Sunday, 07-01-24: a review - long post alert

Morning, everyone.  It's turned colder here and we have a frost.  I missed the terrible weather over Christmas and New year, if course, but we heard about it and I am relieved that

a.  it's settled somewhat

b.  everything round this way seems to be safe and sound - it was reassuring that Chris and Beth were both keeping an eye on things so I would have heard if there had been any damage.

I like frosts - they feel invigorating!

I was so tired yesterday - post holiday crash, I expect, plus the end of a cold.  I got the washing finished, the ironing done and some stuff away and will get the last remaining bits sorted this morning.  I could/should have done it yesterday but didn't!

What I did do was . . .

make three loaves of bread, two wholemeal as usual and one dark rye/spelt one.  They had this delicious Scandinavian dark rye seeded bread on offer in the eating places and I fell in love with it.  What I made isn't the same but it is jolly good, all the same, so I am happy!

some knitting.  I took a small project away with me but did very little of it so I'm getting on with it now.

some reading, mainly using Readly to catch up on food magazines.

some snoozing - not as much as I thought i might but that was OK, I was resting anyway.

some planning - meals and housework!

lots and lots of catching up with Christmas telly.  Doctor Who was not quite what I expected but I enjoyed it so much and I'm looking forward to the start of the new series now; and I am so pleased that Would I Lie To You is back on.  It's so funny!

Today is more of the same really.

I was having a little ponder about this last year (as you do) thinking 'better late than never'.  I started off the year with three words that sort of encapsulated where I wanted things to go through 2023.

They were contentment, consistency and confidence - the three Cs!

How could I not be content?  I'm very lucky.  However, I did try to move outside my box a bit and found contentment there too.  It's not about just sitting back and letting life slide.  I love finding joy in the small things.

I think I have developed more consistency in small ways this year.  I started the year with some areas in a right muddle but now I am managing my finances much better, keeping an eye on them pretty much daily; I have a number of small daily 'housework' habits established that I feel happy about then they are done (such as cleaning round the kitchen, bathroom and loo; making my bed properly every day; keeping up with the washing and ironing - that sort of thing).  I've kept up with my friendships, meeting up regularly for coffee, chat, lunch, etc. ;   I've developed much more consistent eating habits which have helped me to get to my target weight and stay there, more or less - not right now after the holiday, of course, but I have set a plan in action to deal with that; and, finally, I have been really consistent with my exercise, thanks to Lindsey's classes and encouragement.
There's plenty of room for development in this area but I'm happy with how things have gone.

Confidence?  Now that's an interesting one for me.  Being an introvert, it is very easy to muddle that with lack of confidence - perhaps they are linked, perhaps they are not.  What has happened this year is that I have started to accept that I'm not all that outgoing;  I don't jump in at the deep end in anything, I think and plan and withdraw at times - and it's OK to be like that, it is absolutely fine.  We're not all outgoing extroverts, thank goodness.  So I think I am much more confident with what I naturally am and the way I like and want to live my life and I am learning to say 'no' when needed.  I'm happy with that.

There's been some big things this last year. 

Solar panels for a start.  My goodness, the difference they have made to my summer electricity bills in particular.  It will be a number of years before they actually pay for themselves but the lighter bills have definitely softened the blow of all those other price rises.

Garden room/shed.  You must be absolutely fed up of hearing about this but I am so glad I was able to have it done.  It's changed the garden vibes, of course, and that is an ongoing work but already I am seeing the benefits in better organisation of all my stuff.

Then there was the cruise.  All I am saying is that it was the chance of a lifetime and I am so, so glad I was able to go.

Then there's been loads of smaller things, some connected with the above and some now.

I have much less yarn stashed away and I have dropped plenty of new hand knits in the Salvation Army recycling bin.

Clothes are much more organised and sorted - it's an ongoing process, of course, and I already have a small pile to take to Lindsey for a charity event she is running.  However, I don't have things that I 'might slim into' any more; nor do I have any 'just in case' bigger sized clothes.  They have all gone!

Through the year, I went through pretty much every cupboard in the house and decluttered.

I now have one freezer rather than the two I previously had.  Seth took the unwanted one to use.  Linked to that, I've organised the contents and have fairly up to date audits.  Everything is now in bags and items no longer get lost in the chilly depths.

OK, the garage is currently a bit of a mess but it is part of the whole Garden room thing and I want to get all that sorted through January and February, depending on weather.

That's all that comes to mind but I have really enjoyed thinking it all through - you don't realise, do you, how much 'stuff' gets done over time.

If you've made it to the end, thank you and congratulations!
Have a lovely Sunday and stay warm.  xx