Tag: christmas

Thankmas Day Seven: Thank you mamma Donna

I really don’t know how to start or end this post, there are not enough words to accurately capture the phenomenon that is Donna.

Mamma Donna, Mrs Allen, my second favourite Allen (after Darren of course!) the craziest, funniest most fascinating person I had the luck to meet in my life so far.

It all started three years ago around this time when she offered me a Custard Cream and the rest is history.

She taught me so much over the years, from cheese rolling festivals, to random facts, pranks and essential Northern vocabulary.

Despite the deceptive first impressions she gives, she is actually NOT at all scary, serious or tough or as old as you imagine (sorry Donna, I had to!).

IN all seriousness though she has a heart of gold and she’s been like my mum over the last three years, checking what I had for lunch, stealing my bananas, organising nights out, theatre trips, climbing up and down mountains and looking after me when I was not well (many a times).

She encouraged me to leave and go out see the world ever since she realised that the office and Southampton was too small for me and when I told her and Darren my plans though they were sad I was leaving, I know she was super happy for me. She helped me with everything I needed, hosted a party to celebrate my departure and made my last few months at work and Southampton more memorable.

So this post is for my UK mum, the crazy, prosecco loving, adorable, the one and only Donna. Thank you for everything. I wish the world had more Donnas!

I miss you!

(PS I hope you manage to read my post, I know you are struggling with technology and might take you a while to figure out how to read this on your phone).

Eleni

Thankmas Day Six: Thank you Yoga with Adriene

Two and a half years ago, on a warm July afternoon I decided to follow the link my bestie sent me, the first day of a Youtube ’31 day yoga revolution‘ programme with a ‘fun, funny, amazing gal’ and her doggie. Shebs had been doing the daily sessions for about two weeks and loving them. She talked with such an enthusiasm about Adriene I had to give it a ago and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

I never sticked to anything for a whole month and though I tried yoga before online and in a class, the instructors never inspired me, but I loved this so much I made sure I practised every single day. Every day had a different theme, duration and aim but they were all connected plus Adriene is hilarious and I had a laugh (and sometimes a cry when some of the sessions became too emotional).

I cried on the last session. I couldn’t believe that within just a month I not only felt the best I ever felt physically and emotionally but for the first time ever I accepted and loved myself for what I am, with all my imperfections and I learned to love and look after myself, something I struggled with for years.

After the 31 day programme was over I followed the monthly calendar playlists Adriene puts together with older videos as well as new sessions until life got in the way again and I practised less and less. Although I don’t practise every day I go back to it every month be it for a day or a week and it’s one of my remedies, one of my favourite ‘me time‘ activities, my body and mind crave for it if I don’t.

I talked to all my friends, even strangers about Adriene and her Youtube channel, I wrote about it on here several times, I recommended it and would recommend it to anyone. Free Yoga with an awesome lady and an awesome community. To know, especially in January when Adriene posts her 30 day Yoga videos once a day, that at the same time I practise, thousands of people around the world practise as well, makes it incredibly special, I feel part of a huge family.

Every time anxiety or depression got the better of me, and this year it happened a lot with all the huge decisions I forced myself to take, I returned to the mat, and on those days, that 10, 20 or 30 minute video was the only time my mind managed to relax and not worry about a thing.

Ever since I started teaching full time I had no free time to do much but since the first of December I’m back on my daily sessions. I have to wake up earlier than normal which means longer days but it’s all worth it.

I can honestly say I wouldn’t be so calm and composed with everything that happened and still going on if it wasn’t for Yoga with Adriene. I would have broken down by now.

I love this lady (and Benji), with her smile, charisma, witty humour and her genuine love for real yoga, connecting the body and the spirit rather than ‘getting the poses right’, she made me love yoga and because of her yoga will always be part of my life.

So thank you Adriene, the awesome in me bows to the awesome in you.

I can’t wait for January’s 30 day Yoga!

Namaste

Eleni

Thankmas Day Five: Thank you to my Solent gang

There are not enough words or posts to describe how much I love and miss this bunch and how incredibly thankful I am for every single one of them. I can confidently admit I wouldn’t made this year without them.

