This is really long - sorry.
Okay, it's June already. I feel like I've not achieved what I should have achieved, but I also feel that when I get to the end of writing this post I will be able to see how well I have done. Partly I've been making excuses for things, but I'm also being unrealistic with myself. I always moan that I have to leave the house at 9.00 every morning at this time of year, because the small one plays cricket on Saturday and I ring church bells on Sunday (plus school and work on weekdays). This year, what did I do? I decided to take a timelapse photo of the trees while the kids were off school. The first day was March 23rd, and 8.30 I went down and took a photo on our normal walk to school (the small one stayed home in her pyjamas). It was only going to be four weeks, starting from bare trees through to them being in full leaf. We're on week 11, and I have done it every single day, but now there is no end in sight. This is typical of the targets I set for myself!
Anyway, targets for May, how did I do, and what will I do for June?
Craft.
I did well with this. Well, to start with, and then I went off on a tangent. The small creatures and elves were finished.
I also mended the whole pile of trousers, and the only thing left on the pile is the Beavers jumper, where I need to remove the badges. I don't know what to do with them, so I'll leave them on the jumper because that's harder to lose! The next job was to knit a cardigan, but that has ended up being a peg bag. Don't even ask... Nothing has happened with either cushion cover (did you even know there were two? - long story).
For June, I now have the correct yarns for a jumper for me, a cardigan for the small on and a dress for sister-in-law (still no measurements, so I will just guess). I will continue with the peg bag (about half way, excluding a strap), then start on the cardigan or dress. The small one grows, and the dress is a Christmas present, so they need to get done by November.
Garden.
Again this went well. There are peas steadfastly refusing to use the canes, strawberries (must read up on these) one of which is tinged red on one side, carrots mixed in with weeds but my identification skill (of heritage carrots) is not up to the task, tomatoes upstairs on the windowsill and one cucumber plant (plus two pathetic things). The lawn has been mown three times (I think) and the garden waste bin put out full each time (plus I walked it round to the local collection point twice). I bought a ladder, and sorted out the bushes in the front, and have made good progress on the bush at the back. This has sparrows nesting so I must be careful, but the neighbours over the back wrote me a letter asking me to do something about it. Actually it's all amicable, but the height of the bush means I have only met them last weekend, and the coronavirus situation meant they couldn't just knock on the door, but a letter was very daunting at first.
In June, plant out the cucumber (today, because two of the buds are now flowers!!!!), plant out the tomatoes, continue trimming the bush at the end, continue mowing the lawn at least fortnightly. Feed plants fortnightly, as well as water then daily.
Other nature stuff.
I have started collecting rose petals and drying them to make pot pourri, I have make two batches of elderflower fizz, I am turing nettles into plant food (my next door neighbour told me about this, even though she didn't know the English word for nettle).
I will look into whether there is anything else I can do with natural stuff from my garden or the local woods.
Exercise.
This is where I feel I haven't been that good. Excuses. It's too early in the morning (I find I'm a bit stiff for the first 10 minutes, but 15 minutes after I've got up...) I'm busy playing games on my tablet. I need to wash my hair today and now there's not time. I can only do it before I get dressed (I think this one is reasonable). There isn't time (because I've spent an hour playing games, and I need to go out at 8.30). There is also the excuse that I won't have time when I am back at work, but that's not even on the cards before September. Evening excuses are that I'm too tired, or the small person and I are having a cuddle at bedtime and I fall asleep. Also, I've played games on my tablet for ages, and now it's flat (I use an app in the evening) or it's nearly 11.00 and I need to get up at 6.30 to have time in the morning (which I won't use). It's rubbish. However, I did do morning exercise on 24 days and evening exercises on 17 days. With my target at the start of the year of twice a week plus swimming, this is actually very good.
For June. I will work out realistically a schedule that I can stick to now (not when I am back at work, but now). If I can do 5 days a week in the mornings and 5 days a week in the evenings, that would be fantastic. I think last month I got complacent on this as it was going so well. I am partly setting myelf up to fail by aiming for every day, and partly not celebrating the small progresses. I am certainly fitter than I was at the start of the year, which is surely the whole point of it all?
Nutrition.
Actual alcohol consumption was fractionally lower than March or April (all of which were considerably lower than February!). Don't cook with wine - that means an extra bottle is needed, which means more gets drunk. I do need to drink more liquid in the afternoon. While I'm working, making tea is easy, but after I stop I don't drink much, and I need to think about this. I did make a nice curry (only for me as it was quite spicy), and I will probably do this again. It was Achari Paneer, and tasted almost exactly the same as the one from the takeaway we like. We also made Malai Tikka for the small one, and the only problem with the meal was the shop bought samosa I got instead of popadoms and chutney.
For June, think about drinking more in the afternoons. Also, plan more meals with wholegrains and green veg. Get back on the ball with these. Have another curry night at home.
Others:
I have tried to stay in contact with people, but it's finding the time that's the problem. I never did get a schedule sorted. I have managed to put more money in my pension each month, because I am not spending anything. We also managed to make our usual takeaway at home, which lasted two weekends (we froze portions), so that saved £30. The garden has split out to it's own topic.
This month I need to buy an iron and ironing board. If I write it here I will probably do it! I need to start arranging dates to meet people (I will not say more anout this and turn this into a coronavirus post!), and try and stay in phone or video contact with those that I can't.
All in, I guess it's actually been quite good. I'm glad I'm concerned about the exercise, because it means I will think about it. The craft and gardening have gone well, and the nutrition is probably almost where I want it (apart from wholegrains and greens).