christmas – Page 6 – Lessons I learned after I turned 30

Blogmas day 21- Flying home for Christmas

I woke up with upset stomach and hoping I won’t be sick. But I’m on my way to the airport.

I can’t wait. I can’t wait until the plane lands in Larnaca and I run outside to hug my sisters.

By the time you get to read this I might be home already.

Going home twice or three times a year if I’m lucky is vital for my mental wellbeing. Being with my people, my loved ones, the ones who know me better than anyone else, the ones I don’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not because I don’t have to is one of the very few things that makes me happy, unconditionally. That’s what home means to me. Being with people who make you feel you can be yourself and enjoy each moment.

Every time I visit I come back with a newly found desire and surge of energy to move on and chase my dreams. It reminds me of who I really am, what I’m capable of and how no matter what happens my friends and family will always be there, even if they are thousands of miles away. They’ll always believe in me.

I’m getting emotional already.

Just before I go, I want to thank my amazing Southampton friends and colleagues, I love you all and I can’t wait to catch up in 2018.

Next post will be tomorrow, from Cyprus whilst chilling on the sofa with a cup of coffee, Anna snuggled next to me and and Oscar sitting on my lap. Pure bliss.

Namaste

Eleni

Blogmas day 20- Last Christmas meal and goodbyes

A morning Blogmas today for a change.

I’ll be at work all day and in the evening our team and special friends are going out for a three course meal at Carnicero. I haven’t had a steak for ages, last time it was in Florence, the infamous Bistecca Alla Fiorentina and I can’t wait for dinner time. Carnicero has great reviews and one of the harshest food critics I personally know, Mark Dixon approves, so I have high expectations. I hope it won’t disappoint.

After dinner I’m rushing home to pack the last few things before catching the morning train to Gatwick tomorrow. I love airports. People hugging, saying goodbye, leaving, going somewhere, coming home, crying, laughing. And at Christmas time it always reminds me of the airport scenes in Love Actually. People going or coming home to spend Christmas with their nearest and dearest. I cry every time.

I enjoy Blogmas, I really do but it takes up a lot of time and effort. I’m mentally and physically exhausted. I look forward to Blogmas day 25. After that I’ll take a break from Social Media but the occasional tweet or photo from my wonderful home island.

I’d like to write a post reflecting back on 2017, it’s been an amazing year with many ups and downs and I’m hoping to do that just before 2018 is here.

The only thing I want to share with you now, something I often remind myself when my mum will get over excited sending me messages of love, is to appreciate and shower with love the people who love you, help you and support you, whatever happens. Those are the ones who really matter.

Today is the last time I’ll see Andi for a while since he is leaving Solent tomorrow. I love you and I’ll really really miss not seeing you every day. You are the older brother I’ve always wanted. You are an amazing human and I have no doubt you’ll do amazing in London. They are lucky to have you.

Next blog will be posted on my way home!

Namaste

Eleni

Blogmas day 19- Christmas cards

The last few days are going too fast.

Last day at work tomorrow before I fly home on Thursday and I’m already exhausted. Fingers and toes crossed I will not catch a cold again as soon as I get home and relax.

I spent almost two hours last night and another half hour this morning writing Christmas cards. I wasn’t planning on doing any this year but since this might be my last Christmas at Solent I wanted to send Christmas wishes to all my lovely colleagues in A101 and elsewhere at the Uni. Sorry if you didn’t receive any, my box of 50 quickly ran out.

Not sure I’ll be able to blog over the next couple of days, but I’m hoping I’ll do.

Today Shebz and I probably had our last cup of tea at Mettricks. The amount of time we spent there the two of us chatting away, occasionally joined by great friends. It really is the end of an era.

I’ll be out tomorrow night for another Christmas meal, this time at Carnicero Steak House on Oxford street and I can’t wait. I’ll blog about it from Cyprus later in the week as I won’t get the time tomorrow.

On Thursday I’ll be travelling for most part of the day but I’ll try and blog from one of my favourite places, the airport.

I’m taking each day as it comes from now on otherwise I’ll be in tears with all the changes and goodbyes coming up.

Thank you to my UK mum Donna for her thoughtful Christmas gift. Love you!

Sorry for all my friends I didn’t get to see before Christmas. I don’t know how it’s the 19th of December already.

Love you all.

Eleni

Blogmas day 18- Singing and homemade Baileys

Today was a different Monday.

It went so fast I didn’t even realise.

In the afternoon the Staff Choir sang at the Vice Chancellor’s Staff Christmas reception. It was the first time we performed without Dan and we were worried we might mess up, forget the lyrics, sing the wrong parts, we feared for the worst.

But I’m so proud of us, I think Dan would have been proud for us too. We did really well, especially at Superheroes by the Script, the song we were most anxious about, we nailed it!

After catching up with lovely colleagues at the reception (LOVED the Gingerbread ice-cream) and some work in the afternoon, just before I was about to leave for home, I had a glass of Pauline’s infamous homemade Baileys, without a doubt the most delicious Baileys I’ve ever tasted.

