2015 Survey

1. What did you do in 2014 that you had never done before?

I visited America, Sicily, Madrid and Munich which were all new places for me. Lots of travelling! I also got a promotion at work, and have been working on projects with Isaac Physics and Villiers park. I've also been made a fellow at bedford uni so that is exciting! I've seen all my friends more than once this year which is pretty amazing so thats something to keep up! I also remembered everyones Birthdays which as to be a first! AND I fed alligators (And accidentally paddle boarded with them, but lets not talk about that as it gives me the heeby jeebies). I learned how to geocache and I've been exploring the local area by hiking with Tats. Traff, Jenni and I went to see NXT which was ace too!

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

Every year I make resolutions and I never keep them! this year I'm just going to try to be more creative and to take more exercise. That should improve my physical health and reduce my stress levels (Although if the crafting makes fluff on the carpet or mess it'll be very bad for Traff's stress levels!) I am going to try running (Or jogging as I run like a giraffe) and see if that makes me feel healthier. I have paddle boarding membership now too, so I'll need to take more advantage of that. Lets get out on that lake!

3. How will you be spending your new years eve?

Party at Karl's after flying home from Munich.. such a jet set lifestyle... (So, probably exhausted and asleep before midnight, but it sounds cool)

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Thankfully no.

5. What countries did you visit?

Sicily, America, Spain, Germany- and Wales, of course.

6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?

Free time?! Can we have 8 days in a week and only work 5 of them still? That would give me some time to get my shit together! I can't see it happening but since this is a wishful thinking deal lets put it out there.

7. What date from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
I've done so much cool stuff this year I can't name one specific date- this has been a good year- probably our best year in Bedfordshire- and the best for seeing people since we've moved- we're getting there! I really loved going to sicily with my friends and America with Traff and Ray and John. It was really fun.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Having some kind of work-life balance this year- as a rule I now do not work on weekends so I can have a bit of unwinding time. I also got an award from the National STEM centre for my work and one for my STEM club. :) That was pretty cool too.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Introducing Traff's parents to mine.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

yes, but I've been on the mend for a while now- long may it continue! I know I look a bit like shite lately but I really am getting there- I'm at the hospital every 4 months now instead of every month. Thyroid stuff is all under control too so that's really positive, now we just have to persuade my stomach to behave, work out what I can eat that won't make me vomit everywhere (I'm fed up of cereal now) and my liver/pancreas to stop screwing with my blood amylase levels and we'll be well away.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

I didn't buy it but my Telescope! it's amazing! Come over and have a look at the moon- or if you're really lucky I'll show you next doors tree!

12. Where did most of your money go?

Travelling. but it was truly worth every penny! It won't be very long now before we have a mortgage (Fingers crossed) and we can't be reckless and just planehop all round europe. 

13. What song will always remind you of 2014?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psiILfa-G1c

Daughter, Run

14. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Chilling out at home. I get to carried away with "making the most" of my time that sometimes I forget that just having a quite weekend at home with no plans and a lie in is pretty therapeutic.

15. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Less paperwork and late nights for work!

16. What was you favourite TV programme?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtBXZEpo9MY

Psycho Pass

17. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

No, I don’t hate anyone, it's a massive waste of energy. 

18. What was the best book you read?

I'm currently reading the blue exorcist comic book series that goes with the anime TV series- it's pretty good. And completely bonkers. 

19. What was your greatest musical discovery?

no new discoveries this year, other than Daughter. I'm happy listening to Placebo from the 90s. Does that mean I'm getting old?!

20. What was your favorite film of this year?

the 1980s version of "babes in toyland". Soo weird. you need to watch it if you haven't. 

21. What did you do on your birthday?

My birthday was a complete disaster. If I haven't already told you about my delightful time in Madrid then please ask and I will enlighten you. O_o

22. What kept you sane?

Tea. Traff. Tina, Hayley, Jay, Kirstie, Sah, Ray. Good music. Ridiculous anime films, silly texts, parcels from the welsh contingent/Ze Germans, Paddle boarding (Floating about on a lake is very de-stesssing)

..and Cake when all else failed. 

So much cake.

