I'm doing 20 things
A long illness that started in July boycotted my plans for the summer in my city. But the weather was awful anyway so luckily I didn’t feel like I was missing too much. A swanky new museum (MAS) opened but the one time I visited the lines were just too long and I couldn’t face going in.
I pay a visit to Antwerps “famous” cemetery Schoonselhof (pretty, but not Père Lachaise by far), went to some great restaurants and some new (to me) venues. Now that I’m living in the centre I’m walking more and I’m getting to see new neighbourhoods.
Ninja Neko's Life List
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1. travel
6 entries . 8 cheers8,748 people -
2. plant my own garden
2 entries . 6 cheers61 people -
3. Throw a dart into a map and travel to where it lands
3 cheers419 people -
4. see the northern lights
3 cheers18,962 people -
5. see David Bowie in concert
2 cheers55 people -
6. be a better cook
6 entries . 5 cheers485 people -
7. Improve my photography
6 cheers642 people -
8. watch a meteor shower
1 cheer149 people -
9. Read Lolita
3 cheers58 people -
10. Keep in better touch with my true friends
1 cheer86 people -
11. explore the city where i live
6 entries . 2 cheers22 people -
12. play the piano
3 cheers1,214 people -
13. control my temper
1 cheer655 people -
14. knit a scarf
1 entry . 3 cheers572 people -
15. grow my own vegetables
1 entry . 4 cheers1,513 people -
16. get a cat
1 entry . 4 cheers900 people -
17. drink more water
1 entry . 1 cheer20,325 people -
18. Learn Japanese
2 entries . 4 cheers10,615 people -
19. Visit a foreign city for every letter of the alphabet
2 entries49 people -
20. have a flat stomach
3 cheers2,402 people
How I did it
It made me
at home 
How I did it: I started out with painted walls and some pictures my grandfather took (he was a photographer). There were also 2 mural stickers, but everything was still pretty bare. So after deciding to tackle this goal, in one year: I bought some cheapo framed posters at Ikea (I was debating over this in my head for months, as I wanted to avoid the 'generic Ikea apartment look' but admitted that I loved those posters and got over myself) Framed … Read how I did it…
It made me
proud & independent
How I did it: The idea to go on a holiday alone came into my head after a breakup. But it also scared me, so I did it in steps. That first year I joined a group vacation. I didn't know anyone, but wasn't "alone" technically. The year after I finally went alone, one week in Paris. A city where I'd already been to a few times and a language I sorta speak... So I knew I could probably cope - and could take the train back home in an instant if needed. But … Read how I did it…
It made me
nervous 
How I did it: Well, I was returning home on bike one night after finishing my student job, and rode along this deserted dark road (this sounds like the beginning of a scary story...). I passed a bunch of road construction material, shoved aside after the work had been done for some days. Amongst the stuff I spotted a battered old construction road sign, and it occured to me that my then-boyfriend would love to have it for his bedroo… Read how I did it…
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Recent entries
I had a big breakthrough this year. It may sound trivial to some but for me it was a reason to be a little proud: while cooking a new recipe, I decided to change the ingredients on the fly, adapting and figuring out what would taste better to me. I didn’t even realize I was doing it, until afterwards. When I first started this goal the idea of diverting from a recipe would have terrified me. And now I’m confident to do this without even thinking about it. I guess I am a better cook than 5 years ago. Not completely there yet though!
I actually kept a list of the new recipes I tried throughout 2011, but then my laptop was stolen last month…
Some highlights that have stuck:
I can now also cook
Some new staples in my kitchen:
- Chili con carne (Smitten Kitchen recipe)
- Moroccan minced lamb pitas (Delicious magazine recipe)
- Sweet & sour pork noodles (Delicious magazine recipe)
And had some kitchen disasters:
- Potstickers (Jamie Oliver magazine recipe) >> the filling tasted spot on but making the wrappers myself was a big mistake. It was exhausting and they kept shrinking, ended up tasting like rubber :(
- Fried eggrolls (forgot the source) >> the filling tasted spot on again, but while (deep)frying the eggrolls they kept coming to the surface due to trapped airbubbels – the bottom half of the eggroll was fried, the top half ripped and oil got inside, one big mess.
Conclusion: I’ll leave these Asian cooking techniques to the skilled experts.
On my list for 2012
- Salads. Friends make it look so easy. Why can’t I do it then? I have that mandoline now, so no more excuses.
- Still want to try fried rice.
- And still want to get to know more vegetable recipes. I got Plenty from Ottolenghi from the local library, but it looks a bit too advanced for me still :/
I’ve joined PostCrossing earlier this year, after reading about it on a blog. I love getting postcards (it’s so nice to get actual mail instead of just bills and adverts in my mailbox) but my family & friends aren’t that into snail mail. And I have to say I’ve gotten a bit addicted! Even though it’s more expensive than I expected (I had no clue about the cost of international stamps) it is so worth it. A few weeks after I joined I got seriously ill (mono) and had to stay home from work for 4 months. Most days I wasn’t able to do anything but lay on the couch, but I did make a trip to my mailbox every morning, and the occasional card really cheered me up. I love reading about other cultures & customs. And I love writing messages to strangers across the globe. I’m so glad I joined! And incidentally, I’m also getting more cards from friends & family now they know I’m interested in PostCrossing, go figure :)
