7 pastimes I never tire of doing...

1. READING

I love reading! You can totally lose yourself and end up in another world simply by reading a book. But you can also learn many wonderful things - even from a fiction book. I will never want to stop reading - although its getting a bit harder now that I have to remember to wear my lovely glasses for it!! 

2. CROSS-STITCH

This is the first thing I ever cross-stitched. My mum taught me to do it when I was doing my GCSEs - so a very very long time ago!! But its something I love to do. Unfortunately I don't get as much time to do it anymore, but I'm hoping that changes soon and I'll be able to start again.

3. MUSIC

There is always music in our house - whether its from my phone, my son's Echo or my husband's iPad. We are surrounded by music and I love it! Whether its listening to it, singing along with it or occasionally playing it, I'm in my element. 

4. BINGE-WATCHING NETFLIX

Oh Netflix - how I love you! My first real experience of Netflix was earlier in the year when I realised it had all the previous series of Grey's Anatomy on it - and I binge watched them all in a month and a half. I had been wanting to watch it for years but kept missing it on tv! From then on I have been obsessed with what to watch on Netflix. At the moment I am making my way through 'The Originals', 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' and 'One day at a time'. Someday I'll make a list to see how much time I've wasted watching Netflix, but for now I'm so happy it exists!!! 

5. PLAYING WORD GAMES

This is one of my little quirks. Its a game I made up and I literally play it with anything and everything. All I need is a list of names or words and i cancel out pairs of letters. it is pretty useless and a real waste of time, but with my mental health issues it is one of the things that really calms me and while I can get addicted to it, it really does help me. 

6. SLEEPING

One of the side effects of my medication is an intense tiredness. And when you put that together with the depression its supposed to be helping, it means that I sleep. A lot. I love my wee naps and I love my bed. Unfortunately I end up sleeping too much at the moment, but there is nothing like getting into a lovely cosy bed - no matter what time of the day or night it is, and I'll never out grow that!

7. MATHS

Last, but definitely not least, is this wonderful pastime. I am truly a mathematics geek and there is nothing better than sitting down and getting a question right! I especially love the 'Prove this...' questions - because then you know you've got it right!! But seriously, I am doing my maths degree over again because I love this stuff so much. 

So those are my 7 pastimes that I will never tire of doing. Ever. 

7 adventures I want to have...

This should be interesting to think about! Bearing in mind that I will be looking at places I want to visit later in the week, I am going to concentrate on adventures from a 'what I want to do' in a certain place, or 'what I want to try' perspective. So here goes!

1. CLIMB MOUNT KILIMANJARO

I would love to do this. I have been fascinated by watching all of the celebrities climbing this amazing mountain, all for a good cause of course. I would love to take this journey and climb the mountain... maybe some day...

2. CLIMB TO THE TOP OF A CLIMBING WALL

I am overweight and scared of heights so the thought of this is awful! But I really do want to lose weight and overcome the fear of being too heavy and falling as soon as I get even a little way up!

3. TAKE A ROAD TRIP

I would love to take a road trip on my own - just me, a map and some music. I love the film 'Elizabethtown' and the road trip he takes at the end. It has inspired me and I want to explore Ireland, county by beautiful county.

4. GO SKYDIVING

I would love to jump out of a plane... I know I'm scared of heights - but that's just the fear of falling isn't it, so why not face the fear and jump out of a plane! Go big or go home! 

5. FLY FIRST CLASS

Yes I know this one is very unrealistic (they probably all are!!) but I would love to do this once in my life. Just for the sheer luxury of it. 

6. SING KARAOKE

I am not very tuneful as I enter into my 40's. I used to be - I loved being in the choir and singing my wee heart out, but I've gotten worse in my old age and now singing karaoke would be the only thing I could do. However its embarrassing and there's nothing worse than someone who thinks they can sing trying to do karaoke!! So it definitely would be interesting and a great adventure!!

7. WALK THE ULSTER WAY

This one is actually do-able, especially if I do it in small sections. The whole of the Ulster Way is 625 miles long and circles the whole of Northern Ireland. I am not a great one for exercise or walking, but I loved doing my Duke of Edinburgh Gold award and I'd love to accomplish this as well. 

