Sunshine Yellow

Number 14 on the list asks “What is in my handbag?” and while I realise that isn’t exactly a groundbreaking subject it did make me think. I have several handbags (or purses if you prefer) which I swap out for different days and occasions but I usually come back to my favourite. It’s a sunshine yellow satchel that I wear across my body, from the moment I saw it I knew that I’d buy it.

I’ve never been a girly girl, a handbag or shoe girl, hell not even close to fashionable but this bag called out to me. It was bright and cheerful and completely out of my price range for what I would normally spend on anything and frivolous as a bag. That said it’s faux leather with a pretty floral print lining, a couple of pockets and not a lot of room. And that is part of the appeal. Ever since I was little I would always overpack for every occasion, silly amounts of books, art supplies, music on cassette tape (showing my age there) and toys. I never worried about clothing as that was usually my mum that packed all that in a suitcase but my own bag would be full to bursting. I’ve never been great at parting with things or taking the bare minimum when travelling but over the years of moving and packing I’ve whittled it down to the items I love above everything else and mostly things of sentimental value. So when this handbag came into my life it joined the one other bag that I owned, a yellow patchwork cloth bag that I made for myself when I was trying out yet another thing to sell.

The interior space allows me to carry a handful of things plus my mobile phone – an iPhone 4s (I need an upgrade so badly) which is not pictured below as that’s what I took the picture with.

Now I grant you there’s usually some loose change in the bottom and maybe a stray receipt but that’s basically it these days for a casual day out. Work days are a little different, I’ve got my makeup, my apron and two wrist braces to contend with as well so sometimes the yellow bag gets left behind in favour of a larger cloth bag.

There’s my wallet, a pen, a notebook, my eye drops, keys, painkillers, lipstick and the bottle my husband gave me – the lumpy thing with wings. Most of that is pretty self-explanatory I think, the wallet has a bunch of cards, shops cards, ID and silly notes etc.. The notebook is for when I inevitably need something to write on – hence the pen.

The lipstick I don’t wear that much, I’ve never been a fan, I’ve hated the taste for as long as I can remember however this one is a little different. My sister gave it to me and it’s just basic packaging as it’s a sample from the makeup company she works for but it’s really nice! It’s slightly flavoured with chocolate and is a plum red/brown colour.

The bunch of keys have my work, home and car keys plus a few that I’m entirely sure of the use for at this point. There’s also some store cards and two key rings, one has the crest of the former Royal Hong Kong Police, my Dad was an officer, and the other has two pieces of film from movies inside it. I used to work in a cinema and sometimes the film projector would stick so tiny sections, no more than a frame or two would sometimes have to be cut out to remove issues with the film. The two films I have in there are the original Pirates of the Caribbean and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

The painkillers go hand in hand (no pun intended) with my wrist braces to help with my carpal tunnel syndrome that I have in both hands. I’m getting surgery but for now, the braces are there to help out when it gets bad.

The last item goes in any bag I take with me, whatever the occasion and whatever the bag. It was a gift from my husband when we got married and I had to come back to the UK leaving him behind in the USA. It’s a glass phial sealed with string and wax with two little wings on it. Inside the bottle is a little bit of soil from where we were living in the USA so that wherever I go I have a little bit of where he is with me. Maybe it’s weird to some but for me, it’s a little bit of the USA that I can keep with me to remind me of where we’ve been, how far we’ve come and the adventures we might have one day.

What kinds of things do you carry with you? Do you have good luck charms, trinkets or a photo you just can’t leave home without? Leave a comment and let me know!

 

 

Number 2.

