What a Year.....Climbing Back on the Wagon

triple_choc_chip

Enjoy your break, your destination is shiny and new.
His will be: that’s where we stayed before, that’s where we ate before, that’s where we sunbathed, that’s where we laughed, that’s where she looked beautiful.
I think you have the best deal :cool:

Maryland_Cookie

Great results for you and your students MT, and how lovely to get the email from your student and her mum. I got a thank you card from someone at work last week, completely unexpected but was a lovely surprise and really made my day. Makes it all feel worthwhile doesn’t it?

Sorry things have been rough with XOH. Stay strong and true to yourself, you deserve to be with someone who is going to treat you well. I agree with triple choc, you’ve got the best deal and I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic holiday and break away.

mumblingtaff

I'm back!
Had a busy week off on hols and doing quite a bit of driving. Had a lovely time and feel like I've had a break but was tired after it all. Lots of relaxing, eating and general nice times had. Got back yesterday and did a load of chores including picking up dry cleaning, dog food shopping, lots of walks, washing, tiny bit of food shopping, banking etc. I also popped over to an old friends for an hour in the afternoon (used to work with her and forgot how much I like her) - really good to see her and we're planning a night out in the near future. Still trying to make the effort to cultivate friendships more - I'm rubbish at keeping in touch with people and have realised that friendships are like any relationship - you need to put a bit of work in to get anything out of them and no man is an island ..... Very deep for me!
Stayed in last night and watched telly after all the excitement and had a fairly early night.
I'm baby sitting my friend's dog this weekend and my woofer is loving it - they were up playing at 6am and have just now decided to have a little rest - 4 and a half hours and an hour long walk later. Nice to see them happy though....
Throughout the madness of competitive dog wrestling this morning I've managed to walk the dogs, deep clean the kitchen, do the bins and recycling, change the bed, dusted and tidy through, put the dry washing away, clean the wooden floors, put the suitcase back in the attic, phone mum, check the banking and sort the post and paperwork.
Peace has broken out for a short while at least so I'm having a quiet five minutes trying to think about what needs doing before I go back to work on Monday.

I need to do an inventory of what's in the freezer in terms of the homemade ready meals I've made over the summer - I'm going to use them this week to save me cooking and also spending money on groceries. I have a bit of school work to do but I'll save that for tomorrow to get into the right frame of mind again.
I also need to write a small shopping list of things to pick up tomorrow for the week. I'm in full blown economising mode until payday in two weeks so will try to be really strict with myself.

Talking of money, I've looked at the banking and somehow this month I seem to have spent quite a bit - on investigation, there's lots of extras that I'd forgotten about including £50 on dry cleaning, extra petrol, trips out with friends (not a bad thing but I need to factor these into the budget properly in the future) and some trivial unneeded spending. I'll put it down to a turbulent summer and start afresh on September's payday. I won't use a credit card or overdraft this month but I need to be stricter with myself over the next two weeks - being at work and having some structure back will help.

I need to make a few plans for the next half term so will be back shortly with an update to try to keep me on track.....

mumblingtaff

So, having had a good long look at myself in the mirror after a bath I have to say I'm appalled at myself. It's not good. Apart from having a bit of a tan and a fairly good haircut there's nothing much else to shout about.....
A combination of menopause and not really caring much due to the difficult personal recent situation has led to the current sorry state of affairs. I look and feel my age and have put on a bit of weight and let myself go. Now I'd be furious if anyone else pointed this out but I'm allowed to criticise myself....
This must change !!!!

I looked at a photo of myself taken a couple of weeks ago when out with my new neighbour friend and, when I make a proper effort, I can scrub up fairly well but only look ok when sitting down. I now have a bit of a belly and love handles that never used to be there and look flabby and untoned.

So, new term new start.
I need to work out how to sleep better (night sweats and broken sleep aren't helping), use the lotions and potions that I have on my face and the biggie LOSE WEIGHT!! I haven't weighed (will save that pleasure for tomorrow) but I know at least a stone needs to go.
This necessitates giving up wine and doing more regular exercise (not just dog walking). I do run but could do so much better so I'm setting myself a target of an organised 5k race by the end of September and a 10km by October half term. I'm not really bothered about the times, I'm just more interested in getting back into the training and doing more than just the minimum.
So, it's at least three times a week and no excuses.