23. Who did you miss?

I miss all my friends who live far away :( Realistically, we probably spend more "quality time" together because of the distance- but it would be nice to be there for my friends a bit more in person, and it'd be nice to be able to have a cup of tea and unwind rather than spending whole evenings glued to my phone or FB messenger.

24. Who was the best new person that you met?

Tina! well, Tina isn't really new but we've been hanging out loads more- Chrissie and Phil could also be in the running for "best new person" of 2015.

25. Tell us a valuable life lesson that you learned in 2015?

Motorcycle exhaust pipes are hot. Don't lean your leg on them. Especially if you're wearing shorts.

I have no idea what the year 2016 will bring but I hope that with a positive attitude and determination it will be a great year. I am excited for the future!

So, how are your resolutions going?

1.   Stop dieting: Just eat more fruit and veg and drink a ton of water.

I had 21 lbs to lose after christmas to get to my "hospital recommended healthy weight" (I know, I should have eaten less take away food and drunk less gin! but it was gooood). I have not been calorie counting, I've just been eating better and walking more- and now I have 17 lbs to go.  I'm happy with that!

2.   Learn to reshuffle your schedule so you have more time for creative projects, and make sure you finish those projects.

You may have seen from my blog that I've been crafty- I made myself a watch and I'd been doing more photography. I made myself a 1940s style snood and I learned to crochet stars too!

3.   Pick a European city to visit this year.

        Sicily in February to visit Josh! I'm really excited to see him and Katie as it's been ages and we're having a 

        'Costa del Treco' reunion. It'll be ace. If we can just work out how to get to Josh's from the airport...

4.   Give more compliments.

I need to be better at this. I also need to be better at accepting compliments. I'm making a point of saying something complimentary to at least one of my colleagues every day. The up shot of that seems to be that they give me more compliments! We're making a positive working environment.

5.   Meet up with friends more often- Try not to go more than 6 months without seeing someone you care about.

January has been a good month for friends- I saw most of the Cardiff people- I only missed out on seeing Beca as she was still in NZ. I need a trip to Oxfordshire soon I think, and to Bristol.
I know it's not strictly meeting up, but I've made a point to message people more often and to reconnect with friends I hadn't spoken to in a long time- I'm making a start!

6.   Clear out all the clutter in your home

I've de-cluttered the house to the tune of 2 bags- De cluttering was a major theme in 2014, and needs to remain a major theme if we're planning to move! I'm not paying for a removals lorry for thinsg we don't even know we bloody well have or don't use/need!

7.   Try a food you’ve never eaten before.

Delicious polish cheese! :D

8.   Frame treasured photos, letters and keepsakes.

I have finally framed the photos from the family photo shoot, my AS photography dark room images and Hayley's xmas card she made for us last year- So that's a good start but still plenty of things to keep safe!

9.   Treat your parents to dinner.

I have arranged to do this for my Mum's Birthday on the 8th February after we go and see the Lion king. I feel like a proper grown up.

10.       Walk to places more often.

I've walked to work 4/5 days a week this month (Mondays I stay late and drive to brownies, so I can't walk)- I've also had my epic walks from Bromham and to Wilstead and a few other photography walks this month. I'm making a point of going out and walking more, even if it is dark and cold!

11.       Learn to use Excel properly.

 I have not started this yet... It's probably my most urgent resolution and the one I'm the very least keen on. urgh. Excel. I did learn how to make it do my calculations for me, And I've learned how to hide the columns and export my data so that I can edit it so I'm making slow progress here!
I have been offered training at work so fingers crossed this will be met soon.

12.       Invest in matching underwear.

         I haven't done this yet...

New year. Clean house.

In keeping with tradition, I have been sorting and cleaning (it's not technically spring, but I don't have any time off now until february, and it might not be freezing cold and piddling down with rain by then- better to get all this life changing stuff done with in january so that I can go back to being lazy but have better systems of organisation by February)

I hadn't intended for today to be quite so productive. Traff rang at 8am to tell me that it wasn't an emergency (The ONLY reason to call anyone before 9am is for an emergency) but that the next person hadn't come into work and wasn't answering their phone, so he was going to be working 14 hours instead of 10.
To be perfectly honest if he hadn't rung I'd probably have slept through until he got home at midday.

