219 Go to an outdoor cinema

 

This year was pretty average in terms of climate where I'm based (obviously not for the rest of Europe when we consider the floods in Spain). Regardless, thanks to the late summer sun I was able to approach an outdoor screening, without a ticket, and sit and enjoy Saturday Night Fever (with a ticket in the end).

The film was honestly great but also honestly so sexist. Of course this was even by 1970s standards. To exemplify this let's take the one main example. A girl is raped by 3 men and it's passed off as her mistake. Not even that, it's just simply passed off. 

All this said, the Bee Gees and John Travolta somehow lessen any millennial realisations that something is not quite right.

Finally, sat next to the setting sun and river, I couldn't have dreamt of a more dreamy spot.

242. Take a roll of film

 

I took my Mum's camera to Paris this year. At first I thought I only had 20 stills, but once I reached that number I realised I had 10 more. This was great to discover as it fostered a more creative approach. I no longer had to worry about wasting film on shots that might not work because I'd already collected a good amount. 

What transpired was a collection of photos I'm really proud of. Especially the experimental ones. 

283. Revisit France

 

I spent a week in Paris, the first two nights alone, the last few with a friend. The apartments were as always luscious even in their diminutive size. I love the grey rooves of Paris. They make any view, especially when paired with the grey skies of October.

I was very poor this time, so lots of baguettes were had. I also bought presents for my loved ones. The worst offender though was eating out. Especially hot drinks! 

I sketched every day this holiday and found it to be a great way to forget my poorness. I also felt much more relaxed than the week when my friend had visited, so close to this trip. Seeing people you love in different contexts can really help bonds.

I didn't really speak French. Even with my podcasts. And I didn't meet a French guy to kiss. Very disappointing. 

240. Sketch outside five times

1/5

 I went to a beach. I tried to capture the people along the landscape of the shore. The pictures were very crude.

 2/5 

 I went to a forest. I sketched in front of my phone which may have been a mistake. The pictures were also crude but i made on which I was happy with and would like to interpret into another drawing for a print.

3/5

I went to a beach town where I live. Some of my favourite sketches come from this time.

4/5

I went to Rome and drew almost every day. Soemtimes outside, sometimes at home. The portraits were good, the architectural drawings not so much.

5/5

I went to Paris. The sketches were much better but still quite crude. I had the most fun and even sketched in front of a friend - something I'd never done.

275. Attend therapy 5 times

 

It was only until recently that I accepted that my old therapist wasn't scamming me and was actually real. This was when I found an interview of her online. I have to say therapy is strange. The point evades me but one holds true - desabafar: to unload your troubles onto someone else.

It feels freeing opening up to someone at first but after session two or three the point of therapy seems strange. I recognise quite easily where I am in my life and where I need to be. What do I need the therapist for?

154. Help an old person with something

 

I think in my head this would be an action for a neighbour that would result in a friendship. Instead it was a 15 min intervention that yes, positively impacted the life of the poor man but only briefly.

I was walking up the hill to my house when I noticed him slumped over a bollard, bag in tow. I stopped and asked him if he needed help in Portuguese. My language skills are rusty but he accepted and we walked up the hill together, bag now in my hand, him by my side. It took some time but we reached his door. At the door he offered to pay me some coins but I replied "I have a grandpa, please no thank you." This confused him slightly but he walked into the entry and up to his house whilst I stayed by the front door and left.

142. Stay in a stranger's home (not a complete stranger)

 

When completing a visit to the UK I decided to save money in Edinburgh and rent a room instead of a private one or flat on Airbnb. The host was a lady called Liz who lived alone and was quite a bit older than myself.

I arrived in the daytime to a very quiet part of Edinburgh. Most definitely the suburbs. Liz welcomed me inside quite sleepily with a plethora of chat. We talked over tea for a good hour about ourselves and our lives. Liz explained how she'd lived abroad for much of her young adult life and I assume met her husband there. She was in a way a bit like myself in that respect.

It's funny because I've always described myself as quiet and shy but at the end my review from Liz was that I was outgoing and open! It was such a welcome surprise I'd say it's had quiet a positive affect on my outlook of myself.

This said staying with a stranger is of course daunting but it has to be said if you're brave you really will discover another side to yourself.

255. Raise Money for a Charity

 

So far it's only a little but this year I made 4 scarves for Doctor's Without Borders. It's my first time using my own initiative to raise money for cause I feel passionately about. I guess I'm lucky I have the means to actually make and sell something successfully. 

202. Volunteer Somewhere

 

For the past month I've been volunteering once a week at a cat shelter. It's wonderful. I clean the rooms, something I've discovered I secretly love. Then I feed them, water them and play with and stroke them.

I was apprehensive before. My main concern with cats is scratching. Even though I've twice been a cat owner, I always suspected mine were somehow kinder than others. The reality is it's very easy to avoid being scratched. Even when clearing around them. That said a cat has bitten me, but no marks were left.

