progress report september 2007
September has been quite a busy month with an increase in website orders, building wheels and doing IT support. Add to this clearing out the flat ready for the new baby that’s due in January, the honey harvest and a smattering of housework, you get to a point where you wonder when you’re going to do it all. So many of my usual things got the chop, such as having the Nap. I’ve also wrestled with a decision about my dental treatment. But it has meant that I have had to make some decisions about some activities that I do and whether I should pursue them.
Pilates
Went to the bottom of the pile and didn’t get much higher. I have been aware of it during my day to day, but without that input now and again it’s not easy to maintain.
Meditation
Now this is something that I did manage to do during this month. During my weekly planning session on Sunday afternoons, I create slots during the week for my meditation sessions. And I think because I do that they actually happen. It’s only two or three slots of 15 - 20 minutes a week, but without a plan, they aren’t going to happen. A good time to do it is after my nap.
My own yoga practice
I do the same with this as I do with the meditation, but it’s been a bit hit and miss this month. And because I have been teaching less, I really need it. Especially as I have been working at the computer. I’m beginning to realise what my clients mean when they talk about stiff shoulders and all that.
Diet - eating well, keeping my target weight
With my wife being pregnant and being fussy about what she eats, there is a lot of comfort food around. And it’s comforting for me too. I’m a few kilos above my target weight, but certainly not as much as I was at the start of the year. I think I’m just going to keep an eye on it rather than try and actively get it down. Then at the start of next year. But with the new baby, that will be the least of my worries. I think I’ll be putting on extra weight due to the consumption of booze to help me cope. And sleep.
Bike rides eg London to Brighton etc
I was really looking forward to a trip down to Brighton in September as the official London to Brighton was no naff. But alas no time. But if the weather is good during October I may still manage it if there is a gap in the workload. But I can certainly do an Orpington trip as well.
Reading
I’m still working my way through the Fatherhood book, but no novels. I miss that sense of being in the author’s world. It’s gives you a sense of escape but also a different perspective rather like being on holiday. And I won’t be doing that for a while.
Trips to visit friends
Important and rather neglected this month. I did manage to catch up with one friend that I hadn’t seen for a while. There is the phone you know. Emails are a bit passive, so I should make a point of talking. Skype perhaps.
Selling things on Ebay and having a clear out
Well we certainly have been having a clearout. And what a lot of junk there is. And still there is more. The Big Yellow Storage room is no more and I sold my turbo trainer on ebay. Good riddance. But it may come in handy sometime. And when that time comes, you’ll buy a new one.
Pampering and ‘me’ time
I made a point of reading in the bath but alas missed my massage this month. I need more though on my list of things that I would consider pampering. How about a manicure?
Reviews in the blog - films, books, exhibitions etc
I have been seeing films but I haven’t been reviewing them. I seem reluctant to do my one liner. So many exhibitions at the Tate Modern have come and gone.
Wheel building
The last couple of months this went a bit mad really. It was fun but did feel like a job at one point. I’m not going to need to advertise in ebay as I get enough enquiries to get by. Still love it though and have been updating my wheel building site. I’m about to redesign the look which will be version 3.0.
arup’s wheel building pages
Working on my Svenska
I have been working on it with my teacher. But I’m wondering if I can keep this up. I do need to do more than just listen to the Swedish radio online. And I think I’m going to be finding it increasingly difficult to find the time to fit it in. So I may have to knock this one on the head. My teacher will be very disappointed I think.
Music and Songwriting
That which once the top of the list is now floundering on the sea bed. A real shame. There are still 2 and a half months till the end of the year. I could knock out a song. Maybe.
Songfight
Songfight entries of Bell Green
Business Plan
I made a decision not to do this and I’m still happy with that decision. It’s good to be clear. Makes it feel like a clean break.
Learning PHP
This is going very well indeed. Still going to the library every Saturday morning for a couple of hours with my laptop and my tutor book. It’s a great way to focus. There do seem to be children there on Saturday mornings, but it’s not too distracting. I have a good feeling about this and I think that I may actually make my way to the end of the book. I’m on Chapter 6 now of 13. Not bad eh.
Typing
Let’s forget about this one. The plan was to use relaxation techniques to help improve my typing skills. But perhaps in another life. I’m happy with my typing for the time being. Whenever I do any IT support I change their keyboard to Dvorak. I just hope that I remember to change it back.