'm curious, what kind of tit is this?

and finally!

Praise and criticism

 'Being praised can be just as harmful as being criticized if you're not careful. Your work, your voice, your words, your art, your gifts you have them to give to the world--their value has nothing to do with the response you receive from them. Social media can complicate that truth, and good feedback can trick you into thinking "I am good because people like what I put out there." That's not true, Ever.'

These are the words of Kelle Cryderman Hampton, author of one of my favourite blogs, 'Enjoying the small things'  (check it out http://www.kellehampton.com)

These words resonated with me today and found a place in my heart. I have had an interesting relationship with criticism and praise. I worked hard to change and have become better able to deal with both, though there is always still room for improvement. (Self criticism...hmmm...there's a whole can of worms!) But it's only human nature though isn't it? To feel pleased and validated when one receives praise and smaller, less important when criticism is levelled at us? Perhaps, but it can become so debilitating, throw in self doubt and self criticism and you have yourself a whole heap of messed up thinking.

  'Validation is an interesting thing though, and no matter how strong or unphased by criticism we are, there is an undeniable human desire to have people like what we feel passionate about--our art, our words, our stories, our styles, our writing, our opinions. It's why we sometimes feel hesitant to publish or share. What will people think?'

This was the next paragraph that caught my attention, yeah what she said! I found it interesting to read this post shortly after receiving some flattering praise about one of my photo's. Praise that I'm not sure I feel I deserve...I take photo's for my own pleasure, I post them on facebook, I edit them and print them. I love the whole process, quite often I see the world 'in pictures'. As I am walking along I see the potential photograph that I could take. It's a bit of an addiction if I'm honest! Looking back through the photo's I often focus on the negative (no pun intended!).The flaws in the picture. Though I also get an immense amount of joy from revisiting a time and place that was good, it's a lovely way to capture time in ones hands and hold it forever. Anyway, I have digressed a little, perhaps the secret with praise or criticism is to smile and say thank you (maybe pausing to see how it feels) and then continuing with ones life...so thank you!

In other news...though related....I have a ton of photos to save, edit, print and put into albums...which is challenging in so much as there don't seem to be enough hours in a day (maybe I should get up earlier?) and the photo album (scrapbooks if truth be told) shelf is now full!

Here are a few of my photos that I do like...

 

This is the photo that started it all!!

So here's to a happy, healthy 2013, with a new, more balanced perspective on praise and criticism! And no doubt lots and lots more photos!