March 2013 - Update

I wasn't planning to write anything today, especially now that I am quite happy and content.  Haven't you noticed that this is THE place for me to moan?

But the thought of having been away from my blog for so long makes me anxious.  What if I am not jotting down the important things in life and they just get forgotten?

March - it sped fast.  My brother and his family along with my mom landed on 22nd March.  The days leading to it saw DH and me working at our best together to get the house cleaned up and ready.  I have news for you here.  The study room is done up (DH kept his promise - only that it took 10 years to fulfill.)

Last year we had the hottest day in March.  This year, March saw quite a few days of snow. So yeah, we still talk about weather in this part of the world and its unpredictability.

Snow did not make us sit indoors though.  Heck when your brother and nieces make a trip down from Dubai, you have to make sure that you keep them entertained.  I found out that my brother does not like museums and galleries.  But he does like shopping.  I have heard of Arabs coming down to London to do shopping.  It's the first time I was seeing Indians making a killing at it as well.  They shopped like crazy, I mean left, right and center.  By the time they left my house had became a mini warehouse.

My days have become rather hectic since they left. I have to write two qualifying tests - UKCAT and GAMSAT.  So in addition to Japanese lessons, I am studying A-Level Biology, Physics and Chemistry.  Luckily Mom ensures that there is tasty food at home all the time. Didn't reach any of my goals in March - not in reading, savings, exercise, cooking or anything.  Yet I was happy.

Right now - I am at peace with myself.  I am trying to do some sort of a super woman thing and this gives me lesser and lesser time to feel any self-pity.

April - the goals come back and I am ready.  2013 is my year......

To all the mallus around - Happy Vishu.

March 2013 - Goals Summary

Health

1. Lose 2.5 kgs. Target : 66.3 kgs
2. Cover 60 kms in some distance exercise

Wealth

1. Save 65% of my salary.

Experience

1. Get good marks for the Japanese vocabulary test in March
2. Study and revise past papers for UKCAT
3. Read - A Sin of Colour by Sunetra Gupta (I am trying to change my perception about Indian authors as I feel most of them concentrate on issues arising from arranged marriages, diaspora etc which is not exactly my cup of tea.  But if one doesn't go against one's grain one never learns)
4. Make sure that I am up by 4 am every morning.  
5. My folks are coming to visit me in London.  For a period of 2 weeks I will have 5 extra people at home and just to escape the paranoia of being cooped up, I will take them out for all the touristy activities and sights.  This month is going to be experiences galore.
6. Oh yes, I will blog regularly in March - or else my mental sanity will be at question.  

Home

Family visit means both DH and I are at it to get the house spic and span clean.  DH has already cleared the study room (finally after 10 years and an ultimatum).  He is now busy with clearing the shed.  We will have to hire the man-with-the-van to take everything to the skip.

1. Decorate the study room (in my books it means just making it decent looking)
2. Bleach clean all the wardrobe doors and kitchen cupboards (pending from last month)
3. Clean the banister and rail
4. Paint bathroom ceiling
5. Give away the spare wardrobe via Freecycle
6. Buy new curtains for the shed and extension

It's a busy month for us. 

February 2013 - Goals Update

To take a look at what my goals for February were, read here.

Health

Weight end of Jan - 70.4 kgs
Weight end of Feb - 68.8 kgs (1.6 kgs loss vs target of 2.5 kgs)
Distance covered - 25 kms (vs target of 70kms)
Total inches lost - not checked

Surprisingly I ate rather well in February and yet managed to lose some weight.  Shred was becoming too boring and I switched to blogilates.  I find it more interesting due to the variety of exercises and the fact that the instructor actually comes up with a daily exercise chart for the month.  Otherwise I just made sure that I moved a bit every day.   Distance wise I failed.  Hopefully I should do better in March.

Wealth

Blowing my trumpet here - saved 70% of my salary.

Now don't get shocked seeing my grocery %.  Fact is I tried to finish off all the canned and frozen food accumulated over a few months, I only spent a little bit on fruits.

Other than the ISA I have not yet found anything to invest my money in.  With the negative interests rates that I have been hearing about these days, I might as well keep my money under the mattress.

