Not so nice an update this time.

The last time I posted I was really excited to be able to tick another thing off my list – I was pregnant.

Unfortunately at 10 weeks we found out that the baby wasn’t developing and hadn’t got past the foetal pole stage. We had to wait 10 days to confirm, but it was then confirmed as a missed miscarriage and we lost our baby at 11 and a half weeks.

I have had good and bad days since then. My father in law has been in hospital having heart surgery as well, so it has been a rather worrying and stressful time all round and not at all an enjoyable summer break for me.

I’ll post separately about the books I’ve been reading. There have been quite a few since I have mostly been stuck at home!

The better late than never update…

I’ve completed my C&G photography course. It was a close call for a while there, and I wasn’t sure that I’d get all of the coursework done, but I did and submitted it all two weeks before the final deadline. My tutor gave me distinctions for both modules, but I haven’t found out if the moderator has agreed or changed the grades. I’m considering doing the Level 3 course next year, but that will depend on finances.

Other things I’ve done:

I’ve been reading, a lot! I’ve read all of the Twilight books (which I didn’t expect to like half as much as I did – I’m on my fourth read through!) as well as the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. Jace Wayland and Edward Cullen are my new imaginary boyfriends. *sigh*

I finally got around to reading The Secret Life of E. Robert Pendleton by Michael Collins. I first attempted to read it a couple of years ago but didn’t get past the first chapter. It’s definitely one that builds up. I enjoyed it quite a lot, although it was a little depressing.

I also read The Valkyries by Paulo Coelho. I read the Alchemist years ago and really enjoyed it. I didn’t enjoy this as much, it was a little heavy on the mysticism for my liking.

Another one I really enjoyed was Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips. It’s about the Ancient Greek gods living in a crumbling house in London. Apollo is working as a TV psychic, Artemis is a dog walker and Aphrodite works for a phone sex hotline. It was a really fun read.

I’ve read a few chicklit books as well, but  I don’t really remember the titles, so they can’t have made that much of an impression

The other thing that has been happening is that Jessica decided to toilet train herself. It’s going very slowly and we’re just following her lead, which mostly involves her sitting on the toilet for a few minutes, getting off, then deciding to get back on again, ad infinitum. She’s getting there, though.

Now I just need to catch up with everyone else’s progress

And I haven’t updated for the longest time. I’ve worked towards a few new things on my list, and completed some others. I’ll update the list and then come back and post about it. It’s been an interesting few months. There are some works in progess that I’ll be happy to announce son as well.

I’m a bit late with the week 4 update, I’m afraid, but it’s all in a good cause. I was in Barcelona for a work conference over the weekend, so updating needed to wait a bit.

Details and pictures soon!

A bit quieter this week. Jessica was ill for the first half of the week and that meant we were stuck at home. It did, however, mean that I got to read another book. Chicklit is a guilty pleasure of mine. This week I managed to read “Fourplay” by Jane Moore in one day. Completely trashy and requiring no thought at all, I thoroughly enjoyed it. So that’s 2 of 50 for no. 29 on my list.

I didn’t manage to do any laundry or wear jewellery this week, unfortunately, but I did meet a couple of internet weirdy friends that I hadn’t met before, so that is 2 of 5 for no. 69.

Hope everyone else has had a good week, back to work for me tomorrow.

Here’s that chocolate cake I made.

The recipe is available by clicking on the image.

Well so far I haven’t been doing too badly. I’ve managed to wear jewellery again this week, so I’m making use of my new earrings.

I did some laundry last week, yet to do a load this week, but I think I can sneak one in tomorrow to make it before week 3

I’ve done some more baking – I made another lot of scones last weekend and today I’m making a chocolate mud cake, which also contributes towards cooking something from each of my cook books. It’s a Donna Hay Essentials book I got for Christmas entitled “Chocolate”. I’m looking forward to trying it

I haven’t quite managed a computer free evening yet, not completely anyway, but I’ve been trying to spend a little less time on this thing.

On the “artists I’ve never heard of” front, my workplace had a visit from “The Saturdays” this week and I listened to their song “Issues”. I’d never heard them before, and I won’t be adding them to my iPod anytime soon, but it’s 1 of my 50, so it’s all good.

I think I’ve done quite well with the complimenting people thing. I’ve managed to give at least one compliment a day, which I’m quite proud of.

I’ve also done and stuck to a meal plan for the last week, so that’s 1 of 12 done as well.

I also managed to finish a book this week. It is “Mean Spirit” by Will Kingdom, AKA Phil Rickman. I do love his books. A great mix of crime, fantasy and horror. I would highly recommend it.

Hope everyone else is doing as well with their lists, and Happy Valentine’s Day to all.

This week has gone pretty well. I’ve managed to make a start on a few of the items on my list. I had two snow days this week as we’ve had prety terrible weather by UK standards, so that gave me an opportunity to cross a few things off my list.

