A New Year Resolution

Looking back at the resolutions I made for 2007; most things went well. OK, I could have gone to the gym more, cooked more, had more packed lunches etc etc but hey I'm not going to beat myself up about it.

On the whole, 2007 has been a good year for me and Mr K-E. We went to Paris and Tokyo, we both got promoted at work and we've had fun together all year.

As for 2008, I'm going to focus on what is precious to me i.e my husband and close family. It's just easy to forget that sometimes when deadlines are looming and the pressure builds up.

At the end of last year, I was drained emotionally and physically - my batteries were completely dead. After this break and a good rest i.e. lots of sleep and lazing around doing nothing; I can see that I was utterly exhausted by the end of 2007. So much so that even a promotion had me in the depths of despair. I actually cried the night that I was told; I wanted the position but felt so low about work that it seemed like a bad thing, not a good thing.

Considering that I'm back at work tomorrow, I'm feeling pretty optimistic. I'm ready to take on the extra responsibility and inevitable increased workload... it's all going to be OK :)

As for resolutions:

I resolve to spend more time and energy making the people that I love happy.

Resolutions for 2007

I normally never make resolutions because I know that I will break them. And why set yourself up for failure? However, I read somewhere that people who write down their goals are more likely to achieve them, possibly because it indicates a higher level of commitment and self-analysis.

Well, whatever.

This year I'm making a break with tradition. And not just one lousy resolution.....we are talking list here...

1. To go to the gym. And if I don't go to the gym, to finally cancel my gym membership after 5 years of paying but not going.
2. To pack my work lunch everyday. I'm sick of Pret sandwiches anyway. Hopefully this will also help me to break my addiction to crisps.
   
3. To cook more and not live on McCain's Oven Chips/Chinese takeaways/frozen pizzas.
4. To throw food away when it's bad and not to eat rice that's been in the fridge for 5 days. Because it will make me ill.
   
5. To get to work on time or early. Last year I got into a bad habit of getting to work at 9:30 - which is not a problem generally because my office operates flexi-time, but getting in early means I make good start to the day and get stuck in. (See next resolution)
6. To focus my mind completely at work and not take any notice of office politics or other people's competence/incompetence. I'm normally quite good at this, but this year I am going to be uber-focussed. I will be a robot.

Also Mr K-E and I have plans to move house this year, and we have dozens of tasks to do before we put the flat on the market. So it's going to be an intense few months.

Wish us luck.

Party of Two

Mr K-E and I are both New Year Eve sceptics. Is it the one night when people who never go out make an effort to go out, and thus spoil it for the rest of us? You know what I mean. It's like Valentine's Night, the worst night of the year to eat out. Terrible service because the restaurant is overbooked, the normal a la carte menu is replaced by a crap "lovers set menu" and you are hemmed-in by other mildly embarassed couples.

So this year, we held a little party for two which was a great success.

Champagne for Mr K-E and Bucks-Fizz (champagne and orange juice) for me.

Starter: Little Indian Snacks - mini samosas, bhajis, kebabs etc and a Mixed Salad








Main Course: Chicken "Paupiettes" - i.e. chicken breast wrapped in streaky bacon, stuffed with ham and parmesan, served with a white white, pepper and cream sauce. Accompanied by roasted mediterranean vegetables and rice.






Pudding: Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream.

It was a lovely dinner. Mr Sainburys did most of the work while Mr K-E and I drank champagne. We could see the midnight fireworks in the distance from the spare bedroom window but it was much better on TV.

Happy New Year everybody!