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Does anyone else find that time just seems to fly right by at great speeds these days?  Or is this just me?  I can't keep up!  One minute it's February and the next, it's October!  Suddenly we've got a matter of weeks until Christmas and just over two months until an entirely new year begins.  It's almost surreal and also somewhat horrifying.  I mean, a lot has occurred over the past year and yet, sometimes it feels like nothing much has happened at all.

I look around and everyone seems to be progressing, finally moving into new phases of their lives and whilst I recognise that I too am doing the same, sometimes I feel impatient to see the change actually manifest.  Especially as winter is one of those seasons that tends to throw me into a deeply reflective, often dark place.  The anniversary of my dad's death in the early part of November, followed by the culmination of yet another year, another chapter's end and for all the hope and anticipation one cannot shake, in terms of the new year ahead, there is always the risk of subtle disappointment come January.

Right now, more than anything, all I really want to do is lace up my pointe shoes, pop on some music and pirouette gleefully around the room, eventually falling into bed at the end of the evening, with something good to read.  I miss reading.  I feel that I never have the time to indulge in it anymore, because I am always writing and sometimes, in all honesty, I grow sick of my own words.  For now however, I suppose I will simply have to deal with my impatience and persevere on.  One day I will spin again, until that time, I will enjoy the peace of France and its offerings of freshly baked baguettes and beautiful blue skies, with the nearness of someone I love.

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{Lately on Instagram}

I have to say, the past week was filled with a lot of loveliness.  It started with me being treated to a very healthy and delicious breakfast with Mère and our beautiful friend Dina, in Sevenoaks on the weekend, followed by a lengthy catchup with my dear friend Lucy in town afterwards.  Then on Sunday, I got to see a few more of my friends, this time two of my oldest, who I've known for nearly twenty years!  Funny how that time just flies right by.  Doesn't seem two minutes ago that we were teenagers, running around town, crying over some silly boy.  Yet, here we are, one engaged to be wed, two tots in tow and the other, happily living with her man and considering a career change.

After the weekend, I spent the first half of the week squirreled away indoors, attempting to work during the day and then, in the evenings, I got to spend precious time with Charlotte.  Whilst we keep in touch daily via phone, it's nice to be able to actually see her in person and have a giggle over something or other.  I was genuinely sad to leave her on the Wednesday, when I packed up and went over to stay at Mère's, in preparation for the ridiculously early morning flight, the following day.  I honestly couldn't ever imagine living in England again, but it would occasionally be nice to be able to see my friends more regularly than twice a year.

Wednesday night I took the time to soak up the proximity of Mr Pig, who I miss terribly.  Mère and her partner, have been graciously looking after him for the past fourteen months and whilst it's not ideal, being so far apart from one another, I'm not currently in a position to have him with me in Berlin and he is very happy and very spoilt living with them.  The day I get an apartment and he is returned to me, will be an overwhelmingly happy one and I will look forward to it.

Finally, on Thursday morning, I hopped on the short flight to France and have been surprised and thankful that the weather here has been so glorious!  I've been able to sit out in my friend Kate's beautiful garden and do my work, whilst soaking up the warmth of the sun, with the company of her two cuddly dogs.  I've been treated to purple porridge for breakfast, homemade soup for lunch and lots of chatting throughout.  It has been a really nice chilled week and I've really appreciated it.

I hope your week has been a good one too.

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{Lately on Instagram}

If feels oddly surreal to be back in England, back in Kent.  The last time I was here, it was Christmas.  The sky at the time was ominously dark, for what felt like most of the duration, there had been a bitter chill in the air, which had cut through me and made my need for a coat more of a desperation and the rain, well...I look around and whilst the conditions have improved, the sense of timing is much the same.  Staying with Charlotte, catching up with other close friends and visiting Mère and Mr Pig, it feels as though I were only here a week ago, not nine months.

My entire life, all my worldly possessions, bar what I carry around with me, in Sir Fleming's loaned carry-on, fits into three reasonably sized boxes and one suitcase, which are all stored at Mère's.  During my first weekend here in England, I popped over for the day, to delve into my things and pick out the odd bits I'd been missing and wanted to take back home with me to Germany.  It was honestly like going through a treasure chest.  There were so many things I'd forgotten about, which, I guess to some extent, says a lot about how much of what we seem to hold on to, we could probably live without.

I picked out my favourite book; The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, by Eva Rice, which I treasure beyond compare.  I first read it when I was eighteen and have read it every winter since.  In fact, it is the only book that I have ever re-read, which I think says a lot.  Because I have such a tradition of reading it at this time of year, I have been craving its words and so, I knew it had to be the first thing I rescued from those boxes.

I also grabbed my pointe shoes, as I managed to find an English speaking ballet class in Prenzlauer Berg, which I am desperate to sign up to.  Although, when I'll start that, I don't know!  Most excitedly though, I got to soak up all of my jewellery!  I've felt awfully naked this past year.  I only took my watch and my favourite necklace out traveling with me last July and within about four months, both ended up broken!  However, now that I'm not bustin' my ass in a carob field anymore, I figured it was safe to bring some other treasures home with me, so both my YSL Arty ring and my vintage Chanel brooch are now back into daily circulation.  It's surprising what a difference a little sparkle can make to both an outfit and my mood.

I still have some time left here in England and I am attempting to get as much work done as possible, as well as fitting in seeing as many friends as I can, whilst I have the opportunity!  Then, at the crack of dawn on Thursday, I shall be flitting off on a plane over to France for a week or so, to see another one of my favourites, before finally going home to Berlin.  It will most definitely have been a busy October!  I cannot even believe that it's nearly Christmas already.  I don't know where the past year has gone, it just blitzed right by!

How has your October been thus far?  Are you getting excited for Christmas yet?

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