For some reason I feel surprisingly optimistic today. Maybe it’s because I’m finally making changes I want to and today again I felt the love of the people around me.

I sometimes get caught up in this vicious circle of self-defeating thoughts and forget to acknowledge and appreciate the lovely humans who love me for who I am. It’s making my decision whether to leave or not next year harder. I guess I’ll wait and see. Who knows what might happen. All that matters to me is to be happy doing something I love, if that’s in Southampton, that’s not the end of the world. It feels like home after all these years.

Thank you to my choir friends and colleagues for today, it’s been a great day.

I can’t believe it will be Christmas in a week’s time!

Eleni

Blogmas day 17- Singing in the Square (and emotional hangover)

Other than a light headache, aching feet and tiredness my body felt OK yesterday.

But my mind. Oh dear. Emotional hangovers are real (scientifically proven for the sceptics out there) and much worse than physical ones. It wasn’t just me, it seems some of my favourites struggled too.

I’d rather have a headache, I’d rather be sick. I felt sad, confused, emotional. I wasn’t sure if I’d make it to Singing in the Square, all I wanted was cuddles with my loved ones but since that’s not possible until Thursday, the best alternative I could think was to go to sleep to stop the invading, upsetting thoughts.

After a long self-debate I ventured outside. Crispy cold fresh air always helps. I was incredibly late and missed the first half but I joined my old SingNow pals at Mettricks for a quick cuppa before their second performance. It was so nice to see everyone. Thank you for reading my posts every day Pat, I hope the new Star Wars did not disappoint!

I spent today resting, (my calf hurts so badly it took me 20 minutes to pop to the shop) as it’s the last full day I have to myself in 2017. I’m flying home on Thursday and I’m not back until the 2nd of January, 2018. That’s exactly what I need. A break out of the Southampton life bubble to clear my mind up whilst enjoying my Cyprus giant hug for 10 days, with friends, family, food, Christmas movies, snacks, laughter and cuddles.

Now it’s time to pack my bag, check in my flight and try to forget about everything else.

Only a week to Christmas eve folks!

I can’t wait.

Eleni

Blogmas day 16- The Christmas party

My feet hurt. A lot. But all worth it.

Last night the Solent annual Christmas party took place at the Spark. The usual gang and I look forward to every year. It’s always good fun. And this year was more special than others.

It was my bestie’s last Christmas party as she is going away in less than a month and I’m hoping it was my last one. Shebz and I had amazing adventures, pleasant and unpleasant surprises, countless stories. We danced, we drank, we laughed, we cried. She’s been my partner in crime for over two years now and there are not enough words to describe how incredibly grateful I am to have this person in my life.

Some of our fondest memories are from the Solent Christmas party and last night we created even more with some of our favourite people.

One of the night’s highlights was our impromptu Shut up and Dance singing whilst waiting to take a snap in the photo booth with the Staff Choir peeps.

A big thank you to the Solent Conference Centre staff for their amazing work, organising, decorating and service. I wish I worked in a similar job, what a lovely feeling it must be to see people’s smiles and enjoyment after spending endless hours to prepare everything so they’ll have an amazing time.

Shout out to two of my favourite ladies, Helen and Lou and Finance Genius and all round cool guy Jamie from the Solent Staff Scene who organised our beautiful party.

Thank you for all the compliments on my hair and outfit! Hair was done by my lovely stylist Vicki at Haringtons on Bedford place and the dress, which I absolutely loved and swirled and merrily danced in it all night feeling like a princess is from Boohoo.

After a bit of rest I’ll be heading to Guildhall Square around 5pm, to join my SingNow friends for some festive singing, supporting a great cause, the Rose Road Association. If you are about come over for a sing along. Come say hi!

Eleni

Blogmas day 15- Christmas jumper day

Happy Christmas Jumper Day!

I get a new Christmas jumper every year for the last 3-4 years. I just love them. I want my children and grandchildren if I ever have any to have a collection of mum’s and granny’s Christmas jumpers.

Today was a good day. It was fun, we had a laugh admiring each other’s Christmas jumpers and we had lots of chocolate and other festive treats.

It was lovely to see my old colleague Jo who dropped in with her adorable three year old. She smiled at me and gave me a hug as soon as she saw me. I don’t know why, but I get along with babies and children much better than adults!

Now it’s time to get ready for our last Solent Christmas party. All my favourites except my dear Andi will be there, I love you Andi! it’s bound to be a good night.

I’m leaving you with my favourite jumpers of the day, Mike’s Stranger Things (my favourite out of all I’ve seen today) and A101’s jingling office elves (although Rob looks more like a thug, Rob the Robber). I hope we raised a decent amount of money for Save the Children.

Eleni

Blogmas day 14- The first Christmas meal

It’s not 5 o’ clock yet and I’m home, snuggled on my sofa. There’s so much to do and I will get on with it but for now I’m enjoying this precious time. I’m never at home that early, unless I’m off sick or I have other obligations.

