Working and Wandering

I was in a cafe earlier this morning. I popped out today to work from a cafe. Working from home can be lonely sometimes so it is good to get out and be surrounded by people, while you still get the work done.
I am now 38 weeks pregnant, so some of my attention (unintentionally) goes to the mums that come to the cafe with their babies and toddlers.
I have the innocent idea that, when the baby comes and after a few weeks, I will be able to continue with my life – like if the baby is totally going to adapt to me and not much the other way around. But the more I see around me, the more I think that it won’t be the case.
All the mums around me right this morning, were totally focussed on their toddlers, none of them were working or reading a book or anything like that. Just totally focussed on making their little ones smile. And what can be better than that?

It is just that, sometimes, it is terrifying to think how things are going to change and if I will be able to do it.

On September 28, 2015 By Enjoying SunshineIn changes, choices, Life2 Comments

Freelancing

31st of July 2014.. that was the day when I stopped working for a big agency in London. Crazy long hours, endless tiredness, frustations and tons of stress were the reasons I decided to stop altogether and reset (me), so that I would be able to start again.

I quitted my job and decided to start working as a freelance. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do next so I thought freelance work would allow me to do that, by having the time and mental space to figure out what I really wanted to do.

13 months have passed and I haven’t regretted my decision not even once. But I have to confess that I still keep looking for my “real dream career” or “path”

I am a digital consultant so working as a freelance has giving me a lot of freedom and independence to structure my working hours and being able to enjoy things that I wanted to do for a long time.

Don’t get my wrong, I still have to work my ass off and get the work done but, as my own boss now, I don’t feel guilty anymore if I meet my friends over a coffee during working hours, or if I pop out for a yoga class or If I don’t check my emails over the weekend. It has also giving me the opportunity to deal with new things that are not really my expertise like such as accounting or website development. Well, to be honest, I am still working on them…

Let’s see how all changes now when the baby comes… Any advices? I would really appreciate them 🙂

On September 22, 2015 By Enjoying SunshineIn job, LifeLeave a comment

September is waiting for you

It is a quite time, the calm before the storm. You can feel it, you know that is about to come. The eye of the hurricane, that complete calm that is almost terrifying. It is so unreal. Something is going to happen and it will be very special.

That is how I spent most of August and that is how September has started, waiting for things to happen.

Now the moment “when it happens” “when all is going to change” is getting closer. And I am getting nervous, even when I know that I am ready for it.

In the next few weeks I am going to have a baby, I’ll become a mum! And I can’t wait for those intense but exciting days ahead of me to come.

I remember those first few minutes when you find out that you’re pregnant. You look at the predictor, you look at it again, and yet it still shows a “positive” result. A POSITIVE result with capital letters!!

And you sit back in the toilet and give yourself a few minutes to process it. You are pregnant, PREGNANT!

But the best part is yet to come: you need to go back to the bedroom, wake up your partner (with a good kiss) and tell him that you are pregnant (in other words, that he is going to be a father!)

You go back to the room as planned and he is sleeping, so peacefully. You then decide that the news can wait. A few more hours just being the two of you.

On September 7, 2015 By Enjoying SunshineIn happiness, Life, SeptemberLeave a comment

Holiday – ing

Holiday: noun (often holidays) An extended period of leisure and recreation, especially one spent away from home or in travelling.

One of my favourite words in the dictionary. What does it mean to me? Time, sun, sand, beach, mountains, relax, good food, good books, life without a watch, sleep, family chats, long walks, new cities, cold wine, love, laugh, dreams, plans and more plans, mojitos, more dreams… and all of that away from home or in travelling. That’s what holiday-ing is for me.

In my childhood, it meant spending the summer at my auntie’s place by the beach. In a tiny small flat with far too many of us staying at but it didn’t matter, as we could see the beach from the windows and smell the sea.

Do I miss those summers? No, I love my summers now but I appreciate how lucky I was those days too.