So there are my 7 adventures I'd love to go on... we'll see if I get any of them done!!!

7 of my favourite songs...

Today's post is a lot of fun!! I LOVE MUSIC and I just love to sing every second of every day, so I have a wide range of music to chose from. Lets just say that on my playlist on my iPhone  there'll be at least one song to make everyone smile!

So how do I pick just 7?? I don't! I'm afraid I'm going to give you a couple of different lists of 7, for all the different moods you may go through in a week!

LIST 1 - MORNING WORSHIP

A lot of the music on my phone is worship music because my faith is a very big part of my life. I love to sing at the top of my voice in the shower, in the car and even occasionally as I walk (cue the funny looks!!!) but worshipping God through song is one of my biggest joys. So I have a couple of different lists for you. This one is for waking up to!

1.     Shine – Matt Redman

2.     Who I’m meant to be – Anthem Lights

3.     More than conquerors – Rend Collective

4.     Great are you Lord – All sons and daughters

5.     Shackles – Mary Mary

6.     Every Giant will Fall – Rend Collective

7.     Not Today – Hillsong United

LIST 2 - QUIET WORSHIP

Another worship list for you - this time some quieter worship songs, for relaxing to, for unwinding to,  or for those times when you want to really contemplate God's love and sit in worship quietly. 

1.     O Come to the Altar – Elevation Worship

2.     Do it again (acoustic) – Elevation worship

3.     Your Love (strings) – Bluetree

4.     Blessings – Laura Story

5.     God in my Living – Mark Tedder

6.     I can only imagine – Mercy Me

7.     I want more – Green Pastures

LIST 3 - RUNNING WORSHIP

I am well aware that this list is entitled 'running worship' but since I don't actually run we'll maybe say more upbeat worship! I do occasionally go out for a lovely walk, so its perfect for keeping in step, but also if I'm cleaning or doing a job that I need a little encouragement in (like cleaning the loo!)

1.     Look to the Son – Hillsong Worship

2.     Dance – Soul Survivor

3.     He is Faithful – Jesus Culture

4.     You are Good – Soul Survivor

5.     We shine – Fee

6.     Glorious Day – Passion

7.     Rooftops – Jesus Culture

LIST 4 - A CAPELLA

I love this list. I have been a fan of a capella music long before 'Pitch Perfect' came out, but it quickly became one of my favourite movies. I would have loved to be in a group like that, but I had to settle for plain old choir! So this is a collection of my favourite songs by some fabulous singers and of course the Pitch Perfect gals!

1.     In Christ alone – Anthem Lights

2.     Defying Gravity – Glee Cast

3.     No air – Caleb and Kelsey

4.     O Love that will not let me go – Gaither Vocal Band

5.     Teenage Dream – Glee cast

6.     Back to Basics – Barden Bellas (Pitch Perfect 2)

7.     Mary Did You Know? – Gaither Vocal Band

LIST 5 - GOLDEN OLDIES

This is a lovely collection of some of my favourite songs from way back in the day. Every song has a memory connected to it... Bliss!

1.     Rain King – Counting Crows

2.     Amazed – Lonestar

3.     How Do I Live – LeAnn Rimes

4.     I’ll never fall in love – Deacon Blue

5.     Leaving on a jet plane – Peter, Paul and Mary

6.     She’s so lovely – Scouting for Girls

7.     Wherever you go – The Calling

LIST 6 - SLIGHTLY MORE MODERN

This list is inspired by the music my sons play non-stop from their iPads and Echo! They are all turning into music buffs like their mama and can recognise songs from the first couple of beats!! Love it!

1.     For You – Liam Payne and Rita Ora

2.     Meant to Be – Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line

3.     This is Me – Keala Settle and The Greatest Showman Ensemble

4.     Shut up and dance with me – Walk the moon

5.     Crazy – Lost frequencies

6.     Leave a light on – Tom Walker

7.     Perfect – Ed Sheeran

LIST 7 - COOL GOES QUIET

For those who don't know, Cool Goes Quiet was an hour every week night (11-12) on our local radio station where you could send in lovey dovey requests and get them played with some lovely romantic tunes. It was every girl's dream to get mentioned on there! So here are a few of my favourites.

