Day 28 - We are all sculptors. Sculpting our own bodies and our own futures. We chisel away, exploring and discovering new things our bodies can do. If we treat our body kindly it feels wonderful. If we challenge it, it repays us by getting stronger and happier. Love your body.

After lying down, I used to find getting up again a challenge. Physically. My arms were weak, my torso heavy. I’d use my arms to lever myself up onto my side and from there I could push my way up fully to a sitting position. My back would twinge and protest. The lumber region was weak. Now after all my dancing, getting up seems so different. I can twist however I want. Whichever way I want. My stomach muscles engage and then it takes no effort to rise. My supple strength means it’s easy. I’m so grateful for what I’ve discovered. Getting stronger, through dance, taking it one day at a time is the best decision I ever made.

Day 27 - It’s funny how little I’ve thought about my upper body over the years. Now I’m playing with it, moving it, it feels important. There’s definition up there and everything’s waking up. It’s not just something for my legs to bear the weight of. Having a flabby upper body doesn’t serve a purpose. So I made it more lithe. More toned. And now it has a purpose. It has jobs to do. It reaches for things with ease. It stretches and opens out. It twists and turns in a fluid motion and without pain. It allows me a bigger space with which to breathe in oxygen. It works with my legs to make me graceful and soft as I walk and dance. It’s no longer a burden but a joy.

Working it more has brought me back to life. Lifting up my chest feels amazing. Holding it there naturally feels regal. I’m tall and elegant. My shoulders don’t shrug or curl forward anymore. I have no shoulder pain. I have more space and strength vertically. This is something not to be underestimated. Vertical strength opening like a flower is like tasting the nectar of my muscles.

We had a massive rain shower. I went out to feel the raindrops. They were fat.

They smell as delicious as they look.

Popped into VJs this afternoon for a champagne and strawberry liqour. I’m not much of a bar goer but everyone’s so friendly here and bars have definitely become more civilised since I was younger. So here I am, soaking up the friendly vibe, coiffing my glass of bubbly. Cheers!

Oh wow. Let’s talk about Partisan. It’s got a vintage, rustic charm and is full of cute smiley pixies (see Coline in the picture - she’s chief sweet pixie). The staff are bright, beautiful and kind. The cakes are eclectic and bright. I’m having an extended cheat day morning and just had a piece of strawberry and turmeric cake (the cake on the far right up high). I like having cake for breakfast. Before my eggs benedict. I do things differently. Like taking pudding before my main. It keeps people on their toes and me full of cake.

My cappuccino. Full bodied Monmouth coffee. It’s creamy and silky with the oat milk I chose. I’m liking it very much. I love the cup. I can get my fingers though the handle. Bonus as this isn’t always the case. No chocolate sprinkles. What’s the deal on chocolate sprinkles? Is it uncool to put them on the top these days? Was it ever cool? Was it ever supposed to happen?

I’m loving it here. The ambiance is chilled. I’m even hearing some American accents : ) I’m vibing out on the magic of this place. I’m vibing out on historic York and funky independent cafes. I’m also vibing out on the butter icing from the cake. Oh golly. Hold on tight.

Day 26 - I got sultry today and took it slow. I played with my stretches. I went deep. Ain’t no Sunshine - Bill Withers made me feel soul to my bones and Ella Fitzgerald gave me depth and groundedness. I felt sexy and balanced. I soared like a bird into their passionate voices.

Cheat day cont. We got some sweet licquorice drops here. Pink peppercorn Belgium chocolate. Chocolate covered orange slices and a salted caramel shortbread biscuit. Oh, and there’s some limoncello cooling in the fridge for later. Yum and refreshing for this scorcher of a day.

Summertime and the livin is easy 🌞

There’s music wherever I go in York. Great to hear an old favourite. ❤️ 🎶❤️

He got the musical moves. Mr Rupert Engledow. Jazz and swing violinist. 🎶.

Freedom on the sparkling water.

I’m loving it here at the Gulp + Graze in Micklegate. It’s bright and airy with a delightful breeze running through the front of the cafe to the cosy back courtyard. There are happy, giggly people celebrating Saturday together. It feels alive and joyous. It feels full of love. The staff are smiley. I’m enjoying the fresh funky vibe.

There are delectable juices, nourishing smoothies and sweet apricot pastries. Nut smoothies aren’t a common occurrence so it’s great to see them here. I’m starting with a coffee and will see where I end up next. It’s cheat day afterall. The coffee is subtle and easygoing. I’m enjoying this cappuccino. It looks beautiful and has chocolate on the top. Bonus.

