Life // A bit boring

I'm afraid that todays storm has been a little bit of a letdown. The news said it would arrive around six in the evening and that it would be classified as code orange! We've had a fair amount of storms the past few months but I think this was the dullest one by far. I had told L to perhaps ask his boss if he could go home an hour early to avoid what could have been the start of the storm but that wasn't an option. Companies not caring about their employees? Nothing new there.

So far we've had some rain but that's not unusual in the Netherlands. A few interesting and promising pangs of wind right before seven but nothing since. I even went out to the grocery store for a little snack run. The worst thing that happened is that the back of my dress ended up a little wet. Ended up getting a little strawberry trifle and some plain Pringles. People online say sweet and salty is a good mix but I ended up eating them separately. 

The weather being better than expected didn't rouse me to go outside though. I've spent the day pottering around the house, cleaning and trying to figure out where I'm supposed to put the air purifier. It hasn't been used in months, maybe even years as far as I know but L refuses to get rid of it. 

I did get a few chapters done in the third Thursday Murder Club book today, it's very thrilling so far. But I thought I'd slow down a bit in order to enjoy it more. Otherwise I'll catch up in no time and when it comes to waiting for new books I've little patience. The fifth book was just released but it seems that the ones I've bought are from Penguin. I'll have to wait for them to release their edition, otherwise they won't match.

Once I've caught up I'll have to go back to my British Library Crime Classics for a bit. There are a fair few in the bookcase that I haven't read them. I'm reading them in order now, or at least the ones I have because I'm still missing a few. But I'm also -not- really looking forward to getting back into it because now I've gotten used to Richard Osman's writing.

I think he's a marvelous writer, you just swim through it really. And the characters are so lively. Going back to a more dull way of writing is going to be hard. It'll be like reading any plain old crime novel after having gone though a few Agatha Christie books. At the end you just think "Was that the solution? Agatha would have done it better" 

Overall I'm also not that pleased at books where the solution is by a character revealed in the third act. Well how was I supposed to solve it then? I didn't even know he existed! But the worst are really books that are written in a very complicated setting. If I have to memorize the layout of a full mansion in order for the manner of murder to be understandable I'm very much lost. I'm tired just thinking about it.

If the weather is alright tomorrow I may go out looking for LED tea lights. I have a few spaces in my room that would normally be for normal tea lights but I'd rather not start a fire. I've also been quite interested in those racks that you hang on the ceiling to dry herbs. It's very witchy, but a lot of those herbs also smell great. Would be great for dried orange slices too.

But for now I am quite looking forward to simply going to bed. It looks very comfortable right now. It is still a little early for bed, only a little past ten. And I still have a warm cup of tea next to me so maybe I'll aim for around eleven. 

- Lily

- Not sure where this is, but it seems like a nice peaceful life -

Life // Reading, reading, reading...

I'm afraid that I might have forgotten that I had a page here, and I haven't written anything for almost an entire year. I suppose it's fine because I don't think that anyone is reading this, so it's really more for myself than anyone else to begin with. This year I've been reading a lot and I've far exceeded my meager goal of reading twenty books. Well I've exceeded it by seven books, almost eight. I am currently on book number twenty seven. And if I am being honest, also on twenty eight and twenty nine but I've been trying to get through those books for a few months so they don't really count.

At the moment I'm clawing my way through the Thursday Murder Club series and I have to say I've been really enjoying it. It's funny really that I haven't discovered this series before. Or rather I had discovered it but it was not at the right moment. I also collect books in the British Library Crime Classics series but as I am rather lagging behind I have to try and find a lot of the books second hand.

As you may imagine entering 'murder' into the book section on Vinted gets quite a lot of results. And just a few months ago I was really annoyed that this little red book with a fox on it kept clogging up all of the pages! Imagine that. If I had just been a little bit more curious I could have started this series much earlier. Although considering that the first book was released in the dreaded year of 2020 I was lagging behind quite a bit already to begin with.

Anyway, the series is marvelous. I've just gone through it like butter melting in a hot pan. I read the first in a week, the second in three days and I started the third yesterday. I imagine I will finish it tomorrow because the weather will be horrific (Code orange storm!) and I have a package set to be delivered. So that's my day set as a cozy day in I suppose, not that I wanted anything else.

The book is right up my alley. I love it when elderly people do fun things and I especially love it when they get involved in murders! Over the years I've loved my Miss Marple books and adaptations (I've just gone through a boxset of the Joan Hickson series) and I also liked Rosemary and Thyme. Although they weren't quite elderly yet I believe.

But I do love this series. It tackles quite series crimes, well murder obviously but it also delves deep into all of these little thoughts that all of us have. And the characters are so well structured, they seem like people I'd love to be friends with. Haven't watched the recent film adaption yet though, although I imagine I may be able to fit it into this week.

