pro·cras·ti·nate (v.intr.) :- To put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness.
I am the queen of procrastination but I feel I am building up to something big...next week is going to be awesome and I already have great news but I'm going to make you wait until next week's post to tell you about it...
My diploma module 2 is staring at me and the list of jobs I promised to do during my "time off" is still has long as my arm...
But this week has mostly been about fresh starts. I've been for a haircut and a facial and I've given Skye a well deserved bath - so I'm starting to feel the freshness of a new (and extraordinary year). I've also done a bit of research into my gorilla holiday so things are happening but at a slower rate.
Things ramp up next week, I promise...
Monday, 16 January 2012
Friday, 13 January 2012
Week 27
The peace and quiet is suffocating...
After the blissful festive period when my house was full of energy and laughter, it is now alarmingly quiet. It didn't help that I spent most of the week lazing about...so a new week starts and I'm raring to go.
After the blissful festive period when my house was full of energy and laughter, it is now alarmingly quiet. It didn't help that I spent most of the week lazing about...so a new week starts and I'm raring to go.
Friday, 6 January 2012
Resolutions?
I don't really believe in making New Year resolutions. But this is such a big year that I want to set out my plans and make a huge effort to stick to them.
First and foremost, I've made a decision to go back to work when Skye's rehabilitation is complete - around mid February. I have realised over the last 6 months that, although I do love animals and wish to change the animal world, I do not have the "va va voom" that propels me to make such a drastic change in life. I'm a dreamer but not a do-er. I can lose myself in a visual spectacle containing nature at it's finest and seriously believe that I could be the next greatest nature photographer, camera-woman, commentator...but when it comes down to it, I don't have the drive and ambition. I realise that if you really, really want to be something or do something, you need to knock down doors, speak to tons of people, listen to people saying you can't do it and bounce back and vow to try even harder...That is so not me. Even when I left my job, I did not have a clear picture of what I wanted to do. I figured the picture would become clearer as I let fate guide me. There is no doubt that animals and nature are a big part of my life and my interests but I have been easily distracted and that "picture" has never really come into focus. But I can compromise and that is to go back into the oil industry on a part time basis (about 2 or 3 days a week) allowing me time every week to study and volunteer. I think that's a great compromise.
If the job plans come together then I have a wish list of things I'd like to do in 2012:
First and foremost, I've made a decision to go back to work when Skye's rehabilitation is complete - around mid February. I have realised over the last 6 months that, although I do love animals and wish to change the animal world, I do not have the "va va voom" that propels me to make such a drastic change in life. I'm a dreamer but not a do-er. I can lose myself in a visual spectacle containing nature at it's finest and seriously believe that I could be the next greatest nature photographer, camera-woman, commentator...but when it comes down to it, I don't have the drive and ambition. I realise that if you really, really want to be something or do something, you need to knock down doors, speak to tons of people, listen to people saying you can't do it and bounce back and vow to try even harder...That is so not me. Even when I left my job, I did not have a clear picture of what I wanted to do. I figured the picture would become clearer as I let fate guide me. There is no doubt that animals and nature are a big part of my life and my interests but I have been easily distracted and that "picture" has never really come into focus. But I can compromise and that is to go back into the oil industry on a part time basis (about 2 or 3 days a week) allowing me time every week to study and volunteer. I think that's a great compromise.
If the job plans come together then I have a wish list of things I'd like to do in 2012:
- Visit Africa and see gorillas in the wild
- Go to a music festival
- Visit Northern Scotland in Dougal
- Go to Iona
- Visit my friend, Sandy, in Switzerland
- Go to a West End London show
- Eat in a Michelin star restaurant
- Take a photography course
- Learn to dance (salsa or tango)
- Buy a more reliable car (in exchange for Punto NOT for Dougal - Dougal's staying put)
- Visit Monkey World with my mum
Monday, 2 January 2012
Challenge updates
I bet you're all dying to know how I got on with my 2 personal challenges...
I said, back in July, that I would not purchase any new clothes or shoes for the next 6 months and I DID IT. I am so impressed with myself. Even during the festive season when the gorgeous, sparkly outfits were beckoning me, I resisted temptation. I got through the few Christmas parties by wearing "old" outfits. And, because I couldn't fit into the outfits back in July, I had to embark on a fitness regime to tone up and by mid December the zips on all dresses were loose(r). Double bonus. I will try to keep this challenge going until I earn my first income...
