101 List Progress Check - 1st April 2012

A quick update on what's occurring in my list...

Shakespeare - I have read King Lear this week, so that second of my Shakespeare plays is done. This one was another tragedy ... greedy people, a bastard son, people flung out, truths realised, forgiveness sought, but other person dies and therefore much tragedy - a tried and tested formula. I have a historic one next and then 2 comedies.

Prizewinners - I read the first of my 10 prizewinner books last week, Angela's Ashes. It's one of those books that I have seen lots of good reviews for, but never got round to reading before and I am glad it finally happened. It was a very well written memoir, which I love as it's all in the first person and you feel the teller getting older as the book progresses.

Classics - I have started reading the tenth of my 10 classics, Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, and am enjoying it so far. I am surprised at how much I have liked most of the classics that I have read, so may have to put together a new list of them when this one is finished.

On the exercise front, I am near the end of my second week of the latest Beachbody programme that I have started in my quest for ripped abs. I have started Brazil Butt Lift and intend to do this for 8 weeks before moving onto Rockin' Body for 4 weeks. It will then be time for holidays and I am hoping to start P90X again after that.

My Flylady habits have fallen by the wayside somewhat at the moment, and I have realised that I need to be ruthless and throw things away. First stop in this was attacking the front room and clearing those hot spots (the table and the Kachelofen). I have also been looking into getting a steam cleaner (eg the H2O x5 or a Kärcher) as this may help ease the cleaning burden (once the de-junking is done) and will be cheaper than getting a cleaner.

I have also been checking out new DVD releases to see what is around so I can continue with that challenge. I went onto Amazon (after checking out play.com) and found that it was a lot cheaper to buy through them so Amazon now have an order for 5 DVDs from me (admittedly two of them are more for the boys - Happy Feet 2 and Puss in Boots, but they still count, right?).

I also managed to pick up a couple of classic films off my list while I was at the airport on the way home from the UK the other week following a very exciting conference... :-)

LJx

101 List Progress Check - 18th February 2012

Hi all, sorry I'm not keeping this as up together as I'd planned to and have been writing the bare minimum for the updates - P90X is keeping me pretty busy and seems to be taking up so much of my head space too that I'm just not having the time or inclination to think about anything else - even my poor Filofaxes are beginning to feel neglected. So at least the ripped abs challenge is still currently on :o)

Another fairly short run down of where I'm at as I started to write this a week ago, got sidetracked by a workout and an afternoon out and have to work out shortly and then it will be time to finish getting packed to go to London for a course as I have to leave in the morning.

I now have one classic book left to read as I have finished The Great Gatsby since my last update, which is a book I'd heard quite a lot about as the year above me at school read it for their English A-Level, whereas we got Sergeant Musgrave's Dance or something like that... I wish we'd been given the Great Gatsby, it was a good book and I couldn't put it down.

I have also started on the Shakespeare plays, with the first being King John. It has been many years since I read any Shakespeare and it took a while to get into it and work out what the hell was going on, but I seemed to get the hang of it towards the end. I'm not sure if this is a challenge that I am going to be enjoying or not yet.

I was doing so well with drinking my water the week before last. Monday to Thursday I drank 1.5 litres each day at work and then drank more during and after my workouts, but then Friday came and I just wasn't thirsty. I couldn't drink that much no matter how hard I tried. And as for weekends - I have no hope. When I'm at work it's not to bad as I grab a 1.5 litre bottle out of the cupboard in the morning and it is there, right in front of me all day as a reminder, but Saturdays and Sundays I am lucky if I remember to have a drink at all before lunchtime. I have no idea how to get over this - I have never been one for having a good fluid intake (apart from in the past on Friday & Saturday nights, but that's not quite the same thing). Will try again this week and see how I get on...

Eating my 5 a day is getting there - I think I am probably doing it most days as part of my following the P90X nutrition guide as well as doing the exercise, but I must start to log this properly somewhere so that I can be sure of what I am achieving.

