Friday 28 December 2012

How Did I Do?

Before setting myself some challenges for 2013, I thought I'd look back to my 2012 Challenges post and see how I did.

My first challenge was to have more cut flowers in the house. I had intended to grow a cutting patch at the allotment which would help with this challenge, but the rainy weather we experienced this year made this a challenge in itself, so I ended up buying nearly all of the flowers for my challenge. Many of the flowers came from the reduced bin in the local supermarket and I managed to get some real bargains, like these gorgeous tulips which have been brightening up the house over Christmas. I got these for the princely sum of £1.25 and they've lasted about a week.


My tulips usually droop as soon as they come in to the house. I've tried putting some copper coins in the bottom of the vase, as I'd read that this would stop them from drooping, but it didn't really work, but this time, after hearing of another tip to keep them standing tall, I pricked the stalk right beneath the flower. It's worked wonders, so this is what I shall do with my tulips from now on.

Another bargain were these roses and carnations which I bought at the beginning of December. These were only £2.00. I liked the colour combination, and they looked beautiful once they'd all opened up.


I've actually managed to have a continual supply of flowers in the house throughout the year, so what has it cost me? The total amount I've spent on flowers this year is £48.69, less than £1.00 per week. This is something which I'll continue with, perhaps not a continual supply, but I shall certainly keep my eyes on the bargain bin in the supermarket for flowers which have been reduced, they really do brighten my day to have them in the house.

My second challenge was to read at least one book per month. I'd got out of the habit of reading, even though it was something I was really keen on before the kids came along. Lack of time meant that I hardly ever picked up a book, so this was a challenge I was eager to succeed with.

During December, I read The Double Comfort Safari Club by Alexander McCall Smith and The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by the same author. I'd promised to swap this book with Sft from Sft's Life After Mortgage, so it's now winging it's way to her.


I actually managed to read 23 books in 2012, so I very nearly doubled the total figure I'd set myself. Again, this is something I'd like to continue with in to 2013, so I've got a pile of books ready and waiting to be read.

I challenged myself to do more knitting and crochet in 2012 and aimed to have at least one finished project each month. I thoroughly enjoyed this challenge and did manage a finished project each month. My finished item for December was another crocheted cushion, one which was a replica of the one I finished in November, and I just managed to get it done in time to use on Christmas Day, after finishing it late on Christmas Eve.


My mum was thrilled with the lap blanket I crocheted her for Christmas. I'm so pleased that she liked it.


Eating healthily has been the hardest of my challenges. I did manage to lose two stone six pounds, or thirty four pounds, but some of this weight has gone back on. I did really well during the first part of the year, but I went back to my old ways when I went on holiday and it was really hard to get going with it all again. I'm ending the year lighter than when it started though, so it's a success of sorts. I really need to try harder with this challenge.

The last challenge I set myself was to walk more. I did really well with this, and I really enjoy walking and taking in my surroundings, but this is another challenge which dropped off a bit towards the back end of the year as Archie developed a limp at the beginning of September, and it's only now that he's able to walk longer distances again. We think that he pulled something in his leg when he was chased in to a rock pool by a Dalmation on a visit to the seaside.


It's taken a long time to heal, but I'm confident we'll be back to our long walks again in the not too distant future.


All that remains now is to set myself some challenges for 2013. I don't know what they'll be yet, but I want to make them fun like they've been this year. It's so much easier to stick to something you enjoy.

25 comments:

  1. Well done you for achieving so many goals! I usually start everything with a vigour and drop out as quickly! Hope you have a wonderful New Year!
    June

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    1. Thank you. I think the success to achieving the goals is to set ones which you're going to enjoy doing. I'm just compiling my list of challenges for 2013 now.

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  2. Congratulations on the success of all the challenges. I'll join you in reading at least 1 book a month as I've been passed a pile of books and the towers of books are in danger of falling over!
    Love from Mum
    xx

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    1. Thanks. I've really enjoyed getting back in to reading. I tend to read when I go to bed, at least I've got a little bit of me time to read then.

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  3. Your post has set my thinking about my 2013 challenges. Look forward to reading about your plans for the new year! Jx

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    1. I'm a little stuck for 2013 at the moment, but I'm sure something will come to me as soon as I give it a bit more thought.

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  4. I used to write a goal list every year and after I retired, I seemed to forget to do it. I must do it again this year.

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    1. I look forward to hearing about your goals for 2013. There's always some challenges which you can set yourself.

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  5. Oh, I love your flowers. Buying them seems like such an extravagance but at £1 per week, it really isn't! I always love reading your flower posts.

    I am so proud of your reading goal. It is such a great hobby isn't it? I stopped reading 'books' a few years ago, just picking up magazines instead. So like you I am so glad that I'm reading books again.

    Beautiful cushions and I am so pleased your mum loved her blanket.

