Make 2009 My Best Year Yet

Work
Work became almost too much last month. Too many issues, too many team members. Thankfully, my week off has given me perspective. I will simply do my best and review regularly from now on. I can’t be expected to solve everyone’s problems on my own.

Driving
Been out in the car a few times – enough to keep my hand in.

Food and Wine
Hey – Fatty! Must do more exercise in Dec.

Hiking
NO walks!! How did that happen? I am thoroughly ashamed. No wonder I’ve gained several pounds.

Writing
Considerable work on this front. Extremely pleased with my backstory, and completed 1/3 revisions. Tackling difficult middle & end in Dec.

Social
Saw practically whole of family. MiL came to stay for 3 nights. Lots of emails and cards for my b’day. Will be contacting all friends & family via Xmas card, Xmas parties and Boxing Day hosting in Dec.

House
Big clear out upstairs. New storage solutions for books & CDs. Have started to paint one of the bedrooms with some posh F&B emulsion. Need to get this semi-straight for family extravaganza on Boxing Day (nosy relatives).

Mindwork
Still doing the coaching programme. Have read 2 associated books and working on a project this month. Aim to complete it early.

Travel
Only local. Dec will require a few long distance visits unfortunately (could do without these).

Finances
Surprisingly decent considering all Xmas presents purchased (bar A’s). Should be able to stash some next PD.

I have to say that today has been one of my better b’days. My presents were nothing short of stupendous (11 books in all – including the Ottolenghi cookbook, The White Goddess and Fever Crumb). I also received two nice bath sets, a cashmere jumper and a bizarre cardigan that resembles elven mithril-type garb, which makes me look like a LOTR extra :) MUCH more than I expected.

Entertainment-wise, we’ve had a fun time – much helped by the MiL who is staying with us this week. Had a slap-up breakfast consisting of Chatsworth bacon & eggs, then visited Bolsover Castle. Rounding off the day with a Chinese takeaway and Stardust (plus a visit from a friend around the corner).

Lots happening next week, but I am SO glad that I am taking a break from work. Plan of action as follows:

Friday Night – dinner with Mum and N
Saturday – writing
Sunday – writing/cleaning
Monday – writing/walk?
Tuesday – Xmas shopping with sis. MiL arrives.
Wednesday – writing am/country house/scrabble
Thursday – writing am/Birthday – day TBC/evening feast
Friday – Nan & Grandpa am/MiL leaves/collect paint
Saturday – writing
Sunday – writing/walk?/Xmas cards/project

Major aim is to get the writing underway. A is going to take the MiL out in the mornings and I’ll join them in afternoons/evening. I’m aiming to rewrite at least 6 chapters – more if poss. The additional goal is to do at least 30 mins exercise every day.

Work
Weeks have felt like days – so many people to see and things to do, but I feel as if I’ve made some progress. The team are beginning to come up with process improvement ideas so hoping to implement some of these in November.

Driving
Going well.

Food and Wine
Comfort eating in the evenings, but breakfasts and lunches super healthy. Haven’t had time to think about culinary arts recently.

Hiking
3 walks – one 8 miler. Also been walking back from work with a friend. Trying to exercise regularly

Writing
Finished 1st draft second novel. Started supporting short story for first novel. Aiming to re-plot first novel, and start to re-write in November.

Social
Contacted old friends via email. Saw A&W. MiL coming to stay in November. Going to invite J&P over for a meal.

House
Very little.

Mindwork
Started a business coaching/leadership programme.

Travel
Homebody. Investigating doing the WHW again.

Finances
Stashed some cash in ISA/mortgage. Continuing this in Nov/Dec.

Work
Trying to find order within chaos. Urgently. I’ve inherited an unholy mess, but I’m optimistic that we can get it back in shape. Not sure if some of the team members will stick it out for that long though! It’s going to be heads down in October.

Driving
Back in the car and enjoying it.

Food and Wine
Lots of takeouts from Waitrose.

Hiking
2 good walks. Hoping to do another 2 in Oct.

Writing
2 chapters to go and then the first draft is finished. Pleased with progress considering the turmoil at work.

Social
Fairly restful. Same again in Oct, please.

House
On hold.

Mindwork
Completed a life coach programme and have made a list of books that I’d like to read.

