Currently in ... January

Feeling: Sad that the Christmas season is over.  In previous years I haven't felt too festive because I'm not quite used to a Southern Hemisphere summer Christmas.  So this year I worked hard to add in lots of my favourite things and activities and it worked too well!  I miss Christmas.

Thinking: About how I can achieve the same success with summer as I did for Christmas.  I'm thinking about beach trips, going out for ice cream, day hikes, and bike rides.

Reading: Last Rituals by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir

Watching: Agent Carter, NHL, Downton Abbey, Castle, Grimm

Anticipating: Family coming to visit in February and March!  And all the wonderful things we will do together.


Planning: A trip to Rotorua and some of the things we can do there - like the Polynesian Spa.

Wanting: A new bike helmet but I just can't seem to find the perfect one.

      Maybe this Sawako Furuno one?

      Or a Yakkay one with a cover?

Wishing: For a long warm summer and autumn.

Adventures in Electric Biking!

I got my bike at the end of November and it was love at first sight!

Isn't she a thing of beauty! She's a Pedego Comfort Cruiser.

I rode it about the street for a little while to get a feel for it and to figure out how the brakes, gears, pedal assist and throttle all worked.  Then I decided it was time to take it on a proper outing and I needed to take some books back to library so on I hopped and headed out towards the main road and un the hill.  The bike was awesome on the hill - not fast, but it was certainly manageable.  I used to work at the top of a hill when I lived in Scotland and I always had to get off my bike and walk up the hill.  Electric bikes make hills much more manageable.  I got to the top of the hill feeling pretty pleased with myself and then splat, I tipped over just a few meters away from an occupied bus stop (how embarrassing!)  I scratched my brake handle!

So I've been riding about 300km a week and I was starting to feel pretty comfortable with everything - maybe even a bit blasé?  Anyway, last week as I was zooming downhill on the bike path when I had to brake and next thing I was skidding off the bike path and tumbling over the lovely landscaping!  I do remember giving a girlish scream and seeing my feet and the blue sky at the same time!  I quickly but shakily got to my feet and tried to brush off as much of the bits of bark and plants that had attached to my skirt and cardigan.  My right shoe was shredded and I was bleeding from my hands, knees and the back of my legs.  I rode to the end of the bike path before I had to stop to adjust my brake handle as it had moved during my crash.  My heel started to hurt a lot and I couldn't put any weight on it at all.  I have no idea how I managed to get through a yoga class!  It wasn't until about 10 or 12 hours after the crash that my neck started to really hurt.  I went to the doctor and I got heaps of painkillers, a foot x-ray and physiotherapy referral for whiplash. 

Since then I've still been riding my bike most days but my confidence has taken a bit a knock.  I'm more nervous of going fast downhill and I don't really trust my bike when braking.  I'm covered in bruises, some big and some small and I have lots of little scratches on my hands and legs.  My neck is starting to feel better and I'm getting physio for that and my heel is starting to feel better.  The x-ray didn't show any fracture or anything and I'm able to put a bit more weight on it now - which is good because I've still been running a mile a day as part of the #mileaday and #runeveryday challenges and it's not easy to to do on your mid foot and toes.  Needless to say I've been getting shin splints and calf complaints as a result. Ha! I'm my own worst enemy!

But I'm still enjoying my bike, especially when its warm and sunny outside.  I think I need to be my new bike glasses.

December: Meals, Miles, Books and Looks

Meals:

This month has see lots of tasty meals both at home and out and about.  My goal for next month is to have most of meals home made.

Miles: 4km

I only went on 1 run this whole month and it was a 4km walk/jog around the neighbourhood.  I did go on a fairly long walk yesterday and I really feel it today! 

Books:

I have a small pile of books waiting to be read and I'm still struggling to get into Field of Prey by John Sandford.  At what point should I give up and move on to something else?

Looks:

I have a good few Christmas t-shirts but some seem to have gone missing :(   Here is my pre-Christmas, Christmas Day and post-Christmas looks.

 

2014 Restrospective

1. What did you do in 2014 that you’d never done before?

I took part in the running of a car rally.  I did paint-balling with friends.  I went to a demolition derby.  I hit a few balls at the batting cage.  I took a few ballet classes.  I started taking ice skating lessons.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Haha! It's always a work in progress!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Heaps of people had babies this year.  My friend Craig has a little girl, my friend Steve also had a little girl, my cousin had a little boy, my nephew had a little boy and my niece also had a little boy.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My cousin.

5. What places did you visit?

The Zoo, Hobbiton, Whangarei, Ohakune, Rotorua, Warkworth, Woodhill Paint-balling.

6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?

I'm pretty lucky in that I don't feel like I lacked anything in 2014.

