So here we go again. And again, and again, and again...
1. Accomplish all the necessary stuff involved in selling this house and moving into the one we are buying. This is the sort of resolution that, although not easy in itself, HAS to be followed through on.
Report - House sale was finalised on April 15, as was house buying. For a scarey 45 minutes we had no place to live in but were comparatively wealthy. Now we have gone back to having no money but owning 3/5 of a rather nice house. The bank owns the other 2/5, of course.
The move went as well as expected. Tempers got frayed, things got lost, one or two things got broken (mostly by us!). The bloomin' removalists packed THE KETTLE. They obviously had not studied Removalism 101. So I ducked out and bought a cheap and nasty kettle that was on special in Target. THEY PACKED THAT TOO. We have not fully unpacked, of course, it will take months before everything is sorted out completely, but the house feels like home and we are very happy with the move. Some furniture still needs to be acquired to make sense of it being larger and with more rooms/functions for the rooms, but that will be done gradually (a mixture of IKEA and Ebay, probably), together with the other things we want to get done.
2. This was 'get a job'. I've decided that after nearly three months whingeing about it I will be deleting this one from the monthly report. Periodic whingeing may still occur but it will be same old, same old.
3. Complete a project a month. Even if it is just a plain sock (pair of socks!) Preferably try out some new techniques or whatever, but at least one project a month.
Report - I had low expectations for April, what with the house move, but I am glad to announce that I finished the April Bead Journal Piece a few days before the end of the month. When we can find the cable that connects my camera to the computer, I will blog about it! It's the one important cable that is still missing, of course.
4. Stop spending money like water. With this in mind, this resolution is split into sections :
4.1 I will not buy any clothes or shoes unless ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
Report - I bought another couple of work things, but I have pretty much reached the stage now where I have plenty of work things and really don't have any space for any more clothes. Though I want to get back into dressmaking again. And there are some killer boots I am waiting on to come into a shop in the city!.
4.2 I buy far too many DVDs. I will restrict myself to the equivalent of one full-price film (i.e. one new release or something like those 3 for $30 specials you see around) and one TV series. I need to be VERY STRICT about this.
Report - I'm really quite a good girl. I slightly exceeded the above, but now I am spending my own money on them I feel less guilty. For my film, I bought Harry Potter 7 Part 1 (still haven't watched it yet). And for the series I bought the complete (2 series) box set of Campion, because I have read a couple of the books in recent months and fancy it. And also, the slightly naughty bit, an extra series - Children of the Stones which is a 1977 kids program that looks wonderful!
4.3 Likewise with books. One full-price book or the equivalent per month.
Report - to my complete surprise I stuck to this, buying a new AWW Pressure Cooker cookbook. I've cooked a couple of things out of it, too!
4.4 Craft materials - only to be purchased if necessary to make a specific project immediately after purchase. Otherwise all craft material shopping is to be done from the stash.
Report - One roll of strong double-sided tape bought to replace the one I lost in the move. Used for sticking face cabs to beading foundations, and that sort of thing. And then another roll to replace the one I managed to lose between the shop and the car.
4.5 Exceptions to the rules will include craft shows, where I will take a fixed amount of cash and leave my credit cards at home. Nothing purchased under these circumstances will count towards the total!
Report - I passed this one - I went to AQC with a fixed sum of money and bought Nicole Maillieu's new book, which I had planned to buy, and as I was exhausted from moving and at the end of the show when everyone's defences were down, was conned into buying a showbag of Japanese goodies that had originally been $60 but were being sold off at $30. It supposedly contained over $100 worth of stuff. Well, it contained some things I didn't like, but the fabric selections alone were worth well over $30 and I love Japanese fabric, so though an unplanned purchase I was happy with it!
4.6 Items for any room in the new house, but especially the kitchen, will only be purchased if necessary, not just because they catch my eye. There will be some purchases, planned in advance.
Report - No impulse buys have been made, but some very expensive planned ones for the new house. We have bought a new fridge, dishwasher and microwave, all to replace the old and decrepit ones that were wearing out. Also two new beds, ditto. And new carpet. And there will be other things to follow. In particular a new digital TV and recording device for me, to replace my tiny and old CRT telly and decrepti VCR.
So I am happy with how things are tracking. We are exhausted and broke but we love our new house. I might even take some pictures of it, if we ever find (or replace) that cable thingy that connects my camera to the computer!
Showing posts with label resolutions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label resolutions. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Friday, April 08, 2011
Resolutions - April Update
So here we go again.
