WEVerb11 - 8 - Choose

What was the biggest choice you made in 2011? What caused you to choose what you chose?


Wow, erm, I'm trying to think now if I made any real significant choices this year.
 The most relevant one at the moment is committing myself to completing the Chase Walk in 2012.

It's a 40 mile hill walk crossing over Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, all in one go. The aim is to complete it in under 18 hours.

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I tried to find pictures of previous walks with some of my team mates, but they appear to be camera shy!

There were two reasons I wanted to complete this challenge :

1. I wanted to complete a Charity Challenge (of some description) before we start a family.
2. I wanted to get fit.

I'm raising money for the Eve Appeal (see my Just Giving page) who support research into gynaecological or foof cancers. (After I said I was doing this I found out about these toys via Bakerella. But Paul says I'm not allowed to carry around a cuddly foof!)

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I did think about completing another type of Charity Challenge but due to my temperamental health, I could complete a sustained trek or project lasting beyond a couple of days. As it is, my problems at the moment seem to be on the level. Plus, I'm not a runner - the frontal ballast does not make for a comfortable ride!

So I decided to do the Chase Walk, Paul has done it several million times throughout his life so would be a perfect coach. I'm currently doing two to three six-mile walks each week, walking from work to halfway home. I'll be stepping this up nearer the time, as well as taking part in the 10 mile, 20 mile and 30 mile training walks (eek).

All this will hopefully get me nice and fit and toned in time for my 26th birthday, and so we can start a family, having given my body the best possible start it would need.

If anyone has any helpful tips either motivation or even nutrition I will gladly accept the help!

WEVerb11 - 4- Haiku

Write a haiku. Sum up your year, via haiku

Snowdrop opens wide
Promise of gifts to discover
My eyes frozen


Btw, this is my first haiku, apologies if it's not the best!

WEVerb11 - 6 - Favour

What was your favorite month of 2011? Why did it beat out all 11 other months?

It had to be January of course!

Why you may ask, well :

1 - We got married!!


2 - The day before the wedding, Mr H got offered an interview for his dream job.

3 - We spent a week in the Italian Tyrol, skiing and eating gorgeous food.

4 - We returned from holiday, and Mr H had got his dream job!

5 - I had nearly a month off work due to the wedding and honeymoon. Whilst I don't hate my job, who wouldn't mind having a month off?!?

So all in all, a very busy but definitely kick ass month, oh yeah!!

WEVerb11 - 5 - Befriend

Befriend. Did you meet any new friends this year? How did they impact your 2011?

I'm trying to think now if I made any new friends this year, and in the real world I don't think I did. In fact I cut one out of my life.

I suppose the closest thing I have to new friends has been since I began this blog. Mr H frequently reminds me that the blogs I read and the ladies I have received comments from/commented on are not my friends.
But I don't know quite how to classify you all.

You have all given me help and support, even if you didn't know about it this year.

So I suppose this is the time to say thank you to you:

Jenna - Some of your earlier posts have settled my mind on a topic I will cover in my new blog as it's a bit premature for this one just yet. But I have also been inspired by your weight loss,

Brandi - Whenever I want to picture myself in a calm and beautiful place, I think of the trees at your wedding, continuing up into the heavens. (that sounds creepy doesn't it? sorry!)

Morgan - You reassure me that my need to have everything colour coordinated and matching is not just a me-thing. There are others of us out there!

Cat - You make me laugh so much in the office, and you make me laugh at the British idiosyncrasies.

Kate - There's no such thing as too much cake!

I've definitely missed out on some other bloggers, and for that I'm sorry, but I've had to draw the line ( mainly because I need to get off my lunch break)

WEVErb11 - 3 - Learn

Learn. What lesson did you learn in 2011 from “The School of Life” rather than a classroom?

Hmm, this year I learnt that you need to communicate effectively in your relationship.

Since we got married, Mr H and I have subtly changed. Our marriage is a lot more comfortable, there's less fighting and we're both responding to the other better.

How did we learn this lesson? It has been a gradual thing, but we found out that my FIL and MIL didn't discuss certain things, which to us are very important, and I wonder, had he been around, would he have done things differently?

Eee this is a bit of a melancholic post. Fingers crossed tomorrow is more upbeat!

WEVerb11 - 7 - Travel

Where did you travel this year? What was your favorite part? If you didn’t get to travel, where do you want to go next year?

This year we kept it pretty low key, we travelled to Matlock for our wedding :

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Then onto Folgarida, Italy for our honeymoon

We were due to take an epic roadtrip around France, but that's indefinitely on hold for the moment.

As for next year, we're going back to Matlock for our first anniversary, and then come May, having a big old holiday in Malta.

I don't know if we'll end up anywhere else, or if we'll get the tent out next year. Just have to wait and see what happens

WEverb11 - 2 - Listen

Listen. What song did you listen to in 2011 to completely change your mood?  Think about ways you can you add more music to your life in 2012

I discovered Caro Emerald quite late this year, and That Man is the best song to put a wiggle in my step and make me feel tip top.

Even now, I am channelling my inner 50s chick, with my full skirted dress, red cardigan and red lipstick.

For 2012, I am hoping to buy more music. Particularly as my favourite band have reformed and are just putting the finishing touches to their next album - ya hoo!!!
When I move across to my new blog, after this year is over, I'll be posting about all sorts of music that I'm coming across, from the popular to the downright weird.
As a side note, I think my husband may ban me from listening to Radio Two's musicals programme, singing Under the Sea at the top of my voice in the car on Sunday wasn't appreciated. Especially not with my (horrendous) jamaican accent!