I got up because I was awake, Did some flat stomach intervention (2 days in a row- I'f I'm not a size 4 by next week I'll be really upset), cleaned the kitchen and tidied up a bit.
Then changed the bed.
Whilst looking for matching pillow cases, duvet sheet etc I remembered a hack on buzzfeed- Fold the sheet, duvet cover and 3 pillow cases together, and put them inside the remaining pillow case- so when you change the bed it's all easy to find.
As I'd turned the drawer upside down anyway looking for a pillow case I figured now was a good time to implement this hack.

And I found a pesky single sheet which catches us both out periodically- So That is a proper win. It can  now be removed from the draw of linen.
I had achieved what the book "Never hit a jellyfish with a spade" describes as "the quintessential  potter" - where you start with one task and each task leads you to another, productive task and the process is laid back and enjoyable because you don't really have to think about it.

Then I went to put the single sheet in the charity bag and found a load of massive spiders so I had to go and hide in another room.

I did manage to clear off the desk in the bedroom, the book case, under the dresser in the front room, the dresser drawers and the basket in the kitchen.
The places where clutter collects.
I managed to fill one new bag for charity and 4 bags of recycling- Turns out we're really bad for hoarding bits of paper and pens that don't work.

When you next visit, be sure to compliment me on my tidy and de-cluttered home.

My song for the day:

2014 survey

1. What did you do in 2014 that you had never done before?

I visited Malaysia,  learned to crochet, Tried my hand at Glass fusion and sewing from some pretty tricky patterns.

2. Did you keep your new years resolutions and will you make more for next year?
I have made 12 resolutions for 2015- that is one new thing to try and do/ to work on every month of the year. 

1) Try to eat vegetarian at home- I do struggle with my will power when eating out- but at home it wouldn't kill me to up my veggie intake.

2) Learn some Malay- I don't expect to be fluent by next year but I'd like to be able to greet people or order something!

3) Keep going with the healthy diet and lifestyle stuff (Keeping number 1 will greatly help with number 3!).

4) Keep in touch better with old friends- I never moved back to my hometown after university, and I went to College instead of 6th form as I couldn't take any more of the Girls' School- So I've definitely drifted.

This year will mark 10 years of finishing Secondary school. So I guess it's now or never...

The only one I failed at number 2- but I did put the CD on the computer so sometimes when I'm listening to Itunes I get random learning malay tracks...

3. How will you be spending your new years eve?

We went out for dinner- then came home and played retro sega games until the midnight fireworks were on the TV! in fairness, we had thought Traff was at work on new wears day so hadn't planned anything- we only found out on the 30th that he was off.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Thankfully no.

5. What countries did you visit?

Malaysia and Germany- and Wales, of course.

6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?

More travel! And more weekends with my friends- I've managed to get to Wales once a month for the whole year- which is pretty good- now I just need a system for Oxfordshire too! going up to Wales means I get to pop i and see my parents on the sunday on my way back too- so that's been really good to see them a bit more.

7. What date from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
I've done so much cool stuff this year I can't name one specific date- this has been a good year- probably our best year in Bedfordshire- and the best for seeing people since we've moved- we're getting there!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Taking up kick boxing, Getting a promotion at work- all good stuff! I'm proud of myself for my commitment to work, but also for managing a teeny bit of work life balance- Something for me to continue to work on in 2015.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I'm not sure I had any "failures"- not anything that was such a complete disaster I couldn't learn from it- probably the number of nights I've left work at 7pm or later this year! but it paid off, so I can't complain too much.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

yes, but I've been on the mend for a while now- long may it continue!

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Guitar hero! soooo many hours of joy and pleasure. and shouting. lots of shouting.

12. Where did most of your money go?

Our Malaysian holiday- but it was money very well spent as we had an awesome time, and got to see Randi and Stu too.

13. What song will always remind you of 2014?

Warpaint- Baby

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AedHv7geXcU

14. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Chilling out at home. I get to carried away with "making the most" of my time that sometimes I forget that just having a quite weekend at home with no plans and a lie in is pretty therapeutic.

15. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Less paperwork and late nights for work!

