Over the hump?

The irony is that there should be 2 massive weights off my shoulders today, but I slept badly last night and can barely move my shoulders today!

At the end of last year I agreed to speak at a conference in February. It was a real honour and something I really wanted to do. At the time the plan was that I'd have started my new job and I would easily have been able to make time to prepare for the conference. But since then the opportunity for me to take on my new full-time job came up. So for the past month - since I started my great new job the conference has been weighing heavily on me.

I'm one of those people that likes to be really really prepared for things. So normally I'd practice every night for a fortnight before I do something like a conference. However, you know what it's like when you start a new job - there's so much to pick up that when you finish at the end of the day you are a shell of your former self.

As a result of which I really hadn't been able to put any effort into conference preparation during the week. Which meant after an exhausing week I was then having to work weekends to be prepared. I did anticipate this so on a plus note I had written my script and done my slides before I started the new role - thank goodness.

Also because of pandemic I was able to read from my notes as I did the conference - because it was virtual. That also made a big difference. Anyway, the conference was yesterday and I was really pleased with how it went. I missed a big chunk of what I meant to say, but I think only I would know that. It's such a relief that it's over and not hanging over me any more.

Also I just noticed - not only are the buds on the trees, but there are some new spring leaves. I'm so excited. It's been so depressing being stuck in all winter and it's been a particularly rainy winter as well. The thought that soon we can throw open windows, the nights will get lighter and things will start to warm up a bit really fill me with joy.

I'm barely getting out at the moment. Mornings are dark and I start work at 8.30am. I only have a half hour for lunch and then finish work when it's dark. In just a few weeks I'll be able to go out for a walk after work. Currently I literally leave the house once a week - to walk to butchers on a Saturday morning. Not only is that unhealthy it's also massively depressing. I literally can't wait until Spring.

Oh yes, and if you look at the photo you can see my Christmas lights still in the bush. I'm still putting them on every night. It's something that gives me a little lift. But now I see the buds on the bushes I think that their work is done. I'll turn them off on 28th February and then take them down at the next weekend (as long as it's not raining). 

Nearly done the winter - WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP