So long, 2017!
2017 is almost over! It's been a good year, I think.
The biggest thing I did this year was take the very grown up step of putting an offer on a house. This was back at the end of July and it's still going through, partly because the bank wanted every possible type of survey done but essentially because the seller is dragging her heels for no obvious reason. I'm hoping the latest delays have been because she didn't want things progressing over the Christmas period and not because she's changing her mind, having already paid out so much for surveys and solicitor fees. But I'm also preparing that I may have to wash my hands of it and walk away in the new year. I've been in limbo over the whole Christmas period and have tried not to think about it all. But yes, saving the deposit over the last few years, seeing a mortgage broker, viewing properties, ringing estate agents, appointing a solicitor, signing paperwork, etc. have all been big steps for me and made me realise how much I was capable of.
The other thing I did was finally overcome the challenges I've encountered most of my life trying to lose some weight. Some of it must be down to the medication I'm on for my underactive thyroid addressing problems with my metabolism. I've certainly made a a real effort to watch what I eat and exercise more but I've done that before and not seen the results I've seen this year. Choosing better foods (no bread, more protein), obsessively logging every morsel of food that passed my lips on an app called MyFitnessPal, reducing portion sizes and going running a couple of times a week has been the winning formula, it seems. It wasn't easy but then I feel like I reached a tipping point where I lost enough weight that my appetite was reduced and exercise became less painful so it all became easier to maintain. I am now around 9 stone and now clothes in a size 8. I have not been a size 8 in my entire adult life and still feel I need to pinch myself that it's true.
Les and I climbed Ben Nevis in June which I think counts as an achievement in most people's eyes! It was both easier and harder than I expected. It's quite a gentle walk, it's just long and I struggled more with the long descent afterwards than actually climbing the mountain. We were blessed with amazing weather which is never guaranteed in Scotland. We also had a lovely holiday in Anglesey, I went to visit Jessica in Portugal and my parents in Gozo.
I read a lot of books, played a lot of PS4 (mostly FFXV). I have progressed in tai chi in ways that is difficult to write down but also get on well with the others in my class so it's feeling like a home, which is always an important part of being a member of any kind of club. Tai chi is becoming increasingly important to me now. As is the running, which is less about weight loss now and more fitness and mental health.
I think I'm doing ok at work but it's always hard to tell, I don't get great feedback and things can change quickly. Things are about the same as a year ago except that I think I'm more confident and better at my job. I know some things are changing next year which I'm pleased about. The influx of staff in the last couple of years has changed a lot about the place and one effect has been that as the company is getting bigger, more people in the office means there are people I have clicked with. In the nine years I've worked there, I spent half that time feeling like a loner as I spent all my lunchtimes and didn't befriend anyone enough to hang out with them. One girl in particular I've actually started going to theatre shows with after work. Anyone who works in an office knows how that imprisoned you can feel sometimes so having a friend has done a lot for my morale.
That's a few selected highlights of 2017. In 2017 I am going to buy a house, all being well, whether it's this one or another one. We've also got a trip to Naples planned at Easter for Les' 40th birthday, it's my friend Helen's wedding mid May (and I'm chief bridesmaid!) and in late May we have made rough plans to go on a road trip in Europe. So it's shaping up to be a good one.
We're off to the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath tonight as it's got a couple of rooms of music and is walking distance to get home, always nice.
Happy New Year to anyone reading, hope 2018 brings you everything you desire.
The biggest thing I did this year was take the very grown up step of putting an offer on a house. This was back at the end of July and it's still going through, partly because the bank wanted every possible type of survey done but essentially because the seller is dragging her heels for no obvious reason. I'm hoping the latest delays have been because she didn't want things progressing over the Christmas period and not because she's changing her mind, having already paid out so much for surveys and solicitor fees. But I'm also preparing that I may have to wash my hands of it and walk away in the new year. I've been in limbo over the whole Christmas period and have tried not to think about it all. But yes, saving the deposit over the last few years, seeing a mortgage broker, viewing properties, ringing estate agents, appointing a solicitor, signing paperwork, etc. have all been big steps for me and made me realise how much I was capable of.
The other thing I did was finally overcome the challenges I've encountered most of my life trying to lose some weight. Some of it must be down to the medication I'm on for my underactive thyroid addressing problems with my metabolism. I've certainly made a a real effort to watch what I eat and exercise more but I've done that before and not seen the results I've seen this year. Choosing better foods (no bread, more protein), obsessively logging every morsel of food that passed my lips on an app called MyFitnessPal, reducing portion sizes and going running a couple of times a week has been the winning formula, it seems. It wasn't easy but then I feel like I reached a tipping point where I lost enough weight that my appetite was reduced and exercise became less painful so it all became easier to maintain. I am now around 9 stone and now clothes in a size 8. I have not been a size 8 in my entire adult life and still feel I need to pinch myself that it's true.
Les and I climbed Ben Nevis in June which I think counts as an achievement in most people's eyes! It was both easier and harder than I expected. It's quite a gentle walk, it's just long and I struggled more with the long descent afterwards than actually climbing the mountain. We were blessed with amazing weather which is never guaranteed in Scotland. We also had a lovely holiday in Anglesey, I went to visit Jessica in Portugal and my parents in Gozo.
I read a lot of books, played a lot of PS4 (mostly FFXV). I have progressed in tai chi in ways that is difficult to write down but also get on well with the others in my class so it's feeling like a home, which is always an important part of being a member of any kind of club. Tai chi is becoming increasingly important to me now. As is the running, which is less about weight loss now and more fitness and mental health.
I think I'm doing ok at work but it's always hard to tell, I don't get great feedback and things can change quickly. Things are about the same as a year ago except that I think I'm more confident and better at my job. I know some things are changing next year which I'm pleased about. The influx of staff in the last couple of years has changed a lot about the place and one effect has been that as the company is getting bigger, more people in the office means there are people I have clicked with. In the nine years I've worked there, I spent half that time feeling like a loner as I spent all my lunchtimes and didn't befriend anyone enough to hang out with them. One girl in particular I've actually started going to theatre shows with after work. Anyone who works in an office knows how that imprisoned you can feel sometimes so having a friend has done a lot for my morale.
That's a few selected highlights of 2017. In 2017 I am going to buy a house, all being well, whether it's this one or another one. We've also got a trip to Naples planned at Easter for Les' 40th birthday, it's my friend Helen's wedding mid May (and I'm chief bridesmaid!) and in late May we have made rough plans to go on a road trip in Europe. So it's shaping up to be a good one.
We're off to the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath tonight as it's got a couple of rooms of music and is walking distance to get home, always nice.
Happy New Year to anyone reading, hope 2018 brings you everything you desire.