So far Januarys been a miserable month. I’m broke after christmas (nothing new) and all its done is rain. Its dark when I leave for the early shift and getting out of bed is a pain. Roll on april and lighter evenings, daffodils blooming in the garden and rain that isnt so cold.
On this particular january night I’ve been visiting some of my favoriute blogs and Leo had done one that I saw Sharon and Carol had already done and I thought it would be good to do it too because it might help me focus on things I really need to get to grips with this year. So here’s my ten things that I should improve.
1. Spelling. I am NOT a good speller but I would like to get better so I am going to try harder this year to improve.
2. Spending time with my daughters. Too many times during 2006 I had to put my girls off of visiting or doing something fun together because I had taken a extra shift at work. Work isnt as important as family.
3. Going out. I need to socielise more. Again its because I take on more work and dont spend enough time with my mates.
4. Work less. This one is obvius really. I got in to the habit of taking extra shifts when I was having trouble paying my mortgage and the other bills but money isnt as tight anymore so I need to work less and play more. (I’m not rich ladies, so don’t all come running! One at a time will do!)
5. Stop smoking. Its a dirty habit and I have to admit that when I meet women I am put off if they smoke because it looks so ugly and yet I smoke myself. That’s really out of order so instead of puffing away at the cancer sticks and being as ugly as I think other smokers are, I AM GOING TO QUIT!
6. Visit my sister in Malaga. I am not a fan of Spain and even though my sister has lived there for six years I havent visited her. I keep saying I will but always have somewhere else I would rather go in my holidays. This year I will spend at least one week with her.
7. Do the laundry more often and iron my clothes properly! I leave these things until the last minute and then get worked up when I cant find anything I can wear for work. I need to wash clothes as soon as the laundry basket is half full and iron them as soon as there dry. If only I could learn how to get the creases out properly!
8. Take my dog for long runs. I’m a lazy dog owner because all my dog ever gets is a walk around the block. A good run along the tow path would do us both the world of good.
9. Do more cooking (same as Leo). I do cook and after being on my own I’ve learned to rustle up a decent meal or two but I could do better and be more adventuruos so this year I am going to buy some new cookery books and get rattling them pots and pans.
10. Do the things above. I am the master of making myself improvement promises but rarely stick with them so my last promise to myself is to actually do the stuff I have said I will do.
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January 8, 2007 at 9:10 am
Caroline
Sounds like a plan!
Isn’t January dull and depressing! Perhaps it’s just here on the Wirral, but the black skies and constant rain are making me wish for Christmas again.
I hope that you stick to your goals and have fun with them.
January 8, 2007 at 12:59 pm
carol
Gary
I smoke. I know what you mean, even worse, I roll my own. I feel embarrassed these days when I get my baccy out. The worst thing of it is, is that when I was in hospital or anywhere I am not allowed to smoke, I don’t even think about a cigarette!
A good friend of mine has recently been diagnosed with cancer. I really must try and quit too.
Good luck with your endeavours. Can I bring my ironing around please? I’ll make sure it is washed first!!!
Oh and try a light box. I am really missing mine where I am not at work. The dark days really do depress the mind.
January 8, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Sharon J
I used to roll my own but when smoking clogged my arteries to the point where my bowel was starved of blood and rotted away inside me, I decided enough was enough. There’s not a lot I regret in life but smoking is definitely one thing I would change if I could go back and have my time again. Give it up, Gary. It is a dirty habit and not only do you look ugly with a fag stuck in your mouth, you stink something awful too!
Ever thought of sending your ironing out? I have a lady pick mine up once a week and bring it back beautifully ironed the following day. I’m telling ya, there’s not a crease in sight and everything’s beautifully folded or hung and covered in plastic. Well worth the money!
And you’re right about family being more important than work. Obviously, everything’s a balance but as long as you don’t need to take lots of overtime to survive financially then being with your girls has got to give you so much more in the long run.
End of waffle
January 8, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Leo
Good List.
Hopefully you’ll stick with number 10 and get through all of them this year.
Spend time with friends and family, and less time at work. Stop smoking and spend more time outdoors with your pet. Cook, wash, iron, visit Spain.
Phew! You have a busy year.
January 8, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Gary
Go read Sharons latest post Caroline. We have to stop thinking in terms of dull and depressing and start thinking that at the end of this miserable weather there will be blue skys and sunshine again. It hleped me.
If you quit I’ll quit as well Carol. I know you look ugly when you smoke (but probably not as ugly as me) and like Sharon said we also smell. Who would want to be with somebody like that? Not me and I am one! We all think of cancer dont we but sharon really shocked me when she mentioned that she lost her bowel because of smoking and by reading her blog i know how much thats changed her life. What else could smoking be doing to us that we dont think about? You can bring the ironing round but only so that you can do it while your doing mine.
Sending the ironing out sounds like a good idea Sharon. Definately something to think about. I could send it out to Carol. I like your waffle.
I am determined Leo. You dont know how long you have left so why not make sure you get as much in as possible?
January 9, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Sharon J
I’m sure it could be doing all sorts of nasty stuff, Gary, but I couldn’t tell you what. I knew about clogged arteries (you must’ve seen the ads on telly where fat drips out the end of a fag?) but like everybody else, it wasn’t something that was going to happen to me, was it? And anyway, I don’t think those ads really gave any real information as to what kind of problems blocked arteries could lead to (other than impotence).
I’m glad you like my waffle. Most people get tired of it