I need to set up some kind of proper schedule in my beloved Filofax so that I can schedule everything in and log it all properly. I have proved I can do this to my benefit with my work stuff, hence I am now up to date with my work and am almost down to my planned 42 hour week. To assist in my organisational skills I will be spending a little of my airport time planning tomorrow, and will be visiting the Paperchase store on Tottenham Court Road to browse the various inserts, pens, stickers, tabs and all the other stationery - it's nothing to do with the fact that I am obsessed with stationery and FF inserts at all!!!

As I have to be in London next week, I think I should aim to complete another of my challenges - to see two West End musicals. I am planning on getting tickets to We Will Rock You and Rock of Ages. I may even be tempted to go and see Shrek the Musical while I am there as well.

I should also be able to watch a couple of new to DVD releases as the person who I am going on the course with has a Love Film subscription - it's all going on this week!!!

Wish me luck,

LJx

101 List Progress Check - 29th Jan 2012

Whoa - long time no update!!!

I have been so busy doing P90X that I just haven't got round to posting on here in a couple of weeks, and this one is going to be pretty short and to the point as I am one tired girl... so what has happened since my last update?

1. On the classic book front I have now finished Lady Chatterley's Lover which I  really enjoyed and read the whole of The Picture of Dorian Gray last week which took a bit more getting into but was pretty good (I had earmarked it to be read in February, I knew that daily commute would come in handy). So now I only have two more to read to complete this challenge.
2. Shakespeare plays - all 5 identified plays are now on my Kindle and I have planned to read one per month, starting in March.
3. I have finally bought myself some headphones so I can listen to music on my iPod shuffle (or on the iPod touch that my fabulous other half bought me for Christmas. So looking forward to getting all my CDs and tapes onto my iTunes.
4. On the work front I have started logging my hours over the last few weeks in my aim to monitor which of my challenges I am actually meeting, and I am slowly getting there. One of my aims for this year is to reduce my standard working hours to the 42 that are in my contract. Just before the end of last week I managed to get the leftovers bits of work that were outstanding from 2011 finished so I can focus on my 2012 objectives. And what wonderful piece of kit allowed me to achieve this? My Filofax - it still rocks!!!
5. Ripped abs? Not yet, but I have just completed day 20 of P90X, and I am beginning to see results, especially in my arms, which are starting to tone up. It's a tough programme, and I had an issue trying to eat the required number of calories whilst sticking to healthy food and not too many carbs which made me have to miss a couple of days of workouts as I hadn't been consuming enough calories, so I was feeling rough. But I have now got over that and am catching up.

I have also spent some time this weekend planning how and when I am going to get my challenges started/completed. There is still a way to go with the planning to fit everything in around the rest of my life, but it is all quite exciting.

LJx

           

101 List Progress Check - 7th January 2012

Well, a new year and a new me...? Maybe...

But first, what else have I actually managed to achieve between Christmas and now...? well, mainly reading on the train as I started back to work on December 29th and have also been spending quite a lot of time sorting out my Filofax stuff and sorting my set up for 2012 (as you will see from my last few posts). I finished Tess or the D'Urbervilles yesterday and was gutted by the end - so unfair, but thoroughly enjoyed the book and the characters.

I actually managed to complete my make up challenge on January 1st, and have even been wearing it during the week this week, but not today.

Today I have been busy planning when and how to complete more of the challenges on my list, which is far more fun than putting make-up on :o)

The most physically challenging item on my list is to get ripped abs. Now, for someone who has 2 children (aged 4 & 6) and has been an accountant working long hours, sat at a desk for the last 14ish years and not had much/any exercise, this is going to be one heck of a challenge.

Now my DF tries to ignore most of what I am doing re filofaxes and my blog, but clearly some of it has been going in  as he spotted the infomercial for P90X the other day and said "that'd get your abs ripped"... and so it begins.

My favourite part so far of this is that I overheard my DF, who despairs of my filo habit, telling his brother all about P90X and the workout sheets, and saying that he may need to get a Filofax to keep his records in - and so the FF quest for global domination continues.

