Aiming for a debt free life on latitude 60.2100° N

Marru

This means that I really have to start my inventory soon. But today I am taking a break in my low carb life and am drinking a can of beer. Bliss. What a week. Very busy at work and managed to commute by bike on three days. Only have gotten soaked once, which is very lucky considering the time of the year.

I did promise DH to cycle six months of the year to work. And I did say that I will cycle until we get snow. The thruth is that I will cycle to work as long as the sun is up before I set off. It is getting darker and darker in the mornings and getting going is getting more difficult. Today the length of the day was 12 hours 26 minutes. And the sunset was 10 minutes before I was due to set off (I ended up being 20 minutes late thou). Changing the clocks will temporarily help with this and extend my cycling.

I started the Cambridge Proficiency course and I think my weak point will be the writing. I am already behind with my writing home work. I can talk, that is not the problem. On the other hand I really enjoy my Swedish conversation course. Only after two times I can see the difference how much easier it is to talk. I even started to think in Swedish for a little while after yesterday's lesson. All good.

I don't know if I have mentioned my plan on taking part on the City Triathlon next year. The distances are not too daunting. 300m swim, 10km bike and 3km run. My weakest point at the moment is swimming but I can take four technique lessons and not pay much more than the swimming hall admission fee so I hope I can get a place on the course. They are on Friday evenings after DD has gone to bed.

Ok, ok, I promise to ease of my activities come next year. Only swimming when DD is on the lesson, Swedish will continue and every other week knitting group. No swimming lessons or English.

But now chilling out and tomorrow - Knitting!!! :T

Marru

Sunrise today at 7:10. Sunset today at 19:15. Length of the day 12 h 5 min

The autumn equinox was on Sunday and today and tomorrow it really is equally day and night. I am starting to get worried about my cycling to work resolve as it is getting dark and it is getting cold. But on the other when I calculated the saving in bus fares I did caculate only six months of the year and that was from April to September. That means I only need to cycle tomorrow, Friday (unless I work remotely) and Monday. We shall see.

And it is official. I have lost two dress sizes in three months. I am glad I didn't lose faith when I had that plateau and also that I didn't try to curb more of my carbs. This diet seems to be working for me and I don't feel that deprived. Yes my family is eating buns, cakes, biscuits and ice cream. But I can still have my lattes (decaf or full caf) and dark chocolate. In moderation thou, especially the latter. Really need to say goodbye to old black work toursers. The black ones given to me fit now perfectly. Woohoo.

I was on the English lesson again today. The talking is no problem but I am way behind with the writing tasks. And more I get behind the more daunting it all is getting. Must must get on and get started.

Also I am getting restless at work. Yes, I have only been there for one year. And I do like it but I can't see myself doing it in ten years time. I need to decide what I will be when I grow up. So I booked an appointment with career advisor. It is free (I certainly hope it is) as the service is provided by my union. It is essential to be member of a union here because of the unemployment benefits are then so much better. It is not at all the same kind of politically linked system as in UK. So more about that when I figure things out.

Marru

Oh dear, I am a bit of a wimp. Already renewed my bus pass and have left the bike in the shed. It was just getting too dark and cold in the mornings. Winter coat is on already. I need to take the bike to work at least once more so that I can get the first service sorted. I think I have done the required 300 km.

But the exercise will continue in the format of swimming and also I will get into a good routine for doing yoga. I have enrolled to a swimming course where I hopefully will learn free style. It should be better for my neck if I could learn to breath properly. My plan is to participate on sprint triathlon next autumn and I figure swimming is my weakest link.

I haven't done my clothes inventory as yet but will attack it tomorrow. I am now wondering how much I can cheat when it comes to shoes. I am not a hoarder of shoes and I am not really willing to cull the little amount I have. Perhaps I put one pair into storage for spring season and not count my three pairs of trainers even than only one of them are used for sports. The other two pairs I do use when commuting to work, one in summer one in winter. Surely these don't count when I do have separate pair of shoes I use at work and I will count these? To be honest I might not even get to 33 with the trainers so I might worry too soon.

I have been to see a neurologist who is specialized in migraines. Last neurologist gave me a pile of meds and one of them actually worked. Problem is that the thing that worked was Cortisone and as my attacks are now once a week that was way too much Cortisone to take. Now we are back in testing more medicines. I have now three I can try during the attack and one that should have preventative effect. Don't know how much this is going to cost me, will hit the pharmacy tomorrow. I also got sent to see physio therapist as I get five treatment per year paid by my employer. I must admit that the treatment I had yesterday was very nice indeed.

I finished the shawl I was knitting for MIL. Must tidy the ends, give the edge a bit ironing and take a picture of it. I am planning on making a scarf for DD using double knit technique. I have designed the pattern already. Two dogs in the one end and two paw prints in the other end. Need to go to ytube to get a refresher on the technique.

I guess that is it. I am waiting now for my English lesson to start so better get going shortly.

Marru

I ended up digging into my wardrobe tonight. This is the result:

3 trousers
1 skirt
8 tops for work
1 glitter top with cardigan (counted as one as I always use them together)
6 t-shirts
2 long sleeved t-shirts
1 jeans
4 sweaters
1 fleece
1 winter boots
1 shoes
1 cardigan
1 coat
31

Pretty good going. I do have to admit that I have another pair of winter boots that I haven't used in over 13 years. But all this weight loss might mean that my calfs are slimmer too so they might fit me. Haven't counted them in yet as haven't had courage to try them on. Also I have the two pairs of trainers mentioned earlier. And I have two other coats I tend to use on my free time not counted here. I don't really need them but I do love them. And I do need a smart very warm coat for work but I did manage without one last winter. It all depends how cold it is going to get.