1. Accomplish all the necessary stuff involved in selling this house and moving into the one we are buying. This is the sort of resolution that, although not easy in itself, HAS to be followed through on.
Report - Well, we move on April 15th. I just want it to be over and done with. It will be four months since buying the house and moving in (a ridiculous length of time but stipulated by us because we needed time to sell the old one and get the money for it!) There will be upheaval and what-not. Tempers are very frayed all round. I am grimly trying to hang on to the shred of sanity that comes with remembering why I fell in love with the house in the first place. Plus the people buying our place have been a bit irritating. But all will be well and all will be well and all manner of things will be well.
2. Get a job. It really is time after 18 years to go back to earning some sort of income. This is a scary one. I have no idea how I and the rest of the family will cope - they have all got used to me being available whenever required. I did not have children or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome last time I worked. A very large part of me does not want to go back to work. But a small part of me craves the idea of doing something else.
Report - well, I've been working for five or six weeks now, I have learned a lot of what I need to know ... and I don't much like it. Not the job itself, which is fine, and the people are lovely, and it is even nice to earn a bit of money. But I hate not being around for the children, even if they are teenagers, and all my health problems are rearing their ugly heads again. I am permanently tired and miserable and hurt all over. Again I am gritting my teeth and trying to hold on to that notion that I need to earn this money to pay for the new house, and I really want the new house. And I am trying to pull myself out of the Slough of Despond and make some small changes to my lifestyle which might help my health a little - like starting to take a proper multivitamin again, for instance. And knowing that the damp and mould in the old house is probably a cause of many of my (and the other family members') health issues in the first place, and that the new house will not have them.
The small bit of me that craved doing something else - it is now begging to return to its cave and be left alone!
3. Complete a project a month. Even if it is just a plain sock (pair of socks!) Preferably try out some new techniques or whatever, but at least one project a month.
Report - easy! I have finished the March Bead Journal Project piece, run up three quick scarves for Me-Made-March 2011, and repurposed an old cardigan and a pair of shorts into another scarf. All blogged about previously.
4. Stop spending money like water. With this in mind, this resolution is split into sections :
4.1 I will not buy any clothes or shoes unless ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. 'Necessary' means underwear if my current collection falls apart; if I end up in a job where I can't wear jeans, some other covering for my bottom half may be necessary beyond the one pair of black trousers and one black skirt I own; and I am going to a family wedding in March that MAY necessitate a new outfit. I can make myself anything I like out of my vast stash of fabrics and patterns, however, and if this is the case, purchase of required notions will be permitted. I would make an outfit for the wedding but that is likely to be around the time we move, and I am packing up my stash as we speak.
Report - Ha Ha! Quite a few work clothes purchased, the new job requiring reasonably corporate clothing. But nothing frivolous or not usable for work. (Oh, and there were some shoes too, but ditto). I bought a dress for the wedding, despite really wanting to make something, but realising that I just wouldn't get round to it, and the dress is suitable for work as well. All in all, more money spent than I really should have done, but for a good reason.
That paragraph is what I wrote last month, and it can stand again for this month. I bought three 'pashminas' in a 3 for the price of 2 deal, and wore one of them to the wedding. All three will get used. The wedding one was black and grey (as was my dress - how Melbourne am I, I wore a black dress and a pashmina to a wedding!), the others are bright pink/black and turquoise/gold. They are all lovely against my sad old neck and between them will go with lots of things. Yes, there were a couple more items of clothes for work, and maybe some more shoes.
4.2 I buy far too many DVDs. I will restrict myself to the equivalent of one full-price film (i.e. one new release or something like those 3 for $30 specials you see around) and one TV series. I need to be VERY STRICT about this.
Report - pretty successful. I bought the old BBC series of Survivors as my TV series, and a reissuing of Neil Jordan's The Company of Wolves as my film (it's a huge favorite of mine). I only cheated a tiny, tiny bit - at the same time I found a copy of the old TV series of My Brother Jack (not the one made a few years ago) which I have never seen, on special for $10, and I bought that because it is a favorite book.
4.3 Likewise with books. One full-price book or the equivalent per month.
Report - please all fall about with derisive laughter now. Even with rolling over February's book into March, I overdid it by a factor of ... something or other. I think I bought about six books in March. My bad. All with my OWN MONEY though, so boo sucks.
4.4 Craft materials - only to be purchased if necessary to make a specific project immediately after purchase. Otherwise all craft material shopping is to be done from the stash.
