Ode to Custard

The last few weeks have been a rollercoaster on steroids: lockdown 2.0, my laptop taking a swim in the bath (whoops), ongoing stomach grumblings, Christmas lights, my cheese plant Arnold having mini-Arnolds, winning the first-round of the quiz with my friends back home, and celebrating my 1-year anniversary with Leo.

One of the most startling moments has to be speed-walking through central London, getting lost twice while looking at various bus adverts and Christmas lights, all the while with a poop sample happily perched in my pocket that was previously housed in my fridge. Just London things I guess.

(Please note this was for a test and is not the latest fashion trend)

Other moments include thinking I had a stalker (we nearly went to the police) before realising that the unsigned envelope was from my seminar leader to evoke the ‘smells of Ulysses’, crying with laughter at a video of my sister singing her rendition of ‘Oh What A Lovely War’, and finally, FINALLY going to the custard stall at Spitalfields.

What seems to characterise most days are the glimmers of hope that the thought of Christmas offers and the cinnamon rolls my sister has pledged to make for me upon my return. Not even to mention that mum has finally caved and we are getting a REAL chrimble tree! You heard it here first.

I might be building up un-realistic expectations but it is what is providing for me, and I'm sure others out there, a way to get through what has been an equally long and very quick year. And so staying sane has been the real challenge when as things are beginning to settle down another curveball flies in from nowhere. Little (and big) things have been testing my resolve, sometimes just tipping the scale over.

Trying to be kind to myself and not give myself such a hard time has been the biggest hurdle. Small steps is what gets you there. Sleeping and resting. Eating regularly - peanut butter bagels are where its at. Working out. Re-watching Schitt's Creek for the umpteenth time and binging on the Vicar of Dibley. As much as it may surprise you, running through London with the contents of my bowels does not quite make the list.

Listing things like this does make it sound like a hop, skip and a jump but its mostly just an unbalanced hop and I am uncoordinated at the best of times.

One thing is for sure though is that planning things to look forward to is making some moments a bit easier - especially the thought of those cinnamon rolls.

Songs of the week:

1. Simply Best - Tina Turner. (Taken from Schitt's Creek :D )

2. Winona Ryder - Picture Girls

3. So Serious - Sam Smith. (Thank you Poppy)