Every time my anxiety got the better of me or a problem came up or I doubted myself and my decisions they were there to keep me going, always helping me when I needed it the most, cheering me on all the way until my very last day in Southampton, even afterwards.

Jaba hugs, kitchen conversations with Ryan, corridor chats and a laugh with Tom, email catch ups with Chris, my official Netflix and other TV series advisor, Fleabag, music and philosophical chats with Sally, climbing up and down the stairs and hills with Helen, having a laugh at choir with Lou, Mark’s amusing views of life, catching up with Geraldine and her little ones, talking about travelling with Liz and craft and other genius creative ideas Susan comes up with.

What I wouldn’t give for Friday after work drinks, or a random dinner out or my favourite event of the year, our Christmas party.

I miss you all.

Eleni

PS (posts on a few other important Solent and Southampton people coming next).

Thankmas Day Four: Thank you Artemis, my bestie of 10 years.

A bit later on that cold day, around mid January 2019…

Just after I messaged my sisters I messaged two other people.

One of them was Shebs (see yesterday’s post). The other one was one of my most precious best friends I’ve known for 10 years, Artemis. She lives in Cyprus and we may not talk that often but we always catch up and we ask for each other’s advice all the time.

Every time I’m in Cyprus I make sure I spend time with a small number of people, Artemis is always on top of the list. We have a laugh, even if we are just sitting together chatting. Precious moments I always cherish. I wish we spent more time together. It’s just incredible how we get each other and we have the same values and way of thinking.

So this one is for you Artemis. Thank you for all your love and support. Love you and can’t wait to see you and my favourite little guy Thodori in a few weeks!!

Eleni

Thankmas Day Three: Thank you Shebs, my bestie

A bit later on that cold day, around mid January 2019…

Just after I messaged my sisters I messaged two other people.

One of them was Shebs, my best friend, my soulmate. I could not wait to tell her what I came up with. Even though we’ve lived away from each other for almost two years now, nothing has really changed.

We ask each other about everything, we tell each other everything, we communicate on another level others can’t even comprehend and when we are together it’s as if nothing has changed. We laugh, we cry, we talk and talk and talk. We never run out of things to talk about. Some of the most meaningful, deep conversations I ever had was with Sheba.

She was there for me every time I doubted myself, I worried for no reason, every time I let my devastating overthinking habit take over. She is the most loving, caring, smartest, sweetest human being I’ve ever met and I’m unbelievably lucky our paths crossed. I never thought I’d met someone who we’ll understand each other so much and so deeply.

So thank you my love. Thank you for everything. I can’t wait to see you in February!

Eleni

Thankmas Day Two: Thank you Anna and Stella, my sisters, my best friends,my soulmates

A cold day, around mid January 2019,

I was at the office working on a dull spreadsheet and I suddenly had an idea. An idea for a Youtube channel, but I would need to be in Cyprus for it, that’s where it should start from. Perhaps I can do a little bit every time I visit?

That’s how it all started about a year ago.

I immediately messaged both my sisters. They were the first people I told about it. They were the first to know when I shortly afterwards decided to quit my job, do the CELTA and then move back to Cyprus for a few months. They were the first I asked the opinion of and they were the first that forced me to think before I took any radical changes. They supported me from day one. They always do. Although I’m the eldest and I sometimes treat them like they are my children, I worry and care about them but I also trust them with my life, they are my comfort, my best friends, my soulmates, two of the very few people I can be myself with.

I know many people that are not that close to their siblings, they chat every now and then, they don’t share much. Not us. We chat all the time, we do things together, we are in each other’s life even though I’ve been living miles apart for years now.

So today’s Thankmas is dedicated to my two sisters Anna and Stella. Thank you for support me from the very beginning, when I first made the decision to leave the UK after 10 years. It’s been hard, terrifying at times, especially during my last month in Southampton and the month long CELTA drama when my anxiety levels reached new highs I could barely eat. My sisters were there for me, checking up on me, cheering me on. They believed in me even when I stopped believing in myself.

Thank you Stella and Anna, arfoui mou, mikro mou, for all your help, support, encouragement and endless love.