Report - One ball of novelty yarn from Lincraft with which to make an annoying ruffled scarf. I mean the knitting of it is annoying, the scarf is kind of cute. In shades of bright red. And hugely ruffly. I started knitting it the day I bought it. And it didn't cost much, though I cannot actually remember how much.
4.5 Exceptions to the rules will include craft shows, where I will take a fixed amount of cash and leave my credit cards at home. Nothing purchased under these circumstances will count towards the total!
Report - no craft shows, so I passed this one!
4.6 Items for any room in the new house, but especially the kitchen, will only be purchased if necessary, not just because they catch my eye. There will be some purchases, planned in advance.
Report - Nada. But April will be a biggie on this one, as we need a new fridge and dishwasher (and when I say 'need' I mean 'replace the 25 year old fridge that keeps freezing vegetables and the 15 year old dishwasher that leaks and isn't going anywhere near the lovely floorboards in my new kitchen'!) And I may buy a couple of new pans given that I wil have more than two burners on my cooktook for the first time since January 2000!!!
And apropos of nothing, today is our 22nd wedding anniversary. We'd better get this move over and done with or there won't be a 23rd, we will have killed each other before then!!! On the other hand, the fact that I will be spending the evening alone with a bowl of soup sounds sad and pathetic but isn't really. George is working very late so that he can take the next 2 1/2 weeks off to oversee 90% of the moving without me having to do more than the other 10%, and he will be taking me out to dinner over the weekend or something when I have the energy to get up and go out. I have promised to take Wombat to Supernova tomorrow, which means my energy levels will be in heavy minus figures. There will be a 23rd anniversary!
Edited to add that the anniversary dinner happened anyway, unexpectedly, and the chances of a 23rd one are increasing! However if he keeps reading over my shoulder and asking if I am editing this to change the rules of the resolutions, I;m not so sure!!!!!
1. Accomplish all the necessary stuff involved in selling this house and moving into the one we are buying. This is the sort of resolution that, although not easy in itself, HAS to be followed through on.
Report - Well, we move on April 15th. I just want it to be over and done with. It will be four months since buying the house and moving in (a ridiculous length of time but stipulated by us because we needed time to sell the old one and get the money for it!) There will be upheaval and what-not. Tempers are very frayed all round. I am grimly trying to hang on to the shred of sanity that comes with remembering why I fell in love with the house in the first place. Plus the people buying our place have been a bit irritating. But all will be well and all will be well and all manner of things will be well.
2. Get a job. It really is time after 18 years to go back to earning some sort of income. This is a scary one. I have no idea how I and the rest of the family will cope - they have all got used to me being available whenever required. I did not have children or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome last time I worked. A very large part of me does not want to go back to work. But a small part of me craves the idea of doing something else.
Report - well, I've been working for five or six weeks now, I have learned a lot of what I need to know ... and I don't much like it. Not the job itself, which is fine, and the people are lovely, and it is even nice to earn a bit of money. But I hate not being around for the children, even if they are teenagers, and all my health problems are rearing their ugly heads again. I am permanently tired and miserable and hurt all over. Again I am gritting my teeth and trying to hold on to that notion that I need to earn this money to pay for the new house, and I really want the new house. And I am trying to pull myself out of the Slough of Despond and make some small changes to my lifestyle which might help my health a little - like starting to take a proper multivitamin again, for instance. And knowing that the damp and mould in the old house is probably a cause of many of my (and the other family members') health issues in the first place, and that the new house will not have them.
The small bit of me that craved doing something else - it is now begging to return to its cave and be left alone!
3. Complete a project a month. Even if it is just a plain sock (pair of socks!) Preferably try out some new techniques or whatever, but at least one project a month.
Report - easy! I have finished the March Bead Journal Project piece, run up three quick scarves for Me-Made-March 2011, and repurposed an old cardigan and a pair of shorts into another scarf. All blogged about previously.
4. Stop spending money like water. With this in mind, this resolution is split into sections :
4.1 I will not buy any clothes or shoes unless ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. 'Necessary' means underwear if my current collection falls apart; if I end up in a job where I can't wear jeans, some other covering for my bottom half may be necessary beyond the one pair of black trousers and one black skirt I own; and I am going to a family wedding in March that MAY necessitate a new outfit. I can make myself anything I like out of my vast stash of fabrics and patterns, however, and if this is the case, purchase of required notions will be permitted. I would make an outfit for the wedding but that is likely to be around the time we move, and I am packing up my stash as we speak.