Jessica and I cooked together for the first time. We made scones. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be She was quite good with the rolling pin and rolled them a bit too flat so they didn’t rise very much, but we had fun and she enjoyed eating them as well. I do have a picture which I’ll put up at some point.

Today my husband and I went out for a nice lunch and I got dressed up and wore make up and earrings, so that covers my wearing make up and jewellery for this week.

Hope everyone else is doing equally well on their lists.

1. Set up a blog to track progress – done!

2. Maintain blog at least once a week – well this is this week covered.

22. Complete 5 paid photography jobs – 1 down, 4 to go.

25. Cook from scratch at least once a week – last night I made a risotto. I didn’t make the stock from scratch, but I rarely do, so I’ll count this one.

47. Celebrate my birthday – yesterday was my birthday and I celebrated by cooking a meal I don’t get to eat often, and playing with my new iPod which was a birthday present. 1 down, 2 to go.

Here’s a picture for the above two:

1. Create blog to track progress
2. Maintain blog at least once a week
3. Get Jessica’s Australian passport sorted.
4. Get John’s spouse visa sorted.
5. Move to Australia
6. Dispose of books/dvds/cds that aren’t coming to Australia
7. Send 101 cards/postcards/letters for reasons other than Christmas/birthdays
8. Find 25 things I like about myself
9. Write a will
10. Wear jewellery (other than wedding rings) at least one day a week.
11. Have child-free outing with husband at least once a month.
12. Go on fun family outing at least once a month (shopping doesn’t count).
13. Create a photo recipe book from my mum’s cookbook.
14. Make copies of mum’s cookbook for dad and sister.
15. Take, print and frame a photo of Jessica for each month of her life.
16. Get wedding dress cleaned and boxed.
17. Celebrate 5th wedding anniversary with something special.
18. Go puddle jumping with Jessica
19. Take at least one photo a week for fun
20. Successfully complete C&G course
21. Take one SP a month
22. Complete 5 paid photography jobs
23. Eat in a Michelin starred restaurant
24. Bake once a month
25. Cook from scratch at least once a week
26. Cook a recipe from each cookbook I own
27. Have a computer/console-free evening once a week.
28. Listen to 50 songs by artists I’ve never heard of.
29. Read 50 books I’ve never read before.
30. Get the house in a fit state to sell.
31. Enter the Race for Life.
32. Buy fresh flowers once a month
33. Go to a gallery/museum once a month
34. Cook with Jessica 5 times
35. Donate books to a dialysis centre
36. Wear make up once a month.
37. Do 5 touristy things withing 15 miles
38. Open a Nutrimetics account.
39. See a Shakespearean play in Stratford Upon Avon.
40. Have a family portrait taken
41. Do a meal plan every week for 12 weeks
42. Plan what I’m wearing to work the night before for 1 week every month
43. Pay off my credit card
44. Save £1001
45. Keep a spending diary for a month
46. Keep a food diary for a month.
47. Celebrate my birthday.
48. Get a pet
49. Have afternoon tea in a hotel
50. Photograph a waterfall
51. Toilet train Jessica
52. Redo CV
53. Go to the dentist once a year.
54. Finish watching Battlestar Gallactica
55. Have a pedicure
56. Have a facial
57. See 5 of John’s favourite films that I’ve never seen
58. Get pregnant
59. Submit my resignation
60. Clean car once a month
61. Go to bed before 10pm twice a week
62. Try 3 new classes at the gym
63. Visit 3 UK cities that I’ve never been to.
64. Take Jessica swimming when not on holiday
65. Go to the seaside at least once a year.
66. Give up chocolate for a month.
67. Provided finances allow, visit 3 European cities.
68. Watch a film with my husband once a month
69. Meet 5 friends I’ve not yet met in person
70. Return anything I’ve borrowed
71. Sort out and dispose of old clothes and toys once a year
72. Remember to recycle
73. Take my own bags when I grow grocery shopping
74. Go to the zoo
75. Compliment one person each day, even if it is myself.
76. Always offer my husband a drink when I get myself one.
77. Only buy meat from the butcher
78. Drink wine once a month (unless pregnant)
79. Sort out my superannuation and collapse into one account.
80. Don’t swear while driving with Jessica in the car
81. Finish Oblivion on the xbox360
82. Put the house on the market
83. Learn a knitting stitch other than plain or pearl
84. Knit something for Jessica
85. Clean out and replant the back garden
86. Maintain front garden plants by pruning 3 times a year
87. Go on the London Eye
88. Speak to a family member (who doesn’t live with me) at least once a week
89. Get hair cut at least once every 6 months
90. Lose 1 stone
91. Make a baby book for Jessica
92. Back up/clear out photos on hard drive once a month
93. Finish my reports on time
94. Do laundry once a week
95. Kiss my husband and daughter every day that I’m with them
96. Grow 3 different herbs
97. Go see a pantomime
98. Make a souffle
99. Own and use a sewing machine
100. Take a photo to represent each achievement.
101. Open bottle of bubbly to celebrate finishing.