280. Visit Greece

Traveling to Greece as a single woman for some reason intimidated me slightly before, but I found in Athens, it's vibrant capital, that the only thing the city had in store for me was a wonderful welcome, and a feeling of wanting to come back and explore again.

I loved the capital. It reminded me of Naples at times -so hectic and alive, yet beautiful and full of new culture. Yet, it's eastern heritage also sparked memories of the Middle East - as did the landscape and azure waters. I only wish I'd contacted my internet friend whilst there, but still, traveling alone affords you the time to really get to personally know a city.

I managed to see so much. The acropolis, the island of Aegon, the markets and the food. I also fell in love the neighborhood of Koukaki where my airbnb was situated. When I return I'd like to tour the islands, but I'm happy that the capital will always be my first memory of Greece.

212. See Live Music in Portugal

 

I went with some friends on a spontaneous suggestion to a club in my bairro which has live music. We walked down into the basement to find nothing but a cute venue, with very limited space, but after about half an hour in we were joined by three Portuguese guitar players. 

The music felt very skilled and flowed beautifully. I will always remember the night because as we chatted, listened and drank my new friend drew me without me knowing from the corner she sat in.

I'd like to go again, so let's see.

236. Make a New Friend

 

At my age admitting that you're actively making new friends feels strange. Like I've failed in some way fro not having enough. The reality is this can happen at any age and the reasons are varied.

I was lucky in that now that I do art markets making new friends is actually a lot easier. People are very friendly and actually come up to me - something I had not anticipated. As of such, all that is required is some organization and persistence. However, the friend I'm thinking of was definitely more proactive than I was. So in thanks it was more their effort than mine.

It is nice having someone new to spend time with. Especially because this person is so different from my other friends. I can only say I'm very lucky.

103. Attend a Jazz Club with Jazz lovers

 

I'm not a jazz listener unless you include Ethiopian jazz (i know very predictable millennial). Despite this I enjoy it. I just leave my enjoyment for film normally. Experiencing in person I've decided however is the only way to experience it fully thanks to the experimental nature that comes with improvisation and jazz solos.

I went with my partner at the time who is very much a jazz lover, but we found between his jazz knowledge and my knowledge of how to play instruments we made a good duo.

244. Make a meal for a friend

 

This one has actually happened many times since the first. For some reason I was always fearful of the wrath of social judgement about cooking for those outside what I deem family. I thought my best is only as good as my effort which when it comes to cooking is a sloppy but comforting effort. Still food is food, and what's more cooking for others regardless of the fanciness can actually feel very comforting. I feel good for nourishing my friends. Especially when they're not looking after themselves so well, or simply in need of social nourishment as well as food.

44. Own a Games Console

 

Ending a relationship comes with the division of items. At least, into yours and there's, and sometimes shared. This relationship ended very amicably and that is most signified by the number of items I've inherited from them in good faith, including this old Playstation.

Now instead of lying in the arms of a lover I'm swaddled between the cushion and sofa arm, playing Stardew valley. Life could be worse.

138. Learn to Weave

 

 

This was actually a long, intense period of weaving. I'm not sure what I'll do with my skills now but it was enjoyable

129. Visit a Friend in Another Country

 

 

It's funny how anxiety can make the most enjoyable experience seem like they could possibly be ordeals. Of course, it's usually never the case and it wasn't this time. I had a lovely time visiting my friend in Zurich in a country and city I'd never visited before. 

 

Switzerland has never been on my radar but it's a quaint, sort of idyllic version of a European city. As in if a Hollywood blockbuster decided to transport it's American cousins to a small, cute town, I'd see no harm nor foul in placing them in Switzerland.

237. Make something out of air dry clay

 

After completing a pottery course nearby, I decided to use my new skills to create something cheaply and at home. The result was a hodge-podge of lumpy, slightly cracked pieces, but having now sold one I feel that they could've been a lot worse.

Illustrated here is a candle holder which I use as a vase for dried lavender. It's actually quite pretty with the two paired.

220. Make 3 Recipes from My Recipe Book

 

I now have almost all my maternal recipes memorized. 

The 3 that stand out are:

1. Peanut Chicken Curry

2. Mussels with tomato sauce

3. Matapa

239. Read 20 Books this Year

 

I never considered audio books really reading a book, but that all changed this year. I actually finished this task way earlier than expected so now I've extended it to 25 for myself. 

Here's the list

1. Tender is the Flesh

2. Homesick for another world

3. Grid Systems

4. Mary John

5. Cuba My Revolution

6. A Chosen Exile

7. Lapvona

8. The Bell Jar

9. My Year of Rest and Relaxation

10. Who's Loving You

11. Kafka by the Shore

12. Dune

13. Martin Eden

14. Harry Potter e a camara do segredos

15. Bordados

16. My Brilliant Friend

17. Money 

18. Crying in H Mart

19. MY Sister the Serial Killer

20. So You've been Publicly Shamed

21.A Darker Shade of Magic