Report - Ha Ha! Quite a few work clothes purchased, the new job requiring reasonably corporate clothing. But nothing frivolous or not usable for work. (Oh, and there were some shoes too, but ditto). I bought a dress for the wedding, despite really wanting to make something, but realising that I just wouldn't get round to it, and the dress is suitable for work as well. All in all, more money spent than I really should have done, but for a good reason.
That paragraph is what I wrote last month, and it can stand again for this month. I bought three 'pashminas' in a 3 for the price of 2 deal, and wore one of them to the wedding. All three will get used. The wedding one was black and grey (as was my dress - how Melbourne am I, I wore a black dress and a pashmina to a wedding!), the others are bright pink/black and turquoise/gold. They are all lovely against my sad old neck and between them will go with lots of things. Yes, there were a couple more items of clothes for work, and maybe some more shoes.
4.2 I buy far too many DVDs. I will restrict myself to the equivalent of one full-price film (i.e. one new release or something like those 3 for $30 specials you see around) and one TV series. I need to be VERY STRICT about this.
Report - pretty successful. I bought the old BBC series of Survivors as my TV series, and a reissuing of Neil Jordan's The Company of Wolves as my film (it's a huge favorite of mine). I only cheated a tiny, tiny bit - at the same time I found a copy of the old TV series of My Brother Jack (not the one made a few years ago) which I have never seen, on special for $10, and I bought that because it is a favorite book.
4.3 Likewise with books. One full-price book or the equivalent per month.
Report - please all fall about with derisive laughter now. Even with rolling over February's book into March, I overdid it by a factor of ... something or other. I think I bought about six books in March. My bad. All with my OWN MONEY though, so boo sucks.
4.4 Craft materials - only to be purchased if necessary to make a specific project immediately after purchase. Otherwise all craft material shopping is to be done from the stash.
Report - One ball of novelty yarn from Lincraft with which to make an annoying ruffled scarf. I mean the knitting of it is annoying, the scarf is kind of cute. In shades of bright red. And hugely ruffly. I started knitting it the day I bought it. And it didn't cost much, though I cannot actually remember how much.
4.5 Exceptions to the rules will include craft shows, where I will take a fixed amount of cash and leave my credit cards at home. Nothing purchased under these circumstances will count towards the total!
Report - no craft shows, so I passed this one!
4.6 Items for any room in the new house, but especially the kitchen, will only be purchased if necessary, not just because they catch my eye. There will be some purchases, planned in advance.
Report - Nada. But April will be a biggie on this one, as we need a new fridge and dishwasher (and when I say 'need' I mean 'replace the 25 year old fridge that keeps freezing vegetables and the 15 year old dishwasher that leaks and isn't going anywhere near the lovely floorboards in my new kitchen'!) And I may buy a couple of new pans given that I wil have more than two burners on my cooktook for the first time since January 2000!!!
And apropos of nothing, today is our 22nd wedding anniversary. We'd better get this move over and done with or there won't be a 23rd, we will have killed each other before then!!! On the other hand, the fact that I will be spending the evening alone with a bowl of soup sounds sad and pathetic but isn't really. George is working very late so that he can take the next 2 1/2 weeks off to oversee 90% of the moving without me having to do more than the other 10%, and he will be taking me out to dinner over the weekend or something when I have the energy to get up and go out. I have promised to take Wombat to Supernova tomorrow, which means my energy levels will be in heavy minus figures. There will be a 23rd anniversary!
Edited to add that the anniversary dinner happened anyway, unexpectedly, and the chances of a 23rd one are increasing! However if he keeps reading over my shoulder and asking if I am editing this to change the rules of the resolutions, I;m not so sure!!!!!
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Resolutions - March Update
March was pretty good in terms of following through on my resolutions, or goals. Report card time:
1. Accomplish all the necessary stuff involved in selling this house and moving into the one we are buying. This is the sort of resolution that, although not easy in itself, HAS to be followed through on.
Report - We sold the house! All systems are go to exchange contracts on both properties on April 15. We haven't really done any more packing, but the storage unit is full and we are stuffed!! I think this counts as definitely accomplished for the month :)
2. Get a job. It really is time after 18 years to go back to earning some sort of income. This is a scary one. I have no idea how I and the rest of the family will cope - they have all got used to me being available whenever required. I did not have children or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome last time I worked. A very large part of me does not want to go back to work. But a small part of me craves the idea of doing something else.
Report - The interview I mentioned last month was a success and I got the job. The pay is poor. It is a total shock to the system returning to work after 18 years. The first two weeks were pretty awful, readjusting and learning new things, but this week I am starting to feel that I am settling in, learning the new routines, and actually starting to enjoy myself. But gosh it is a time waster!!!
