Moving Home

I moved house and forgot to tell you - I'm so sorry!

You can find me at:

NotJustLaura

Hope to see you there soon.

Run and hide

Providing the island has a well-stocked library and internet access I'm perfectly content, thanks. In fact, I'd probably run and hide if I saw a ship on the horizon and heading our way!

Disconnected Vacations?

I've just read this very interesting post over at Creative Organizing. I'm sorry, I don't know the author's name and a quick scan of the page didn't come up with any answers. Anyway - I like the way she writes. And I'm intrigued by the question she poses:

"In the meantime, I would love to hear your thoughts on taking *real* vacations. Do you disconnect from the real world or do you stay connected via your cell phone, lap top or other electronic device? I’m curious to know if I’m the only one who craves complete disconnection from the real world while vacationing. I’m happy to be back…but boy it felt good to get away."

I actually feel quite distressed if I holiday without access to the internet. Probably this shows a degree of addiction. But it's an addiction I'm comfortable with and, in these ultra-connected days, it's not a hard addiction to feed. I think it stems from my feelings of isolation when I was first diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (now Atypical Bipolar Disorder). I lost touch with workmates, friends, some family. I didn't go out. I didn't talk to anyone if I could avoid it. I sat and watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer videos and ate chocolate all day, every day. And then I got a modem.

These days, life is different. I do voluntary work and see some of my colleagues socially. I have friends (who I met online and see in real life). I have friends (who I only meet online). I can go to family gatherings, church, shopping - the usually things people do. But I still need my modem. The internet feels a whole lot safer than the outside world sometimes and I'm still more comfortable writing than I am speaking.

Easter Vigil

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This is a picture of St Joseph's RC Church where I attended the Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday night. I'd particularly wanted to go to this Mass as there was an adult (who'd already been Baptised elsewhere) being Confirmed and having First Communion. If I decide to convert then I'll be in the same position so I was particularly interested in that part of the service.

The whole service, from beginning to end, is something I'll not forget in a long time. I feel really privileged to have been there and able to take part as far as I did. It was really wonderful (and worth staying up till after bedtime for!)

And a young woman was Confirmed and received First Communion. I can't say, 'I wish it was me.' But I do say, 'I wish I was ready.'

I'm flighty. I say I want thus and thus and then go full pelt after that and that instead. I need to learn consistency - and not just in matters of faith. Just call me Good Intentions Girl. So that's what the next 12 months are about. Consistency. I'm setting out to explore Catholicism further with a view to making a decision this time next year. I have this idea that I'll try and live 'as if' I were Catholic. So I'll accept the Sunday Obligation and go to Mass, I'll try and get to Adoration, I'll use the prayers I've learned. And I'll decide. In a year.

First rule of relationships: Good manners cost nothing.

I don't think I'm very good at the relationship thing ...

Good manners cost nothing.
You can disagree with people and still maintain a good relationship by following this rule.

Respect.
It's important to treat all people with respect.

Humour
Sometimes you've just got to laugh.

Functional Dressing

I'm a Volunteer with a cat rescue charity.

133/365: Productive

It rather depends who I'm trying to impress, doesn't it? So who do I try and impress? Mostly it's clients and colleagues (new colleagues - I've given up trying to impress the old ones.) I'm trying to project confidence, sense, experience, responsibility and the idea that I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty. This tends to equate with jeans, sensible top, DM boots and my 'uniform' fleece. I don't generally wear makeup (and wish I did until the alarm goes at 6am) but I do sometimes wear studs in my ears.

On Children

“You can do nothing with children unless you win their confidence and love by bringing them into touch with oneself, by breaking through all the hindrances that keep them at a distance. We must accommodate ourselves to their tastes, we must make ourselves like them.” — St. John Bosco

I read this quote over at Faith & Family and have my own slant on it. Look at the last phrase: "We must make ourselves like them." I assume St. John Bosco meant that we must become like children. But I read it as we must like them. Because I don't, really, if I'm being honest. But I'm trying. My cousin has two little girls now and I can be child-friendly for short periods of time. I still don't want any of my own though so it's just as well I'm single!