#winterinathens2017

[lambsios]

Well dear, if you want a ride, better face the other way 😉 I did things the other way round as well. Just couldn't face the living room table - it's piled high with all sorts of junk. So instead I cleared up the bedroom & bathroom - will leave the tough stuff for tomorrow & sketch out my picture tonight. I'm so happy to have some motivation to create something again. It seems I've been blocked forever #Feb2017 #lambisstory #catonmoped #winterinathens2017 (at Glyfáda, Greece)

[lambsios]

Haha! I managed to while the morning away happily procrastinating. Yes, I went for a short walk, but couldn't go far as my legs are aching from yesterday. Stopped off for a coffee, was dreaming of Ios & started #playingwithapps. At least I reminded myself of one thing: no use straightening my hair as the slightest bit of moisture in the air makes it frizz up. Back home now & making a concerted effort to tackle the kitchen & the living room. Can't allow myself to procrastinate any longer. Tomorrow it's the turn of the bedroom & the bathroom - creating my new picture will have to wait till I get to Ios #Feb2017 #moi #pictureblend #instashapes #winterinathens2017 #procrastinationoverfortoday (at Γρηγόρης "Ελληνικό")

[lambsios]

Decided to go for the "just got out of bed" look today & straightened my hair a bit. Anything to delay clearing up - procrastination wins every time! Will procrastinate further & go for a walk & then deal with the chores #Feb2017 #moi #winterinathens2017 #springisfinallycoming #lifeisgood (at Ellinikón, Greece)

[lambsios]

Happy Monday, have a good week friends. Walking through Glyfada yesterday I was happy to see many signs that spring is finally coming. There were lemons in the lemon trees, the mimosa trees were in full bloom, wild flowers were starting to show their faces & there was a certain scent in the air to say that spring was on its way. Hope it arrives soon, I'm so over winter! Will spend today clearing up a bit, but will definitely also go for a walk to breathe in the spring's energy #Feb2017 #lambisstory #winterinathens2017 #springisfinallycoming (at Glyfáda, Greece)

[lambsios]

Wow! What a sky! Taken from my balcony. No, I didn't relax after my long walk, I got a lot of chores done. Then I gave myself a facial, coloured my hair & made myself a juice. A simple one this time: green apples, pomegranate & ginger - yum! I can see I'm going to have to get a juicer on Ios - I've become addicted despite the hassle of cleaning it. Think I'll call it a day now & retire to bed. Thoroughly enjoyed today #Feb2017 #lambisstory #winterinathens2017 #sunsetoverelliniko #lifeisgood (at Ellinikón, Greece)

[lambsios]

#throwback to when I was a child (I'm not sure what age). Even then I used to smile a lot. Well let me be honest, I also cried & threw temper tantrums quite a bit too. Not an easy kid to raise! But I like to think my passion for life & all its ups & downs has continued throughout my journey in life. I still smile a lot. Today has been amazing so far. First I reread a poem by e e cummings: i carry you in my heart. It gave me an idea for a picture I'd like to make. I've been so blocked on the creative side recently. Far more amazing a dear friend of mine phoned - I haven't spoken to him for nearly a year. It gave me great joy to hear from him again & have a long chat - lifted my spirits no end. Perhaps we'll be able to meet before I go over to Ios. I will always remember how kind he was to me while Uli was ill & the great favour he did me when Uli died. I met him through IG initially before we met up in real life. How lucky I am to have met so many wonderful people through different ways. Thoroughly chuffed I'm walking down to Glyfada to find Yummy Wok & have a meal #Feb2017 #lambisstory #memories #winterinathens2017 #lifeisgood (at Yummy Wok)

[lambsios]

Happy Sunday friends! Mimosa tree blooming in the garden. It's amazing how quickly nature responds to a few sunny days. Not so sunny today but I'll walk down to Glyfada a bit later & check out an Asian place where a FB friend works for a spot of lunch. I find it easier to walk when I have an end destination to egg me on. Spring is coming #Feb2017 #lambisstory #winterinathens2017 #springisontheway #mimosatreeingarden (at Ellinikón, Greece)

[lambsios]

#throwback to when I was in my 20s. It's been a bad morning so far. I was going about my everyday life quite contentedly when I was engulfed in a wave of grief so strong that it left me in complete meltdown. Is this normal? I don't know what triggered it. I'm not sure that looking back into the past through various apps is a good thing. Yet on the other hand my memories are precious to me & my past life has made me what I am today. In this pic I had just got back to London after working a season on Ios. I hadn't elevated my status there to working in restaurants or bars yet; I was working down in the port as a dishwasher. In those days there was a terrible water shortage & all the dishes & glasses were washed in a huge barrel of water that only got changed every 2 days. How the punters didn't get ill, I don't know! I ended up with bad eczema but nothing worse. I spent that winter in London doing various odd jobs so that I could save enough money to go back to Ios & work another season. I worked in the canteen of the Guardian newspaper changing & cleaning the coffee machines, fly posting for mini cab drivers & anything else that would bring me in some cash. My mother was horrified: you studied at a prestigious London University to end up doing this! she'd say. I could only get her to shut up by directing her to her favourite author - George Orwell & his book Down and Out in Paris and London. It worked. So when young friends moan that I'm so lucky to live on Ios, I agree with them but point out I worked hard to live the way I do now when I'm older & retired. I went on to meet Uli & start on one of the most marvellous adventures ever as well as the most beautiful love affair which lasted until he passed. I posted this pic to remind myself that I'm resilient and that there's a happy woman living inside the sadness. Yes, I'm grateful for that. Time to pull myself out of my funk & smile and laugh again. After all, I'm going back to my magic island next week #Feb2017 #lambisstory #winterinathens2017 #memories #imstrongerthanwhatithink #imissyousomuchmylovely