It's a Classical Life

  We've all been taught how important it is to multitask - especially as women. In fact, there's even a joke that says that women can multitask and men can't. Perhaps the joke is on us, then, because truly there is nothing great about multitasking and even Publilius Syrus, a 1st century slave and writer, knew that this. Today he is best remembered for his witty aphorisms that have stood the test of time. If you're interested, you can read more of his wisdom here .  In my quest for slow, simple living this idea of concentrating on one thing at a time has really been at the core of how I have changed my life. Taking time to give my full attention to one thing at a time, to be able to recognise how long something will actually take before I begin, so I don't get sidetracked midway, to stop what I am doing and actually listen to my husband and children - these are all ways mindfulness has improved my life. Lately my attention has been taken over by my studies and I was...

Are you a tea drinker? With winter coming to an end (and endless cups of tea drunk), I can truly reflect on how special this tradition is. We've chatted about the ritual of tea here before on the blog, but I thought it was worth mentioning again. It seems that coffee around the country (I'm not sure about the rest of the world) is going up in price, like many other groceries. Visiting a coffee shop isn't always an affordable option for social visits anymore, with some studies suggesting that the future of coffee is quite bleak due to climate change. I love coffee, but ultimately tea is my drink of choice and today I want to share some of my favourite ways to enjoy a cuppa. These are all free or cheap ways to enjoy tea, and with everyone watching their budgets closely I think it's important that we still find joy in this old-fashioned tradition.  1. Sunrise tea This is my favourite way to partake in tea. I get up early in the morning, before the rest of the family wakes...

  Well hello there! How are you? It's so lovely that you've made time to come back here. Life has been pretty busy lately. My studies have picked up again, my husband is starting a new job, family and friends have been visiting and life has passed by pretty quickly. I've been reading as much as I can (which is never as much as I'd like). I recently read Far From the Madding Crowd (1874) by Thomas Hardy and loved it so much that I sought out more bucolic type stories.  From Lark Rise to Candleford (1945) has been my on my shelf for over a year. I borrowed it from my sister-in-law and when she came to visit recently meant to give it back to her, unread. However, I forgot and thought it might be providential and that perhaps I really should read it. I got about three pages in and wondered how I hadn't picked it up earlier! I love it. It describes the everyday life of people in the small hamlet of Lark Rise in the late nineteenth century. I love this detail. It reminds ...