Hi Guys,
I hope you have all had a great Christmas and are looking forward to a fabulous New Year. I had a lovely Christmas day, and was spoilt, and then caught a cold which really sucks. I scribbled a few notes to write this post on Boxing Day, but then felt too rough to actually post anything lol :-)
It's been a while I'm afraid, but as you can see below there has been movement on my 101 for a number of reasons, so very little to post.
I tried to carry on with the classic films by watching Some Like It Hot, but unfortunately I've only been able to watch an hour of it so far (in two sittings) so still have a way to go on that one. I have recorded a few classic films over the last couple of days (Christmas is a great time to record films on the telly), so just need to find time to watch them. They're not ones that were on my initial list of ten that I would like to watch, but they are still classic films, and I would like to watch them. Now I just need to find the time to watch them - a bit trickier as they are on the Cablecom box in the front room, as opposed to being on a DVD that I can disappear off to the bedroom to watch while everyone else is busy with other things (TV or games).
I attempted to make shortbread with my boys on Christmas Eve, but they decided that the only bit they wanted to do was to shape the shortbread. However, although I can't class it as baking with the boys, it was a new recipe for me so I got one base covered :-) It wasn't a total success as we made them a bit thicker then specified and therefore they were under-baked, but they tasted great and were easy to do. Maybe we'll have another go at those soon...
I had planned to embroider a sampler in December, but unfortunately I have struggled to find a template that I like. This hasn't distracted me from the job in hand, but I have bought a different template to use, which arrived on Christmas Eve, so I'll be doing that in the New Year.
I'm still taking my fish oils and iron tablets, and have only missed one day - quite an achievement for me :-)
We received the P90X3 workout programme from Beachbody just before Christmas, and as I struggle to make exercise part of my normal routine unless I have a programme to complete, I have decided to add P90X3 to my 101 list. It's a 30 minute workout, 6 days a week, concentrating on different things each time, and is another programme from Tony Horton, who is a joy to work out with (at least while you feel like you can still breathe).
I also know that when I workout regularly I feel much better in myself, and feel it's time that I climbed back on that horse :-) All I need to decide now is decide which of my other challenges is not as important to me at this time and that can wait until the second half of 2014.
Have a great week,
LJx
Saturday, 28 December 2013
Sunday, 1 December 2013
101 Progress Check - December 1st 2013
Hello Everyone!!!
Well, I can safely say that his week I have achieved very little and am now behind where I had planned to be.
Things I need to catch up on are:
Photo session with the boys
1 hour walk on my own (I had the opportunity, but was just too lazy and didn't want to go
out in the cold on my own)
Family day out - I had intended for us to go to the zoo yesterday, but completely forgot that
Christopher had to go to Jubla, so that scuppered that idea.
Wearing heels - I had planned on wearing my higher heeled boots to work with my new trousers
but just can't face tottering round, especially as we're now getting snow, so I think it will be
safer to save that one for the spring now
Plan the story that I am going to write for my boys
However, although I haven't done anything big on my list this week, I have continued to take my fish oils and iron tablets :-)
I cant's see next week's update being any more exciting either as it's month end at work so I'll be pretty busy :-)
Have a great week,
LJx
Well, I can safely say that his week I have achieved very little and am now behind where I had planned to be.
Things I need to catch up on are:
Photo session with the boys
1 hour walk on my own (I had the opportunity, but was just too lazy and didn't want to go
out in the cold on my own)
Family day out - I had intended for us to go to the zoo yesterday, but completely forgot that
Christopher had to go to Jubla, so that scuppered that idea.
Wearing heels - I had planned on wearing my higher heeled boots to work with my new trousers
but just can't face tottering round, especially as we're now getting snow, so I think it will be
safer to save that one for the spring now
Plan the story that I am going to write for my boys
However, although I haven't done anything big on my list this week, I have continued to take my fish oils and iron tablets :-)
I cant's see next week's update being any more exciting either as it's month end at work so I'll be pretty busy :-)
Have a great week,
LJx
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!!!