7. What dates from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
We have done so many fun things this year and celebrated a number of things this year.  Our friends Sharon and Gerard got married.  Our friend Jude celebrated her 40th birthday.  Kane came first in a race.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year

I'm not sure.  I'm pretty proud of decorating the entrance-way and also of the public speaking duties both of us had at the Scottish night at Lions Club.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Last years success was the garden, but this year it has been my failure.  I'm putting it on my resolutions list!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I had more that one bought of eye infections and I also had a few months of anxiety which I hadn't experienced before.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

It's a tie between my le Creuset shallow casserole dish and my beautiful new bike.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Kane kept an amazing attitude during his recent redundancy and subsequent contract role.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

During the Scottish Independence referendum, I was greatly saddened by a few peoples attitudes.

14. Where did most of your money go?

I think I ate it :(

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

I got really excited for autumn because I had lots planned - road trip, ghost train, haunted house, toffee apples, spiced apple cider, demolition derby.  Yeah, I'm getting excited for it again!

16. What songs will always remind you of 2014?

Sweater Weather by The Neighbourhood, Blue Jeans by Lana Del Rey, Paris Norðursins by Prins Polo, If I Could Change Your Mind by Haim.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Same

b) thinner or fatter? Same

c) richer or poorer? Same

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Gardening.  The weeds are trying to take over!

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Watching repeats on TV and eating junk food.

20. How did you spend Christmas in 2014?

In our home with good food, Pimms cocktail, wine and Christmas movies

21. Did you fall in love in 2014?

Still in love with my husband.

22. What was your favourite TV program?

Psych, Fargo, Grimm, True Detective, Grays Anatomy, Orange is the New Black, Castle, Agents of Shield - I could go on.

23. What did you do for your birthday in 2014?

It was a bit of rainy day so we went to the cinema and watched 2 movies back-to-back! I've never done that before.

24. What was the best book you read?

I particularly enjoyed Enders Game, the Maze Runner, Ready Player One and The Man Who Came Early.

25. What did you want and get?

A fun bike.

26. What did you want and not get?

A dala horse.

27. What was your favourite film of this year?

I think Gone Girl was probably the best, Guardians of the Galaxy was definitely the most fun but watching The Hobbit: Battle of the 5 Armies in IMAX HFR on Christmas Eve was the best experience.

28. Did you make some new friends this year?

I think I was especially antisocial this year so I guess that's something else to add to the resolutions list!

29.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

I have had an awesome year, I'm not sure it could have been any better.

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?

Too frumpy!  That's another one for the resolution list!

31. What kept you sane?

Clonazepam and therapy haha!

32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

No one.  I was admiring outfits worn by the character Meredith Gray in Grays Anatomy.

33. What political issue stirred you the most?

I got caught up in the Scottish Independence Referendum although I was unable to vote.  I did vote in the NZ elections.

34. Who did you miss?

No one really.

35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014.

It's never too late to learn something you always wanted to.  I love my ice skating lessons!

Currently in ... December

Hello! Can you believe it's only 1 week until Christmas?  This month is flying by so quickly. 

Feeling:  Christmasy!  After kicking off the season by going to see the ballet of A Christmas Carol and then reading lots of northern hemisphere blogs, watching Christmas movies and experiencing some miserable rainy weather, I'm certainly feeling in the mood for a traditional Christmas.

Thinking:  About plans for Christmas and Hogmanay and goals for the next year.

Reading:  Field of Pray by John Sandford

Watching:  Christmas movies!  So far I have watched Holiday Inn, Scrooged, Elf and Home Alone.  Still to come are Die Hard, Gremlins, Christmas Vacation and Miracle on 34th Street.  I've also been watching the Grimm, Castle, Big Bang Theory, Arrow and the Flash.

Anticipating:  Christmas eve plans and eating the panettone I bought a couple of weeks ago.

Listening to:  Christmas music!  My favourites are Carol of the Bells, Jingle Bells (the Frank Sinatra version), and pretty much everything else!

Planning:  A few cinema trips, Christmas day meal plans, Hogmanay and new years day plans and I'm starting to think about next years goals.

Wanting:  More days in the week so I can do everything I want to do!  I haven't made any cakes or biscuits.

Loving:  My new Martha Stewart tartan table cloth that has arrived just in time for Christmas!

Grateful:  For all that I have and all that I am able to give. 

Wishing:  Everyone a merry Christmas and that the good weather returns on the 26th!

The Festive Season

The festive season is in full swing now and it's only 2 weeks until Christmas!

* Christmas Cards *

I put on some Christmas music, a Santa hat and got out my red and white snowflake pen (from Kikki.K) and wrote out Christmas cards for our families.  I think next year I may do a photo card and newsletter to mark our 5th Christmas in NZ.

* Tree and Decorations *

We brought out the bags and boxes of Christmas decorations and, again with Christmas music in the background, put up the tree and decorated it and the house.  I had great fun pinning up some extra baubles and bits of ribbon in my hallway to make it look festive.  I was hoping to find a nice garland for my stairs but haven't come across one just yet.  I'm still looking though!