Experience

• Japanese - Not only am I studying really well, much better than what I did with my MBA, I am also enjoying learning the language.  I have also come to the realization that I don't have a natural knack with languages, I need to keep practicing it regularly to be just above-average in class.  

• I didn't read 48 Laws of Power, instead took an old book from my collection - Essie by Flora Pearce.  A nice feel good book

• Cook 4 Indian dishes - not exactly a fail but not a success either.  I finished most of the stuff which I had in stock.  

• Wake up by 6 am daily - most of the days I was up by 5 am.  Now I just need to work a bit more hard to be up by 4 am.  Just feel that I can get a lot done if only I could wake up early.  It should not be difficult for me as I go to bed by 9:30 pm.  Yet it is not easy as it sounds.  I get my best sleep early mornings.  Ah well...

• Go out with a friend / DH to a place in London that I haven't been to before - Didn't go to any new place.  But I went out with R for a Korean meal at a restaurant (new-to-me).  Then I met up with some new friends and we bonded over lunch and dinner - the whole day spent in banter.  It was a good change for me.

• Blog at least once a week - I had 10 posts in Feb even though I blogged only the 1st two weeks.  That's fine I guess.  Goal accomplished.

Home

• Clean and sort the larder - success.  Took a Sunday out for this

• Bleach clean the kitchen cupboard and wardrobe doors - fail.  I didn't have the energy to do this.  Moved to March.

Emotionally February was a terrible month for me.  At least the 1st two weeks and then it calmed down.  I have something new to work towards.  I want to get into a medically college in 2014 and am now preparing for the entrance exams.  Pray for me guys.

Is anyone else tracking goals?  How did your Feb go?

February 2013 Goals - Summary

You know I am beginning to like this exercise of making my goals public.

For February my goals are again realistic, though some may be a bit more challenging than others

Health

1. Lose 2.5 kgs (optional) as I would rather lose more inches than just weight
2. Lose additional 7.5 inches overall
3. Cover 70 kms in some distance exercise

Wealth

1. Save 65% of my salary while not depriving my son or myself of anything that we may want to purchase.

Experience

1. Study three hours of Japanese every week
2. Finish reading The 48 Laws of Power
3. Cook 4 dishes (Indian dishes I mean) 
4. Make sure that I am up by 6 am every morning.  This seems more doable.
5. Go out with a friend / DH to a place in London that I haven't been to before
6. Blog at least once a week - post coming up on DH's vices (Yes CW, I am going to make an attempt) and also of mine.  

Home

1. Sort, Clean the kitchen larder
2. Bleach clean (yes you heard that right) all the wardrobe doors and kitchen cupboards (Haven't I mentioned before about my OCD?)

January 2013 - Goals Update

I had given a mid-month update here and this post is about how January fared.

Health

Starting weight: 72.9 kgs
End Jan weight: 70.4 kgs
Total weight loss: 2.5 kgs
Total inches lost: 7.5

While I am really glad with the numbers, I slogged really hard to lose that 2.5 kgs.  I am also conscious that being hypothyroid, I will have to work double hard than others to lose any weight.  February I will work out just as hard, but not sure whether I would lose any weight.  Coming to think of it, as long as I have a well toned and sexy body, I really don't care about the numbers.

I exercised 20 days and covered a distance of 97.2 kms on my elliptical.  During this period, I did the odd light weights and plank exercises.  I have reduced consumption of red meat and sweets.  Don't feel that I have sacrificed or given up a lot.  Just feels natural.  These days I love having leafy stuff lightly cooked in a bit of virgin coconut oil.  Have I told you that I love, love coconut oil?

Wealth

In the mid-month update I had mentioned about saving 60% of my salary, but that did not last long.  My expenses in January really shot up and I had to pull out from my savings.  The salary break-up is as follows:

I am not at all happy with my savings; ideally I would like to save 65% of my salary and that is the goal.  Let's see how next month fares.

Tracking each and every penny of my spend is going fabulously well.  It's a pity that I only know how to hoard wealth and not to grow it.  People, like my brother, who take risks in real estate and property would never keep their money in just savings account.  Alas, I lack the balls.....a fact that I am often reminded of by my mother.

