We've been without an oven so far this year as the glass door decided to blow up in Mick's face. Luckily, he wasn't hurt, but he had a mark very close to his eye, so it could have been so much worse. We've ordered a new oven which is being delivered today and fitted tomorrow, thank goodness. I hate being without an oven.
With that sort of start to the year, my challenges for 2013, just like last year, are going to be fun. I don't set myself new year's resolutions as such as I consider them to be things which are a hard slog, and which I give up nearly as soon as I start. My challenges are things which I'm going to look forward to and enjoy doing.
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My first challenge is to watch one old film each month. I'm not a huge film fan, I hardly ever go to the cinema, though I have to say I'll be going soon as I can't wait to see the new Les Miserables film which is being released next weekend, but I do like to watch the old classics. Some of the films I intend to watch will be ones which I've seen before, but others will be new to me.
I've got so many things which I've put to one side intending to sell on Ebay, that my house is becoming cluttered. I do take lots of things to the charity shop, but many things are in such good condition that they'll easily sell. I really need to get back in to using Ebay so I'm going to ease myself in gently and challenge myself to list five items each month. Over the course of the year, this will add up to sixty items, which will hopefully, earn me a bit of money too, so I'm going to put any profit to one side and shall think of something to spend it on at the end of the year.
I'm only setting myself three challenges this year, and the last one will be to have a date night with Mick each month. We've very rarely been out on our own since we became a family nearly eighteen years ago, so I think it's now time to spend some time together again as a couple. There's nothing I like better than spending time together as a family, so it will be a struggle for me not to invite Daniel and Eleanor along, but it will be lovely to have Mick all to myself.
I shall also carry on reading, knitting, crocheting, walking, having fresh flowers in the house and trying to eat healthily, which were my challenges last year, so I shall be rather busy again this year.
Mick went back to work on Wednesday so we took our Christmas tree and decorations down on Monday. I like to have everything put back in their boxes and out of the way before work starts again. Daniel and Eleanor go back to school on Monday and they've both got important exams in January, Daniel's towards his A levels and Eleanor's towards her GCSE's.
Happy New Year, everyone.
I'm sorry to read about your Dad's troubles, Jo. I hope they find good answers for him soon. And, wow, the oven door exploding is not good. I'm so glad Mick wasn't badly hurt. How scary!
ReplyDeleteI like your challenges. I need to set some up for myself - and put them on my blog so I have to keep to them! :o)
Not a great start to the year, but hopefully, the rest of the year won't be quite so bad. I think putting challenges on the blog helps you to focus on them, plus you get lots of support from the lovely people in Blogland too.
DeleteHi Jo,
ReplyDeleteReally sorry to hear about your Dad! Thank goodness he was ok.
And the oven, well, that's thought provoking too. So glad Mick was ok.
Lovely new challenges. Are you keeping your reading up too?
I like to see a new film every now and again. Particularly looking out for good dramas at the mo-some old classics to watch-going through a Hitchcock phase.
Oh AND I LOVED YOUR REVIEW OF 2012! Wish i'd thought of that.
What a wonderful family and life you have!
Sft x
I'm hoping that the rest of the year improves from now on. I'm definitely keeping my reading up, I've started a new book, The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. I've only just started it so haven't really got in to it yet, but so far so good. It was a great challenge last year as it's really got me back in to reading. What a lovely comment about my family and life, it can sometimes be very challenging, but when you look at it as a whole, it is wonderful, thank you.
DeleteHi Jo. Sorry sorry to hear about your dad and then Mick's lucky escape with the oven door. Can you contact the manufacturer about that? Your challenges for 2013 are just perfect. Ian and me have a date night every month due to him working shifts and nights and try to walk Moss together when we can. We started off with a lunch date on the 2nd Jan before I went back to work, that was lovely. Making time for each other is so important and especially when you've been together a long time and have kids. Amanda x
ReplyDeleteWe've had the oven door explode before, though last time it was the inside glass, this time it was the outside. I don't think it's that uncommon as my mum and dad had a freestanding cooker which did the same. Perhaps our family's just unlucky. A lunch date sounds good, I don't suppose it has to be a date night.
DeleteSounds like your New Year was like our Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI think so. There's not much you can do about it, these things happen, unfortunately.
DeleteI hope that your dad is okay, and Mick was lucky! I like watching old films too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, and to you too. Flighty xx
Thank you. My dad seems to be doing fine at the moment, I think it's now a case of seeing what tests they do when he goes to see the consultant. I think there's so many films made these days that we have such a choice, I do enjoy the old classics.
DeleteI hope you Dad is Ok. Mick was very lucky with the oven door. I like your 2013 challenges. My Son and I are going to go to see the Jack Reacher film next week to celerbrate the end of his exams.
ReplyDeleteMy dad's fine at the moment, thank you. It's still very worrying though. We also like to do something to celebrate the end of exams, though the exams here will only just be starting next week.
DeleteWhat a crazy start to the year! It must get better after that..... mustn't it? Love your challenges. I can't wait for Les Miserables to come out but I need a box or two of tissues with me!
ReplyDeleteWe are looking at going out on date nights again now. Eldest child is 15 and old enough to babysit.....
I do hope the year hasn't started as it means to go on. I shall be taking plenty of tissues to the cinema with me, I've seen clips from the film and it looks fantastic, I have high expectations. It makes such a difference to your own social life as children grow up and are able to look after themselves.