3. Complete a project a month. Even if it is just a plain sock (pair of socks!) Preferably try out some new techniques or whatever, but at least one project a month.
Report - I have finished my February Beading Journal Project piece. It was photographed and blogged about separately. Very pleased with both it, and with finishing something!! And I finished a pair of socks for George which I think I have also written about. Plus I helped make knitted/crocheted flowers for the wedding bouquet for the wedding later in March!!
4. Stop spending money like water. With this in mind, this resolution is split into sections :
4.1 I will not buy any clothes or shoes unless ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. 'Necessary' means underwear if my current collection falls apart; if I end up in a job where I can't wear jeans, some other covering for my bottom half may be necessary beyond the one pair of black trousers and one black skirt I own; and I am going to a family wedding in March that MAY necessitate a new outfit. I can make myself anything I like out of my vast stash of fabrics and patterns, however, and if this is the case, purchase of required notions will be permitted. I would make an outfit for the wedding but that is likely to be around the time we move, and I am packing up my stash as we speak.
Report - Ha Ha! Quite a few work clothes purchased, the new job requiring reasonably corporate clothing. But nothing frivolous or not usable for work. (Oh, and there were some shoes too, but ditto). I bought a dress for the wedding, despite really wanting to make something, but realising that I just wouldn't get round to it, and the dress is suitable for work as well. All in all, more money spent than I really should have done, but for a good reason.
4.2 I buy far too many DVDs. I will restrict myself to the equivalent of one full-price film (i.e. one new release or something like those 3 for $30 specials you see around) and one TV series. I need to be VERY STRICT about this.
Report - surprisingly successful. I bought the latest series that is out of Waking the Dead, and for the film, The Girl Who Played with Fire. Absolutely nothing else. Pleased with myself.
4.3 Likewise with books. One full-price book or the equivalent per month.
Report - hey, guess what, did not buy ONE BOOK AT ALL. Again. But this time I am going to roll it over as I did not overspend on the DVD's nor did I buy privolous clothes.
4.4 Craft materials - only to be purchased if necessary to make a specific project immediately after purchase. Otherwise all craft material shopping is to be done from the stash.
Report - two dress patterns when I thought I would still have time to make a dress for the wedding. They will get used, just not now. Quite a few small sundries because I have a collection of small projects on the go and they are all either being used or in a queue for immediate use.
4.5 Exceptions to the rules will include craft shows, where I will take a fixed amount of cash and leave my credit cards at home. Nothing purchased under these circumstances will count towards the total!
Report - no craft shows, so I passed this one!
4.6 Items for any room in the new house, but especially the kitchen, will only be purchased if necessary, not just because they catch my eye. There will be some purchases, planned in advance.
Report - I am pretty certain that I followed this one to the letter.
1. Accomplish all the necessary stuff involved in selling this house and moving into the one we are buying. This is the sort of resolution that, although not easy in itself, HAS to be followed through on.
Report - We sold the house! All systems are go to exchange contracts on both properties on April 15. We haven't really done any more packing, but the storage unit is full and we are stuffed!! I think this counts as definitely accomplished for the month :)
2. Get a job. It really is time after 18 years to go back to earning some sort of income. This is a scary one. I have no idea how I and the rest of the family will cope - they have all got used to me being available whenever required. I did not have children or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome last time I worked. A very large part of me does not want to go back to work. But a small part of me craves the idea of doing something else.
Report - The interview I mentioned last month was a success and I got the job. The pay is poor. It is a total shock to the system returning to work after 18 years. The first two weeks were pretty awful, readjusting and learning new things, but this week I am starting to feel that I am settling in, learning the new routines, and actually starting to enjoy myself. But gosh it is a time waster!!!
3. Complete a project a month. Even if it is just a plain sock (pair of socks!) Preferably try out some new techniques or whatever, but at least one project a month.
Report - I have finished my February Beading Journal Project piece. It was photographed and blogged about separately. Very pleased with both it, and with finishing something!! And I finished a pair of socks for George which I think I have also written about. Plus I helped make knitted/crocheted flowers for the wedding bouquet for the wedding later in March!!
4. Stop spending money like water. With this in mind, this resolution is split into sections :
4.1 I will not buy any clothes or shoes unless ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. 'Necessary' means underwear if my current collection falls apart; if I end up in a job where I can't wear jeans, some other covering for my bottom half may be necessary beyond the one pair of black trousers and one black skirt I own; and I am going to a family wedding in March that MAY necessitate a new outfit. I can make myself anything I like out of my vast stash of fabrics and patterns, however, and if this is the case, purchase of required notions will be permitted. I would make an outfit for the wedding but that is likely to be around the time we move, and I am packing up my stash as we speak.