On August 24, 2015 By Enjoying SunshineIn happiness, holidays, LifeLeave a comment

Story IV – The Mobile Phone

Yes or No? Shall I keep the phone in case she calls again? – He asked himself.

It all started this morning on the bus, on his way to work. After a few stops the man sitting next to him got up and left. Marc didn’t notice until a few seconds later that the man had forgotten his phone on the bus.

It was too late now to ask the bus driver to stop and look for the guy to give him his mobile back, so he decided he would drop the phone at the next Police Station on his way to work. It was a good idea, in case the guy came looking for it.

Marc put the phone on his pocket, grabbed his bag and got off the bus.

After a few minutes he noticed a phone ringing. It took him a good few seconds to realise that it was this “other phone” in his pocket. He chose not to pick it up; after all it wasn’t his phone. But it started ringing again.

Then he thought that it might be the owner trying to find his phone so he decided to answer the call.

‘Hello’ – Mark said but none said anything – ‘Hello?’ – Mark insisted
‘Why did you do that?’ – A woman said on the other side of the phone – ‘I would have never done that to you’
‘Hello, look I don’t know who you are but I am not who you think that I am, I just found this phone on the bus’ – Mark said quickly trying to explain the situation.
‘If you don’t tell me that you love me now … I will kill myself’ – She said while crying.
‘Hey look, I don’t know what it is happening but it is Mark here and I don’t know you. If you can let me know who is the owner of this phone, I will get this phone back to him and you will be able to reach him’ – Marc reassured her.
‘I should have never trusted you’ – Her crying was quieter now – ‘But I can’t go on like this’

Mark thought of her, how vulnerable and sad she sounded. He knew she was beautiful, but not only because of the guy whose phone he was using was very handsome too; it was her voice, there was something he couldn’t explain but he was sure.

She was calling at 8:30 in the morning and she sounded so hurt. Probably she had been crying all night.

‘Say it’ – She whispered
‘Please’ – She begged quietly.

Mark did the only thing he could think of:

‘I love you’ – He said to her

After a few seconds of silence she hung up the phone.

On May 14, 2015September 24, 2015 By Enjoying SunshineIn Life, storiesLeave a comment

Story III – Cold night

“The weather is so horrible outside. Nights like this should be forbidden” – She thought while looking through the window. She decided to make herself a cup of tea, that would warm her up.

It was a night like this when all happened and everything finished for her.

Her husband had been working a 36 hours shift at the Hospital when he had a crash on his way back home, he was tired but the snow didn’t help. He was coming back to her but they never saw each other again.

And it was on evenings like this when she was feeling more sad and lonely.

The kettle screamed to let her know that the water was ready.

“Tonight I’ll have a camomile, it’ll help me sleep” – She thought.

With the cup of tea ready, she went back to the window.

She hugged herself through the cardigan and decided to stay by the window a little bit longer, just to check that everyone was ok out there.

On February 9, 2015September 24, 2015 By Enjoying SunshineIn Life, storiesLeave a comment

Story I – Choices

It was impossible to deny it anymore, it was over and there was nothing she could do about it.

She took her bag and left the house, got in the car and drove away.

She couldn’t blame it on Alan, it wasn’t his fault. They had been trying to save their relationship for months but nothing had changed. If only, she was feeling even more guilty and alone than before.

She didn’t know where she was going when she got in the car, but she knew now where she was heading to.

She hadn’t stopped seeing Rob all this time, she couldn’t help it. There was no point in lying to herself about it, no more excuses.

Alan was safe, warm, loving and always there for her. Rob was cold, distant, rude, and above all that, he didn’t need her. So why was she doing this? Was it worth it? She asked herself like as if any answer would matter and make her change her mind.

She was there. Got out of the car and walked to his house.

She knocked on the door and waited. He opened the door and she could see on his face that he wasn’t expecting her.

– Are you going to invite me in? – She asked.

He moved aside and let her in.

On January 23, 2015September 24, 2015 By Enjoying SunshineIn choices, Life, storiesLeave a comment