Cheat day here we go. Breakfast. Dutch pancakes. I took mine with maple syrup, Swedish Glace vanilla ice-cream and a side of Nutella. Simon went with apple and Dutch stroop. Bubbles flew past the window as we ate with wide eyed kids running after them. Pancakes were yumbly.

Day 25

I dance in the sun, in the fresh, in the light
I dance with the stars, I dance with the night
I dance to music and magical sounds
I dance as birds sing songs all around

I dance with the moon, I dance with the trees
I dance with fairies laughing soft on the breeze
I dance with my feet, with my whole body bright
I dance as I fly into warm golden light

Doggo enjoying the Solstice sun. Look at them go. Such grace.

Happy Summer Solstice People of the World! May the force and the peace and the joy be with you ✌️

Initiative.
Rainbows.
Bunting.
I ❤ York.

Taken from The Urban Dictionary. Apparently I’m healthy. Jolly good. Ghost Poo

I’ve been enjoying listening to a genre of music called Retro Wave. It’s got a lot of 80s samples and has a driving bouncing rhythm. Great for helping me get out of bed this morning.

Montrose by Le Matos was awesome. 🎶.

I’m at Fossgate Social (coffee shop #4) this morning and boy do I feel awesome. Jazz funk plays out. It’s got a South American feel one moment and Swedish lounge the next. There’s wood everywhere. My favourite part - the chunky bar. An array of liquor bottles adorn the back wall. This place will turn up a notch later as it celebrates the Summer Solstice on a Friday night. But for now, I’m chilling man. I’m buzzing out on vibrations of funk in this uber cool cafe energy and yes, I’ve had a coffee. Next up is rhubarb tea. Pure sweet ecstasy in a cup. I’m hap.

The staff are friendly and love cats so that obviously gets them extra brownie points.

A simple cappuccino for me. No chocolate sprinkles. Hmmmm. I’ve realised how much I actually like those chocolate sprinkles. Rounded tasting coffee. Quite a bite to it but not overpowering. Nice amount of froth. The tea is sweet and refreshing with a hint of vanilla.

Day 24 - I had an amazing dance. I feel incredibly strong now. But I went through hell to get here. I felt sick to the stomach during one of the new bellydance exercises this evening. A belly roll is the most difficult manoeuvre I’ve ever done. Engaging the pelvis and abdominal wall in a cyclical rhythm brought up sensations in my stomach I’ve never explored before. I haven’t engaged this area much so it’s waking up and shouting at me from the inside. It’s saying that this stomach area is really important and needs to be taken care of.

During the exercise, it felt like my stomach was my brain. My second brain. It made me remember my unhealthy past. This sensation of feeling sick reminded me about how I could be greedy and overeat. I could feel that a few months ago, I didn’t make good food choices. And through conquering this belly roll, I could clear up all those poor decisions and make my core area healthy and vibrant again. I felt my body reprogramming itself from the centre. It brought up and released a lot of old crap and emotions. Releasing emotions is important so as not to lead to dis-ease. This exercise helps all the negativity leave my body and in its place it leaves health and strength and power. Gradually, I’m turning into a butterfly.

I’ve got my mum joking to me about her getting a mobility scooter and wanting a bed that automatically lifts her up. It’s a lesson for me. I don’t want to go down this road. If I have my way, I’ll be dancing til the day I die, with both feet on the ground and no walking stick in sight. The only way is to keep on going.

This photo represents something for me. All the hours of dance I’ve put into my life the last few months. All the sweat, love and rhythm. I’ve never been happy with changing room photos. This is the first one where I’ve thought ‘Yeah baby’. Here’s a girl with a healthy attitude.

I discovered a Lindt shop. Suffice to say, I got rainbow pick n mix.

This morning I’m in Pret A Manger. A lovely coffee shop chain in the UK. I love it here because they’re all about fresh food and organic coffee. They even have carrot juice and in a mainstream chain this is a real bonus. I never feel pressured to give my seat up in Pret because there are always a good spread of chairs available. I’m in a mall at the moment. Only ten minutes from the house. Malls aren’t places I usually frequent but it’s working for me today. There are a couple of shops to visit hence the visit. It’s quite quaint actually. I’m enjoying the vibe.

I opted for a turmeric latte with coconut milk today. As much as my caffeine demon wanted a coffee, my softer side wanted something sweeter. If you haven’t tried a turmeric latte give it a shot. Made with care, it can be a nourishing drink. And you could always chase it down with an espresso : ) I also got a chocolate hazelnut croissant which has made me one very naughty girl as it’s not my cheat day. I blame my hormones.