At the beginning of December I also challenged myself to restrict all drinking to social events - so no alcohol in the house unless I had people with me. This proved a challenge indeed. It's amazing how I automatically opened the wine on a Friday evening. But once again I DID IT. I celebrated at 01:00 on 1st January by having a Baileys.
I said, back in July, that I would not purchase any new clothes or shoes for the next 6 months and I DID IT. I am so impressed with myself. Even during the festive season when the gorgeous, sparkly outfits were beckoning me, I resisted temptation. I got through the few Christmas parties by wearing "old" outfits. And, because I couldn't fit into the outfits back in July, I had to embark on a fitness regime to tone up and by mid December the zips on all dresses were loose(r). Double bonus. I will try to keep this challenge going until I earn my first income...
At the beginning of December I also challenged myself to restrict all drinking to social events - so no alcohol in the house unless I had people with me. This proved a challenge indeed. It's amazing how I automatically opened the wine on a Friday evening. But once again I DID IT. I celebrated at 01:00 on 1st January by having a Baileys.
Week 26 - Happy New Year!
Why is it when you have all the time in the world to do something, you put off till the last minute?
Every year I have been organising and hosting a "Family Challenge". The last 2 years, I've been working full time and have managed to carry off a massive event starting with a treasure hunt and ending with a pub quiz. This year, I hadn't even planned the treasure hunt until Thursday and the Challenge was planned for Friday!!! I have had all the time in the world to come up with the quiz questions and again I left it till the last minute...
Regardless, it was still a good event even though the treasure hunt involved walking and my family got soaked to the skin! However the rest of the day went well...the Hague Hippos took an early lead but the Xtra Factors were only ever a few points away...they were catching up and it was neck and neck for a while until the quick fire rounds kicked in. The first was a "Who's line is it anyway" round and involved me and J reciting a famous line from a film and the first team to guess the film and actor got 2 points. Even though the films ranged from 1960's to cartoons to recent films the Xtra Factors didn't stand a chance against my brother who always claimed he was Barry Norman/Jonathon Ross/Claudia Winkleman depending of which era you watched the "Film Programme". Even when my brother retired to bed with "food and drink issues" the Hague Hippos won and took the trophy back to Holland with them.
Hogmanay was a quiet evening. I had drinks with my good friend Debbie and had a wonderful girlie chat, along with a few vodkas and home at a sensible time so as to do my first footing without a hangover. Does all that make me sound old? Well, it is the big year after all...40th birthday planning starts here and now....
Every year I have been organising and hosting a "Family Challenge". The last 2 years, I've been working full time and have managed to carry off a massive event starting with a treasure hunt and ending with a pub quiz. This year, I hadn't even planned the treasure hunt until Thursday and the Challenge was planned for Friday!!! I have had all the time in the world to come up with the quiz questions and again I left it till the last minute...
Regardless, it was still a good event even though the treasure hunt involved walking and my family got soaked to the skin! However the rest of the day went well...the Hague Hippos took an early lead but the Xtra Factors were only ever a few points away...they were catching up and it was neck and neck for a while until the quick fire rounds kicked in. The first was a "Who's line is it anyway" round and involved me and J reciting a famous line from a film and the first team to guess the film and actor got 2 points. Even though the films ranged from 1960's to cartoons to recent films the Xtra Factors didn't stand a chance against my brother who always claimed he was Barry Norman/Jonathon Ross/Claudia Winkleman depending of which era you watched the "Film Programme". Even when my brother retired to bed with "food and drink issues" the Hague Hippos won and took the trophy back to Holland with them.
Hogmanay was a quiet evening. I had drinks with my good friend Debbie and had a wonderful girlie chat, along with a few vodkas and home at a sensible time so as to do my first footing without a hangover. Does all that make me sound old? Well, it is the big year after all...40th birthday planning starts here and now....
Week 25 - w/e Christmas Day!
I've been so busy recently that I haven't posted for about 3 weeks so I'm trying to catch up now...
The week running up to Christmas was magical. Partly the anticipation of my family arriving from Holland and just the general excitement of this time of year!