1.     More than Words – Extreme

2.     All of me – John Legend

3.     Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol

4.     Wonderful tonight – Eric Clapton

5.     Beneath Your Beautiful – Labrinth & Emeli Sande

6.     Come what may – Ewen McGregor & Nicole Kidman

7.     Truly Madly Deeply – Savage Garden

So that's my favourite tunes at the moment. Of course if you asked me this question next week, I'd probably have a completely different list!

7 every day things I couldn't live without...

So as I go along my journey in blogging/journalling, I sometimes set myself a wee challenge and this week my challenge is to blog each day on the following:

• 7 every day things I couldn't live without...
• 7 of my favourite songs...
• 7 adventures I want to have before I die...
• 7 pastimes I never tire of doing...
• 7 treats I could eat every day...
• 7 people I'd be lost without...
• 7 places I want to visit...

So today I'm starting with the first one.

This is an interesting one to start with. Every day, in every situation, there are so many things we rely on - but things we couldn't live without? so lets have a think...

1. My elastic hair band. My hair is shortish at the moment, but even now I will always have an elastic somewhere in my bag because I never know when I'm going to get totally fed up with my hair hanging around my face and just need it away! Unfortunately I use it way too much, so I'm weaning myself off it!

2. A notebook and pen. I love stationery - like seriously love it! I just love getting a new notebook and starting to fill its pages with notes, plans, dreams, or even boring stuff like to-do lists or menu plans. I just love the thought of a brand new book, with such potential. Yep - I'm seriously weird. 

3. My microwave. I use my microwave all the time - mostly because I cannot remember to take stuff out of the freezer in enough time that it can defrost by itself. No - I end up rushing around at tea time trying to prepare something like chili while my mince sits in the microwave's defrost programme!! I couldn't do without it at all!

4. My car. I wish this wasn't so. But I am most assuredly allergic to walking anywhere if I don't have to do it. So my car is so over-used its unbelievable! I am trying to get a little fitter this summer, so we'll see if I can maybe make the change to walking to work, or home again... but then that would be up that really big hill and that's not really going to work... well, we'll see!!

5. My phone. Another one that I hate to see on this list, but again its a necessity. I use my phone for everything. All my numbers are on it to the point that I can't remember any new mobile numbers at all - old ones I can rhyme off, but new ones get saved into the phone and I couldn't even tell you my hubby's new one. Oops! I also use the calendar, the maps, the Kindle app instead of carrying around books, music, games, the camera function, and of course social media. It is so useful and I love my phone. But I also hate it as I'm aware - very aware - how much time I am on it and how much of a distraction from my daily life it actually is. Sometimes I do wish we could go back to when phones where phones, and we weren't totally obsessed by everything else we can do with them. 

6. My antidepressants. I am on antidepressants and have been on them for the best part of 14 years now. Why they are on this list is easy, When I run out, foolishly decide I should stop them because I'm fine now, or forget to take them any day, the results are horrible. I am a different person. A horrible person. I can't take noise or stress of any kind. I crumble at the thought of doing anything or having anything to do. I don't leave my house - heck I don't leave my bed if I can get away with it. I just can't cope. So these are probably one of, if not THE most important thing I can't live without. I have come to peace with the fact that I will most likely be on some form of these for the rest of my life, but that's so much better than the alternative that I'm really ok with it. 

7. Time alone. I know this seems a bit strange, but in order to recharge and be able to function I need regular time alone. This can take the form of a spa day, or a solitary hotel break, but can also be an hour alone at home before everyone else gets in from school, or the time it takes to get my hair done. I've even used going to the dentist as alone time when the kids were younger - just being able to sit and not talk and not think for half an hour! I know its not exactly a 'thing' but its something that's ultra important for me. 

So that's my 7 things for today!

DISCLAIMER: There are lots of things I'd put on a list, like family, friends, faith, music, but they will be covered over the course of the week in several other '7' challenges, so that's why they didn't get included here!!