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
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
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
Sunday, 27 October 2013
101 Progress Check - October 27th 2013
Hi Guys,
Well, no tasks to cross off this week, although I have made a start on quite a few.
Sorting through the boys clothes - I have been through their drawers and wardrobe, and now have a whole big IKEA bag full of clothes to go to the clothing bank down the road. I have also been through most of the shoes and binned the old ones (they were hiding in the junk at the bottom of the stairs). I still need to go through all the hats, gloves, scarves, coats and snow trousers, and then I'm done - yay!!!
On Monday I started taking my iron supplements and fish oils, which reminds me, I really need to take those this morning as soon as I've finished writing this post.
I started reading Fanny Hill and am struggling to get into it at all - as it's such an old book the language style is so different from today and this makes it trickier. I was considering changing it for something else, but as I'm 25% of the way through then I shall keep going. So far though - it is just rude!!! lol
The main reason I haven't got further through Fanny Hill is that when I finished Black Beauty the new book by Alison Morton was launched. Perfiditas is the second book by Alison, her first, Inceptio, was launched earlier this year, and I have to say (because it's true, not because someone is making me), I just had to make this book my priority, and am so pleased I did. I loved reading Inceptio, I love the writing style, and the book is based on such an interesting idea and characters (I'm giving nothing away, just read the book), so was sure Perfiditas would also be good. I was a little concerned that it may not be able to live up to it's older sibling, but within minutes my fears were allayed as I held tight for more action, mystery and intrigue - love, love, love it!!!
Time to go take my supplements now - enjoy the recommended reading :-)
LJx
Update: It is now Sunday evening and I have finished sorting the boys clothes, and started on the hallway cupboards - go me!!!
Well, no tasks to cross off this week, although I have made a start on quite a few.
Sorting through the boys clothes - I have been through their drawers and wardrobe, and now have a whole big IKEA bag full of clothes to go to the clothing bank down the road. I have also been through most of the shoes and binned the old ones (they were hiding in the junk at the bottom of the stairs). I still need to go through all the hats, gloves, scarves, coats and snow trousers, and then I'm done - yay!!!
On Monday I started taking my iron supplements and fish oils, which reminds me, I really need to take those this morning as soon as I've finished writing this post.
I started reading Fanny Hill and am struggling to get into it at all - as it's such an old book the language style is so different from today and this makes it trickier. I was considering changing it for something else, but as I'm 25% of the way through then I shall keep going. So far though - it is just rude!!! lol
The main reason I haven't got further through Fanny Hill is that when I finished Black Beauty the new book by Alison Morton was launched. Perfiditas is the second book by Alison, her first, Inceptio, was launched earlier this year, and I have to say (because it's true, not because someone is making me), I just had to make this book my priority, and am so pleased I did. I loved reading Inceptio, I love the writing style, and the book is based on such an interesting idea and characters (I'm giving nothing away, just read the book), so was sure Perfiditas would also be good. I was a little concerned that it may not be able to live up to it's older sibling, but within minutes my fears were allayed as I held tight for more action, mystery and intrigue - love, love, love it!!!
Time to go take my supplements now - enjoy the recommended reading :-)
LJx
Update: It is now Sunday evening and I have finished sorting the boys clothes, and started on the hallway cupboards - go me!!!
Sunday, 20 October 2013
101 Progress Check - October 20th 2013
Hi Guys :-)
After I write my last progress update I had a good look at my list to see what was still outstanding, and how long I have left to get it all done in. I have approximately eight and a half months left, and thirty six items waiting to be completed and crossed off my list.
