Wow. So far 2015 is shaping up to be a fantastic year and we're still only two months in. We visited Stockholm in January to see the UFC which was great fun, however four days seemed like too long during the winter months. At the other end of the spectrum we had three days in Budapest this month which just wasn't long enough.
Stockholm - Jan 2015
Budapest - Feb 2015
Big news is we've found a house and the solicitors are doing their thing, so fingers crossed we'll be moving in a couple of months or so. It's a three bedroom house with a garage and backs onto a wood which is quite exciting. The couple moving out are in their eighties, so as you can imagine the house needs updating, but it all appears in good order so at least there is no rush to do work on it. I'm really looking forward to getting settled into our own place, shaping it as we see fit, but also the simple things like starting a vegetable patch and growning some of our own produce.
So the new year goals are shaping up ok. Some have fallen by the way side, others are going strong. I've even added a couple for good measure which I'll discuss at the end of this blog.
Life without telly is going good. It definitely frees up more time, although we still watch the occassional DVD or show on catch-up TV, but at least it's more restricted to what we want to watch, rather than watching TV for the sake of it.
I've been failing to switch my phone off earlier in the evening, however I've been managing to get to bed earlier more often than not, which in turn has led to me reading more. So far I've read or completed the following books...
...and as well as what I already have on the shelf waiting to be read, I've also ordered the following books...
Cutting back on sugary snacks etc has been tough. I lasted the whole of January except for some treats whilst in Stockholm. February has been very hit and miss especially with all of the biscuits and cakes that seem to appear at work. It's usually a slippery slope if I crack and have one biscuit, normally resulting in me eating a dozen. Still, I'm determined to keep at it, and I've pretty much avoided all the goodies hiding at home.
Witness the fitness. OK so the push-up and plank challenge ended in complete failure. I'm not sure whether it was my form but my back was hating the plank challenge and the discomfort put an end to that goal within a couple of weeks. I might take it up again now that it's been a while. We'll see. As for the push ups, meh. However I am running again following my injury in September. Just grinding out some 5km's for now and then will build from there.
Learning German has been a bit up and down of late too. January started off strong. I even managed put in some learning after work. However this month hasn't been consistent. Must try harder!
As for new goals added, the first I've started off on is to quit biting my finger nails. It's something I've done my whole life, maybe due to nervousness or boredom, who knows. Normally I'd catch myself doing it without even realising I'd started. In the past I tried those foul tasting nail varnishes you can buy, but that relied on you painting them on every 2-3 days. I checked out the Pavlock that I'd read about, which is a bracelet that can deliver an electric shock, but at £150 or thereabouts, I fidgured there was a cheaper solution. So I settled on the simple trick of keeping an elastic band on my arm and flicking myself with it every time I caught myself biting. It's such a simple solution, yet has delivered fantastic results thus far.
And finally the other goal I'm starting is to try and meditate each day, if only for ten minutes. I'm using the free Headspace app for now to get going. Check out the short video below...
Anyway, this is probably my last blog as I'm told my account is running out.
You know where to find me.
Bye x