The view from my window

The view from my window
The view from my window

Sunday 23 January 2022

Could do better!

I don't know what's come over me lately but I've been as lazy as hell and I don't like it one bit! I just can't be arsed to do much of anything right now. Oh I cook because I need to eat, and I keep things tidy (enough) but when I consider how much time I have I'm amazed at how little I'm getting done at the moment. I mean, I bought the paint to repaint the bathroom unit (love the colour), but I've only been plodding along at the rate of about an hour a day. I never was one to knuckle down and "just get the damn thing done" anyway as I prefer to potter, but to take this long to empty and paint a single unit? Seriously???? My bad habit is to get up and start listening to the news/podcasts while eating breakfast - and then I go down that bloody rabbit hole and before I know it three hours have flown by. So I have to admit I felt like one of the Enigma code breakers at Bletchley Park the other day when I realized I could actually take the computer into the bathroom and listen to podcasts while I am painting!!! I know, it's genius isn't it! I don't know why I've been so lazy lately but I'm hoping I can shake myself out of it soon because there really is so much I could be getting on with. Or maybe it's just that I don't have enough to do. That's possible too. I always preferred it at work when I had tons to do because I believe you get lazy if you don't have enough to do, probably because in my case I'm not particularly driven! That being said, I went and picked up the new, not so exciting sinks for my bathroom and Jordan will come over and instal them when he gets a chance. Actually I wouldn't mind asking him if he wants me to start removing the tiling from around the bath before he takes that out. There's no hurry but the more I can do myself, the less he will have to do when the time comes!

For Christmas this year, Jen's mom's boyfriend very kindly bought us all tickets to visit Alta Lumina up at a place called Les Gets (pronounce "lay jay"). Well actually he had bought them for last year but what with covid lockdowns and curfews we couldn't go. So yesterday we made up for lost time and the six of us (plus Charlie) headed up to Les Gets for 5 p.m. Now Les Gets is at 2,000 metres above sea level (that's over 6,500 feet) and although the weather has been glorious it was obviously going to be pretty cold up there. It sure was - turns out it was -5°C (23°F) - so I knew I'd have to be careful about what to wear as the visit involved a 45 minute light show outside in the forest. Luckily I hit it just right as I had on really good quality boots and socks, a pair of my ex's old long johns and sweat pants, and then about five layers on top with a heavy duty winter jacket. And it was perfect! Not too hot, not too cold - so much so that I didn't even wear my hat and gloves. We all looked a bit like the Michelin Man, of course, and I'm pretty sure none of us could have blown our noses if we wanted to (because you can't bend your arm at the elbow), but it really was just perfect. I tell you though, with the starting point being at the bottom of a very mild slope, I puffed up that thing just enough to realize that I have to get back out and start walking again - I'm so out of shape! Oh there was heavy snow, I had on layers of clothing and it was uphill and ... - nah, I've got nothing - I'm just out of shape!

Jordan had Charlie strapped to his front, obviously all dressed up for the cold with a big blanket over the top and he loved it, although not enough to prevent him from falling asleep by the time we got to the end!

They had braziers at the entrance while we waited
- and very welcome they were too!

The music man setting off in his
hot air balloon!








When we came out the sky was just spectacular (the photo doesn't do it justice). It was cold and clear and crisp and just so stunning - I wished I knew so much more about the stars. Jordan had an app on his phone so we were able to identify so much but it really is something I wish I knew more about!


Afterwards we were all invited back to Jordan and Jen's (so they could put the baby to bed), Jen's mom had very kindly prepared tartiflette (my favourite meal),  and we ended up playing board games until just after midnight. I got home at 1 a.m. and went to bed at 3 a.m. Ha, there's life in the ol' girl yet!

And finally, Scarlet I popped over to your blog after you left a comment on here and am I ever pea green with envy at your talent! I wanted to leave a message but I see you have disabled comments. Either way, you are one very talented lady!


