Well the last 24 hours have been busy, the market, a gite d’etape booking for this evening and a health appointment. I have also, as promised taken more photographs of my interesting piece of wood. Ideas for it’s use on a postcard please!
So the market last night was good. I hadn’t expected to sell anything and I didn’t but I wasn’t disappointed. I had several conversations with potential clients in both French and English. There were people asking whether I would be back next week. So I am hopeful that as people know that I am there and what I do, I will begin to gain some sales.
Yesterday evening, after coming home from the market, a booking came in via Airbnb for this evening. It seems that most Airbnb guests leave it until the last minute when booking a room so the covid protocol of cleaning everything and everywhere with antibacterial cleaner as well as setting up the room had to be fitted into the day. I don’t leave rooms set up on the grounds that if it is only one guest in a room I do not wish to have to wash additional bedding afterwards. I am getting into a routine which means that this doesn’t take too long now.
I had a fasting blood test booked for this morning so I had to do that before anything else today. The health system in France is completely different to that in the UK. To begin with it takes some getting used to however it is an incredible system that works extremely well. I had an appointment with a GP recently and she wanted me to have a blood test. Each type of service works separately and you need to book it yourself, I use an application – doctolib, you then turn up to your appointment. When my blood was taken this morning I was asked whether I was happy to have my results on-line and I was told that they would be available after 6pm. No doubt before I finish this post I will have them. Whilst the NHS is a wonderful service, the French system is just incredible. I have made an appointment for tomorrow morning to discuss my results with my GP.
Whilst my physical health is important, so is my mental health and with that in mind, I am trying to build healthy habits. For more than a year now I have done lessons every day on an app to help me to learn French. It helps and the daily repetition is making a difference. I usually spend between 15 and 30 minutes a day using the app. I am now trying to ensure that I do the same with pilates. Having something as part of my daily routine helps in it becoming a habit. So now I have 3 things that I need to do every day, French, pilates and write my blog! I have a pilates video that is 25 minutes long which for daily use feels about the right length of time. What I need to do now, is to find some other videos in order that I can ring the changes and not get bored.
Are there things that you do on a daily basis to help with your mental health? Are there things that you would like to incorporate into your day in order that you can build healthier habits?
Tales from the Sheshed France 
Getting my hands in the earth does it for me Zenna. I find gardening a meditation like no other. If weather is bad there is always ‘dirt’ in the greenhouse or shed.
Literally touching the earth, smelling it, growing stuff (and even weeding) is the connection with everything that lives
It’s movement too!
I still think the wood is a spoon/ladel and can’t see past that now
PS bet your wood smells lovely!
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That sounds wonderful! I think the beach does that for me. I like the spoon or ladle idea, though I’m not certain that I have the carving skills! And yes the wood does smell good.
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I also like to garden. Since the first lockdown I experienced great joy in seeing my seeds grow into flowering plants and vegetables. I start the day walking Elsie my dog, which puts me in a better mood especially if it’s a dry day. I like to talk to someone, friends or family and find out how they are coping. I do Pilates too but not everyday. I suppose I just get up and work out my day over breakfast for which I’m grateful I have the freedom to do that.
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I think it’s interesting to see how many of us seem to find time outside is useful in supporting our mental health and well-being, particularly given how much time we spent inside during our working lives.
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Playing the Cello for me does it. I try and play each day.
It sounds as though you had a very productive time though. X
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I often wish I was more musical than I am. I can see that playing the cello could be meditative in and of itself. I think I am someone who manages to seem busy, though truth be told I consider myself to be quite lazy!
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