I was going to do my planning and decide when best to fit it in, but as DF has decided that he is going to start the programme on Tuesday, I guess that's my planning done for me as it's going to be way too much hassle to do the nutrition side of it for us both at separate times.

It is traditional to do the 'before & after' photos, which I will be doing, but not until I actually have an 'after' photo - there is no need to inflict that on anyone. Wish me luck...

LJx

101 List Progress Check - 26th December 2011

Well it's the Christmas season and I'm using that as my excuse reason for getting a bit behind with blogging about my progress, but will keep this short and sweet as I also need to do a Christmas post...

• Make-up - I have now managed a full 3 weeks of wearing makeup every day, even putting it on before opening presents on Christmas morning, 1 more week to go - woohoo!!!

• Skincare - a big fat fail!!! I am rubbish at following a skincare routine, and almost never remember to take my makeup off before going to bed. Although I am getting into a routine in the mornings, so I guess it could be worse...

• Classic books - Jane Eyre is now finished, and was as suspected a damned good read. As it was Christmas week I figured that I should read Dicken's - A Christmas Carol (it wasn't on my list so in theory I can take one of the others off - I'm not sure how it was on my Kindle when it wasn't on my list, but I can live with that). I finished reading it last night and so think I may move on to Tess of the D'Urbervilles next - although I may have to see if I can change the font size as it is quite small - not ideal for reading in bed.

• Films, new releases - a friend of mine came over last weekend and brought a few films with him, so I have now watched Captain America (fab, shame about the ending, but I understand why they had to do it), and Horrible Bosses (quite amusing in parts, but not one I would be likely to watch again and again). I'm not sure if these count as new releases, I need to check when they came out on DVD, but believe it was the second half of this year... we'll see.

• Flylady habits - I'm still on just the 2 habits at the moment, but am very pleased with myself for managing to get the whole place clean and tidy and keeping it that way over Christmas - can we make it through to New Year? And I'll be working on bringing in a third habit soon... maybe sorting out clothes the night before...

• Shows - now that all the Christmas presents have been opened I can reveal which show I managed to get tickets for. We're off to see Batman Live when it comes to the Hallenstadion in Zürich in February - the boys were very pleased when they found out :-)

• Cooking with the boys - Christopher and I started off nice and simply with some shop bought sweet pastry for him to roll out and cut animal shapes out of to have as biscuits - does that count? I've also bought in some biscuit dough from the shop so that we can make some today, he loves cutting out the shapes. I really must learn where I can get self-raising flour from over here (and what it's called...)

I am going to start planning when and how to get all my 101 things in 1001 days done to try to make sure that I complete all of them (or at least most of them - 101 things is a lot to get through...)

LJx

101 List Progress Check - 3rd December 2011

It's been a while since I've done a proper update on how this is going. I must remember that, as not all tasks are one off events, I need to write the progress checks to see how I'm doing with the repeating activities too.

Reading the classics is going well, faster than I'd planned in fact. I've read Wuthering Heights (a bit tough going due mainly to language), Far From the Madding Crowd (enjoyed this one), Great Expectations (poor Pip), so I thought I'd read something else to break it up a bit. But flicking through my Kindle to decide what to read next made me realise that I'm quite liking the slower paced style of these books, rather than the books that I'm used to, where I find it really hard to stop reading until it is finished. And so the book of the moment is Jane Eyre which I think is going to be pretty good.

One of the guys from work yesterday told me of a big stationery/craft supplies shop in Zurich who have (or seem to have) scrapbooking supplies, so I will be paying them a visit to have a search for nice card to make my dividers and some adhesive film to protect the tabs.

As a start in my quest to become a domestic goddess (anyone who knows me knows just how laughable this is - I managed to burn out a hoover by sucking up a T-shirt and the whole of upstairs ended up full of a weird smelling smoke - I didn't even notice, I was too busy trying to hoover the dust from under the bed with the hose attachment...), I have managed to add two Flylady habits to my daily activities. I now shine my kitchen sink every evening and swish & swipe in my bathroom every morning or evening - although I must confess that the sink didn't get shined yesterday as I was just too lazy...

