Focus

This week has been all about focus. Concentrating on one thing at a time and doing it well. Giving myself time. Not being distracted.

It’s worked. I admit to a slow start at the beginning of the week, but I’ve made less mistakes. Ironically, I’ve achieved more.

Sunday, I focused on sewing. I’ve virtually finished my navy wool skirt. Just the waistband and hems to be tidied. This skirt is 100% wool. Very easy to handle and a dream to sew with. I’ve lined it, which was a good choice. It slips on perfectly and moves with ease. In fact, the skirt fits me like a glove.

My next project is hanging beside it. Hopefully, this weekend, I’ll have it cut out and ready to go.

The great part about giving myself time to sew over the weekend was, that I’ve not been tempted to disappear into my sewing room during the week. I’ve buckled down and focused on the more uninspiring admin part of my job, that has been building up. Head in sand approach had not been working.

I am deep down so glad that I’ve hustled them off my desk and on to other people’s.

Another joy this week has been cooking from scratch. Our neighbour brought over her garden surplus. I’ve had unplanned ingredients and the chance for creative cooking.

Nothing like a culinary challenge to shake me out of a rut. Including working on my plate presentation skills. Thumbs up for the family. Even a bit of a squeal as the plates landed on the table. None left for the hound.

This week, we also had an evening of secondary school visits. Two schools in one evening. Although daunting, it turned out to be the right approach. Youngest saw both and could compare. Something that only worked as we saw them back to back.

We saw the second choice first. He came out saying that he liked it and would like to go there. I’ll admit my heart dropped, but I understood. All his friends are going there. The school put on quite a show.

Next we went to the first choice, which his two sisters already go to and he completely, and enthusiastically, changed his mind. Phew! The teachers engaged him more. He said that they appeared happy and friendly to him.

After going through this for the third time, I’m beginning to spot the cracks in the veneer of school open evenings.

Last time we need to do it. Phew.

The autumn equinox today. If there was a poll for the busiest season, autumn would get my vote. A season full of deadlines. I’m tackling it one basket of garden produce at a time. One sewing project at a time. One task at a time. I’ll leave multi tasking to others and learn to focus.

17 comments

  1. I’m definitely more productive when I focus on one thing at a time, but even though I know this, I so rarely do it! Sounds like it’s worked well for you and your food looks delicious. Glad the school evenings went well and as you’d hoped x Thanks for sharing with #WotW

  2. Focus is a good word. I know if I try to do too much at once I end up doing nothing. I love your wool skirt. I have never sewn with it before, it’s good to know it’s easy to sew with, I don’t know why I had it in my mind that it was a tricky fabric and to avoid it. I love the bee fabric you have hanging behind it. What are you making with it? Windfall and garden surplus is abundant isn’t it now? My hubby came home with a giant bag of apples and pears today from a patient and I’m still deciding what to do with them. Have a great weekend!

  3. Lovely post ..I’m rubbish at multi tasking ..unfortunately I’m not always terribly good at one thing at a time …oops
    But it definately works better when I concentrate ..I shall try and take inspiration from your example.
    Focus is a good word!
    Love the hounds photo btw and your cooking photos are making me hungry !

    1. I’m usually pretty good at multi tasking, but not this week. One thing at a time. Slowly getting there. I love the photo of Blue. I took it on a walk. I think she was so happy that her whole pack was with her.

  4. Hope your son enjoys his choice of secondary school. Ours go to two different schools – both had slick open evenings but, as we’ve discovered, one of them doesn’t live up to its sales pitch!

    1. I know what you mean. Happened to us too. Very slick. Said all the right things and teachers talked the talk. Very corporate. No school is likely to list the aspects that they haven’t got a handle on. We moved Eldest after a year. Older and wiser now.

  5. Focus is a great word….I try to do too many things at once when I know I should focus on just one thing.
    Ohh! That food looks so good.
    It sounds like the school visits went well x #WotW

  6. Hi Cheryl, focusing on one thing at a time certainly seems the way to go, but takes focus and the discipline not to get distracted by other things that need doing.Making the right school choice must be daunting, and the open evenings must help. I agree that autumn is a busy season, but the change in available ingredients is welcome now.

    Thank you for linking up with the #MMBC.

    xx

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