Report - Ha Ha! Quite a few work clothes purchased, the new job requiring reasonably corporate clothing. But nothing frivolous or not usable for work. (Oh, and there were some shoes too, but ditto). I bought a dress for the wedding, despite really wanting to make something, but realising that I just wouldn't get round to it, and the dress is suitable for work as well. All in all, more money spent than I really should have done, but for a good reason.
4.2 I buy far too many DVDs. I will restrict myself to the equivalent of one full-price film (i.e. one new release or something like those 3 for $30 specials you see around) and one TV series. I need to be VERY STRICT about this.
Report - surprisingly successful. I bought the latest series that is out of Waking the Dead, and for the film, The Girl Who Played with Fire. Absolutely nothing else. Pleased with myself.
4.3 Likewise with books. One full-price book or the equivalent per month.
Report - hey, guess what, did not buy ONE BOOK AT ALL. Again. But this time I am going to roll it over as I did not overspend on the DVD's nor did I buy privolous clothes.
4.4 Craft materials - only to be purchased if necessary to make a specific project immediately after purchase. Otherwise all craft material shopping is to be done from the stash.
Report - two dress patterns when I thought I would still have time to make a dress for the wedding. They will get used, just not now. Quite a few small sundries because I have a collection of small projects on the go and they are all either being used or in a queue for immediate use.
4.5 Exceptions to the rules will include craft shows, where I will take a fixed amount of cash and leave my credit cards at home. Nothing purchased under these circumstances will count towards the total!
Report - no craft shows, so I passed this one!
4.6 Items for any room in the new house, but especially the kitchen, will only be purchased if necessary, not just because they catch my eye. There will be some purchases, planned in advance.
Report - I am pretty certain that I followed this one to the letter.
Saturday, February 05, 2011
Resolutions - February Update
January wasn't too bad in terms of following through on my resolutions, or goals. Report card time:
1. Accomplish all the necessary stuff involved in selling this house and moving into the one we are buying. This is the sort of resolution that, although not easy in itself, HAS to be followed through on.
Report - masses of decluttering happened. A storage unit is almost entirely full of books, bookcases, craft materials and other stuff that we can live without for a while. The house has been on the market since before Christmas and quite a few people have been through it. We are settling on the new one, and moving in, on 15 April. All neighbourhood op shops have had their stock massively swelled by our offerings. A small amount of stuff has been thrown out if too disgusting/broken/etc to reuse or recycle. The house is cleaner than it has been for a long time. I think we have accomplished everything possible for one month.
2. Get a job. It really is time after 18 years to go back to earning some sort of income. This is a scary one. I have no idea how I and the rest of the family will cope - they have all got used to me being available whenever required. I did not have children or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome last time I worked. A very large part of me does not want to go back to work. But a small part of me craves the idea of doing something else.
Report - I have applied for seven jobs, having spent a long time rewriting my CV. The first two jobs, no interview or job. Job 3, no response. Job 4, have an interview on Tuesday - it is unfortunately the lowest paying of the lot but might provide useful experience. Jobs 5 and 6, no response yet and it was long enough ago to assume that I didn't get interviews. Job 7, hoping for an interview but if I don't hear in the next couple of days will have to assume nothing there either. One more possibility, waiting on a job description. I fear that the 18 years out of the workforce is proving to be a stumbling block and a half.
3. Complete a project a month. Even if it is just a plain sock (pair of socks!) Preferably try out some new techniques or whatever, but at least one project a month.
Report - I have finished my January Beading Journal Project piece. It will be photographed and blogged about separately. Very pleased with both it, and with finishing something!!
4. Stop spending money like water. With this in mind, this resolution is split into sections :
4.1 I will not buy any clothes or shoes unless ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. 'Necessary' means underwear if my current collection falls apart; if I end up in a job where I can't wear jeans, some other covering for my bottom half may be necessary beyond the one pair of black trousers and one black skirt I own; and I am going to a family wedding in March that MAY necessitate a new outfit. I can make myself anything I like out of my vast stash of fabrics and patterns, however, and if this is the case, purchase of required notions will be permitted. I would make an outfit for the wedding but that is likely to be around the time we move, and I am packing up my stash as we speak.
Report - mostly successful. No clothes purchased. Two pairs of cheap, gaudy summer sandals proved irresistible, however, so not total success. Two pairs of inexpensive, practical black shoes for work purposes were also purchased, legitimately.
