rainbows, routines, and restorative brews

I went to bed last night worried that I had caught a cold, because my allergy attack symptoms weren’t completely clearing up. I got a good night’s sleep though I still woke up feeling a little stuffy, but not bad enough that I couldn’t go to trapeze. Friday trapeze is relaxed enough that I knew I could take it easy or leave early if necessary, and by the time I was dressed and on my way I was feeling much better anyway. I made it there early which earned me bonus update time with teacher Michelle about her first getaway weekend with the neuroscientist (a success!) and sharing Paris info for what I learned is actually her first-ever visit there.

Despite not feeling in peak health, today was maybe my best trapeze class of the entire year. Just by coincidence Michelle was teaching a move that was very similar to what I’d been working on in Serious Trapeze on Monday, so I didn’t feel like I was starting from scratch. I felt real success with the sequence and then started practicing the “Odette” which I had further improved at as well. I do think it’s easier on a single-point trapeze which is what I use on Fridays, but I’ll take the win nonetheless. Michelle’s Salt-N-Pepa Spotify radio station gave us the best playlist we’ve ever had, and everyone in class seemed to be doing well and feeling good, so I left class in an even better mood than normal.

I walked to the tube station with a British classmate and we chatted about the weather, which was funny because before class began I had been talking with a British guy about how Brits talk about the weather, and he was adding to my summaries of “Watching the English” (which he’s heard of!) that it also seems like Brits express their mood via their weather chitchat as well. If it’s a dark rainy winter day someone feeling glum might say it’s rubbish, but someone more upbeat might say it’s perfect for being cosy inside with a spot of tea. Both conversations made me feel as close to British as I can get while wearing colorful mix tape leggings, rainbow socks, tinsel hair extensions, and a jumper with rainbow arm bands. Close enough!

Instead of getting off at Stamford Brook I went one stop further to duck into M&S, although just before I did I spotted my friend, the former M&S cashier again with her baby, trying to get the carriage onto a bus. So I ran up behind her, helped push it up, she turned around in surprise and then we shared a wordless smile and wave before I continued on my way. I will never ever ever tire of running into friends on the High Road. After she left I also spotted something else: a very cute rainbow-ish striped dress hanging in the window of my favorite boutique, Oliver Bonas. I tried it on and bought it and then finally made it to M&S for my chicken tikka masala lunch (who could have guessed?) and then home.

I still wasn’t feeling great but it was largely due to a bunch of sneezing that started when I was on my way walking back. Bill theorized that I might have a combo cold/allergies situation and offered me an allergy pill, which within 20 minutes had stopped all of my sneezing. Amusingly when James came home a bit later, the first thing he said to me was, “Mom, have you been outside? You might not actually be sick, you might have allergies!” which was sweetly observant. I definitely don’t “just” have allergies but, aside from a trapeze class (!) I did take it easy the rest of the day.

We ordered sushi for dinner as a way to thank Ben in advance for many days ahead of French food (which he’s ok with, just not his favorite), and then everyone indulged me in watching a favorite movie the boys had never seen, Center Stage. The boys appreciated it enough to satisfy me. I was getting pretty tired so Ben unexpectedly went into caretaking mode and was off to make me a cup of sticky toffee tea, bring me some snacks, and give me a head and shoulder massage. Then he put himself to bed since he wants to get a good night’s sleep before Paris, which makes me think I should probably do the same. Probably.