Mission: Playtime is all about fun. It’s about injecting joy back into everyday life. About seeing the joy in everyday life. I’m building a habit of having and seeing fun.
“Fun” and “Joy” are not words I associated with the word “Gym”, but I do now, so there we go. I have been an avid gym goer for about a month now. In fact so far I’ve spent 16.5 hours in the gym, which is probably more time than the rest of my life put together. Continue reading
La dolce far niente. The sweetness of doing nothing.
Lying on a beach and listening to the water, to the laughter of those around you. Watching the sun change the world around you, lighting up the landscape in pinks and purples, or bright gold. Feeling the peace of the world before it has had time to wake up.
One of my favourite feelings is the electricity in the air right before a thunderstorm. Continue reading
The past 12 months have seen some pretty major changes in my life, and my hair is no different. After telling my sister for the umpteenth time how much I love the whole pastel hair change, she decided enough was enough, and off we went to Sally’s.
Back at home, armed with a range of powders and potions, we googled DIY hair bleaching, until our heads span, and we realised that no one on the internet can agree on anything, everyone thinks they’re right, and anyone who says otherwise is an idiot.
And so we jumped in. Over a week, my sister became my stylist, and I went from dark brown to orange and finally to a blonde that I was happy to go out of the house sporting. Deciding not to put my hair through anymore pain for a while, I staying blonde, and actually really loved it. To the point where I was considering giving up my candy coloured dreams.
So apart from a few essentials (underwear, a bikini (yes that’s essential), and a pair of flat shoes and a pair of black trousers), I only bought second hand clothes from my birthday 2016 to my birthday 2017. And it was so. much. fun. Yes, I enjoyed a splurge at H&M (courtesy of my boyfriend), afterwards. But I really enjoyed it.
There is something really liberating about going into a charity shop with £20 and knowing that you could probably afford to buy anything in that shop, if not two or three things. What I really loved about it was, you’re so limited. You can’t just get another size if that one cute dress in the shop doesn’t fit you. It doesn’t come in another colour. And it won’t be there when you come back next time.
Indonesia has such a fascinating religious history, something I wanted to explore whist I was out there. Bali, The Island of the Gods, has been inhabited since 2000 BC. It is the only predominantly Hindu island in Indonesia, the others being primarily Muslim. Hindu symbolism is evident throughout the island, and is very much at the centre of every day life.
Canang sari is one of the daily offerings made by Balinese Hindus to thank the Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa in praise and prayer. Every home, every business, every place of worship puts of sari multiple times a day. They are little woven grass baskets, filled with flowers, petals and incense. Continue reading
I didn’t believe it would ever happen either. And I’m not sure it’ll ever happen again. You know when you’re on holiday, and you’re feeling the vibe of your new temporary home. You’re chilled. You’re content with yourself as a being. You see a beautiful, billowing, bold dress at a market stall, and you think Yes! This is who I am now. I’ll buy this dress, and I’ll wear it with pride when I get home, and everyone will see the person I’ve become. And then it sits in your cupboard for years, until you throw it out with a grimace, chiding yourself for being so naive.
This, was a little bit like that. I visited Bali over Christmas, and it was incredible. Sitting by the pool in the glorious Indonesian sun, I discovered Bintang. Grapefruit Bintang to be precise. I became a beer drinker. I even upgraded to regular Bintang, in half litre bottles. I felt like an adult. I had achieved one of my goals. I was winning.
But, as with your stylish dress, when I got back home, and tried being a beer drinker, it just didn’t fit right. It tasted awful. I felt uncomfortable. The smell, the taste. All of it awful. So I’ve gone back to my old faithful, gin & tonic. Tried, tested & loved.
Here’s to the next holiday where I can become, once again, a beer guzzler. Just like I’ve always wanted…
This was the big one. It was ruthless. Over the course of a week (and with the help of my wonderful family), I got rid of almost everything. Furniture I’ve spent years hoarding. Half finished projects. Treasured trinkets and jazzy gadgets. A well cultivated, much-loved wardrobe.
And somehow, somehow, I still have a shitload of stuff left. I’ve culled down to the bare bones of what I can throw away, give away or sell. But that’s the thing. Most of it is just… stuff. It’s not much more than kipple. Continue reading
On my way to America I was chatting to one of my girlfriends Francesca (a vivacious, spontaneous, glamorous woman) about my bucket list, and she told me that that the only thing on her bucket list was to see Calvin Harris DJ in Las Vegas. Continue reading
In this journey I have had so many ‘Stardust moments’. If you haven’t read the book or seen the film, go away and watch/read it. Right. Now. There is a scene where the fallen star, who hasn’t been able to shine since she landed on the Earth, is in a warm bath, feeling comfort and kindness for the first time. And her shine returns, starting from her heart, seeping out of her whole body*. That’s how I feel today.
Today I was welcomed into the home of Donna and Mel, Jay’s parents, to celebrate Passover with their family. And whilst the family approached the event with a humorous cynicism reserved for those about to hear the same mildly funny jokes of the umpteenth time, I was actually looking forward to it.
Passover is a special time in the Jewish calendar as it is about remembering the struggles of the Jews as slaves of the Egyptians, and the tough time in the desert that followed. They eat bitter herbs to signify these bitter struggles (horseradish, in our case), unleavened bread to signify the poor food available in this tough time, and a variety of things dipped in salt water to signify the tears wept. I’m skirting over the details slightly, as you can look into the celebration for yourself if you’re interested, and I would absolutely encourage you to do so.
Mission: Playtime 