33 comments:

  1. Your ex's long johns are the first time some item he left behind has been useful :P i am glad you guys went out and had fun!! it looks beautiful. i love a good podcast, i have spotify on my phone and then listen via headphone OR bluetooth speaker. my mom loves listening to stuff on her laptop! once it warms up i think you will get out again - but sometimes our bodies just need to rest.

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    1. Ha, you're right about the long johns! As for podcasts, I think I need to start using my phone more. I tend to use my computer a lot but of course the phone would be much more practical for all these amazing jobs I'm now going to start tackling! And oddly enough, I prefer the cold weather so that's not what's stopping me from getting out - maybe it just is that the old body needs a rest!

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    2. There are SO many good speakers to use. Definitely time to start using the phone. I have to say it is clear you do love the cold weather, but maybe your body just feels like a little stay at home vacation haha

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    3. You're right, I should use my phone, especially since I bought the new one just a few months ago. I'll get my son to sort something out for me for speakers as I haven't got a clue!

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    4. Oh you're going to love it. I have my speaker in the bathroom 🤣 my shower concert series rocks! (It isn't good for the phone but here we are!)

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  2. I have been taking my tablet with me from room to room and it is amazing how much more productive if I am listening to either podcasts or Netflix documentaries.
    Your night on the mountain looks lovely, and cold!

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    1. I don't know why I was so dumb about this, but I realize how much time I waste just sitting here reading/listening to podcasts when I could be doing something else. Duuuhhh, right? And yes it was a lovely evening. I haven't been up the mountains in the winter for ages so it was a real treat!

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  3. Is it seasonal, or just something done in the winter. I suppose leaves on the trees might make the light show difficult during the summer. 23 (F) Why that's practically balmy. Here in Central Pa, yesterday's high was 24 (F).

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    1. I think it's something they just do in the winter as it needs to be dark (and the snow definitely adds to the atmosphere). In the summer they do "accrobranche". I can't think what that is in English - zip-lining? You know, where you take your life in your hands and go over wobbly ladders up in the trees or zip down on a harness. Goodness, my English is shot to pot! And yep 23° was just fine for me - no hat, no gloves - although Jen's mom was freezing and wore her ski pants!

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  4. Could you have some post covid tiredness?
    I struggle to get going every day, I tend to spend way too long reading news items, some current and some old but related, then it's time for a coffee, then there's another distraction.....

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    1. I guess there could still be some covid tiredness going on, although to be honest I've never been a morning person. I'm exactly like you - roll gently into the day and start moving in the afternoon, although for my part I really do waste too much time on the computer! A new year's resolution perhaps?

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  5. I have bluetooth ear thingies that I stick in my ear and then I can play what ever I want on my phone. Makes housework less unpleasant when I can listen to something I enjoy.

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    1. I'll have to get my son to check out some ear thingies then. Anything to get me off the sofa before 1 p.m.!

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  6. Oh could sit compare notes about lack of motivation. I get nothing done evenings or weekends, and my list is
    growing each day. I can't even say I'm particularly neat. Les Gets looked really cool. Thanks for bringing us.

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    1. Well you have the excuse of still working but in any case I've always been an afternoon/evening person. They say the best way to get motivated is to just start and I'm pretty sure that's true but .... And you're welcome for Les Gets. I haven't been for ages and it was a real pleasure!

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  7. My phone and my ear buds are my life! I listen to books and podcasts all day long. Phone in pocket, ear buds in ears. No toting speakers about! You'll never go back. And you probably have a podcast app on your phone already. If not, they are easily downloaded.

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    1. I think that's the route I'm going to have to head down. I obviously have a podcast app on my phone but at the moment it's suggesting only French stuff and while I have my default language set at English it's not helping. I hadn't thought about listening to books. What a wonderful idea as I have so many books I want to read!