Surprisingly, I have actually managed to watch two new releases on DVD already, one of which wasn't planned at all (Thor), but still counts so I'm happy. The second one was one that I desperately wanted to see - Harry Potter Deathly Hallows - Part 2, such a good film!!! I will be watching this one again very soon I think :o)

Wearing feminine clothes for a whole week... how frustrating is that one? I was doing really well this week, and wore clothes from my new capsule wardrobe Monday - Thursday and then Friday came, what was I thinking. For some reason I had it in my head that I was supposed to wear feminine clothes for 4 weeks and as I felt like wearing jeans for work I figured that my 4 weeks could start again some other time. It wasn't until I got home last night and did my progress check that I saw that it was only supposed to be for a week - aaargh!!!  But I think I will wait until the summer to complete this challenge. Even though my capsule work wardrobe should help me to wear more feminine clothes, it is a bit chilly out at the moment, and some days all I want to wear is my jeans and a jumper - summer is definitely more conducive to wearing feminine clothes.

Thankfully when I gave up on the feminine clothes challenge yesterday morning I still put the make-up on as it turns out this one is only for 1 week as well, so 2 days and I am free!!! One question though, how do other people put make-up on and it stays all day and looks immaculate? I put mine on in the morning (face powder, or all in one foundation, eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner and lipstick) and by the time I get home all I have left is eyeliner which is smudged under my eyes and making me look worse than if I hadn't bothered.

Christmas cards and presents by the end of November - not this year!!! I have bought all my cards, and most of the presents, but haven't done any more than that, although the Christmas presents for the boys re sorted (or will be when I get round to going to the main station to get the tickets for the Batman show).

Best I get those cards written this weekend or I'll end up having to use them for next year instead...

LJx    

Hmmm - can I do it...further progress?

It's Sunday evening and I have the whole week stretching ahead of me with no work - bliss!!!

So am I spending my evening relaxing? No, I'm trying to plan my capsule wardrobe for work... aaargh!!!

Why did I ever think that would be a good idea? I have no idea where to go to try to find clothes over here (other than H&M), I can't order online as whenever I do I always end up sending the whole lot back anyway (apart from accessories), and I can't stand clothes shopping...

Maybe I should delay this particular task until next year and go to bed with my third classic book - Great Expectations :o)

However, number 89 can now be crossed off the list - I have had my appointment with my financial advisor (how grown up does that sound) and sone what needed doing.

I am tempted to change number 90 (save at least 60% of tax rebate) to 'spend at least 40% of 2009 tax rebate' as Ben & I never go out anywhere to do damage to the bank account anyway (apart from my splurges on Filofaxes - which are always at reduced prices, and I can stop at any time - really, I can...., and Ben's guitars, but I don't think he'll be getting anymore).

That way I can try to kill 2 tasks in one go - spending money and going on holiday :o)

LJx

Task 90 completed - from the meeting with the financial advisor I am not committed to saving more each month, and I have worked out that 3 months of the increased payments covers the 60% of the tax rebate. Woohoo!!!

Classic Book Number 2 - Done

Yep - you read that correctly, I have now finished reading the second of my 10 classic books.

Thomas Hardy's Far From the Madding Crowd was much more suited to me than Bronte's Wuthering Heights.

It had the drama, the beautiful language that one would expect from a classic book, and a fabulous character with whom to fall in love in the guise of Gabriel Oak.

It actually makes me want to read more classics, which considering I have another 8 to read to complete this part of my list is a very good thing :o)

LJx

101 List - Progress Check November 1st 2011

Hmmm... how am I doing? Not that great... but I may be on a roll soon (especially as I have a week off soon so will actually have some free time - yippee!!!)

So, I thought I'd start nice and gently with my classic books, oh my God - really!!! Did I really think that was going to be a 'nice, gentle start'?

