Another Golden Summertime

Summer has been great so far although the heat wave two weeks ago was awful - it was only 4 days of staying more indoors than enjoying the sun. And while tomorrow may be another 30-something, I do enjoy the presence of more sun and daylight. So I am enjoying this season a bit more outdoors so I can hold on to something when Winter comes back in a few months.

There's a lot of places I'd like to visit, but something in me (and my husband - probably because we did not plan a trip anyway) wants to stay in our home. Visiting Paris on weekends is enjoyable somehow. As they say, it's the perfect time to visit Paris because the Parisians are out - but I'm not sure about that. The last time, there were lots of tourists in the city and in the metro... I'm not complaining cos I still see myself as a tourist here too! So anyway, we visited the Conciergerie last weekend and spent sometime around the city after that. The visit was good; the country's history is really interesting that I still couldn't believe all these things happened centuries ago - a reality - instead of just a tale. 

Hopefully we'll visit eastern France in September. We're inspired to take short hikes somewhere on the alps after spending a week in Switzerland last May. I haven't really wrote anything about it, but maybe I'll get to that someday. I am sure my 20-something self is appalled in that I am not writing about my trips anymore. Is it just me or is it normal to not blog and post all photos in my cameras to the internet as you get older? The older I get, the more protective I am of myself and my whereabouts. I did try the "story" thing on social media for a while, and although oftentimes they are not 'real time', I still overthink and worry that "so everyone knows what I am doing... are they going to judge how boring my life is? Even though I enjoy it so much?" Lesson: only have very close friends and families in your social media. Otherwise, it's just too much. So I stopped it. Anyway! Switzerland is one of my favourites, for sure. But I am curious what eastern of France can offer, since my husband thinks I'd like it too. 

 

Remembering how it feels to write random thoughts

We went for a walk in the neighbourhood after lunch today. The flowers are blooming everywhere, it is so beautiful in Spring. During our walk, I told my husband that we go to Picard to get some frozen goods and he thought to get ice cream too. I am sure that we have ice cream in the fridge but my husband kept insisting that Picard's ice cream is still better. He is really craving for it! I don't remember how it tasted like to be honest but I trust his judgment when it comes to food. Unfortunately, the shop is closed (it's a public holiday - no one is working today - what were we thinking!) so we will go next time. Anyway, going back home, my husband took a small elderberry flower for me that I can put in my small vase. The house smells good, but he doesn't smell it. 

I do not know where this blog entry is going... I just miss writing! It just feels much better to write whatever is in my mind. I've been consuming a lot of quick small content that in the end probably does not mean anything to me but as it is very addictive to keep scrolling, I just cannot stop. It's ridiculous. Sometimes I wish Google Reader will exist again - I will definitely use it every day just like the old days but who would be writing and publishing blogs nowadays? 

A couple of days ago, I remembered a website called Bloglovin. I got so excited because that was the alternative website to Google Reader that I used before. Upon checking all the blogs that I have subscribed to, none of them are active anymore - no one published personal blogs lately - such a shame. I guess we're all spending time writing thoughts in 140 characters or something similar.

Anyway, so what else is there to say? We bought peaches and apricots - very sweet! Soon, I will have fresh pears and blackberries from the forest! I loved foraging last year - we foraged almost every day after work that we gathered up to 4 boxes of blackberries that we made into marmalade last winter! And until now, we are still enjoying it.

May is almost over but the memories from our recent trip to Switzerland early this month still linger in my mind. I loved that trip and I would like to go back again. I have no words to describe it, but the nature looked very grand and just beautiful, to say the least. I'll probably have to write something about the Switzerland trip just for me to re-read in the future - maybe I'll find some time to sit and write my thoughts down. We'll see.

I guess that's it for today - It's feels great to write again. I received 3 post cards this week from Postcrossing. How exciting! I'll probably write something about that too in the coming days or weeks.

A Letter From January 14th, 2024

 Dear FutureMe,

Today, we a had a little to no sun. It's cold, I think it is under 0 degree celsius. The last time I checked, which was three hours ago, was that it was negative 3 degrees celsius. I am getting used to the cold now, I guess - I hope! I do miss the humid and hot Dubai or Davao weather. Soon, I will be visiting Dubai in a week so that's good. 

Yanyan is a bit sick. His throat is itchy so I made him a cup of hot ginger with honey tea. He does not like it much. He is sitting next to me and just read the last sentence and read it out loud, "I don't like it much" with more attitude. What a drama king he is!

How are you doing? I think this letter will be sent a year from now. I wonder where you are now. Are you in France? I wonder where you and Yanyan celebrated holidays? Philippines - if so, how was it? I hope it was lovely with the whole family!

This morning, you read a note you have written eight years ago in 2016. You wrote that you are brave enough to live away from home. I read it and it still works for me. I am glad that somehow my younger self has gone through all the challenges in moving into a new country. You are in a similar situation now moving into a new country. I hope that a year from now, things are better. At least a bit better as I think it is not going to be a very smooth transition for you. How is your French? Have you achieved your A1 certificate to learn French? I hope so! And I hope that you can at least speak in French a little. What's your next goal? A2/B1? I know you can do it. Don't forget to take breaks and keep your life meaningful. Some things online are not what it seems just in case you are wondering. Focus on yourself and your family first. 

Take care always!

The Saturday Currently Vol. 16: Orange Sweater and Comfy Socks

"It's been a while" is probably something I start this blog for the last... 8 years?

I haven't really had the time to sit down and write something on a paper, except endless to-do lists in both life and work. Life had been so fast-paced lately with so many things to accomplish every single day. From seven in the morning, you hurry to prepare for (remote) work, juggle so many tasks, and then (hurry) to bed around eleven because you have another "early day" at work. The funny thing is that your brain thinks there is an end to this, but in reality, you are stuck in a routine that is so addicting because it is so easy to do the same thing over and over again that taking a pause feels like another task - a mindless task - and due to the fact, it does not seem so appealing to do it because it does not give a sense of "fulfilment" in your "busy day".

I am glad that I am able to really sit down and write. It's been a while since I really wanted to do this but every time I think about sitting still and writing my thoughts onto this white canvas, my mind says "oh that's boring, why don't we check 10-second videos and see lots of content in 15 minutes - that seems more productive!" Sometimes I feel like I am stuck in a world where there are so much information to gain in a minute. I wonder if anyone out there is wishing to go back in time where the only time we can be online is when we are in front of a desktop computer? 

Obviously, the only thing we could do is recall those lovely years with less "noisy" information and be grateful to have lived through it and enjoyed it while it lasted. Anyway, there is good on the technology we have now. I guess I just found myself stuck in this information-overload place and I need to get out as quickly as possible because it makes living life a bit too shallow. I am not angry about the technology, rather I find it unbelievable that I found myself spending "a few times" checking on my phone during weekends because I wanted to post "stories" (that disappears after 24 hours)! How was I able to do that? The internet is such a weird place when I first started using it, but not it just gets weirder.

I guess what I am trying to say is, I will try to regain the interest in writing again as a form of self expression and reflection rather than posting a temporary "media" that will be gone and forgotten (by me!) after a day. After all, this blog exists since more than 18 years because I want to be able to read and remember the fleeting moments in my life that I am able to write now and read through these pages when I am older. That's the main reason why I am keeping this. I want to keep writing. I will try to go back. I will try to write again. To write something with substance - a reflection of my days, weeks, months. I am blabbering, but this is good too. I will be back soon. Hopefully!