If I could do these at a rate of six per month I would easily get this finished, but there are a number of longer term things on here (e.g. there are still six date nights remaining, so realistically that is six evenings, not just one), so I went through the outstanding items to see which ones need to be spread out over the remaining time, and which can be given a date to be done as a one off and am very pleased to say that it is all looking possible :-)
You may recall that in my last update post I was considering a three month Facebook ban and a Keep In Touch project (to actually write to, or call people) during this period. I have decided that this is something that I would really like to do, and as there were a couple of items highlighted in my review of tasks to be changed that I had down as a "leave on the list for now", I feel that it would be right for me to swap out two of my current list items for these new ones. In a way I'm tempted to remove the job of transferring all my music from tape to MP3, and there are two reasons for this. Firstly, it will take a long time to do, and secondly, as I haven't used the converter yet I don't know if it actually works. However, it is something I really want to do, so I will leave it there and instead I will be removing two of my fitness items "Do 4 sessions of Your Shape (Kinect) or Wii Fit in one week" and "Do 3 sessions of Just Dance or Dance on Broadway in one week. With the fitness programmes that I have found in the last couple of years I feel that the Wii Fit & Your Shape don't really exercise me and so would be nice to do, but really a bit pointless, and I still have no idea where my dance games have gone...
This week I had planned to sort through the boys clothes, but it's not done yet. However, I have bought some more clothes for the boys ready for autumn/winter, and I may get a chance to at least start on sorting the clothes later today.
I read Black Beauty on the train to and from work this week. I have some vague recollections of watching it on telly when I was little, but had never read the book at all. I was surprised by how much I liked it - it is beautifully written from Black Beauty's point of view, and is just lovely. I have a feeling I will be reading this again in the future :-) So only two banned books left to read.
Yesterday I went out in the forest with the youngest boy as the older one had Jubla all afternoon, and we both took our cameras out with us and I was surprised this morning when I went to upload them and found that I had taken sixty four photos. Here are a few below:
Tomorrow I will be starting taking my supplements (why start today what you can start tomorrow, lol), and as I'm changing my working hours from this week, and we no longer have Migros down the road to buy lunch so need to start planning properly what I'm eating and drinking again, I will be sorting out my Plannerisms planner to record everything as I know that when I am using it I am much better at keeping to routines and habits.
Have a great week,
LJx
After I write my last progress update I had a good look at my list to see what was still outstanding, and how long I have left to get it all done in. I have approximately eight and a half months left, and thirty six items waiting to be completed and crossed off my list.
If I could do these at a rate of six per month I would easily get this finished, but there are a number of longer term things on here (e.g. there are still six date nights remaining, so realistically that is six evenings, not just one), so I went through the outstanding items to see which ones need to be spread out over the remaining time, and which can be given a date to be done as a one off and am very pleased to say that it is all looking possible :-)
You may recall that in my last update post I was considering a three month Facebook ban and a Keep In Touch project (to actually write to, or call people) during this period. I have decided that this is something that I would really like to do, and as there were a couple of items highlighted in my review of tasks to be changed that I had down as a "leave on the list for now", I feel that it would be right for me to swap out two of my current list items for these new ones. In a way I'm tempted to remove the job of transferring all my music from tape to MP3, and there are two reasons for this. Firstly, it will take a long time to do, and secondly, as I haven't used the converter yet I don't know if it actually works. However, it is something I really want to do, so I will leave it there and instead I will be removing two of my fitness items "Do 4 sessions of Your Shape (Kinect) or Wii Fit in one week" and "Do 3 sessions of Just Dance or Dance on Broadway in one week. With the fitness programmes that I have found in the last couple of years I feel that the Wii Fit & Your Shape don't really exercise me and so would be nice to do, but really a bit pointless, and I still have no idea where my dance games have gone...
This week I had planned to sort through the boys clothes, but it's not done yet. However, I have bought some more clothes for the boys ready for autumn/winter, and I may get a chance to at least start on sorting the clothes later today.
I read Black Beauty on the train to and from work this week. I have some vague recollections of watching it on telly when I was little, but had never read the book at all. I was surprised by how much I liked it - it is beautifully written from Black Beauty's point of view, and is just lovely. I have a feeling I will be reading this again in the future :-) So only two banned books left to read.
Yesterday I went out in the forest with the youngest boy as the older one had Jubla all afternoon, and we both took our cameras out with us and I was surprised this morning when I went to upload them and found that I had taken sixty four photos. Here are a few below:
 |
| On the way to the forest |
 |
| In the forest - I love it here :-) |
 |
| Marcus photographing mushrooms |
 |
| Diddy mushrooms :-) |
 |
| My happy boy :-) |
Have a great week,
LJx
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