Here is the list I gave myself:

1.                Wuthering Heights                                     Emily Bronte
2.                Northanger Abbey                                     Jane Austen
3.                The Picture of Dorian Gray                       Oscar Wilde
4.                Crime & Punishment                                  Fyodor Dostoyevsky
5.                The Great Gatsby                                       F Scott Fitzgerald
6.                Jane Eyre                                                   Charlotte Bronte
7.                Great Expectations                                     Charles Dickens
8.                Lady Chatterley's Lover                             DH Lawrence
9.                Tess of the D'Urbervilles                            Thomas Hardy
10.                Far from the Madding Crowd                     Thomas Hardy

Now I don't know about anyone else, but I have never read any of the classics, they didn't come up in the syllabus at my school, and although I read a lot outside of school, it was generally more modern stuff. Unfortunately this means that I had no idea what I was going to be facing...

Being the good girl that I am I decided to start from the top of my list, so Emily Bronte was first up. For someone who loves reading it was quite an experience - the first 2 nights I fell asleep within a few pages as I just couldn't get into it and it involved turning my brain on (a huge bonus for Ben who hates me reading at night as he can't sleep when the light is on - which I think is just weird!!!).

Thankfully, when I was reading on the train on Monday morning I managed to get the hang of it - although trying to understand what Joseph is saying when he goes into his rants is quite beyond me at times. All those random vowels strung together, or just consonants - not sure what was going on for some of those bits at all. 

So now Wuthering Heights is now over (to be fair it was quite good, although not quite the love story that I assumed it would be - I've never seen any screen adaptations so had no real idea other than that it evolved around Heathcliff & Cathy, thanks Kate Bush) and I now Thomas Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd is currently the book of choice on my Kindle.

Now this one has been much easier to get into (Gabriel Oak - hello!!!), in fact I have already read 29% of it according to the Kindle (I really must give it a name - I can't keep calling it "the Kindle"  - I sound like such a pretentious muppet!!!    

Off now to eat some of these chocolates that we've got leftover from Halloween, whilst reading some more of the lovely shepherd ;o)

LJx

101 Things to do in 1001 Days - List

As promised, here is my magic list of treats, things I need to do, things I want to do. All listed in the hope that having shared with other people what I intend to do I may actually get the majority of these done.

My official starting date was October 2nd, when I finished my list and completed my first task, result!!! 1001 days makes it all seem a little less intimidating, as this means that I have until Sunday June 29th 2014, which currently seems a long way off :-)

Enough waffle, here's the list, split into various categories:

Cultural
1.      Read 10 prizewinner books - completed Dec 2012
                       Angela's Ashes
                       The Shipping News
                       Midnight's Children
                       The Color Purple
                       The English Patient
                       Schindler's Ark
                       Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha!!!
                       Amsterdam
                       The Sea
                       Wolf Hall
2.      Read 5 Shakespeare plays -  completed Jul 2012
                       King John
                       King Lear
                       As You Like It
                       Antony and Cleopatra
                       The Taming of the Shrew
3.      Read 10 classic books - completed Feb 2012
                       Wuthering Heights
                       Far From the Madding Crowd
                       Great Expectations
                       Jane Eyre
                       A Christmas Carol
                       Tess of the d'Urbervilles
                       Lady Chatterley's Lover
                       The Picture of Dorian Grey
                       Northanger Abbey
4.    
5.      Load CDs to iTunes completed Dec 2012
6.      Loads all music on tapes to iTunes tape to MP3 converter received Nov 2012
7.      Buy headphones for iPod - completed Feb 2012
8.      Have music playing all day & no TV/computers for whole family (x 3)
9.      Watch 10 new releases (DVD is fine...) - completed Apr 2012
                     Thor
                     Harry Potter (the last one)
                     Captain America
                     The Green Lantern
                     Happy Feet 2
                     Puss In Boots
                     Contagion
                     In Time
                     Jane Eyre
                     The Help
10.    Watch 10 classic films - films identified, got to find them, 7 down 3 to go
                      Brief Encounter
                      Papillon
                      Taxi Driver
                      The Graduate
                      The Sting
                      The Shawshank Redemption
                      How to Steal a Million
11.    Watch 10 musicals (films) - completed Jan 2014
                      Rock of Ages
                      Half a Sixpence
                      Singin' In The Rain
                      Les Miserables
                      Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
                      Hairspray
                      Cabaret
                      Oklahoma (1955)
                      The Wizard of Oz
                      Mary Poppins
12.    See 2 west End musicals - completed 21 Feb 2012
                      Rock of Ages
                      Wicked
                      We Will Rock You 
13.    Go to 2 concerts - completed Jan 2013
                      Rock of Highway Semi-Final
                      Rock Highway Final   
14.    See 2 dance productions - completed Oct 13
                      Rock the Ballet
                      Romeo & Juliet rock ballet
15.    Read 5 banned books
                      A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
                      A Farewell to Arms - Ernest Hemingway
                      Black Beauty - Anna Sewell
                      Memoirs of Fanny Hill - John Clelland
                      Uncle Tom's Cabin - Harriet Beecher-Stowe