4.2 I buy far too many DVDs. I will restrict myself to the equivalent of one full-price film (i.e. one new release or something like those 3 for $30 specials you see around) and one TV series. I need to be VERY STRICT about this.
Report - surprisingly successful within the strict wording of the agreement. I bought one TV Series - admittedly it was the entire PD James collection (not including the Martin Shaw adaptations) which was astronomically expensive, but it WAS only one boxed set. I tossed up between feature films but in the end spent the same amount of money as a brand new one on the TV series Testament of Youth which has just been released. It is one of my all-time favorites, to the point of obessession with Vera Brittain. So I consider that I did well, if not cheaply!
4.3 Likewise with books. One full-price book or the equivalent per month.
Report - hey, guess what, did not buy ONE BOOK AT ALL. I might consider rolling it over, but I think that I ought to consider the two naughty pairs of summer sandals and call it quits.
4.4 Craft materials - only to be purchased if necessary to make a specific project immediately after purchase. Otherwise all craft material shopping is to be done from the stash.
Report - ahem, one new Issy Miyake Vogue pattern slipped under the radar.
4.5 Exceptions to the rules will include craft shows, where I will take a fixed amount of cash and leave my credit cards at home. Nothing purchased under these circumstances will count towards the total!
Report - no craft shows, so I passed this one!
4.6 Items for any room in the new house, but especially the kitchen, will only be purchased if necessary, not just because they catch my eye. There will be some purchases, planned in advance.
Report - I am pretty certain that I followed this one to the letter. Oh, I did buy two coloured glass bottles to store water in the fridge, but they were $5 each and we didn't have any fridge water bottles. I do have a water jug but it takes up half the fridge, whereas these fit in the door. So I count these as reasonable purchases.
All in all I think I did OK! This month - well, I;m afraid that so far one more pair of cheap gaudy summer sandals came home with me. Clothes - it depends on whether I get a job this month and, if so, what the dress code is, but the only clothes purchased will be under those circumstances. I am on the lookout for a pair of winter boots as they start coming into the shops - in the winter I like to wear skirts with boots. I have two pairs that suit, but one is about to fall apart and is not fit for work wear, and the other pair are two winters old and may not last out another winter, so I want a back up pair. And because they have to fit my massive calves and still look attractive, I have to shop around. Otherwise, my winter shoes are more appropriate for work than my summer ones, so there shouldn't be any need for more.
I already know what TV series and feature film I will be buying this month, but I will draw out the anticipation.
Everything else, like house stuff, will be taken as it comes!
1. Accomplish all the necessary stuff involved in selling this house and moving into the one we are buying. This is the sort of resolution that, although not easy in itself, HAS to be followed through on.
Report - masses of decluttering happened. A storage unit is almost entirely full of books, bookcases, craft materials and other stuff that we can live without for a while. The house has been on the market since before Christmas and quite a few people have been through it. We are settling on the new one, and moving in, on 15 April. All neighbourhood op shops have had their stock massively swelled by our offerings. A small amount of stuff has been thrown out if too disgusting/broken/etc to reuse or recycle. The house is cleaner than it has been for a long time. I think we have accomplished everything possible for one month.
2. Get a job. It really is time after 18 years to go back to earning some sort of income. This is a scary one. I have no idea how I and the rest of the family will cope - they have all got used to me being available whenever required. I did not have children or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome last time I worked. A very large part of me does not want to go back to work. But a small part of me craves the idea of doing something else.
Report - I have applied for seven jobs, having spent a long time rewriting my CV. The first two jobs, no interview or job. Job 3, no response. Job 4, have an interview on Tuesday - it is unfortunately the lowest paying of the lot but might provide useful experience. Jobs 5 and 6, no response yet and it was long enough ago to assume that I didn't get interviews. Job 7, hoping for an interview but if I don't hear in the next couple of days will have to assume nothing there either. One more possibility, waiting on a job description. I fear that the 18 years out of the workforce is proving to be a stumbling block and a half.
3. Complete a project a month. Even if it is just a plain sock (pair of socks!) Preferably try out some new techniques or whatever, but at least one project a month.
Report - I have finished my January Beading Journal Project piece. It will be photographed and blogged about separately. Very pleased with both it, and with finishing something!!