The second post for this blog and the second prompt from the list I found is facts about me. 20 facts in total. I’m not sure I can come up with 20 that won’t step into other subjects from the list but maybe it will help to remind me and inspire those posts. Without further ado, here I go:

1. I was born in Hong Kong.
2. I’ve been married twice, divorced once.
3. I have one sibling – my sister (who is utterly amazing but that’s a post for another time).
4. My first pet was…a pet prawn (shrimp) called Percy. (I feel the need to point out that I was a baby and had no say in the type or name).
5. I’ve travelled around the world and most of it before the age of 2 and genuinely can’t say how many countries I’ve visited.
6. I broke a front tooth when I was little – snapped it clean in half then lost the other half a year or so later. I was then front-tooth-less until the age of 8 or 9.
7. I have two tattoos but dearly want more.
8. I’ve lived in 3 separate countries.
9. My first kiss was at age 16.
10. I went to university to study art, more specifically animation.
11. I have a ridiculously varied taste in music. (First ever concert – Kylie Minogue <3, best ever concert –  Iron Maiden <3.)
12. I had an unpaid job at a radio station when I was a kid doing book reviews.
13. I have a mushroom cloud-shaped scar on my ankle from burning it on the engine of a motorbike at age 16.
14. I met my husband on World of Warcraft. (Druid for life…)
15. I’m allergic to weird things. Flaxseeds/Linseeds, Wheat grass and Barley grass.
16. I briefly attended an apprenticeship to become and avionics engineer for an airline when I was 17.
17. I’m a major Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan and have all 7 seasons on DVD, they’ve travelled with me around the world (I see you judging me…)
18. I want to write a book one day. No idea what about, fiction or non-fiction.
19. I wrote a letter to the Queen as a child when visiting London. I got a reply.
20. I had my palm read when I was about 6 or 7 and was told that I’d own many properties – does living in about 20 different homes count?

Reading over that makes me realise what an odd and varied life I’ve lived so far and I’m only 34 (only, ha!). There’s a lot to see in this world and I’ve been so lucky already, but I know there’s a lot more adventures to be had so maybe next time I try on of these lists I’ll have 20 entirely new facts to reveal. Anything on there interest you? Feel free to ask me in the comments!

We live in such a big and beautiful world that most of us only see a fraction of. Get out there, experience it in all its glory, see the good and the bad, meet the people. They will surprise you, I promise. Go have an adventure, make your own list!

Getting Out There

This is the third, no, make that fourth time I’ve tried to start a blog. I’ve still no idea if this will stick but I feel the need to write, to be creative and connect with the world. I’m struggling a lot lately with what to do with my life, where to aim and where I want to be. T and I have moved since I last tried this, I’ve started a new career but we’re no closer to achieving a life together. We’re still separated by the laws of immigration and money but we at least get to spend some time together which is more than some couples get.

For now, though I’m getting into this slowly, it may not be the most novel way to get into it but I’ve found a list of writing prompts for blogging, small ways for you, the readers to get to know me. To kick this off I’m starting with my favourite number from the list: 27. Why 27? Because my birthday is January 27th, there we go, the first fact about me!

What Makes Me Feel Better, Always:

• Hot showers, a good scrub with my exfoliating glove and a nice smelling shower gel, washing my hair and just letting the hot water roll off of me. I’ve always gotten in trouble ever since I can remember for taking far too long in the shower but they just feel so good. I have to admit I usually shower at least twice a day, in the morning when I get up – I just can’t wake up without it, and in the evenings after work. I feel so grubby when I get home, my current and previous job haven’t been the cleanest of jobs.
• Fresh bed sheets, this goes hand in hand with the hot showers. Clean sheets, fresh smelling and nice cotton, not synthetic fabric.
• A good cup of tea. I know, how very British of me but there is something so comforting about it. I like mine a certain way which has lead to some calling me weird but we all have our faults! I like a really strong blend, the water has to be just off boiling, the tea bag goes in the dry cup, water on top, I let it brew for a minute or two then I add the milk. The teabag stays in. I know, I know, not very lady like or nice but it’s the only way to get it to the strength I enjoy. I drink it almost straight away too. I really don’t enjoy it once it starts to cool down, the hotter the better!
• Having my back tickled by my husband. It’s a really simple thing but it relaxes me instantly. I don’t mean tickling me until I can’t breathe, just the lightest of touches with the tips of his fingers, just enough to raise goosebumps. It’s like a signal to my body to finally let go of the stress of the day and sleep. I find it really hard to switch off at night, both mentally and electronically – my phone and tablet are usually within arms reach and when he lays down next to me those go away and I can concentrate on getting some rest.

So there we have it, the first of what I hoping will be a small series of blog posts letting you know about me. How about you, what makes you feel better, always?