Family
16.    Spend 10 minutes teaching/listening to boy reading - cancelled
17.    One big family day out every month - cancelled
18.    Set up playroom for boys now that they are sharing a bedroom - completed Mar 13
19.    Teach boys to swim (or arrange swimming lessons) - cancelled
20.    1 full week family holiday - completed July 2012
21.    1 weekend family break - completed May 2013
22.    Cooking/baking with the boys 10 times - done 5 times so far
               cupcakes
               cookies x 2
               scones
               pumpkin soup
23.    10 photo sessions with the boys - cancelled
24.
25.    Take the boys to a show - Batman shown. Completed Feb 2012
26.    Go camping - completed May 2013 (Europaparc covered wagon)
27.    Scrapbook three photos of the boys - completed May 2013
28.    Write a short story for the boys - cancelled

Relationship
29.    Go to Vegas - completed July 2013
30.    Get married - July 21st 2013 :o)
31.    12 'date' nights with Ben (at home or out) 6 date nights so far
32.  
33.    Have dinner by candlelight - completed July 2012

Health & Fitness 
34.    Take a 1+ hour walk on my own (x3) - cancelled
35.    Drink a cup of Rooibos tea with honey every day for 2 weeks - completed Sep 2013
36.  
37.  
38.    Drink 1.5 litres of water a day for 1 week (reduced Nov 2012) - completed Dec 2012
39.    Take a supplement (vitamins/minerals and/or probiotics) for 3 months - completed August 2012
40.    Complete Les Mills Combat workout programme - completed Apr 2013
41.  
42.  
43.  