    Now Archie is better i'm sure you'll get some lovely walks in too.

    Good luck with those goals for 2013.

    Sft x

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    1. I've really enjoyed having flowers in the house throughout the year, and when the cost is split up, it isn't really that expensive. As you know, I always look for flowers at knock down prices, and those of us with a little space can grow them, they don't have to be bought. I'm so pleased that I've got back in to reading, I've thoroughly enjoyed The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series and I shall be looking out for the next book in the series when I visit the charity shops. My mum was thrilled with her blanket, and thinks it's too good to use round the bowling green, which is what I had in mind when I crocheted it. I know she'll get plenty of use out of it, however she decides to use it. Just got to think of some goals for 2013 now.

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  6. You know what Jo? That's brilliant! Even if you fall back a bit with your weight, you have done incredible! Also all those books, that's awesome in itself for a busy mom, and managing to spend under 50 pounds when shopping for flowers? Wow... I got to flower markets in the UK, I KNOW They are expensive! So you have done brilliant!

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    1. Thank you. I don't get in to Leeds very often so I don't visit markets very often, but I love to shop at the flower stalls when I do. I tend to buy my flowers from the supermarket, which can be expensive too, but I've managed to pick up lots of bargains from the reduced bins, really good value for money.

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  7. Hi Jo, you did far better than I did with mine this year.My veg growing was pretty much a disaster (probably a lot of people would say the same though, the weather didnt help) and the weight has stayed pretty much the same,good that it hasnt gone up but bad that I didnt lose what I put on! I dont know if I am going to make any resolutions this year coming, I'll have to have a good think about it!

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    1. I don't think anyone did very well with their veg growing this year. The only thing I've got growing on my allotment now are leeks, and they're not up to much. Thank goodness a new year is on it's way so we can all try again. I think the main thing is that your weight didn't go up, that's something to be thankful for. I'm still thinking about my 2013 goals, I haven't decided what they'll be yet, but I'd like to make them fun again.

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  8. You're an inspiration! I love the reading a book a month challenge, I love reading, but generally only grab a few pages in bed each night, also eating healthier and completing a project each month, excellent ideas :) So glad Archie is fit and well again to take you for some nice long walks. Looking forward to seeing 2013 challenges, even if they turn out to be the same. xx

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    1. I'm hoping to think of some new challenges for 2013. I think I need to think of things I like to do to make it fun, like I did this year. Archie's looking forward to some long walks again now that he's fit and well, so I shall definitely keep the walking up.

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  9. The flowers working out at less than £1.00 a week is a real bargain, so much prettiest for relatively little money.
    I'm really impressed with all the reading you've managed too, reading books is such a relaxing way to spend your time.
    The walking will be easy to get back into now that, thankfully, Archie is back to full health again. And hopefully once the weather is more pleasant again it'll be more enjoyable too!
    Looking forward to watching you with your 2013 challenges.
    Lisa x

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    1. I was surprised at how little the flowers cost, I think the secret was looking in the reduced section. I still find it hard to make time to read, I tend to read blogs when I've got a bit of spare time so I read my books when I go to bed. That way I get to read at least a chapter each day. Walking is something I have to do anyway with Archie, but there's so many lovely walks around that it's something I really enjoy. I've missed really striding out with Archie having his limp, so I'll hopefully get back in to some longer distances again now.

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  10. You have done very well indeed with your 2012 challenges, you should be proud of yourself.

    £1 a week for fresh flowers is exceptional value for money, well done you! Good luck with next year's challenges!

    Gillian x

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    1. I think the secret to my success was setting challenges which I enjoy, I'll hopefully think of some more challenges for 2013 which won't be too hard to accomplish. I was really pleased when I worked out how little the flowers had cost, though you could do it cheaper by growing your own of course.

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  11. Well done, and good luck next year! Flighty xx

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    1. Thank you. I'm still finalising my goals for next year, but I shall continue with these which I've been aiming for this year too.

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  12. I enjoy a good novel too and have to carry a list of the books I own around in my handbag. If I see books at bargain prices I can check my list. Often I read book that I haven't read again years later when I have forgotten the story. It's strange I buy books which I suppose I could swap but I don;t like parting with them.

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    1. Just noticed you read lots of Gervase Finn. He used to often be a keynote speaker at conferences here I worked but in spite or hearing so much about him I have never read a book by him or listened to him speak - maybe I should.

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    2. My mum reads so much that she has an indexed book where she writes each book she reads, listed under the letter of the authors surname, so that she knows what she's read. I bought her seven new books as part of her Christmas present, and you can bet that they'll be read in no time. I love Gervase Finn's books, he's such a natural storyteller. He came to Garforth Academy to speak a few years ago and I'm kicking myself now that I didn't get a ticket to see him. Mick's auntie has seen him speak at WI events and says he's very good.

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