DeleteSorry about your dad Jo. Hope he is feeling a bit better.
ReplyDeleteI havent really made any resolutions this year. I'd like to say make more time for myself but I feel guilty when I do!
My dad's feeling much better, thank you. I think we all need time for ourselves, we function much better for everyone else then. Take the time you need, and don't feel guilty.
DeleteOh my goodness Jo what a start to 2013. I just read your email and have popped over to read your post.
ReplyDeleteI hope your dad is ok, what a worry.
And the oven door exploding, that sounds so dangerous, glad Mick was relatively unharmed by it.
I like your idea of watching one old movie a month, you've got such fab ones there.
Good luck with the ebay sales, hope with the bits you list you end up with a pile of spending dosh!
Lisa x
The start to 2013 could have been better, I just hope that the rest of the year improves. I got Brief Encounter for Christmas, and I know my mum's got some old DVD's which I haven't seen, so I should be ok. I've got things to sell on Ebay which I've been hanging on to for ages, so I'll be glad to see the back of them. I hope they sell.
DeleteGoodness, you've had a fraught time recently.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that your Dad is ok..... a huge worry.
Good luck with your resolutions. Jx
It's always a worry when our parents are unwell, my dad's 80 this year so I do tend to worry about him anyway. I'm looking forward to starting my challenges, they're things I'm going to enjoy.
DeleteGosh, that does sound like a rather tempestuous start to the year. I do hope your father is on the mend and that your new oven is installed without a hitch.
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping the rest of 2013 is going to be *much* kinder to you all x
The oven was delivered yesterday, and I'm just waiting for the fitter to come and install it now, I do hope there's no hitches. Fingers crossed that the rest of 2013 will be less fraught.
DeleteGoodness me I hope 2013 gets a lot better for you xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you. They do say that things come in threes, though I sincerely hope not.
DeleteSorry to hear about your Dad. That must have been quite a scare. Our oven too seems to be on its last legs but no explosion ... yet! Although our hoover started making funny sounds the other day - as if it were being strangled! I took bits of it apart and seem to have located the item which was causing the problem so have ordered a new part - so fingers crossed that it's the right one! If you do go to the cinema you should try to see The Life of Pi in 3D - we went just before Xmas and thoroughly enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteJune
It was very scary, especially since he suffered a heart attack less than two years ago. There always seems to be something just about to go in the house, I hope you've managed to sort your Hoover out before it's kaput. I saw the trailer for The Life of Pi and thought it looked very good, glad you enjoyed it.
DeleteI was amazed at how much I liked "The Life of Pi" on a regular screening. I am creating some projects in my mind - I should write them down and then I will do them - called goals.
ReplyDeleteI shall try to see The Life of Pi, but perhaps wait for it to come out on Sky. I don't sent myself resolutions, I always label my goals as challenges, they seem much more achievable then.
DeleteI really like your ideas. Especially one old film a month - what a great way to watch the classics.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your run of horrid luck this year. I hope your Dad is ok and that tale of the exploding oven door - how dangerous! Things can only improve!
Gillian x
I'll look forward to my film day each month, it's such fun making the new year challenges something I'm going to enjoy. I'm hoping that the rest of the year is much better than it's started.
DeleteSo sorry to hear about your Dad Jo. The oven incident reminded me of a time back in my school days when the oven door literally came off in my hands. Teacher told me off!!!! As if I would have done something like that deliberately!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year. Not thought about any challenges but may have to have a think,we'll see.
The oven incident was quite frightening, thinking what could have happened. My new oven is now installed and working well. Happy New Year. I look forward to hearing if you think of any challenges.
DeleteSo sorry to hear about your Dad. Good that he is being checked out. My goodness, what a lucky escape with the oven door. Good luck with the challenges - I've only set myself on this year - to keep my blue jug filled with flowers/greenery from the garden each day. Happy New Year to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteMy dad had a heart attack two years ago, so he's under a consultant anyway, but it's worrying what's happening now. I think keeping your blue jug filled with flowers from the garden is a lovely challenge. I set myself a similar challenge last year, keeping flowers in the house all year, but it wasn't quite so hard as they didn't have to come from the garden. It would be hard going to find enough in my garden through the winter months to keep a jug filled. I look forward to seeing how you do, and I may get some tips for my own garden.
DeleteWow Jo, I'm so sorry about your dad and the oven, I hope that dad is recovering at home, was it angina? I've also had a poop start to the New Year, but alas, things are already looking up, we are both going to have a rocking year girlfriend! I can feel it!
ReplyDeleteMy dad's been fine since, but it's still a worry why it's happened. Sorry to hear that you've also had a bad start to the year, it can only improve.
DeleteSorry to hear about your dad Jo. A very upsetting time for you all. My oven door blew up and shattered last year. It was quite scary. Thank goodness Mick was okay. We are also starting to have a date night each month. I'm like you though and feel rotten leaving the girls at home while we go out enjoying ourselves. Take care xx
ReplyDeleteWe've had the inside glass and the outside glass shatter on the oven door, thank goodness no one was hurt. We've very rarely been out on our own over the years since we've had Daniel and Eleanor, so it'll be very strange, but I think it's time that we started taking some time for ourselves, we'll see how it goes.
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