I did see that they've cast Pierce Brosnan as Ron? Apologies to the man but I find that to be an offense quite close to being criminal. I've always imagined Ron as this rugged working class, perhaps bald (Or balding?) man you could find outside of a local chippy before a football game. Pierce doesn't quite fit the bill, he's much to suave. Maybe watching it will change my mind, but I doubt it! The other characters appear to be closer to my visions for them.

What it all boils down too, the books are written from the perspective of each character and some side characters but also in the form of Diary entries by Joyce. She reminds me of an aunt that I could have had. Reading those chapters made me feel quite happy, they're so captivating yet also mundane.

When I was younger I also had various blogs and I always felt like I needed to have a topic, or some kind of angle. But this isn't an episode of the news and I'm hardly a product so I can just write about whatever I want right? It would feel much more natural too, and as nothing really happens to me anyway normally I wouldn't have anything to write about anyway.

I'd like to start treating this blog as much more of a diary, as Joyce would do it. I think that if you are going to start looking at fictional characters for inspiration it's perfectly alright to choose a kind and shy retired nurse with a growing knack for solving crimes. I always thought on the inside I was pushing eighty years old already. Unfortunately for myself I almost never correctly guess who the killer is but you can't have it all.

So I'd like to say, let's see each other soon again as I intended and not in a few months time! Can't make promises after all but I'll try my best.

- Lily

- Unrelated, but this is where I'd like to solve crimes -

Life // Another year done

 The 31st of December 2024

It's already the end of the year! I will admit to being a bit blind sided by this year, it doesn't feel like we are already at the finish line of a whole calendar year. I think in my own mind we may still be lingering around somewhere in October? Maybe I've been daydreaming a bit too much and I've lost the plot somewhere along the way.

Still, I'd like to think I had a pretty pleasant year if I look back at it. These days I think that every single year I get a firmer grasp on who I am as a person and what kind of things that I enjoy. Every year my room becomes just a little cozier and just a little more pleasant. Even right now I have all these little ideas here and there how to maximize my comfort for the coming months, which will still be a little cold.

Just the other day, on the 29th, I celebrated my birthday. For the most part I had a lovely quiet day inside of the house which is exactly how I like them to be. Of course I did have a little pitstop at my parents for a cup of tea and to receive my gifts. This year I received two beautiful Joni Mitchell records, I've been really enjoying her reissues on colored vinyl. I am particularly looking forward to Night Ride Home to be released at some point in time which has one of my favorite songs called Two Grey Rooms.

In any case this year I once again found out how you can find connections in music. I spend a fair amount of time pottering around on various Kate Bush forums and pages, just chatting about her works and what I would hope the next one would sound like. However just this year I began speaking to a lovely fan called Thomas more often, we both share a deep love for her music and it's been wonderful being able to rattle on about all of the little details that may bore our everyday friends to a slow death.

And on the Kate Bush forum on tapatalk I received a lovely birthday message from another user, we share the same birthday but in vastly different decades and he felt like it would be nice to send a message. I was thrilled to receive it! He forwarded me a lovely song connected to another artist that I had expressed a love for and it was just so sweet to receive it. I really do wish the best for people who take the time out of their day to send kindness to someone else. 

Of course I did reply to wish him a very joyful birthday as well. I hope he had a very pleasant day. I told him that this time of the year in some way is my favorite. The holidays have passed, our birthdays are over and we only have the New Years celebrations right in front of us. However after the festivities have lost their spark we just have the cold winter left in front of us.

I often find that this time of the year is the most important for self care, and to find something to carry us over to the beginning warmth of spring. I like to make additional efforts to find new music in this period as music is truly the balm for the soul in many ways. This is also why I was so happy to be forwarded some music, the path to new discoveries started early this year! 

As for the coming new year. I hope that anyone who finds themselves on this page by accident will have the most joyful 2025. We are all probably a little worried about the future but on a day to day basis we can only try to find joy in the small things, and to be kind to all of the people in our surroundings. And then hopefully we can all find a brighter future to look forward too.

I have no particular goals for the new year to come. I'd like to remain active, and to perhaps venture out into nature a little bit more. Although maybe I'll do that when the good weather returns to me?

- Unrelated, but I'd love to live somewhere like here. A nice quiet life - 

Life // Breathing, in out in out..

The 11th of November 2024

It's been a while since my last post! I had not really made the conscious effort to not make new entries but it just sort of happened I suppose. Every once in a while it is a good idea to take a little break even if you didn't intend on taking one, especially in the chillier months. The sun is setting so early now and at times this does feel a little demotivating. I think I will personally feel a little warmer when the first Christmas decorations will appear.

I'll admit that I've tried to write out this post a few times now but every single time that I looked back on what I had written I felt like it was so chaotic. Bits and pieces about work being difficult, reflections on loose leaf tea and candles that smelt too sweet. I just think that the last few months have been a little hectic for me and now I feel like my spirit is a bit scrambled which was reflected in my writing.