Travel
Still pondering Nov conference. Going to book a week off in Nov regardless.

Finances
Hopefully back on the upward climb.

Work
Oh the drama. First all was well, then my job was made redundant and now I find that I am going to be line managing 12+ staff. Certainly not boring. Who knows what September will bring?

Driving
Non-existent. And I won’t have to drive in my new role either. At least I’ve passed my test. Will get back in the car next month.

Food and Wine
Some hit and miss entertaining. Healthier options in Sept.

Hiking
Vast improvement. 3 decent walks + lots of minis. Aiming to keep working into work. Need lots of exercise. LOTS.

Writing
Happy!!! 2/3 of the way through my first draft. Should finish it next weekend. Then back to the 1st story for a huge rewrite.

Social
Who haven’t I seen? I need a rest!

House
Downstairs is cosy as. Project upstairs to commence in Oct/Nov.

Mindwork
Dreaming big. Need to stay positive.

Travel
Only the Nov conference on the agenda. London dependent on £.

Finances
Don’t want to look. Will have to be a lot tighter in Sept.

We’ve decided to stay at home this week due to cashflow. We’ve had a good weekend – booze, BBQ and conversation with friends B&D, S&M. Absolutely knackered now, but enjoyed hosting v.much.

Goals:
Relaxation and detox
Life Coach Programme – create profile and wishlist
10K words min
2 x walks
Mend clothes (darn jeans, take-up trousers)
Night out with J & E
Contact A & L
Sort out finances
Haircut
Read 2 x books

Looking to having a pause before my favourite season begins.

Work
A strange month. Mainly wondering whether I would still have a job (yes, thankfully), but now not knowing what I’ll be doing and where I’ll be working. Coming to the end of a major account – and the results have been better than expected. Looking to get loose ends tied up in August ready for the next challenge.

Driving
Going well. I’ve been visiting clients on my own and enjoying it. I still need to tackle the motorway though. Considering Pass Plus.

Food and Wine
Had some delicious seafood on holiday. Looking to book a cookery course in the Autumn.

Hiking
Completed 5 smallish, but dramatic walks in Skye – Fairy pools, Loch Coruisk, Waternish Point, Old Man of Storr, Neist Point. Trying for 2 local hikes in August – possibly something more challenging.

Writing
Been doing more plotting than thinking, but determined to finish the 1st draft of the second book in August.

Social
Saw lots of family (mine & A’s) and met R&D at YSP. SiL coming to stay next week, then friends 2 weeks after. Also big team do to look forward to. May do a couple of impromptus.

House
Started on the cosmetics. We have a new sofa & a blind on the way. Also waiting for 2 x Noguchi prints to be framed. Should be in a much better state by end of month.

Mindwork
Reading up on some philopsophical/scientific theories. Have an online life coach programme booked for 5 weeks – starting 24th Aug.

Travel
Had an excellent time in Skye. Considering a trip to either the Lake District or Snowdonia on the Aug week off.

Finances
Alternating between spending on house and saving. Aiming to have a major wardrobe overhaul in Oct.

I stuck to my guns during the first half. Relatively sane hours, walking and the diet was balanced.

Second half – less so. A managed to secure some extra home-based work so that has taken up a lot of time in the evenings. There has also been added pressure at work due to the massive re-shuffle.

Lots of good things happened in June. Driving, extra training at work, new income stream, good review. Friends and family. The writing has been steady – with lots of progress on the plot frontage.

July Aims are:

• Enjoy holiday – relax
• Exercise and fresh air every day of hols
• Lots of fresh local food (inc seafood – yum)
• WRITING!
• Read – 4 books
• Friends and family visits (at least 2 planned)
• Spruce up image on return to work

I kind of did the list that I had set for May. I saw lots of friends and visited London & Bath. The pie challenge was successfully completed and I worked like a trojan. Sis got a candy-floss maker and A gots lots of attention. Writing was productive, but bitty. The main area where I didn’t do so well was chilled and healthy. Drank way too much, and got stressed at work. So for June, I’m determined to relax.

Top goals are:

• Do normal-ish hours at work and take the pressure off
• More walking
• Less alcohol and cakes!
• Revise the 1st novel
• Save money for holiday

Mainly I want June to be about taking time out to rejuvenate so that I can re-focus for the second half of the year.