planning for change
This week I’ve scrolled through another blogger’s list of her favourite 100 blogs. It took a long time. Some I read, a few I’ll subscribe to and some I quickly closed. They were the ones about food, accompanied by many luscious and tempting photos. Post Christmas I need less temptation and more lettuce.
One of the frequent things in all the blogs I read was the blogger’s “word” for the year. The chosen word reflects their goals for the next twelve months and serves as an aid memoir. Some of the chosen words were resilient, indomitable, prepared, organised, calm, forgiving and adventurous. It was really interesting to read why these were the chosen words and the intention that resulted in the words being chosen. Some of the bloggers also talked about how well they utilised their “word” the previous year.
I was outside, walking, thinking about these stories and how each word could act as a reminder and wondering if if there was a word which would resonate with me when it came to me, my word should be “balance”. My once organised life was pretty balanced and taken mostly for granted and re-establishing that balance should be my goal for this year. My life definitely lacked balance towards the end of last year.
Pixabay
When I left work four years ago there as a period of adjustment but in time I had a number activities which were stimulating and mostly fun. Some of that fell apart due to Covid, but there was time to paint, read and potter in the garden, meet friends for lunch or coffee and entertain at home. During Covid, when painting, Pilates, bookclub and yoga ceased, I found online alternatives. When our border with the rest of Australia opens at the beginning of February we might have another period of seldom leaving the house but there are alternatives.
Creating balance will take some planning. The concept is new and I am still considering what a balanced life will look like! Instead of doing some cleaning, sorting and organising today, for instance, I have read. I started the day reading the Sunday paper but haven’t touched the crossword yet! Walking 13 000+ steps a day requires considerable planning, too, but I am inspired by bloggers who say they feel they’ve made positive changes by applying their “word for the year” to their lives.
maintaining granite benchtops
We have granite benchtops in the kitchen. They are nearly 15 years old and in very good condition but after constant use for food preparation over the holidays, they needed attention to look their best. The surfaces are wiped after use and again during the post dinner evening cleanup but now the granite needed a good clean and polish.
That magic cleaner for stovetops, tiles, floors and granite, warm soapy water.
Granite contains trace elements of acid sensitive minerals. It is made up of quartz, feldspar and mica. It is strong and durable but many commercial cleaners, bleach and other favourites such as lemon juice and vinegar will damage the surface.
To begin the process fill a sink with warm water and squirt in some mild washing up detergent. Using a soft cloth dipped into the water and wrung out, give the granite a really good clean. Follow with a clean water rinse. When the surface is dry, polish with another soft cloth (I used an old, clean t-shirt) There are commercial granite cleaners available, too.
Then I resealed our benchtops using a commercial sealant which is sprayed on, rubbed in, left to dry and then polished. The entire process took about 15 minutes. I am so pleased with how shiny the granite is now. ( I have had the sealant for about ten years. I know it is still available but may have a different label now)
reading
Just finished Kate Langbroek’s book,’ Ciao Bella! Six Take Italy.’ Langbroek is apparently a well know radio and television personality in the Eastern States but I’d never heard of her before I picked up the book. It is an account of her family of six moving to Italy, initially for a year, then they extended it to two years and then they were stuck, due to Covid! She, her husband and four children are now back in Australia.
After an idyllic holiday in Italy, they decide to move there for twelve months. Eventually they decide on Bologna. They want a town with an international school to lessen the changes for the four school aged children. The book is a marvelous tour of Italy and its people. She writes eloquently about where they go and what they eat. She recounts with good humour some of the challenges of living in a country where she doesn’t speak the language and doesn’t do well at the language school.
Upsplash
This is great escapism, especially in a time when we haven’t been anywhere outside Western Australia for two years. Langbroek’s enthusiasm for adventures and fond anecdotes about her family make for fun reading. Her descriptions of food in Italy just make me hungry! This book is Langbroek’s love letter to Italy and I really enjoyed it!