Experience

1. Japanese Class - I have had only one lesson this term and the next one is tomorrow.  The past two weeks, I haven't really touched my books.
2. Read one book - Finished reading Malgudi Landscapes.  I never review books and I love everything written by R.K Narayan.  But let me give you a piece of advise - do not touch this book.  It was so boring and at one point I thought I would lose all my love for Swami and His Friends.  This book was a trial of my patience and I swear I finished reading it only because I could not take up and finish reading another book for January.  This book is just a collection of excerpts; so I was on a constant high and low, I would reach the climax and then nothing, move on to the next story.  BORING.
3. Daily Journal - done and ongoing
4. Cook 6 dishes for the month - well not sure where this stands, I do cook every day but I can't call it cooking a dish.  When you are on a diet, you tend to boil vegetables and make a meal out of it.  This cannot be called a dish or can it?  (My son's major meal is his school dinner and has only a light meal at home, DH cooks his own fat free, spice free, almost raw food)
5. Wake up at 4 or 5 am daily - super, duper fail.  How do people do it?  Really I am curious.  I go to bed by 9:30 pm and for the life of me can't manage to wake up at 4 or even 5.  6:30 or 7 is more like it for me. But I won't give up.  Feb I am surely going for this.
6. Pray - this is a success too.  I have prayed almost daily.  

Oh by the way I even managed to go out with my friends to Greenwich Maritime Museum and the Greenwich market.  Had lunch at Wasabi in O2.  Got on the DLR for the first time - I have never had to go to that part of the world as yet.  Loved it.

Home

Since my last update, I haven't really done any major work at home other than the usual laundry, dusting, mopping etc.  But no guilt here, I did OK.

I am sure that February will be much better than January.

Goals Update – 15th Jan

No point in making goals and resolutions if you are not going to track them.  So here goes the update.  Click here for my 2013 goals:

Health

1. With the exception of one day, I have exercised daily for the past 14 days.

2. I have covered 62.1 kms and that is 6.21% of my target – mainly by exercising on the elliptical.

3. Reduce red meat consumption – till date, have had just 2 kheema stuffed paratas and 2xsausages.

4. No sugar and no fizzy drinks – 1 can of coke and 1 can of 7-Up.  Well sweets that’s another story.  I stuffed myself with Indian sweets one day (just one day).

5. Take multi-vitamins and Omega 3 – DONE daily.

    I have lost 1.8 kgs and 5 inches in total since New Year.

Wealth

1. Save 60% of my salary every month – The Jan salary has not yet come through, so this one will be updated end of the month.

2. Track and record daily spending – SUCCESS

     Despite the holiday season, from the December salary I managed to save 47% of my salary - Son needed a smart phone, I had to pay the quarterly fees for my Japanese class etc. I will make a detailed expense update at the end of the month.

Experience

1. Be more serious about Japanese writing class – Even though I have my term break right now, I studied almost daily and am ready to start the new term on 18^th Jan.

2. Read one book per month – stretch to two books / month – I am in the middle of Malgudi Landscapes – The Best of R.K Narayan.  Will finish this in Jan.

3. Write my journal daily - SUCCESS

4. Cook at least 6 dishes per month – FAIL. I have cooked only one dish till now.  Made Dosas many times, but no other major cooking.  I have so much of left-over from New Year’s do.

5. Wake up between 4-5 am daily – FAIL.  My alarm is set for 4am but I usually end up getting out of bed by 7:00. This is something I have to work hard on this week.

6. Be strong, forgiving and thankful to God and pray – Pray = SUCCESS.  Have been reciting / singing? Mahisasuramardini every morning. Forgiving – though not a success can’t call it a failure either.  There is a healthy truce between DH and myself right now. (Can someone help correct my grammar here?  Is it DH and myself or DH and I?) Thankful to God – oh yes daily.....

     Touch wood - there is peace.

Home

1. Do one tough house work every week – First week I did so much of cleaning that I relaxed the second week. Completed the following:

·          Cleaned cooker hood

·          Cleaned Microwave (is that like a tough work, don’t know)

·          Defrost Freezer and cleaned it (after something like a year!)

