It’s quite funny

I think I’ve started off the new year really well, and I’m very pleased with myself… then I realise that it’s only Jan 3rd, and I’ve only just woken up. How is it that the year feels like it’s at least two weeks in already?!?

I’ve managed to run twice – The Race Epic on Jan 1, and another 5K last night – I did the beginner Pilates on New Years Day, but none yesterday. I really feel like I should get up and do some now, but I need to feel caffeine coursing through my veins first! Another week off work, which is just absolute bliss for me… unfortunately the lush of my life appears to have picked up the flu during his last trip down south the other day. Nose, ears, throat, aches, pains and temperature. Poor darling! It seems to be progressing at a rapid rate of knotts (as in 24hrs ago he had a ‘bit of a sore throat’), so I’m hoping (crossing fingers and toes!!) that he’ll be through the worst of it today and on the mend. He’s pretty damn healthy atm, so he’s got that in his favour, and yes, I’m biting my tongue as I write!.

There’s a couple of things I’d like to put on my wish list this year: 

• The local Pilates class on Tuesday nights. One of the other ladies at work has been in the past and said she’d like to go again, so I will have company. I’m a shy, retiring creature at heart you see…
• Orienteering. There’s a local club I’ve only just found out about (the thing in Australia I’ve found, is that no town knows how to market themselves properly, everything is buried and hidden!) who have a ‘try before you buy’ type day on 26 Jan (aka ‘Invasion Day’), so I might drag the lush along to that too. Both of us have limited compass skills over such fine distances (we don’t have a problem with back bearings or calling in air support, it’s just that there’s little requirement for the finer compass work in our jobs – we’re not humping around by foot!), so I think it’s a good opportunity for us to improve our skills, meet people (okay. to grunt and nod in the general direction of people other than those we work with!), and get out of the damn house!
• Meditation. I think the time is right. I’ve been loathe to meditate in the past, as I don’t like being vulnerable… the senses are either switched off, or inward looking, and if they’re not looking out…!! I downloaded an app to my iPhone (pathetic? we’ll see.), plus one for tai chi, so I’m going to give them a go. I’ve had no luck finding a tai chi place in Darwin, which is odd given there’s a fair few Chinese here – it’s probably an underground movement! Anyhoo, perhaps it will help with my shitty sleep pattern. Anything’s worth a try I guess.

 

We’re supposed to be picking up the new car today… but I don’t know if that will happen. There’s always tomorrow… well. Usually a tomorrow… (sorry, a bit maudlin – one of the guys from running club died from a brain tumour on NYD – he was 49, and he’d had it for 2 years… Although I didn’t know him personally, being relatively close in age makes me realise that each day is precious. Maybe instead of feeling sad, I should enjoy today instead. Okay, I know I should, but it’s not that simple. Perhaps that’s what I need to focus on 🙂

2011 in review:

Yup, it’s that time of the year, and unlike most years, I’ve decided to take a look backwards this year, and just see what’s happened.

Jan: Moved to Darwin, took up new position.
Feb: Climbed on the healthy bandwagon.
Mar: life
Apr: life
May: away for work for most of it
Jun: City to Surf
Jul: Half Marathon, work
Aug: Our trip to Japan. Fantastic.
Sep: Work again. Life
Oct: when was this?
Nov: last week.
Dec: Mad!

Hmm. perhaps that was a big fat fail. Lets try that again…

Big things: Moving to Darwin – got to drive across the top end and see more of the country (never. again.). Love Darwin, except the sandflies and locals. It’s not like Townsville. Spent a lot of time out field for work. Learnt that eating starch makes me fat – lost a fair bit of weight. Took up running for ‘fun’, did a half marathon and the City to Surf. Times are still nothing to write home about, but for me to look at a 5K as ‘a waddle’ and 10K as ‘a run’, when last year I moaned about running a measly 2K, and NEVER twice in a day!!, that to me is my biggest personal achievement this year. Eating healthy has become both the backbone and bane of my life, particularly when you try to eliminate starch – and it’s something I will struggle with have to manage for the rest of my life. I am so grateful for the support and love I get from my family, for without that, none of my achievements this year would’ve happened, nor would they have meant so much. Our Japanese holiday, fantastic, need to do it again. So many places, so little money.

What’s on the agenda for 2012?

I want to concentrate on my eating habits, and get them sorted out. I need to be more aware of what works for me, and come to terms with the fact I am NEVER going to be the ‘everything in moderation’ person, or the ‘just one every now and then won’t hurt’ person. That is possibly going to be the biggest challenge, but once I can get into that mindset, I can move on. Keep up with the fitness – which might be harder than necessary if I am in the field for 4 months, but I’ll have to manage somehow… I didn’t come this far to throw it all away, and goddammit, I’m going to fucking demand food without starch in it – I don’t care if they think I’m a whingey whiney little bitch, fuck them. They can cook for vegetarians, they can cook for ME. And if they want a doctors note, then I’ll fucking get them one. Wow. I knew it pissed me off last time, but I hadn’t grasped quite how much. My bad. Moving on…

I want to appreciate my family as much as possible, while I can show them in person. Chances are I may not be home this time next year, and when I do get back, the girl child will have left to take up her university life back in Queensland. She needs to know I will miss her, and that I believe in her – and I forget she’s not psychic. And he does needs to know too. I don’t want him to think I’m taking him for granted, and that I love him being here, and I love me being here. I want to be with him at 92. And then get a divorce at 100 and get in the guiness book of records!

I need to be more proactive at work – stress less, be seen to be doing stuff. My last promotion course is on in Feb, and I need to be able to do it. Plus there’s another guy on the course that I’ve worked with before, and I need to beat his ass. I need to enjoy my work – and I do – which means I need to leave it at work, and be able to switch off. I’m getting better at it, and I need to be able to help him do it too. I will possibly go away for work at the end of next year, and I’ll make the most of it. If I don’t go, then I don’t go. The money would be nice, and the experience nicer, but I’m not going to swing off a cliff over it. If I don’t go, I will enjoy being at home with my family for Christmas, and helping the girl child with her interstate move (and try not to cry too much!)…

I’d like to say that I’m going to be a kinder, more considerate person in 2012, but I don’t think I’ve got a snowflakes chance in hell. We’ll see.