Friday 22 November 2013

101 Progress Check - November 22nd 2013

Hi All :o)

Sorry for the lack of update last weekend, I had family arriving on Sunday afternoon so was a bit busy. We all had a fabulous time, including going to see Biffy Clyro on Monday night, which was absolutely amazing!!!

I had my first proper Wednesday afternoon with my boys last week, and it went (almost) as planned. After a bit of a session of stropping, sulking, and shouting (by the older one) we were all in the kitchen chopping onions and pumpkin to make pumpkin soup, which actually turned out really well. As I've never made pumpkin soup before I can count this towards two of my tasks; cooking with my boys, and trying a new recipe - result!!!

I've continued with my short German book of quotes and sayings, despite the frustration, and am planning on getting this finished this week. I'm hoping that when I move from this book to a proper book, i.e. one with an actual storyline, that I will understand it more quickly as the sentences will be in context to the situation. If that doesn't help then it's going to take me a very long time to read the books that I have. I've also started using my Back to School Filofax to write in new words :-)

Yesterday afternoon I had Marcus at home with me, so he wanted to do crafty stuff until Christopher came home from school, so while he was colouring in wooden letters I took the opportunity to make a picture to go in one of my IKEA photo frames. I used various patterns of scrapbooking paper to create a picture in the style of a small child (I'm really not creative enough to do anything more than that). It's not perfect, but then it wasn't expected to be, but I had fun making it. Marcus has decided he'd like it up on the wall in his bedroom - we'll see...

I also watched a classic film from my list yesterday - "The Sting" with Paul Newman and Robert Redford, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was half expecting it to drag a bit, but it was really nice to see something a bit different - without the high aggression levels that seem to be almost a requirement of most films nowadays.

I've still been taking my fish oils and iron tablets, not forgetting at all since my last post - I am very pleased. Maybe the fish oils are improving my memory :-)

I have a lot to try to get through before the end of the month to stay on track with my 101 list, keeping my fingers crossed that I can keep it up without dropping a whole host of other balls that are about to be launched in the air... Christmas cards etc. :o)

Have a great week,

LJx

Added:       Just watching the 1955 version of Oklahoma - excellent!!!

Sunday 10 November 2013

101 Progress Check - November 10th 2013

Hi Guys & Gals :o)

Wow, I feel like I have actually achieved stuff this week, since spending a bit of time last weekend gong through my outstanding tasks and working out which months to do what.

I finished reading Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher-Stowe, which was such a well written piece, that had me almost in tears on the train on many occasions, and it is one that I will definitely read again.

On Wednesday I pulled out all the boxes (and bags as it turned out, including an IKEA bag full of used wrapping paper from last Christmas...oops!!!) from the end of the hallway, and between my other half and myself we got them all bundled up to either return to IKEA (our job yesterday), or put in the cellar ready for the next cardboard collection day.

I've been taking my fish oils and my iron tablets every day - although somehow I managed to forget the iron tablets on Friday.

I've been feeling pretty rough the last few days with a skanky cold that I think I must have picked up from work or the train, so yesterday afternoon I spent a couple of hours in bed watching Cabaret - I did like watching it, and I don't know quite what I was expecting, but that wasn't really it. I probably will end up watching it again, but I can't see it becoming one of my favourites.

I started to read my first German book today, and thought I start of reasonably gently with a small book of lovey type thoughts and sayings. I managed to get through two of them, and I have to say, it totally sucked. This may be partly because I'm feeling rubbish, and it was way too early in the morning (around 6am), but I just found it ridiculously frustrating to have to keep checking my dictionary. I love to read, but I read mainly for pleasure and relaxation, neither I which do I currently believe that I will ever feel whilst attempting to read in German.

I really want to improve my German vocabulary, but am really not thinking that I will achieve this by trying to force myself to read these books. There must be a simpler (and more enjoyable) way. If you have any ideas, please let me know.

Have a great week,

LJx

Sunday 3 November 2013

101 Progress Check - November 3rd 2013

Hiya :o)

It's been another busy week with a couple of late nights at work as we're now at month end again, and I haven't done a huge amount relating to my 101. However, I hadn't planned to get much done this week, so I'm not beating myself up about it.

I finished reading The Memoirs of Fanny Hill, and almost gave up on it even when I was almost finished as I found it really hard going (no pun intended). The language was the hardest thing I think and there are only so many descriptions of the male parts that you can read before you begin to get a bit bored with it all... especially when it's in a flowery, long-winded style.

I am now reading Uncle Tom's Cabin which has almost had me in tears on the train, and I am dying to see what happens to each of the characters - it is heart-breaking.

Apart from that I have actually managed to keep on top of the basic cleaning this week so I haven't had to do a massive clean over the weekend - which is great, as my boys have been up at silly 'o' clock both mornings and I am now absolutely shattered - where do they get their energy from? Maybe I should stop feeding them or something... joking, I don't feed them now as my cooking isn't safe :-)

I have quite a few items on my list to do in November, so later today I will be planning when I'll be starting/working on each one... fingers crossed for November.

Have a great week,

LJx