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  8. Les Gets looks wonderful, I love that kind of thing. I'm with you about star gazing I'd love to know more about it. When we were in Yosemite we went up to Glacier Point for a guided star tour and no - one turned up! It was up a very twisty mountain road and we'd to find our way back down in the pitch dark and even with our car lights on it was really scary! I think hubby went off star gazing after that lol! I tend to play music on my phone while I do housework. I have a playlist that is just long enough to clean the bathroom with and I find it gets me moving faster lol. I think it's just this time of year that makes us all sloth like. We should be hibernating in my opinion!

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    1. I remember laying outside in the back garden with my husband (and a bottle of wine) watching the shooting stars all night one time and it was wonderful. The best though was on the Gold Coast in Australia. I guess because it is so unpolluted the shooting stars were as clear as day! And of course you ladies have now really sold me on ear buds and using my phone more. Better late than never I guess!

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  9. You described me to a T. If I'm busy it's all good, but if I'm not I have no motivation on my own. Your outing looks like such a neat place to see.

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    1. I was mostly pretty busy when I was working (especially when I worked in HR), but on the rare occasion when I had not much to do, if someone asked me to type a three-line menu I would look daggers at them! Yep, give me busy any time!

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  10. Les Gets looked great and Charlie looked an absolute cutie. He’s gorgeous! I love tartiflette too. We visited some friends who moved to Genouille a few years ago and they made it for us. I’d never had it before then. I’ve made it myself since and we love it. I bet the starry sky was amazing. There’s something magical about starry skies. Sadly we don’t them here where we live. Too much light pollution I’m afraid.

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    1. Tartiflette is the food of the gods as far as I'm concerned - especially after skiing all day, but I'll take it in summer too! Pure stodge!

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  11. Thankyou for being so kind about my crafting/ decorating efforts. I'm struggling to finish some knitting at the minute as my enthusiasm/ concentration has dipped.
    That looks like a fabulous event; just the sort of thing I'd enjoy.
    You might have post covid fatigue. My superfit husband is struggling to regain his fitness post covid. I already had ME/CFS before getting covid so am used to feeling knackered a lot of the time!

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    1. I guess it's possible it's due to covid. I didn't know which variant I had but Jen confirmed yesterday that we all had delta. Honestly though I think it's more linked to "not having enough to do" and getting lazy! I hope your husband is doing better though too!

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  12. Les Gets used to be a favourite of ours when the children were learning to ski but an event like that would really have been something to see, and I think we are all entitled to some downtime - if only to refresh us ready for the next bout of frenetic activity. When I was working I would deal with dozens of telephone calls a day. Now there are days when I make one and think I've achieved something before I relapse into guilt for actually doing virtually nothing. Then I remember that all that action squashed into a day in the office was only so that one day I could sit back and do nothing if I wished. Enjoy!

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    1. I'd say Les Gets is one of the less popular resorts around here with tourists because it's less well known. It's a great place to ski for the locals though precisely because there are fewer crowds. And you're right about being frantic at work earning you the right to do less in retirement. It's taken me a long time to accept that though because it was always so full on when I worked!

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  13. The pictures do look very beautiful. We never get even close to that much snow here

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    1. It is beautiful of course, but don't forget that's also at altitude in a ski resort. We've hardly had anything "down here" for ages - at 800 metres!

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  14. Isn't there a saying about "if you want to get something done, ask a busy person?" I'm tired and it is very possible I have that one wrong. Lol Beautiful pictures!

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    1. You're absolutely right - a busy person gets stuff done. A not-so-busy person just gets lazy (well that's me anyway)!

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  15. What an incredible show of light. It looks stunning. My bad habit is youtube. There are some cracking drama channels with 90s and 00s drama that I missed though working shifts. I just watched one called 'the fields of gold'. Brilliant.

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    1. Youtube - the proverbial rabbit hole right? On days when I have to be up and out it's great, but on other days .... talk about a waste of time! Still, it can be our guilty pleasure, right?

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