Introducing pottering.potter

People think that I'm a Potterhead after reading my Instagram username, which I'm not. In fact, I'm still terrified of Voldemort to this day, thanks to my brother who used to scare me in my sleep when we were little. So no, 'potter' only refers to the fact that I make ceramics.

potter2

/ˈpɒtə/

noun a person who makes ceramic ware by hand.

Let's turn to the first word - pottering. It is a word that I've always associated myself with, so it naturally came into mind when I was setting up my Instagram account. For those who don't know what the word means, here's the definition from my very worn fourth edition Oxford dictionary:

potter1

/ˈpɒtə/

verb (1) to move, or occupy oneself in a leisurely aimless way.

(2) to work in an unhurried relaxed way, doing small tasks.

I potter around A LOT. I used to be able to keep my mind focused and study for hours on end, but over the years I've seemed to lost the ability to do so. One minute I'd be at my desk, then I'll be watering my plants the next. I couldn't keep still and would always occupy myself with trivial tasks - tidying the room, sweeping the floor, rearranging my shelves or decluttering my room. When I'm out and about, I dawdle around a lot. I wander around aimlessly with no particular destination until my feet is tired; I potter about art exhibitions and saunter down the busy streets of Hong Kong as though I have all the time in the world.

And that's it, the meaning behind my Instagram pseudonym. It was an ah-ha moment for me when I put the two words together, since not only does it embody myself and the purpose of my account perfectly, it also has a nice ring to it.