Wednesday 9 January 2013

Blogging is better than shoes!!!

When I started this blog, some 5 years ago, I never thought I would stick to it... I mean, I have had my share of drop-outs in my life and there was that gym membership I bought for a full year and then I only went once so I was secretly afraid that I would just give this up a few months down the road too... But I didn't! And I came to loving it so much! And it certainly isn't for the money it makes me -not a cent all this time- or the fame, I still remain mostly anonymous and I'm quite happy with this. No, this is not me cooking Julia Child's recipes and having thousands of hits everyday...

But what it is it's me sharing my life! Trying to focus on the positive things in my life and trying to make my small difference in this world by hopefully inspiring another person, yes, even if only one, perhaps helping another person or making them laugh or think or disagree with me or just keeping them company... It's not much but it is my little stone in helping build a more humane society and also my way of helping myself  from not becoming really depressed and bitter and disappointed of my life.

And every now and then I get a lovely comment here, some wishes, a thank you perhaps and it brightens my rainy days, it puts a smile on my face and it makes me feel I'm not alone, I'm not a lunatic blabbering about my oven or my trips or my thoughts... and for those moments I'm eternally grateful!! It's such a warm feeling I can not really describe... It's better than any red sole anyone could possibly own... Better than any pair of shoes, I guarantee you ;) 

Tuesday 8 January 2013

back to work...

Please, do not dismiss it immediately... I mean, I know, going back to work after (long) holidays is not per se "better than shoes"... I know we all would very much like to still be on the sofa with a classic film on the TV (my favourite for these Xmas was "Singing in the rain"), good company, a nice big bowl of chocolates at hand's length and not a worry in the world, not even for those damn chocolates that will stay with me at least until Easter (yep, most of them in my thighs....)

I know that going back to work is difficult... but, since it is my first day back to work (and please, do not jump into conclusions that I have been spending it blogging... it is not entirely true...) I thought I try to see the bright side of it and share it with you. Well, for starters, I had to actually get dressed and put some make up on not to mention my spectacular new Jil Sander loafers with the fluo pink stripe that I got from Santa ;) It felt good to get off those sweatpants finally! And then, I got here, kisses and best wishes from all the colleagues who are also my friends (and silence from those who are just colleagues, which, come to think of it is gold...) and smiles and chats. And then breakfast, with my usual suspects, the best company one can have to star the day!

Then, after some work, lunch with my best Greek friend here, first time for 2013, fun, news, gossip, a bit of nagging... ah, this cosy feeling of a warm friendship that is like our favourite blanket, protecting and comforting and so loved! And plans for a coffee later with another good friend, who is also my fashion advisor (she is the one wo made me put a bit of colour in my wardrobe and I thank her for that) and between all that some more work, some urgent things, some administration but ok, no doubt I am keeping it light for the first day.

Now you may still disagree and think that the first day at work after the holidays, plainly sucks... Sorry to hear that, sorry to hear yours is (was) such a bummer but mine, today, is not half bad I tell'ya ;) So, if you are having a bad day, call a friend and have a coffee with them, chat a bit, you might find that your day is not a total disaster after all...

Friday 4 January 2013

my oven rocks!!!

Today's post, dear readers, is dedicated to my oven. I know, most of you are already clicking away from my blog because of that but for the rest who will keep on reading, and for being true to my promise that I will be writing about all the positive things that I encounter in my life in this blog, I will continue...

I have lived for 5 years in a house with no oven... I mean, I did have a poor excuse of a "combi" microwave/oven which was good in neither of these functions!! It would not work properly as a microwave (I normally used a small one I had extra) and it would certainly not work as an oven! It just would not cook the food!! To top it all up, it was so tiny I had to go and buy tiny pans to fit in it which of course would not even accommodate a meal for two... Nightmare... 5 years spent like this... Now, you have to bare in mind that I am Greek!! We love oven roasted food, meat and potatoes and pies and moussaka and baked desserts and so much more... hard... very hard 5 years I tell you...

And now in the new place, I have an oven... a great oven!!! Big and functioning and the type that makes delicious food only by choosing a program and it does the rest of the work! It warms up my bread and makes it so tasty and it cooks a roasted chicken I never had before and I look forward to baking in it and trying all my recipes and... oh, I know, I know this all sounds incredibly trivial but... what is happiness if not a series of happy moments and I have had a lot of them thanks to my oven lately!! And that is better than shoes and it deserves a post! ;)

PS. A very very happy new year to all of you!!