2015.... Eh?

So folks, 2014 is long gone and now onwards and upwards!

I write this from the airport waiting lounge. I should have returned to London last night but British Airways made me an offer I couldn't resist. The gave me good old fashioned Stirling and bumped me up by a day. Not bad really. My folks only live about 20 minutes from the airport so it was no biggy for them to come back and get me. When I had left them earlier that evening there were a lot of tears. 

My dad is going on a cruise for 4 months and he quite hard to reach when he is away. 

My mom and I have had quite a ride with each other over the years and it hasn't been fun at all. In the last few months things have greatly improved. Maybe the best it's been in over a decade. When I hugged her goodby last night, I told her the best thing about getting sick was finding my mom again. Then in Leena fashion, I told her to stop being an idiot. (Come'on you can't always be nice!)

My extra day today has felt like such a bonus. Bonus is the best way to explain it. This day was just given to me, and it was for me to be in Montreal for one more day. 

Today I took it really easy. I didn't unpack at all. It's just not necessary. My mom leant me some PJ's and dad gave me a new tooth brush. Easy

Last week I was in the middle of feeling really awful again. One of the days I just cried which for me is sign that things are at a breaking point. I was also really upset about having to go back to work and not actually being better. Anyhow my mom suggested I go see a family friend who is training to be an osteopath. My mom and sister have both gone to see him and only had good things to say. So I went to see him on the 28th, the 30th and TODAY the 2nd :-) He did what he could and I feel so much better for it.

There is still work to be done but that's the joy of living. We are all a work in progress. 

I like that this is a new year, it feels like a fresh start. Everyday we live is a fresh start. I need to remember that more. Fundamentally though, I know this. 

I'm also making steps to improve everything in my life that is not working. They may be really small and simple but it's a conscious effort. 

I'll list a few, they might sound silly but they will benefit me and really.... It's all about moi!

1) drink more water! So far so good and my mom even made a comment today that she's noticing that I'm drinking more l'eau. 

2) if it's not benefitting me, then try and get rid of it. Start with baby steps. Almost every morning I end up deleting about 20 emails or more. It's just spam, great deals, offers etc. Yes might find a good deal... But I'm not looking for one at the time so why so many emails. So for the last 3 days instead of swiping the email and clicking on delete I'm unsubscribe from the mailing list. Unsubscribe, unsubscribe, unsubscribe.

This next one I think comes from age. The longer you live the more you should realise that it's all bullshit really. It's all stuff, just extra stuff. It won't love you or  hold you at night. It's just extra stuff. I'm not criticising people that have lots of stuff, but tell me? Is it really making you happy?

If you have something, want something or need something, then make it worth it. Quality over quantity. This is one of the best rules you can ever learn in life. It especially applies for people. Surround yourself/your life with a few good people and you will sorted forever.

But back to stuff. If you are going to keep items in your home, use them or let them go. Give it away to charity or someone who might get some use of it. I don't have a huge kitchen and it's shared with 3 of us. Most things I have get used. This is good. 

Unfortunately this is not the case for every room in my house. My focus this year is going to be on my bedroom. I have enough tasteful furniture that can happily hold and contain my possessions. My problem is I still have extra stuff. I'm almost looking forward to binning most of it. :-)

Oh and next time I'll link a photo from Pinterest of the ideal bedroom

Flying in style

Firstly can you believe it! This is my second entry on day! I don't think this has ever happened before. (this should have posted on (12/06/2014)

I spent so much of last week talking about my blog, now all I do is write. Unlike having the normal think about a topic, I seem to now narrate thoughts in my head that would read well! Help!!!

As a child we would only ever fly British Airways and Air Canada. Nothing else would do for us. (but really they were the only 2 airlines that flew direct Montreal to Heathrow) Those were the days, would would dress up and we all felt kinda special. 

Since my childhood budget discount airlines have made their mark and although flights are cheaper than rail in the UK the flying experience has lost it's pizzazz. I've flown countless flights with Ryanair and sleezy jet. 

I'm not a very good daughter if you were to measure how often I make the effort to see my folks. I do speak to them at least weekly and in my early years of being in the UK I would speak to them daily. I've always insisted in having a good call plan and so my calls to Canada are free (£5 a month plan).

So last year I decided a needed a plan... How can I see them without actually having buy a ticket. The answer is British Airways American Express. Good in soooo many ways. (I pay my bill in full monthly)

The more I shop on the card the more I benefit. Everything from groceries to petrol goes on the card. It does take a while to accumulate avios points but in one year I have enough for a one way flight to YUL (the airport code for Montreal) By next year I hope to have enough for a return!

Today's flight ladies and gentleman is on BA. I'm back in the high life. I think I've been ruined now as I don't want to fly a budget airline ever again. 

Check in was lovely, used my iPhone app to do almost everything. Yesterday from the comforts of my bed I chose my seat and checked in. When I arrived at the airport this morning the BA luggage printing machine read the code off my phone and low and behold the label came out. I love how these things work. 

And get this..... I was under weight on my checked in bag!!! Whoop whoop!!!! Have you ever gone to the airport and seen people with open suitcase and they are taking things out and are either trying to squeeze it into their hand luggage or give items back to the people who brought them to the airport. Well that's me! Last time I was in Montreal and returning to London I was so over weight! Luggage.... Not me! My poor dad had to stand there with a bag of things that I just couldn't take back. 

So! Guess how heavy my check in luggage was. Remember my allowance is 23 kg. 23, nope, 22, no, 21, no try again, 20, keeping on going. (I'm probably going to loose readership so I'll cut to the chase!) 16kg!!!! World record for me!!!

My suitcase is also very light, strong, durable and even a little stylish. The range is called Helium by Delsey Paris. John Lewis had the best price, I always shop around and research.  For the London shoppers out there. If Selfridges and/ or Harrods also stock your item of choice it's probably going to last and be pretty good. Haven't you noticed how rich people complain loads. High-end stockists tend to sell reliable goods.