4. Stop spending money like water. With this in mind, this resolution is split into sections :
4.1 I will not buy any clothes or shoes unless ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. 'Necessary' means underwear if my current collection falls apart; if I end up in a job where I can't wear jeans, some other covering for my bottom half may be necessary beyond the one pair of black trousers and one black skirt I own; and I am going to a family wedding in March that MAY necessitate a new outfit. I can make myself anything I like out of my vast stash of fabrics and patterns, however, and if this is the case, purchase of required notions will be permitted. I would make an outfit for the wedding but that is likely to be around the time we move, and I am packing up my stash as we speak.
Report - mostly successful. No clothes purchased. Two pairs of cheap, gaudy summer sandals proved irresistible, however, so not total success. Two pairs of inexpensive, practical black shoes for work purposes were also purchased, legitimately.
4.2 I buy far too many DVDs. I will restrict myself to the equivalent of one full-price film (i.e. one new release or something like those 3 for $30 specials you see around) and one TV series. I need to be VERY STRICT about this.
Report - surprisingly successful within the strict wording of the agreement. I bought one TV Series - admittedly it was the entire PD James collection (not including the Martin Shaw adaptations) which was astronomically expensive, but it WAS only one boxed set. I tossed up between feature films but in the end spent the same amount of money as a brand new one on the TV series Testament of Youth which has just been released. It is one of my all-time favorites, to the point of obessession with Vera Brittain. So I consider that I did well, if not cheaply!
4.3 Likewise with books. One full-price book or the equivalent per month.
Report - hey, guess what, did not buy ONE BOOK AT ALL. I might consider rolling it over, but I think that I ought to consider the two naughty pairs of summer sandals and call it quits.
4.4 Craft materials - only to be purchased if necessary to make a specific project immediately after purchase. Otherwise all craft material shopping is to be done from the stash.
Report - ahem, one new Issy Miyake Vogue pattern slipped under the radar.
4.5 Exceptions to the rules will include craft shows, where I will take a fixed amount of cash and leave my credit cards at home. Nothing purchased under these circumstances will count towards the total!
Report - no craft shows, so I passed this one!
4.6 Items for any room in the new house, but especially the kitchen, will only be purchased if necessary, not just because they catch my eye. There will be some purchases, planned in advance.
Report - I am pretty certain that I followed this one to the letter. Oh, I did buy two coloured glass bottles to store water in the fridge, but they were $5 each and we didn't have any fridge water bottles. I do have a water jug but it takes up half the fridge, whereas these fit in the door. So I count these as reasonable purchases.
All in all I think I did OK! This month - well, I;m afraid that so far one more pair of cheap gaudy summer sandals came home with me. Clothes - it depends on whether I get a job this month and, if so, what the dress code is, but the only clothes purchased will be under those circumstances. I am on the lookout for a pair of winter boots as they start coming into the shops - in the winter I like to wear skirts with boots. I have two pairs that suit, but one is about to fall apart and is not fit for work wear, and the other pair are two winters old and may not last out another winter, so I want a back up pair. And because they have to fit my massive calves and still look attractive, I have to shop around. Otherwise, my winter shoes are more appropriate for work than my summer ones, so there shouldn't be any need for more.
I already know what TV series and feature film I will be buying this month, but I will draw out the anticipation.
Everything else, like house stuff, will be taken as it comes!
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Resolutions
Well, so far so good. The packing continues at a snail's pace, but a bit more is done every day. The necessary legal documents have been obtained, so the estate agent can start to market our house properly.
And I have applied for two jobs. This has me terrified but also a little excited. It took me a good three hours to rewrite my CV and write two application letters. My last CV dated from 1990. There were two/three jobs to add to that (two library jobs and one editing job). I could barely remember the person I was when I wrote that CV in 1990. I sounded like a busy professional with impressive skills. Hopefully I still sound that way!
I am being choosy, though. I am only applying for library jobs that actually sound as though they will be interesting and where I genuinely think I can contribute to the workplace.
And it is January 4th and so far I have not spent any money on the things I said I was restricting myself on. OK, only four days, but I believe one has to beat addictions one day at a time!
And I have applied for two jobs. This has me terrified but also a little excited. It took me a good three hours to rewrite my CV and write two application letters. My last CV dated from 1990. There were two/three jobs to add to that (two library jobs and one editing job). I could barely remember the person I was when I wrote that CV in 1990. I sounded like a busy professional with impressive skills. Hopefully I still sound that way!
I am being choosy, though. I am only applying for library jobs that actually sound as though they will be interesting and where I genuinely think I can contribute to the workplace.
And it is January 4th and so far I have not spent any money on the things I said I was restricting myself on. OK, only four days, but I believe one has to beat addictions one day at a time!
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