* Presents *

This year I opted to have wine sent out to family overseas.  In my head I see everyone gathered at my parents house raising a glass to celebrate.  But then I realised that we have quite a few youngsters now (and 2 new babies have joined the family this month!) and I thought I should sent some lollies for them to enjoy.  I had fun making my own wrapping paper with brown parcel paper and seasonal themed stamps and ink pads tied up with festive ribbon or twine.

* Home Baking *

I put on a new Christmas singlet and the idea of baking popped into my head.  I wanted to have a go at making and icing sugar cookies, but instead I decided to make a fruit cake.  After we had had a couple of slices I put it in a cake tin in the cupboard, but that didn't really stop us from heading to the cupboard to get some more!

* Christmas Movies *

I made a list of Christmas movies to watch (in addition to the annual watching of National Lampoons Christmas Vacation) and so far we have watched Scrooged and Holiday Inn.  It is very strange to think of the song White Christmas being a new song for that movie as it's become such a part of Christmas.  Like before 1939 there was no such thing as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

We still have Gremlins, Miracle on 34th Street, Die Hard, Home Alone, Elf and A Muppet Christmas Carol to get through!

* Parties and Events *

There are not enough weekends in December for all the fun parties and events!!  We have had to turn down a few events because of clashes with other events we have already committed to.  We have already been to 1 Christmas meal and we have 2 more plus 2 Christmas BBQs.

We also went to see the NZRBs performance of A Christmas Carol

This was absolutely stunning.  I was so moved by the performances I actually shed a tear, but with all the sniffing going on around me I hardly think I was the only one!  On our way home we got some Starbucks, (I <3 Red Cups!) we went by one of the houses that go all out with the Christmas lights and it all made for a perfect evening.

* Christmas Fashion *

I have been sporting a few Christmas t-shirts and singlets lately and I still have a couple still to wear.  As for party wear, I haven't bought anything new and I'm still trying to plan out what I'm going to wear to the next few events.  I bought the Stylebook app, but as yet I haven't had any time to photograph my clothes but I'm really looking forward to using this app after the new year.

* Christmas Day Plans *

This will involve Pimms cocktail, twiglets, a traditional (vege) roast dinner, plum pudding, ice hockey and National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.  If the weather is nice we might also get to play boules, badminton or wiffle ball. 

November: Meals, Miles, Books and Looks

I can hardly believe that November is coming to close and that next week is officially the beginning of summer.  All the overseas Christmas gift shopping has been done and sent and now I'm looking forward to to putting up the Christmas decorations and getting the house ready for the season.

Meals:

Food has been mostly unplanned this month and therefore poorly selected for the most part.

I got some free samples of Weetbix multigrain after the Auckland quarter marathon and I've been having those most mornings.  I used to have mine with hot soy milk but a friend suggested I try hot water and brown sugar and this is now my preferred way to eat this - its easy and delicious!

Since the weather has been a bit rainy and cold at times I have been having lots of my favourite soup - Kumara and Coconut Cream.  I'm going to have to find out how to make this soup myself!

Dinners have been on the hoof and the dinner pictured is a very simple tuna pasta bake with garlic pepper.

And I finally bought the shortbread pan I have been coveting for about 18 months!  I haven't made shortbread since I got the new food processor and my goodness it's so quick and easy with one of those things.  I suspect we will be having a few more rounds of shortbread over the Christmas and Hogmanay period.

Miles: 22.9km, PBs* 1km, 5km, 10km

I ran 2 races this month and had 2 other runs to stretch the legs to make 22.9km total for the month.  I managed PBs* for 1km, 5km and 10km and I also completed my furthest distance of 11km.  So while it was a low mileage month it was a very successful month!

Books:

I finished reading "Never Saw it Coming" and "Too Close To Home" both by Linwood Barclay and I am currently reading "Field of Prey" by John Sandford.

I did a search for books about the suburbs and was definitely in a murder mystery kind of mood so that's how I ended up with this selection.  I think my next couple of books will be lighthearted summer reads so I'll have a look at some reading lists next week to see what I should order from the library.

Looks:

I am so in love with my beautiful new bike!  I'm on the look out for an equally stylish helmet to wear when I ride it.

They're not easily visible in the photo above, but I got 2 new pairs of leg warmers to wear ice skating and I got to try out my funky purple pair when we went skating with friends on Saturday.  I think it was my magical leg warmers that helped to me to get the front to back mohawk down but it's obvious that my backward one foot glides need more work as I end up going into a bit of a spin!

I got my new glasses and I've been wearing them all week instead of contact lenses as the optician thought that I still had a trace of infection so I got some extra strong antibiotics.  I go back tomorrow so hopefully I'll get the all clear.  My eyes feel totally fine but I trust the experts with my eye health.

The last photo in my little collage is of my tartan leggings!  I'm so glad I had these to wear to the Scottish night since I didn't actually have anything else to wear that was particularly Scottish (except for jewellery - I have a lot of Scottish jewellery).  Our President, Janelle, couldn't believe I didn't have anything Scottish! 

* PBs (Personal Bests) are counted from when I started running again this year.  I used to run 9 years ago and I've a long way before I can catch up to those PBs if I ever can!