·          Sorted out Hand Bag storage

·          Arranged my wardrobe

·          Filed all financial papers  

My days are so organized and I plan my to-do list for the next day.  Each and every second is well accounted for.  How can I ever go wrong with my goals now?

Goals for 2013

Something tells me that 2013 is going to be my year; it is going to bring me health, wealth, happiness and above all contentment.  I believe in this SO much that I can’t let the New Year go without making some goals for myself. 

Health

Objective: a) Eliminate my Cholesterol b) Reduce my weight by 10kgs

Methodology:

1. Exercise daily for 40 mins.  Start with 30-day Shred.
2. Cover 1000kms in exercise – rowing, cycling, elliptical or treadmill
3. Reduce red meat consumption
4. No sugar and no fizzy drinks
5. Take multi-vitamins and Omega 3
6. Be regular with daily routines – brush, facial and shower (I tend to skip on routines when I get busy!!)

Wealth

I have come to realise that money is a big motivating factor for me.  I am not going to shy away from saying this.  I LOVE money, but I stress here – I love money for the security it brings and not for the things I can buy with it.

Objective: a) Double my current savings by Dec 2013 b) No more frugal thinking

Methodology:

1. Save 60% of my salary every month
2. Track and record daily spending
3. Ban on make-up purchase in 2013
4. When I do have to buy something, I will buy the best that I can afford (this is in contrast to my current frugal thinking)
5. Don’t even think of buying a car – I don’t need one.

Experience

I am big on Korean & Japanese dramas and their cuisine.  In September I enrolled at SOAS for their part time course in Japanese.  As luck would have it, I am the best student in class-participation, but the worst performer in the class-test. 

I am also praying a lot, reciting slokas when at the oddest of times and I feel a lot calmer.  This year I intend to set aside time on a daily basis to pray / meditate / practise healing.

Objective: a) Visit one country in the Far East b) Have a sense of spiritual awareness c) Get back into doing things that I enjoyed as a teenager

Methodology:

1. Visit Japan in 2013
2. Be more serious about Japanese writing class
3. Read one book per month – stretch to two books / month
4. Write my journal daily
5. Cook at least 6 dishes per month
6. Wake up between 4-5 am daily
7. Be strong, forgiving and thankful to God – pray

Home

Objective: a) Make this house a home

Methodology:

1. Keep front & back garden neat and tidy.
2. Repair bathroom downstairs
3. Tidy under-stairs storage room
4. Tidy up back-garden fence
5. Paint all fences
6. Do one tough house work every week

And above all – LOVE MYSELF MORE

I know this blog has seen a lot of moans and complaints.  But I am not the one to just sit and cry.  I know I can just get up, dust my back and say let’s carry on.  From today this blog is taking a new turn – it’s going to be about my journey as I discover more about myself.  This blog will also be where I ensure I am on track with my goals and keep myself accountable.

To the few who are still reading my blog, I wish you all the very best for 2013.  Have you made any goals for 2013?  I would love to hear about it.

New Year Resolutions

I am not really into making New Year resolutions; it has never been my scene. It’s so clichéd. Everyone around you are making them and breaking them as soon as March that year. Worse still everyone has to go around announcing to all and sundry about the resolutions they are making. Why publicise something when it is too darn difficult for you and you are not even sure whether you will succeed at it?

Though I have pretty strong opinions about making NY resolutions, this year I have decided to join the bandwagon and make some myself. But hey, no publicity, not a soul other than my blog readers will know anything. The true reason is to have some purpose in life and have some goals that I can work towards and keep myself occupied with.

Each and everything in this list has been inspired from what I read in 2008 – it might have been from a book, a blog or even something from a magazine. Nothing on my list is all that drastic and I truly believe that I can do it.

Studies – complete four modules and start on three new ones
Diet - Eat less of red meat – Limit to sixty times in the whole year.
Exercise – get into a routine of exercising thrice a week
Spiritual - Practise Pranic Self Healing – at least twelve sessions in 2009.
Shopping – In ’09 spend no more than £500 for clothes, make-up and skincare.
Internet - Stop Surfing – on week days leave the laptop at office after work