Saturday 31 December 2011

The last day of 2011

So today is the last day of 2011. I wonder what exciting adventures I will have in 2012?

2011 has been a good year. Some things have gone wrong but overall I have been pretty content. I start 2012 not knowing what the future holds careerwise but hopeful that things will work out. I am fortunate to have stayed on at the job I left for my teacher training as a casual member of staff so at the moment I am working part time and bringing in some money. Long term I need to find a full time job that pays a decent amount so that I can get on with life and move out from my parents' house etc. Having the casual hours at my previous job is great as it means I can do fun stuff as I have some money coming in and it gets me out the house. I think if I did not have this I would end up feeling a sense of despair.

Anyway changing the subject slightly to goals for 2012/new years resolutions.

I posted some resolutions on facebook earlier. These include walk the dog more often (my Dad walks the dog most often so this is a do more of my fair share), run another marathon as long as I am well enough to train and take a photo a day.

I think I will also add blog at least once a week. Hopefully having a set target will mean I actually do blog more often.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2012 xx

Friday 23 December 2011

It's nearly Christmas

Wow only 2 more sleeps until Christmas. Is it just me or did 2011 go REALLY fast?

I still have presents to wrap and one missing present that I may need to replace but other than that I am pretty much ready.

I am looking forward to a nice rest over Christmas and spending time with my family. I love the family time over Christmas. Eating, drinking, playing games etc. It's brill.

Tomorrow I intend to take the dog for a nice long walk and then get on with my wrapping and whatever jobs my mother leaves for me to do whilst she is at work.

Exciting times!

Also it is my big sister's 30th birthday on Christmas day so happy birthday!

I have been pondering what to have as my new years resolutions/aims and goals for 2012. I'm still not decided so you shall have to wait and see.

Wednesday 21 December 2011

baking, baking, baking

Wow have I done a lot of baking lately. Mince pies, Christmas cakes, jam tarts, jam, cookie Christmas tree, angel biscuits, reindeer cupcakes, snowmen fairy cakes, cheese straws, rocky road, flapjacks, lemon and cream sponge, plain sponge, bran buns, wholemeal bread, chocolate roulade, chocolate fudge, chocolate orange fudge, chocolate mint fudge and two attempts at vanilla fudge that failed!

As you may have now realised I love baking!
Also not all of that was for me. Most of it was for events like birthdays or people to take to work etc. Some of the stuff is for when my lovely friends come over this evening for mulled wine, mince pies and nibbles. Can't wait to see them :-)

I love baking mince pies and Christmas cakes even though I like neither. I enjoy baking anyway and they are festive so it's double enjoyment!

I have one more thing to make and then that is it until after Christmas/the new year.

Sunday 11 December 2011

2011 in survey form

Hi folks,

I have decided to do the year in survey form a bit earlier than usual this year. So here it is :-)

1. What did you do in 2011 that you had never done before?
Go to Zumba class, go to Body Combat class, teach a class, run a marathon, raise over £1000 for charity, pipe icing onto cakes, took part in a cycle challenge, grew lots of foods I had never grown before. At the moment those are all the ones I can think of

2. Did you keep your new years resolutions and will you make more for next year?

Resolutions were to socialise more: as in don't turn down offers etc. I feel I have achieved this one.
Run the London Marathon=Done
Run Swindon Half Marathon again=Done
Run Silverstone Half Marathon again=Done
Stop swearing=not done but I have cut down
Be ill less often=oops.

I haven't really decided what my resolutions are for next year. Maybe do a cake decorating course and work on my skills, apply for an allotment and get settled careerwise.

3. How will you be spending your new years eve?
At the moment I have yet to decide.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully no.

5. What countries did you visit?
I just stayed in England this year.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Ooh I don't know. Maybe a little bit more confidence in certain situations.

7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
17.04.11 because I ran the London Marathon that day and it was AMAZING!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Running the London Marathon. Well training for it and doing it by myself :-) (had a lovely support team of friends and family on the day etc though)

9. What was your biggest failure?
I wouldn't say I had any failures particularly. My teaching course didn't work out because I was ill but I didn't fail.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes. Been poorly for the last couple of months.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Gosh I really don't know so going to go for the plunger cutters I got at the good food show. Snowflakes and flowers :-)

12. Where did most of your money go?
Possibly petrol although I don't have exact figures.

13. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Adele: Someone like you. Because it has been played on the radio A LOT and I always sing along.

14. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I don't think there is anything, I have been pretty happy this year and whilst I wish I hadn't been ill and had therefore done more of my course that is not something I can change and therefore I don't wish it.
I guess maybe exercise classes that I had to skip due to illness. But again that is a thing I couldn't have helped.

15. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I'm not sure on this one. Maybe being messy!

16. What was you favourite TV programme?
The Great British Bake Off. Brilliant show. Although also loved Kirstie's Handmade Britain.

17. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate isn't something I do, there are some people I dislike or feel disappointed in.

18. What was the best book you read?
Room. I forget who it is by but it is a gripping read.

19. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I didn't really have one! (boring I know)

20. What was your favourite film of this year?
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.

21. What did you do on your birthday?
Went to Millets farm in the day with my friend and then had a meal at home with the family in the evening I think.

22. What kept you sane?
My lovely friends and not letting myself be bothered about things I had no power to change.

23. Who did you miss?
Special people who are no longer with us.

24. Who was the best new person that you met?
There is someone who is not a close friend but is just one of those people who never fails to be cheerful. I also met loads of lovely people on my course :-)

25. Tell us a valuable life lesson that you learned in 2011.
Feel the fear and do it anyway. Don't worry about things you can't change. Look to the future and what you can do differently next time.

I have no idea what the year 2012 will bring but I hope that with a positive attitude and determination it will be a great year. I am excited for the future.

Saturday 10 December 2011

The first update in a very long time

Hello.

Yet again I haven't updated in a very long time. I have been rather poorly and for that reason had to withdraw from my teacher training course. :-( this is sad news for me as I was really enjoying the course. Tough parts and all. At the moment I am working on getting up to full health.

Since I got over the worst of my illness I have been baking to keep myself occupied. I am starting to get bored of not having my usual energy and therefore not being able to do stuff. I haven't exercised for 8 weeks now. I really miss it. I was going to 3-4 exercise classes a week over the summer and then at least 2 classes once I had started my school placement. Hopefully I can get back to it in the new year.

I have had a lot of support from my friends with regards to having to withdraw from the course and also them coming over for cups of tea etc to keep me company. I am a lucky girl to have such great friends. :-)

There are two bonuses to being ill 13lb weight loss (although I've had my appetite back the last few weeks so now only 6.5lb weight loss) and I have got most of my Christmas shopping done as had time to shop online.

Don't have a lot else to say really as will just be trying to get better and ready for Christmas over the next few weeks.