Year in Review: 2017

It’s been a while since I updated this blog. The best intentions always slide as life gets in the way. Forgive me then, for skipping straight to the end and reviewing my year and how last year’s resolutions actually panned out.

• Started a new job in August
• Got increased responsibilities – am now Senior Database Developer
• Get to work remotely
• Passed probation, was complimented on my tech skills
• Lead developer on one of the company’s largest active projects

• Redecorated the smallest bedroom into a home office
• Adopted two new chickens (Morland the speckled hen and Domino the light sussex)
• Spent a couple of months with my hair a lovely mix of pinks and purples and silvers
• Became a moderator of a gaming community
• Attended a Freemason’s Ladies Evening
• Attended Hammerfest in North Wales with my friend Carl
• Voted in the snap General Election in the UK
• Wrapped up warm and watched a meteor shower
• Said goodnight to Goblin, coop matriarch and excellent hen ambassador
• Visited London, caught up with an old university friend and went to the Natural History Museum

Smashed this one! 63 books read last year. I didn’t think it was too much of a challenge – there were many weeks where I didn’t read at all and some weeks where I read voraciously. It all seemed to work out. My finished book list can be found here in chronological order: https://onmybooks.wordpress.com/book-list-2017/

Exactly 10 of those 63 books read were loosely classified as non-fiction. I actually found this bit a lot harder. I’ve read a lot of fairly light non-fiction, such as Miranda Hart’s book about her dog, in order to hit my target.

I’ve made three different things this year: a small zipped purse, two teabag wallets and one cushion. Grade: C. Must do better.

I like to think I’ve shopped a lot more sustainably this year. I’ve become obsessed with checking clothes labels before I buy, ensuring that the fabric is of good quality and won’t be something I hate wearing. I’ve not always won with this but my wardrobe feels better for it.

This was one of the first things I did. I bought some nice collapsible drawstring canvas boxes and tidied away all the things that “almost fit” and I couldn’t bear to chuck out. Then I reorganised my wardrobe and hung all my dresses in rainbow order! Makes finding that thing I want to wear so much easier.

I did really well with planning my weekly menus for about half the year. Then it drifted and while I still half-heartedly plan out what I’m going to eat each week when I order my weekly shop, I don’t tend to write it down any more. I was getting super stressed whenever my plans changed, because (for example) my boyfriend would treat me to dinner instead of using whatever was on the mealplan. I did manage to stick to mostly buying food from Morrisons though. The only exceptions were around Christmas time when I got caught off guard by there being no available delivery dates.

Lol nope.

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