Maybe writing it out was a little cathartic but I don't feel like any of it was really coherent enough to fling out into the wide open world. I don't really set out to have all of my entries have a specific topic but I'd like it to at least have a certain flow to it all. I guess the flow to this entry will be a little wavy, I don't think it's a bad thing. Life isn't always perfectly pleasant but mine is alright at the moment. The water is just a little harsher than usual.

So I've just been kind to myself lately, I've been planning in my free days for the rest of the year and trying to think on how I can ensure that I'll have a calmer 2025. I'm currently in a project at work that is rewarding but not sustainable for long periods. I'd love to find another project where I can have a deeper insight into certain aspects of the job but one that is less focused on excessive productivity.

I've also been active in trying to make sure that my bedroom is really only filled with the items that make me the happiest. I've gotten some silly little ceramic mushrooms with lights on the inside. They're rather silly looking, little chubby mushrooms but they do look very sweet. I think I'm very much in my forest wandering era at the moment.

To add to the effect I've also gotten some lovely faux greenery for the empty spaces. At a local furniture store I bought some branches that are just lovely. I bought two that mimic the popular Chinese lantern plant, one in a creamy beige and the other in a more orange tinted brown. Another branch seems to be fashioned after the firethorn bush, this one is a lovely orange shade though. It really cheers up the corner of my desk, although currently they're tucked between the desk and the wall as I don't have a proper vase yet. A tiny potted plant and a candle hide the strange placement.

As per usual I am also always listening to music, which is really the best way to soothe my nerves in any type of situation. I've been making an effort to look into listening to new music (At least, new to me) and I've discovered some wonderful artists to add to my library. One of those is Happy Rhodes, I've been having a great time delving into her extensive discography.

She has a marvelous voice, she has been compared to Kate Bush and I can definitely hear this. In a lot of her songs she can sound eerily similar. However they're still very different artists despite both being very rooted in the raw human emotion and our connection to nature. Maybe in a future post I'll delve a little deeper into some of my favorite tracks.

However right now I believe it's time for a cup of warm tea and maybe a little sweet snack. I'll spend the rest of the evening relaxing and trying to get over my rather persistent cold. I may watch a movie if my energy levels can take on the concentration effort, we'll see. 

- Quite unrelated, but I feel like this picture describes the warmth that I'd like to feel from fall -

Life // Wandering Around

The 18th of July 2024

Lately, in the spirit of being healthy, I've been wandering around aimlessly a lot to get my steps in. I feel like only a handful of years ago I used to consider myself such a city person but now I'm really not that sure anymore. I love the convenience of it all but I feel much better surrounded by peace and quiet nowadays. It's a bit weird how much you can change over a short period of time I guess, maybe it will all settle back around and I'll emotionally end up in the city again?

Living in Amsterdam can be really difficult. It's very charming but it's also incredibly busy. Some people refer to it as a theme park these days. There are too many tourist and because of that it seems that slowly all stores that go bankrupt (Due to increasing costs) are being replaced with tourist traps instead. Or in general stores that have no use for people that actually live here...

I didn't notice it all that much until the pandemic hit. In those early days I liked to spend a lot of time outside because it was suddenly very quiet. Walking around in the city center had a totally different feel than before, it was really odd. Places that were always crowded were basically empty now. Before that time, and a little during that time I was still eager to find a house right in the middle of all the hustle and bustle. I wanted to live somewhere where exciting things would happen! 

Which to begin with, is absolutely dumb, because I am definitely the type of person to open a window to see who is making such a terrible noise. I'm much better off watching excitement from far away but not having it on my doorstep. I think it's also amusing how many black metal artists live out in small towns or in the rural countryside. They seem to have a pretty deep connection with nature. Maybe it's all the noise from their productions that make them desire the quiet though? I still like their music though.

In any case, nowadays I like to take my walks through quiet areas of the city or preferably in nature. The issue is that I am a little lazy so I don't always venture too far. There is a park not that far from my house which has a lot of very pleasant areas but I feel like I've seen it too much lately. I think in a previous entry I spoke about wanting to go to the forest but so far I've not been successful in that adventure. 

I should really be going because there are goats there, and just a lot more ground that I have not discovered at all. But I'd have to get my bicycle out as well since don't really want to take the tram there, or something like the bus. I could make a deal with my best friend to go there together since it's marvelous for her dog as well but I'd still have to go all the way to her house. Life is so difficult...

Aside from all of this, I put in a request for a really nice apartment in the east of the city. It's not really my ideal location but it's in a quiet area and there are a lot of stores nearby which would be great for daily life essentials. 

And the apartment itself is really just too cute! It's a one bedroom apartment but it has a sort of split level/loft situation going on. The loft is mentioned as being more for storage but I think the height is roughly 172cm which is a little higher than my height. It sure doesn't look like that on the photos but they might be deceptive. I hope I'll at least get an invite to look at the place because it would be marvelously charming to have all my beautiful furniture in there...

I suppose we will see what will happen. Positive thoughts in any case! In the mean time I'll keep wandering about the trees and the grass.

- This would be my ideal living location at the moment, I can dream a little -