I love you to bits and I can’t imagine life without you two in it, everything is more fun with you, holidays are funnier, food tastes better, even when we are just watching a movie together in the living room, having silly arguments, lots of snacks and laughter to the point I almost pee myself, life is simply better with you.

I’m incredibly lucky and blessed to have you two as my sisters.

Eleni

(PS: My Youtube idea hasn’t materialised yet but as a colleague reminded me last week, ‘You can still do it, can’t you?’ You are absolutely right Suzanne, of course I can, I don’t know why I thought I couldn’t).

Thankmas: Blogmas with a twist (Day One: thank you mum and dad)

It’s officially the first of December.

I don’t feel as Christmas-sy as other years (this time last year I was getting all festive!), perhaps because I had no time to get a tree, decorate, I didn’t even have time to go for pi-pi at times or maybe it’s because is still sunny and 20 degrees at Reggio, but I’m desperate to get into the spirit and I’d love more than anything to do Blogmas again.

Realistically though, Blogmas is time consuming and I struggled when I had free time, let alone now so I thought What can I do every day until Christmas that doesn’t take much time?’

And out of a sudden a lightbulb moment:

‘I can do Thankmas instead, post about one thing I’m thankful for every day until Christmas, something I’m grateful about these last 12 months. There’s so much negativity, evil and sadness in this world, we sometimes forget how beautiful life can be and miss out on… living. Maybe if I remind myself what I’m thankful for and how weirdly wonderful life can be, it will bring some much needed light into my life. What a better way to say goodbye to 2019’.

It could be anything. A person, an experience, a book, a pet, a song, anything 2019 brought me. Maybe it will inspire others to do the same, who knows!

And here it is. I’m going to keep it short as my free time is running out (even on a Sunday).

On Day One I’d like to thank my parents for their endless love and support, particularly in 2019, when I decided to leave my well-paid job meaning I wouldn’t be able to support them financially for a while, even when I was being awfully grumpy and irritated with everything during my time back in Cyprus. Something they did very recently really got me and reminded me again how amazing parents are, especially mine.

EFL teaching jobs don’t pay particularly well in Europe so to avoid any unnecessary expenses I asked my mum a week ago to send me a couple of my clothes and a chocolate orange. Her and my dad arranged to not just buy, pack and send me everything I needed but of course they went over and beyond. A parcel arrived two days ago (just five days later) full of treats. I nearly cried. Love you mum. Love you dad.

How lucky am I to have such love and caring parents.

Eleni

Blogmas Day 25- A very Merry Christmas- Χρόνια Πολλά!

Merry Christmas, Χρόνια Πολλά everyone.

Nothing beats Christmas with my family, my parents, my three sisters and our dog Oscar.

After breakfast all together, parents started cooking (dad cooking, mum assisting), the three of us sat on the sofa watching Christmas films wearing our new Christmas socks, an annual sisterly tradition and Oscar is now sitting next to me, begging for cuddles.

I hope you all have a wonderful day with your loved ones and may all your Christmas wishes come true. I truly hope mine will!

Blogmas Day 24- Last Minute Christmas Shopping

Happy Christmas Eve!

I’m still suffering but I’m so happy I spent the day with my sisters, doing some last minute Christmas shopping.

I love that my sisters are my best friends and how we laugh with the silliest things.

That’s happiness for me. Special little moments with loved ones. Just by being with each other.

Now time to attempt for the six of us (parents, sisters and Oscar the great) to watch a film together, it rarely goes smoothly.

Last Blogmas tomorrow. I can’t believe I made it!

Eleni

Blogmas Day 23- Family time and Home Alone

I can’t remember the last time I had such a bad cold. But I’m at home so I can’t let it affect me much.

Yesterday was family time. Lunch with the sisters and afternoon with my cousin and her children, including my Little Prince, my godson.

In the evening it was Christmas films time and co-incidentally Home Alone was on TV, just perfect. We snuggled on the sofas and enjoyed a ridiculous amount of chocolate and melomakarona (Greek Christmas soft honey biscuits).

That’s what Christmas is all about. Family, laughter and lots of treats.

Eleni