Bra Straps

 I didn’t want to go to work yesterday. Having nearly three weeks off has done me good. 

But I did go, and it was incredibly busy.

Today I feel flat with two night shifts ahead and a presentation to finish. Funny how your mood can drop as quickly as it soared. So I went to bed. Mary under one arm Bun on top of me.

Chilli bean soup was bubbling away in the slow cooker when I got up and I cleaned the kitchen with purpose after eating two bowls until my lips went numb.

Bra straps ready pulled

I’m not letting a low mood win today

I’ve packed my study books and aim to finish the presentation on my breaks

I will leave you with this choir who are singing a version of the Finnish Reindeer song so loved by my choir

Gorse

It’s a lovely day in Trelawnyd today. I’m working overtime later and I’m finishing my presentation this morning, but I was out early walking the dogs.

The Gop is covered in golden gorse bushes which are in full bloom.

The hill looks glorious.

My cottage, looks neat and tidy too, I snapped a photo before collecting my McDonald’s porridge

Lou Sanders vs Joe Wilkinson - Naughty Taughty -

This is what we need in blogland right now. 

A bloody good laugh

Last One Laughing is a comedy show on Amazon I believe

I’ve not seen it fully, just relying on clips like this one to enjoy but the premise is simple

Ten comedy performers are locked together and they have to make each other laugh

The last one not to laugh is the winner

A simple parlour game , elevated by some cracking performances and golden pieces of TV 

No wonder the show has gone global

It’s an addictive watch 

This clip is better

Last Therapy

 

I had my last therapy session yesterday

It was my therapists last session before retirement 

The session went over by twenty minutes but neither of us said anything

We shook hands as I got up to leave and we both looked a little tearful 

An 80 year old therapist and her 62 year old client

“Be Happy and confident in what you do “ she said squeezing my hands as my grandmother or auntie 

Glad  would have done 

“I will miss you” I told her honestly 

“ I know” she replied, her old eyes twinkling. 

Reflection

 I’m writing a presentation today on a Gestalt therapeutic intervention 

After this I have one client presentation to write and give and one assignment on diversity in the workplace to complete. 

Then if I have all of my counselling hours in place by May I will graduate.

Three years have shot by and only now, do I feel that I could become an effective counsellor.

So what have I learnt in these years?

I’ve finally understood what a therapeutic relationship is and how, by walking beside someone who is actively engaged in therapy you can reflect and support and help with their ability to change.

I’ve learned to be still and to listen and to use supervision as a tool to learn and to grow

I’ve engaged with my own therapy and used it to understand my own motivations and patterns of behaviour

And I’ve realised the importance of self care, not only within the counsellor/ client relationship but generally in my everyday life

Obviously there are the academic theories and ideas to be added to this list, as well as IT skills and the like 

But I’m a very different person than I was three years ago

I’m kinder

Kinder to myself

I’m having my last personal therapy session this afternoon

Hence the reflection

He Used To Be Mine

This isn’t a love song

It’s a song about change

And is all about self awareness

It’s One of the most moving pieces of musical theatre I know

Flow

 The best film of 2025 so far is a strange rather epic post apocalyptic animation from Latvia. 

It’s a true delight. 

The narrative is seen through the eyes of a small grey cat who lives a quiet life in what we presume to be his or her former owner’s cabin

There are other animals living in this lush wilderness but no humans, and the animals act as animals do in this green world that is suddenly engulfed by a flood of biblical proportions .

Director Gints Zilbalodis keeps explanations minimal . The animals don’t speak, they have no names and for the most part they act as their species would dictate but when a damaged sailboat arrives five animals find themselves thrown together in an uneasy alliance . The pragmatic cat, a benign and calm Capybara, a dim Labrador , a loyal but aloof Secretary bird and a prissy lemur obsessed with trinkets meet by chance, and this group navigate deserted ancient mountain topped civilisations and their own innate animal drives to work together for a common good.

The obvious metaphor isn’t driven home too heavily , but you do find yourself rooting for this odd little band of brothers.in one of the most visually stunning films I’ve seen in a long time.

It’s rather delightful and a timely story given some of the Trump loving and nasty blog posts I’ve read recently 

 

Mindful

I’ve been home all day.

I’ve been mindful and still 

Listening to the radio with the fire lit uncharacteristically early. 

Donna Ockenden an interesting listen on Desert Island Discs)

And then reading on my bed, 

Not a novel but an interesting study of the treatment of PTSD.

I fell asleep for an hour and woke with the Welsh curled up either side of me and the twins at my feet with paws tucked under them making them look like egg sitting hens. 

I’ve always been moved by the animals’ need to sit with me

Tonight I’ve made noodle soup with ramen stock, chicken and pak choi, and the cottage feels toasty with the limestone walls warmed by the roaring log burner

The Welsh are sleeping. 

And the twins are in the bathroom play fighting in the shower cubical