Personal Development & Treats
44.    Write a post for Lucy re purchases from the German Filofax sale - completed 2nd Oct 2011
45.    Write a post for Lucy re my A5 work Filofax - completed on this blog 20th April 2012
46.    Set up a Filofax for the 101 things in 1001 days project - completed 22nd Oct 2011
47.    Knit a scarf - completed 24th Mar 2013
48.    Become confident enough to hold a conversation in German - completed Jan 2014
49.    Embroider a sampler - started Dec 2013
50.    Read 5 books in German (basic please...) - cancelled
51.    Write a poem - cancelled
52.    Learn to walk in high heels - completed Sep 2013
53.    Invest in a capsule wardrobe for work - completed 22nd Nov 2011 
54.    Wear only feminine clothes for a week - completed 31st Jul 2012
55.    Follow a proper skincare routine for 4 weeks - completed Aug 2012
56.    Wear full make up every day for 4 weeks (foundation not essential) - completed 1st Jan 2012
57.    Cook one proper meal for visitors/dinner party - completed 8th Jan 2012
58.    Learn 6 new recipes - 4 down
59.    Take camera on days out and use it - cancelled
60.    Get a post published on Philofaxy - completed 8th Oct 2011
61.    Be a 'Reader Under the Splotlight' on Philofaxy - completed 5th Nov 2012
62.    Do the 30 list in 30 days challenge (another blog find that I need to read up on) - completed Jul 2012
63.    30 mins per day to relax/meditate for 2 weeks (while on 2 week holiday with Ben does not count)
64.    Be nice for 2 weeks (watch my tongue/type IM and delete instead of sending) - completed Aug 2012
65.    Learn to use a proper camera - cancelled
66.    Buy some nice high heels and wear them - heels bought...
67.    Buy a posh/designer handbag - completed Oct 2012
68.  
69.    Give more praise (at home & at work) - completed Jan 2014
70.    Make a birthday cake - completed May 6th 2012
71.    Bake cupcakes - completed Oct 2012
72.    Go for a manicure - completed July 2013
73.    Go for a facial - completed July 2013
74.    Journal daily for two weeks (15 minutes minimum)
75.    Wear false eyelashes - completed 8th Oct 2011
76.    Buy flowers for home - completed Aug 2013
77.  
78.    Donate to charity (sponsoring someone who I would sponsor anyway doesn't count) - Feb 2013
         (Chimwemwe)

Finance, House & Organisation
79.    Keep to a basic household routine using my Plannerisms planner - started Feb 2013
80.    Set up a recipe binder
81.    Christmas presents sorted by the end of November for 1 year - completed Nov 2012
82.    Christmas cards and envelopes written by end of November for 1 year - completed Nov 12
83.    Plan for Christmas using the Dodo Book of Christmas - completed Dec 2012
84.    Make dividers for Filofaxes in various sizes - completed Jan 2013
85.    Blog re the 101 in 1001 project - completed Jan 2014
86.    Have a fabulously frugal 3 months (not immediately after Christmas) - changed to 12 weeks, completed Jan 2013
87.    Take lunch to work daily for 2 weeks - completed Jan 2013
88.    Manage bank accounts properly, update Excel weekly (not monthly/quarterly)
89.    Arrange meeting with financial adviser to sort savings - completed Nov 16th 2011
90.    Save minimum of 60% of 2009 tax rebate - cash committed, completion Jan 2012
91.    Get garden sorted UK - completed May 2011
92.    Get electrics/gas signed off - electrics done Oct 2012, gas done Feb 2013
93.    Get new shower (or whole bathroom) - shower fitted Oct 2012
94.    Set up an events planner - completed Apr 2013
95.    Transfer all data from the Dodo Book of Christmas to the events planner - completed Apr 2013
96.    Finish work on Mondays (ex-monthend) with no work to take home for 3 months - completed May 2012
97.     Finish work on time with no work to take home 2 days a week for 3 months - completed Jun 2012
98.    Work very late for 2 nights at monthend, and 2 'normal' late nights per month with no work to
         take home for 2 months - completed May 2012
99.    As 98, but with hours back in the form of working from home on Fridays with an early finish - completed May 2012
100.  Clean out my closet - completed Aug 12
101.  Organise paperwork - completed Sep 12


10 new tasks to replace those that have been removed above:


-      Sort through the boys clothes - completed Oct 13
-      Make a crafting picture in one of my IKEA picture frames - completed Nov 2013
-      Sort stationery supplies/stickers and post out some RAK packages - completed Oct 13
-      Sort through the hallway cupboards - started Oct 13
-      Package up the big boxes in the hallway and office for recycling - completed Nov 2013
-      Sort through the boxes upstairs that have still not been unpacked
-      Take fish oils daily for 3 months - started Oct 13
-      Take iron supplements twice daily for 3 months - started Oct 2013
-      3 month Facebook ban (apart from personal messages, adding my own photos)
-      3 month Keep In Touch project (letters, calls) - cancelled

And there we have it - my official list of things that I intend to cross off my list by June 29th 2014.

My next blog will include a progress report, to catch up with where I am, but I need to work out how to add photos to my blog first.

LJx