CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR


I should start this by saying that although the title of this post says Christmas, it's not going to be about the extravagant gift giving, or the massive roast dinner, or the "food coma" everyone seems to be experiencing - because that's not how Christmas works in my house. I have spent 4 days spending as little time as possible moving from my bed. Everything has now been moved out from my flat and plastered all over my room like a fairy has sneezed glitter. There is little room to move, clothes flood the floor and I have random items of memorabilia sprouting from the carpets. Saying that, as you'd imagine having to clear up the fairy sneeze, it's rather like my room - static and feeling like a lot of effort. It's funny, but at the same time it's becoming a bit of a nusience.


It's the first time I've really relaxed since getting my full time job, which coincidentally requires quite a lot of effort...and because I hate having a poor work-life balance, meaning that I'm constantly running around for gigs and meals out. Being able to sit still for 5 minutes means that actually I'm pretty worn out. This year has been one of those years, I've moved out the house, then moved back in and going into hotels, I've explored the North West and driven up and down the M6 in disgusting weather. It all sounds pretty eventful and I've written a lot in my blog this year about what it's like to move away from home, doing 2 trips across Europe and planning more for 2016. It seems like a pretty big whirlwind.

I now know how to turn heating on and off, fix a boiler that had insufficient pressure and have two duvets because one is definitely for summer and one for winter. To my dismay, I paid for a cleaner for my flat, and an oven cleaner - because to my surprise the oven door isn't actually a brown colour at all. I've met a lot of good people, through work or in Band, or in flute choir - and because the majority are Northern I've picked up a lot of slang which I perhaps shouldn't have. It's a shame I keep getting reminded that I'm not from the North.

The possibility of moving back down south again next year has been quite daunting, house prices are really expensive (the average in Oxford being £450,000), and renting is just extortionate. But I suppose this year has taught me that I can budget and that I can work with what I've got, whilst saving money on the side, it's just a shame that it feels like it has all gone a bit too quickly. I still wear clothes that I've picked up from vintage fairs, shops and occasionally an actual fashion retailer.

I never get particularly personal on this blog when it comes to what's going on, but I think this is about all you're going to get. I hope 2016 brings as many challenges as 2015 did, but please less of the rain, I'm bored of getting soggy feet!

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