Beat the Heat – week 3

1.       What have you done this week to work towards your goals?

I’ve adopted the ethos of slow and steady and pottering along with things rather than screaming in all guns blazing. I think this is working. I’m proud that I’m still here at week 3 and not fed up yet. I even managed to blog on another occasion this week (a rarity!)

1. Achieve a better work/life balance

My change in work hours has been approved. Not entirely comfortable with this for financial reasons. The last 2 months have been a struggle and I’m wondering if I’m mad but have started practical things to reduce costs. Last week at work was good, my diary this week is also the best it has looked in months Eloise is off nursery sick today. I contacted my manager and asked for annual leave as I would usually do. She has given me the day as paid carers leave so I’m feeling that’s a good example of a good work/life balance today.

2. Get back into reflective journalling

I’ve found my journal that I started last year and got the book out of the library that inspired me last time. I’ve decided to apply for the clinical leadership fellowship so will use reflection to help put together the application. There’s a fair amount of things to consider when putting in the supporting statement so I think putting it on paper and working through it will be a helpful experience.

3. Run once a week

Not been this week – lol. The kids have been ill and the weather has been very grim this weekend. Have barely left the house!

4. Learn to meditate and/or relax

I went to the library and got a great book

Its very basic and simple but very practical and easy to use. There are loads of quick things in there that I feel I can easily use so will put some of them into practice this week.

5. Complete 3 things on my DayZero Project

Finally got Eloise an alphabet poster for her bedroom. I’ve had a sort out of the list and completed more than I had realised. I still haven’t got 101 things on the list so will try and complete that one by the end of this challenge. My gentle pottering mentality means I’m thinking about a few things at the moment rather than focusing strongly on a couple.

6. Complete one sewing project (regain my sewing mojo)

Not really any further forward on this. I sat and had a knit last night for the first time in months. I started a cabled wrap for myself last year and really want to finish it in time for winter. I’m past the half way point so I think this is an achievable target

2.       What have you done this week to make you feel fabulous?

Nothing springing to mind! I’ve been busy but haven’t been stressed at all which is a nice feeling in itself. I was dreading going back to work as I usually return to too many emails and messages. I hate the voicemail light on my work phone. It gives me a sense of dread and I worry about how many messages are on there. Sometimes I ignore it as I think its better not knowing how many messages are there. I was brave, first think I did was check my messages and was rewarded with a very nice ’2 messages’. One had been dealt with already so I started off on the right foot.

3.       I wrote about gadgets this week (my fav one anyway), do you have any gadgets that help you to your goals or are you a low tech kinda person?

I sit in the middle. I like my gadgets and would be lost without my netbook but thats it really. Still dreaming of an iphone. I’m sitting and waiting for the cost to come down to something more manageable.

4.       We are half way through the year, what have you achieved so far (in all aspects of life)?

I’ve achieved a huge amount at work – this has only really become obvious to me in the last few weeks. I was concentrating too much on what I hadn’t done rather than giving myself credit for what I had done.

5.       Fun Question: Tell me one of your secrets to achieving goals and living a happy life?

Remember that you’re just as important as everyone else.

 

The New Year has come early

I’ve been thinking about things to do over the next year and make some progress on the things I want to do. I was good at starting my day zero list but its fallen by the wayside in recent months. I’ve had another look and broken it down into more manageable pieces and decided to concentrate on a few things at a time.

My focus for January is my folksy shop. After initial excitement and a flurry of activity it dried up and nothing really happened. I’m going back to my plan of putting on three new things each month and have started knitting a kindle cover in preparation. I’m also having a look around for inspiration and trying to dedicate a bit more time to creating things.

Time is my biggest issue – or lack of it. I feel the need to cram far too much in and then struggle to keep up with everything. Perhaps I should have a time management resolution for 2011? I’ll have to think of a good SMART objective for that one!

Too tired to think

I’m going to try hard to be positive and not descend into moaning! Another week I’m pleased is over – been very busy and feel like I could sleep for several days if given the chance. Samuel is still waking stupidly early and Steven has been very unhelpful in letting me have a lie in one morning. Work is still manic and showing no sign of letting up so I’ve got the feeling of being on a treadmill at the moment.

I went to a meeting about the Safe and Sustainable programme on Tuesday night. The department of health is currently reviewing all children’s cardiac surgery and under the current proposals it looks like Oxford could lose surgery. This would means we could have to travel to Southampton or London for Samuel’s treatment in the future. I went to the meeting open-minded and supportive of the theory behind the suggestions made. Sadly I was left doubting the whole thing and very skeptical about the idea. It seems the suggestions made have no foundation and at no time did the panel back up their arguments. I’m worried the decisions have already been made and the meetings are just an exercise in ticking the right boxes so it looks like correct process has been followed. We will be very very sad if Oxford closes and it is already clear that the people working there are looking for jobs elsewhere. I’m feeling the need to put this energy into a good moaning letter to my MP!

But let’s be positive!

I’ve just bought lots of wool on eBay to make myself a couple of things (please, no-one tell Steven as he may ask how much money I’ve spent)

I’ve got a few days off work next month to escape to Mum and Dad’s caravan with Eloise and Samuel. Steven can’t get the time off work so I’m biting the bullet and going on my own. I’m a little scared of the thought of no adult conversation for nearly three days (hence the large quantity of wool to help me knit my way back to sanity)

I’m really enjoying my book at the moment – The Kite Runner. Despite my tiredness and falling asleep mid-chapter I’ve got a big pile of books to work through.

I’m losing my train of thought….need coffee.

Mission complete!

Knitting knitting knitting

I’ve got the house to myself this evening so have been very organised and planned a quiet night with my sewing machine. Sadly I’ve totally got my fabric quanities wrong so can’t do the stuff I planned (not happy!) so I will make do with blogging about my most recent makes.

I’ve been on a bit of a knitting frenzy recently – its easier to sit and do in front of the tv in the evening rather than going through the faff of getting my machine out.

Firstly I made this waistcoat for Eloise -

I’d like it a bit longer and I’d made it in age 4-5 size – never mind, will adjust it next time!

Then I made this cardigan for my friend Rosemary’s new granddaughter Lily who was born on Tuesday -

I’ve not had any feedback yet – I was worried it was a little bit on the ‘rustic’ side but I’m hoping she’ll like it (and it’ll fit her in proportion!)

Any my current project is a cardigan for Samuel. The colours in hobbycraft were really depressing so I’ve gone for something a bit different. I hope its not too lairy on him. Only just started but very pleased with myself already!