The morning was over in a flash. I finished a piece of work I urgently needed to for a meeting tomorrow and I spent the rest of the time laughing with colleagues, smiles and cuddles with the gorgeous little Chloe, the happiest baby I’ve ever met, I love it every time she visits, and then it was time for our team Christmas meal. The last time we all had a Christmas meal together before the new AS structure kicks in next year.

Some people were shaken, others baffled and worried. I care about my colleagues but I’m sure everything will be OK. I have no strong feelings. I really don’t. I’m hoping, fingers and toes crossed that everything will go to plan and I’d be doing something different, much more exciting in 6 months time.

Back to our lunch, the first Christmas meal for 2017. The lovely Leanne organised a Christmas Lunch at All Bar One, at the Watermark complex. They had the most interesting menu compared to the other options and we were offered free Prosecco, I was excited about it.

I’ve never eaten at All Bar One before, I usually go there for a drink as I prefer a restaurant, ideally local/independent when it comes to dining. But I love the interior design especially the bright orange sofas and the service is always good when it comes to drinks.

It wasn’t today. I’m not sure if it’s because they only had one waiter (it wasn’t that busy) but it took them two and a half hours to serve a pre-ordered three course meal. And it wasn’t that good unfortunately.

The starter, mushrooms on bruschetta tasted as if they came out of a tin and they were cold, were they supposed to be served cold?

The main was OK. The turkey and the veg were nice, nothing mind blowing and I have the sneaky suspicion the roast potatoes and yorkshire pudding were pre-made. The cranberry sauce looked like poo and it was definitely not freshly prepared.

The best dish was Ajay’s cheesecake. It was tasty and the secret layer of chocolate was a pleasant surprise but it was a little bit too sweet for my liking. Warm cream would have made it better.

We could have had better food for the amount of money we paid but it wasn’t all about the food today. I loved spending time with Emily, Suze, Matt, Suzanne, Sati and the rest of the gang, sharing Christmas and other funny stories and having a laugh.

Now it’s time for some girly things, tidying up and rest before Christmas Jumper day and the Christmas party tomorrow night. I cannot wait for our Christmas do, forget about all my worries and drink and dance the night away with some of my favourite people.

Thank you to all the lovely people who are reading my blog, it always makes my day when I bump into someone who is following my posts and tell me all about it.

Eleni

Blogmas Day 13- Are we there yet?

Is it Christmas yet?

I don’t know about you, but I’m already exhausted. All I want to do is to stay in bed all day, wrapped up in my duvet. I can’t do that until the weekend. If I get the time.

The Christmas gifts have all but one arrived and wrapped, everything is sorted for the work Christmas do and at the weekend I’ll be prepping my luggage for my Christmas home adventure.

All I need to do now is get through this week until next Thursday and I’ll be finally home so I can forget all about my favourite people leaving soon, my flat move and all the worries, organising and packing that comes with it-if anyone wants to help I won’t say no- and a million other thoughts on my mind keeping me up at night.

It’s going to be a short one today because I need to rest and unwind with my guitar and some yoga.

A big big thank you to everyone who prepared and dropped their care packages in A101 over the last couple of days and thank you to the lovely Molly who collected them in the afternoon. They will be given out to the homeless at the food bank this coming Monday.

I look forward to our team lunch and half day off tomorrow. I hope Ajay’s infamous cheesecake lives up to our expectations!

Namaste

Eleni

Blogmas day 11- Decision day.

I struggled to decide how to start this post. Ironic given the theme of today’s Blogmas.

The big news today: I handed in my notice for my flat. I’m officially moving into a shared flat with my friendly and already super helpful flatmate. If all goes well.

As soon as I messaged my landlord I started panicking. What if something goes wrong and I end up with nowhere to live? But once again he has been incredibly lovely and replied by saying if anything goes wrong I’m welcome to stay here. I really hope he doesn’t turn bad. I have had landlords that tried to get all my deposit using silly excuses although they’ve been great and lovely throughout the tenancy. I hope he is not that kind of person.

Although it’s scary, I am excited to be moving. Fresh start, more money saving and I’ll have much more space. I’ve already came up with things I want to do at the new place I couldn’t do here like having plants. I can’t wait.

At lunchtime I went for a flat viewing, this time not for myself but for my fellow Cypriot who is moving to Southampton next month. I think we found the one! It is so much easier to make decisions and way clearer on what the best options are when it comes to others. When personal feelings, emotions and thoughts don’t rudely interfere with common sense it all becomes crystal clear.

On a different note, today I received my first Christmas cards. That means we are getting closer and closer to Christmas!

Although Blogmas consumes a lot of my free time and is more like a personal journal rather than Christmas related posts, it’s been amazing so far. Sitting down at the end of the day and reflecting has been deeply therapeutic. I sometimes forget that others are actually reading this.

Thank you to everyone who’s been following my first Blogmas attempt.

Today I’ll leave you with a beautiful tune by Kira Grannis. Magical vocals and the lyrics hit home.

Namaste

Eleni