catching up with January

Tags

2016, busy, Dublin, interview, January, photography, photos, red pens, work, writing

We’re already half way through January and 2016 has truly hit its stride, but somehow my time away has left me a few paces behind. Since I landed back in Dublin on Monday I am still playing catch up with the new year.

With lecturing back in full swing and my to-do-list growing on a daily basis – how important is cleaning really? – my head is still wrapping its mind around the fact that the date has changed. And with a job interview (fingers crossed) lined up for early tomorrow morning, some grading left to do, a few film previews to go to and lots of writing still stuck in my pen time is just not slowing down.

So, with that in mind I better get back to work, sharpen those pencils and uncap those red pens and cross a few things of that ever growing list. I just hope that January will slow down a bit and allow me to catch up before I need to flick the page on my calendar again.

new year beginnings with family and friends

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2016, Berlin, Germany, Hamburg, New Year, photography, photos, snow, travel, writing

The new year started with a bang for me – actually several and very loud ones at that. My friends took me to the Grosser Bunkerberg (Large Air Raid Shelter Hill), one of the highest points in Berlin, to look at the fireworks. Sadly it was too foggy to see much but the sound was incredible, loud banging and explosions going off for a good hour or so, the occasional rocket that made it high enough to break through the fog and smoke to illuminate the sky in an array of colours. We stood and listened and sipped bubbly. As the cold crept up our legs we decided it was time to make our way home and clambered down the hill in the fog to be welcomed to the streets of Berlin with loud bangs all around us.

Now, after a few wonderful days in Berlin filled with flea markets, a fantastic play in the Deutsches Theater and lots of time spent with good friends over cups of tea and glasses of wine, I am in Hamburg. I am watching the snow fall outside and enjoying a few hours of quite before my cute niece and nephew demand playtime again. And while I watch the snow paint the world white I think I may indulge in a hot bath, the perfect contrast to the cold day outdoors.

However first I will finish my cup of tea and write  a few lines – after all this lovely break away from normality will be over soon and I need to get quite a lot done before my course starts up again. But for now I am truly enjoying my start into 2016 and only hope that the year will keep all that it seems to be promising.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

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2016, happy new year, New Year, quote, Rainer Maria Rilke

I would just like to wish you all a very happy New Year and hope that 2016 brings all that you wish for. And since I have several wishes of my own – some are actually more like demands – I hope that 2016 will grant me mine too.

And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.

Poet Rainer Maria Rilke

taking down Christmas

Tags

2016, Berlin, christmas, christmas tree, New Year, travel

Today I spent some time taking down Christmas. It all started with the tree that  I needed to un-decorate, as it was losing all its needles. And since I am leaving for Germany first thing tomorrow morning, there was no other time than today.

However, It did take longer than I thought, those branches were putting up a good fight, but I won in the end and I even disposed of the sorry looking heap. As I then began putting away all of my shoe Christmas tree decorations I decided to put away most of the other decorations as well … now all that is left to greet me when I return are my stars in the window. But since stars are not just for Christmas I thought I could give them some more time to shine.

So, between running all of those last minute messages (for all you Americans out there that is what the Irish call errands) and frantically packing I am still up and won’t be in bed for another while – even though I do have to get up at 4am to catch my flight.

And while taking down Christmas is always a little bit sad getting ready for a New Year’s adventure is the best reason to do it for! I just hope I get a chance to nap because I don’t want to greet 2016 with rings under my eyes.

getting ready for 2016

Tags

2015, 2016, calendars, Moleskin, Moleskin weekly notebook, pefect gift, planning, planning ahead, stationary

With only one month left in 2015 I decide to take some time out of my morning and prepare my calendars for 2016. I don’t like mobile calendars, I find a paper and pen version much more reliable and quicker to use – crossing out and filling in only takes seconds and no electricity or internet is needed.

I always have two calendars, one  I carry around with me and one on my desk and I rely heavily on them to plan my time. A few years a ago I discovered the Moleskin weekly notebook and I have to say it is the perfect calendar for me, the left hand side is a weekly overview and the right page is left blank for notes, the perfect combination.

Since Moleskin isn’t cheap I was delighted that my wonderful siblings & Co. bought me the weekly notebook for my birthday – a beautiful and practical gift (and yes I know it is a little bit sad how excited I can get over stationary).

As I filled in important birthdays and appointments I was amazed to find how much I already have planed for the coming year. But somehow having my calendars ready and prepared makes me feel 2016 can come and I am looking forward what kind of adventures and surprises if may bring.

syncing up my dates – who knew I already had so much planned next year