So that's the year nearly done, and what a mixed year it has been. With a whole host of surprises around such as the Brexit Referendum result, President Elect Donald Trump, Leicester winning the Premier League and the loss of so many great stars throughout the last 12 months it's hard to sit here and write about how up and down my own year has been.
However we are still here and that's something, still in the same job, still not very happy with life but made some changes at the start that have overall been working for me with regards to losing weight (down about 2-3 stone this year) plus trying to do more to feel better and do more. That part of the plan hasn't always gone well although we in a better place now and already making plans for 2017.
Just want to wish you all well, not that anyone is really looking in as this is meant to be a private blog but if you are lurking, don't be shy, say hello, and above all else make the final week of the year as good as you possibly can. Then aim to create some goals for 2017 where you can seek to improve your life, be healthier and happier as a result.
Go for it...
Life is only as good as YOU make it !
Began the week before Christmas with a day off and a trip up to London to visit the Science Museum. Was great to get out and also meet up with an old work colleague Steve for a chat and a few beers too. Alas the Museum part was not all that I had expected it to be, things have changed since I went as a school kid obviously but it's more computer terminals and static exhibits rather than telling a story of things like the Industrial Revolution and the birth of Railways and Aviation. Even the parts devoted to space exploration didn't see all that interesting and it didn't take us half as long to finish there than it did going around the Natural History Museum.
But overall it was a good start to the week to have got out and I also still have a couple of quid left to enjoy the weekend given I'm not paid till nearer Xmas. Speaking of Xmas it'll soon be here, and all cards posted, received a few and have a couple of gifts purchased. Can complete that on Wednesday in Kingston and the only person I haven't got anything in for is myself, usually pick up something nice for me as I won't get receiving anything from anyone as usual, even Santa has forgotten me now.
Strictly finished on Saturday. Would have been nice to see Julia but probably not in a good place. Well done to Ore winning the show, although the one thing that will always stick in my mind will be Ed Balls performing Gangnam Style.
Sunday 18th December
An annual service of Remembrance which is hosted by Lodge Bros and conducted at St Lawrence's Church on Sunday at 3pm. This is a service I have been attending since the passing of my step mother Christine and my father Geoffrey Tyler. It's very moving, emotional and 'enjoyable' for want of a better word.
The week continued with another day off on Monday, where I took the opportunity to go to the Hanworth Crematorium to have a sit and 'chat' with the parents. Not been for a few months and the weather hasn't helped recently but I still come more often than ever before and it's very peaceful place to sit and think things over. I still have plenty to think about too.
Thursday was out for a brief Xmas drink with some work colleagues, and then the working year is virtually over for us all and it's an opportunity to spend some quality time making plans for the rest of the year plus the new year ahead.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TOO.
Wow I made it to week fifty and the year is nearly at an end, when I started this blog I was never sure that I would be able to keep it going regularly to complete the year, and here I am. The year have been difficult, although I am achieving some good results with my weight and health, there are many things that failed this year that can be put right in 2017.
Not the best of starts to this week, with the "grudge" football match against the scum franchise experiment who sadly won a very poor contest 1-0 with a soft penalty. Still one game does not define our season and we are still well above them in the league.
We move onward and upwards together as there are bigger targets and goals for this season.
That aside the rest of the weekend was ok, have written and posted out all my cards for Christmas and received a few too which was nice, only have one person to find a nice gift for and that's my landlady but that should be fine too I still have a few weeks and some ideas. Usually get something for myself but not this year, I don't actually need anything other than the usual supplies of shaving gear, socks and all that lol.
It's another short working week too, on Friday I have the day off and the plan is currently to meet up with an old work colleague in London and then visit the Science Museum in South Kensington. We have met up a few times in the year for a beer and did something very similar last year going to the Natural History Museum which did take all day to get around. Having not been to either museum since my childhood days it will be a joy to tick both of these off my "to do" list and end the year productively.
Set work/home boundaries.
It’s important to try to leave work behind when your working day has ended.
• Use an answering machine, voicemail or caller ID to screen your calls.
• Turn off your mobile phone.
• Prioritise enjoying your own free time.
• Give yourself a few minutes to “switch gears” when you get home.
• Change your clothes, eat a snack or do something else that marks the end of the working day and the beginning of the rest of your day before you jump into your home routine.
• Plan activities at home or with friends and family that will add balance to your day.
Welcome to December, the tree and decorations going up at work as well as at home and although I do not find this the easiest time of the year I can at least say I have tried during a difficult last week to be cheerful and smile more. Wasn't too bad. Now onto this week and we had a couple of days off to attend the Doctor once more, more tablets but we are still losing weight and that has to be good. The other day off was just to relax and visit crematorium and start writing cards out for Christmas, something I do a lot despite my aversion to celebration of the season.
Saturday just relaxed at home, did my chores, watched some horse racing and covered the football. It's the FA Cup this weekend and my side AFC Wimbledon will be playing live on BT Sport on Sunday lunchtime. What a match that turned out to be, went through a wide range of emotions during a remarkable 4-3 win against Curzon Ashton having been 3-0 down with only 10 minutes left and a massive shock on the cards, we turned it around to pull off a famous (face saving) victory.
Have also planned a day out in a couple of weeks with an old ex work colleague Steve and probably nipping up to the Science Museum in London plus a spot of lunch and a few beers.
Have a good week, it'll soon be over...
Moving into the final month of the year and while I have seen some improvement personally the way things are now ending do make me feel rather sad. Have never been a big fan of winter, Christmas and all that goes on, though I'll send cards, wish everyone well and enjoy the carol services at this time of year it's always one I dread. Can recall last year how I felt just as bad with a plan to make this year so much better, I'm not really that sure I have achieved that goal as 2016 closes and 2017 comes into view on the horizon I know I have similar feelings.
However, small victories has been the keyword for the year and we managed to survive the weekend! Though knowing that the coming three weeks are going to be tough, at least I did send my first set of Christmas cards out the Australia for my Sister, Niece and family over there. Will organise and send the rest out to friends in the next few weeks but that's all I really plan to do for this year. A Xmas gift for my landlady is the only outstanding item I really need to find and then it's wait till nearer the holiday weekend itself to get in some booze and food for me. I have the whole week off between Christmas and New Year so it's going to be hard to find enough to do to occupy myself, I do hope there are some decent films on for a change. There is a lot to be said for Hibernation and I think the bears have got that correct.
Next week my team are on TV in the FA Cup, and will be off for couple of days so will need to find something to do and cheer up. Will be hard but I can do things, we will see how that goes next week, for now this week is just a case of survive and learn.
Another month passes we look at how well our weight loss has been now, still seems to be going ok as I've just purchased another pair of new jeans as the old ones were way too loose. Down to a 44R waist for jeans when we last pair were a very loose fitting size 50R waist, so that's a really nice result, and bought myself a new shirt too for going out which was also a size down from the past ... not that I go out much these days sadly.
Opening Weight at 1st Jan 2016 -- 23st 6lb
Measurements (inches)
Neck -- 22
Chest -- 54
Stomach -- 57
Waist -- 48
Thighs -- 27
Biceps -- 14
Revised Weight now as at 2nd December 2016 -- 21st 2lb
Measurements (inches)
Neck -- 20
Chest -- 51
Stomach -- 50
Waist -- 44
Thighs -- 24
Biceps -- 17
Happy enough with these stats this year, while I haven't lost as much as I would have liked it's been a rough year and at least keeping it down is a small ray of sunshine while the rest of my life remains fairly dark still.