16. What was you favourite TV programme?

Sons of Anarchy- we neet to get on with watching it! we're on season 3 so no-one is to ruin it for me- I really want to see the new season with Courtney love and Marilyn Manson in.

17. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

No, I don’t hate anyone, it's a massive waste of energy.

18. What was the best book you read?

Longbourn! it's the story of pride and prejudice told from the servants point of view- Pandering to my complete love of pride and prejudice. :D

19. What was your greatest musical discovery?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AedHv7geXcU
Courtesy of Tristrum.

20. What was your favorite film of this year?

Transformers! Optimus prime! 

21. What did you do on your birthday?

Drank too much wine and went paddle boarding. A really nice chilled out few days with mates and with Traff was just was I needed after a crazy few weeks at work. 

22. What kept you sane?

Tea. Traff. Tristypants, Hayley, Jay, Kirstie, Sah, Good music. Paddle boarding (Floating about on a lake is very de-stesssing), Kick boxing...

..and Cake when all else failed. 

23. Who did you miss?

I miss all my friends who live far away :( Realistically, we probably spend more "quality time" together because of the distance- but it would be nice to be there for my friends a bit more in person, and it'd be nice to be able to have a cup of tea and unwind rather than spending whole evenings glued to my phone or FB messenger.

24. Who was the best new person that you met?

Jenni, who is my new work colleague. 

25. Tell us a valuable life lesson that you learned in 2014?

Don't leave your debit card in the petrol pump?

I have no idea what the year 2015 will bring but I hope that with a positive attitude and determination it will be a great year. I am excited for the future!

My 2015 new years resoluations

These are taken from the list I posted from buzzfeed on 30th December- I just cut it down to 12 I really need to make sure I do!

I'll try and review my list and mark the ones I've met- so it'll be a good challenge for me.

1.   Stop dieting: Just eat more fruit and veg and drink a ton of water.

2.   Learn to reshuffle your schedule so you have more time for creative projects, and make sure you finish those projects.

3.   Pick a European city to visit this year.

4.   Give more compliments.

5.   Meet up with friends more often- Try not to go more than 6 months without seeing someone you care about.

6.   Clear out all the clutter in your home

7.   Try a food you’ve never eaten before.

8.   Frame treasured photos, letters and keepsakes.

9.   Treat your parents to dinner.

10.       Walk to places more often.

11.       Learn to use Excel properly.

12.       Invest in matching underwear.

"Rememberloutions" instead of resolutions? hmm.. might give this a try!

Alice Mongkongllite / BuzzFeed

Tired of making New Year’s resolutions you never keep? Do something different this year and make “rememberlutions!”

Lauren Zaser for BuzzFeed

New Year’s resolutions can be energizing and motivating, but they can also lead you to beat yourself up; focusing on the previous year’s failures to figure out where to do better next year is no way to live. And when you don’t keep your resolutions (yet again), you can feel completely defeated.

So instead of focusing on shortcomings, prepare to celebrate each awesome thing that happens next year.

Make a jar now that you can fill with memories and accomplishments over the course of the next 12 months.

You can review and remember when the ball drops at the end of 2015!

In order to make one of your own, all you need is a garden-variety jar…

Lauren Zaser for BuzzFeed

Any size, any shape. Whether you’d like a lid or not is totally up to you.

And a plethora of craft supplies.

Lauren Zaser for BuzzFeed

We used googly eyes, yarn, stickers, paint pens, and copious amounts of glitter. We found that a glue gun was the best way to make all of the trinkets stick to glass, but glass/metal glue worked as well (it’s about $7 at any craft store).

Then go to town. Several folks chose to festoon their jars with inspirational quotes and reminders.

Lauren Zaser for BuzzFeed

When your jar is decorated to your heart’s content, it’s time for the rememberlutions themselves.

Lauren Zaser for BuzzFeed

Over the course of the year, whenever anything happens that makes you proud, write it down and put it in the jar.

Lauren Zaser for BuzzFeed

It doesn’t matter how big or small it is.

Lauren Zaser for BuzzFeed

Nor how personal.

Lauren Zaser for BuzzFeed

All that matters is it’s yours.

Lauren Zaser for BuzzFeed

And when you empty it at the end of 2015, you will remember all the rad things you’ve accomplished.