I do have room on putting two of the sweatshirts into home lounging wear category as I am never seen in them outside the house. Oh and another confession. I have five scarfs I don't use but can't get rid of. Not counted. Wool scarf I don't count as in this weather essential (not yet, will be - and it is self made so another bent to rules).

Am I bending the rules here too much? Perhaps it just will take time for all to fall into place. I might get rid of the five scarfs but can't bring myself to do that just yet. I do have big pile of clothes going out. One very well served jacket unfortunately but it is started to look worn and it is getting to be too big (so is one of the work shirts I counted in above). I also chuked out my summer trousers 3/4 lenght ones. They are now too big and I will NOT put weight back on by next summer so they WOULD be too big then so they had to go. (8 kilos down now and counting.)

Knit_Witch

Well done on the weight loss, and I think the trimming of a wardrobe should be a gradual thing otherwise you could end up getting rid of something you need for the extremely cold weather!

Marru

I am so pooped. I drove to see a client yesterday so after 6 hours in total driving and 6.5 hours of meeting I didn't really get my second wind today. On Monday I will have 2 hour drive, 2 hour meeting and 2 hour drive back so better try get some recharging done. However tomorrow morning I need to go and take DD and her two friends to a soft play area. That was the bribe to get her to behave at the dentist.

Lots has been going on. The union for business graduates (I am talking here about people with at least Masters level from business studies) have asked me to be a mentor in their mentor scheme!!! I am sooo chuffed. Acually the expression that comes to mind is tickled pink. It starts in the spring so I have time to finish my Cambridge Proficiency before that.

Talking about the CPE. I found out this week that one part of the exam is to give a short presentation of 2 minutes about a subject given to you there and then. I am not worried about finding something to say, I am worried about how I can make it last two minutes and do my conclusion or summary within that two minutes. When we practised I spoke one and half minute. I need to ask DH to make me some practise subjects and time me.

I have a plan. Well it is not on paper as yet but it will be. Ok there will be two plans. Plan one is Project home. I can't start any career advancing things until I have my todo lists, filing and home in order. After that I am going to unpick the lists I made to the career conselor and start prioriticing and also chunking down. More when my brain function has returned to what I call my normal.

Toodlepip, I am going to break my diet and have not one but two (dry) ciders. Bliss!

Pippilongstocking

You sound exhausted - have some YOU time when you can xx

Marru

I have been home alone, apart from the animals, and it has been lovely. Family will come back tomorrow evening, which is nice as well.

I have decided to start a knitting blog. To start with it would just showcase stuff that I am making for the family but I would hope that one day I would actually be able to sell my own patterns and then use the blog and ravelry for that. Now I am agonising if I should start the blog with my own name, this name or some other alias. Any advise?

Another blog is in cards as well. I had this idea for I and DH to do a joint venture as such. I would write about my journey in learning English and he about his journey about learning my language. We could collect there some idioms from both languages and explain them. He could then use the blog for getting English proofreading and English conversation teaching work and I am thinking that after the Cambridge Proficiency I would do the authoriced translator exam so I could offer translating work through the blog. I actually have a college at work who used to work as a translator so I will have a little chat with her.

Also DH has a blog showcasing his photographs he hasn't done much with so that could be resurrected and linked with the language blog.

In the meanwhile I need to put together project HOME! That will include going through every single item we dragged here from UK or bought while being here. Everything has to find its own place as I am tired with our chaotic cupboards and a stack of removal boxes in bedroom. Also I am going to make a list of things we still need (i.e. rugs!!) And some kind of realistic timetable for me to finally finish making all the curtains . DH has this tendency to have a burst and he tidies things where I can't find them. So if we could agree the right places then I might just put things where he doesn't feel the need to tidy them away and also if he tidies them away, I have a chance of knowing where they are.

We have an organization restructure at work and I have no idea what is going to happen to me. I do know that job contiues pretty much the same but the team and the boss will change. We will probably find out on Friday. This process has been dragging on increasing the insecurity and the amount of rumors. Hopefully it will be soon done and dusted.

I think that was it. I should be sewing together DD's jumper and cardigan instead I am starting a cardi for myself. Ooops. I do enjoy the knitting more than the making up I am afraid. I do have pattern for top to bottom jumper that is knitted in one piece, no making up in the end. I think I will give it a go after the cardi.

Marru

On Monday I reached 10 kilo drop. And as a reward I hit the specialist lingerie (sp) shop today. My meaning was to just get one bra to tie me over but they had this buy two sets pay one set offer. So for the price of pants I got another bra and pants. I could not resist. And holy cow, one pair of pants are size S and other XS. What do the smaller ladies wear? XXXXS? I think this sizing has been tweaked to make women feel good. Anyway I can't remember when I had matching underware last time.

Marru

Time to downside mad plans. Including wanting to go and study nutrition. After the English proficiency test I will continue my Swedish conversation course and will find a way to learn freestyle swimming (the course I took was no help at all - made me feel very rubbish).

I have couple of blog ideas that I am toying with. Really need to be now careful about how much time and effort I have to be able to commit. One is food-health-weight loss and one is knitting. I think the knitting one is a go as I am not going to get own domain for it.

Migraines are getting the better of me. My new medication is not helping. Quite the opposite. The preventative medicine was giving unpleasant side effects (getting dizzy for example) so I had to stop it. Now if I could get into nice routine of doing yoga I could try if that helps.

Total weight loss is now 12 kilos :j. And I have been cheating so considering that I am well pleased.

I need to get some work done so toodlepip.