Booze at home needs to go too - it's not that much (maybe two large glasses in the evening) but it's not necessary and it's all adding up and probably not helping the sleep situation either.
Eating is also an issue - I'm just very lazy when it comes to cooking and don't enjoy it. I have to look after myself better and in a more economical way. I have a good start planned this week with all of my healthy home cooked ready meals so it's a case of not overeating and cutting out the rubbish.
This will all take a bit of effort but it has to be done. It's not a short term fix, it's going to have to be a lifestyle change.
I get plenty of fresh air out with the dog and walk at least 10000 steps a day but it's not sweaty exercise and I'm conscious that at my age and with my family history I need to look after me.
I feel better about the relationship thing now and I suppose I'm ready to tackle everything else.

So, from a short term practical perspective, I've had a good soak in the bath, deep conditioned my hair, sorted my nails and toenails and slathered myself in moisturiser and eye cream. I'll take the dogs for another good long walk later to get to a minimum of 12000 steps today. I'll write a mini shopping list for essentials for the week and get some clothes (that make me feel like I've made an effort) ready for the working week. I've spent the summer in scruffs and flip flops or trainers - not exactly groomed.

I realise that this sounds quite negative but it's actually exactly the opposite - I'm sorting myself out.

joeyjimbles

I think the start of a new term is as good a time as any to make a few changes. I've done something similar this last week, and now need to make the changes happen. It's almost my birthday so I'm allowing myself this weekend and until then to have a few more evening's of wine and indulgences. I have some lovely winter clothes and a few that need replacing, and I don't want to buy bigger sizes so there is a (superficial but nice) point to it all aside from the health benefits.

Do you have a Parkrun nearby? That's a nice, social thing to do once a week and becomes a regular fixture in your week after a few times. I need to get back into going after the summer holidays but I'll be starting up again next weekend. And can you run with pup yet - probably not as he's still little and being trained? Ours is 10 and happy to run alongside not on a lead so perhaps something to look forward to, and start preparing.

mumblingtaff

Thanks Joey - there's actually 3 different Park-runs close to me - I've had the barcode thingy printed out for months but never gone.... It's a good idea, something to aim for when I feel confident about running again and I can track my time as it hopefully improves.
Pup is still too small to run with - all the advice says not until they're 1 year old so he'll be a partner in the spring, just in time for the Easter holidays we'll do little practices in the park though for him to get the idea.

Just back from walking the dogs again as they woke up raring to go. Whilst out I realised that it's September 1st tomorrow. A good milestone day to start to make some changes.

crazy_cat_lady

Pleased that you had a nice week away, and are back and raring to go with all your plans.

Elnora32

[FONT=&quot]Glad you had a nice break. I didn’t see your post as negative – just getting your thoughts down and making a plan. I like a plan, even if it changes it is something to work towards.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I think you’re right to view this as a lifestyle change as it makes it permanent. I made changes a few years ago and at the time it was a pain as I seemed to be always having a ‘fresh start’ but it has got easier and a lot of things are now part of my routine.
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Honeysucklelou2

Glad you had a good holiday.

mumblingtaff

Thanks Cat, Elnora and Honeysuckle. It's good to be back.

Was woken by two dogs licking me to death at 5.30 but they did go back to sleep for an hour after a wee.
Been for a long walk, done doggie breakfast and popped to the local shop for a few bits to save me going to the supermarket and spending a fortune on things I don't need.
Got a few things to do today - need to do a shortish run to get me back into the swing of things, some school work, get some clothes ready and a tiny bit of ironing, and cut some insoles to size to stop my work shoes stinking!
I had hoped to cut the back garden lawn but it's soaking wet again - will reassess late this afternoon to see if it dries out. I bought a box of hair dye in the week to do my roots but may leave that until later in the week - dyeing hair with two interested dogs might be a bit of a stretch.
Not sure what time my friend is picking up their dog (gone to a wedding down south) so we may or may not get to puppy school this afternoon.

I'll need to do a clean downstairs when the dog is gone too - a wet garden and two digging dogs does not lend itself to a clean house - I hoovered and cleaned the floors last night and it looks like a bombsite again this morning already.... They're having a lovely time though...