It's was a busy week but I managed to escape the madness of the shops - my Sainsbury's food order was delivered on Tuesday and all my Christmas presents were ordered online too. I did venture into the city on Wednesday for a lunch date with an old work colleague and was surprised that it wasn't mobbed - has everyone done their shopping online?
On mad Friday I met up with some of my work colleagues for a few drinks - it was great to catch up with them. But I ducked out early mainly because I didn't want a hangover on Christmas eve and also to get home for Skyebird.
On Christmas Eve my family arrived from Holland. I had to put a poster up in my sun porch to make sure Santa knew that J was staying at my house. I think J was impressed.
The energy levels intensified with a 7 year old in the house and I can say it truly made my Christmas complete. We told J that he could not get up on Christmas morning before 7.30am (in an attempt to give the adults a chance to get a good sleep) but at 7.29am all 3 bedroom doors opened and all adults said to J "We've been up for ages waiting on you" - I think we were just as excited as him. First thing - check that the beer, banana cake and carrot had been eaten then we tiptoed into the living room and lo-and-behold a massive sack of presents were waiting for J.
So many gifts!
The meal had been meticulously planned over the whole day with lots of gaps between courses so we didn't end up feeling stuffed. Each person had a chance to cook or present something they baked earlier so it was a combined effort and I think it went really well. My brother cooked the main course and during the course, we were joined by some friends:
The week running up to Christmas was magical. Partly the anticipation of my family arriving from Holland and just the general excitement of this time of year!
It's was a busy week but I managed to escape the madness of the shops - my Sainsbury's food order was delivered on Tuesday and all my Christmas presents were ordered online too. I did venture into the city on Wednesday for a lunch date with an old work colleague and was surprised that it wasn't mobbed - has everyone done their shopping online?
On mad Friday I met up with some of my work colleagues for a few drinks - it was great to catch up with them. But I ducked out early mainly because I didn't want a hangover on Christmas eve and also to get home for Skyebird.
On Christmas Eve my family arrived from Holland. I had to put a poster up in my sun porch to make sure Santa knew that J was staying at my house. I think J was impressed.
The energy levels intensified with a 7 year old in the house and I can say it truly made my Christmas complete. We told J that he could not get up on Christmas morning before 7.30am (in an attempt to give the adults a chance to get a good sleep) but at 7.29am all 3 bedroom doors opened and all adults said to J "We've been up for ages waiting on you" - I think we were just as excited as him. First thing - check that the beer, banana cake and carrot had been eaten then we tiptoed into the living room and lo-and-behold a massive sack of presents were waiting for J.
So many gifts!
The meal had been meticulously planned over the whole day with lots of gaps between courses so we didn't end up feeling stuffed. Each person had a chance to cook or present something they baked earlier so it was a combined effort and I think it went really well. My brother cooked the main course and during the course, we were joined by some friends:
Who can beat a line up like that at Christmas time?
Week 24 - w/e 18th Dec
Well, I think I've cracked Skye's toilet issues. On a desperate day when she hadn't done anything at all (and I'd been out with her 5 or 6 times waiting patiently for her) I took drastic steps and let her off the lead and miraculously she circled there and then and did it. What a result. I swear she looked at me as if to say "what took you so long to get it?". Since then we have a little routine which involves surveillance of the area prior to letting Skye off lead so she can do what she has to then straight back to the house. It seems to work though she's still puzzled at the new routine.
She's been getting lots of reiki from me and we also had a visit from my animal healer, Bob, who has helped Skye enormously over the last few years. He was able to tell me which areas to concentrate on.
The week ended with a night out with the lovely yoga girls on Friday and a meal with friends on Saturday (I think I posted about the aromas in my kitchen when I was cooking on Saturday). It's been a week of indulgent food and I think it's going to continue through the rest of December...
The rest of the week has been Christmas planning. I am hosting Christmas this year and feel remarkably organised - presents wrapped and massive food order placed.
She's been getting lots of reiki from me and we also had a visit from my animal healer, Bob, who has helped Skye enormously over the last few years. He was able to tell me which areas to concentrate on.
The week ended with a night out with the lovely yoga girls on Friday and a meal with friends on Saturday (I think I posted about the aromas in my kitchen when I was cooking on Saturday). It's been a week of indulgent food and I think it's going to continue through the rest of December...
The rest of the week has been Christmas planning. I am hosting Christmas this year and feel remarkably organised - presents wrapped and massive food order placed.
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