It's better than digging a ditch

Don't panic - I'm giving the introspective, me-me-me posts a rest for a bit...

So. Car washes. They're suddenly everywhere - have you noticed?

I usually take my car to the one in Ottershaw (or is it Addlestone? I'm not quite sure where the edge is...) and they do a really good job. Plus they're a very friendly and non-intimidating bunch of chaps who just happen to be Eastern European. And, it was the first of its kind in this area to my knowledge. Suddenly there are loads of them - garages and car dealers are closing, to be replaced by a hand car wash.

It's a good thing because, back in the day, it would cost the best part of £100 and half a day to get your car valeted, inside and out, to a similar standard. Or doing it yourself, which is never as good (who can be bothered to vacuum in every nook and cranny? And who paints there own tyres black?). There's always the automatic car wash at the petrol station. I went in one today, but it left most of the dirt behind, so I won't be wasting my money on that again.

Oh yes, there's always the jet wash, but I'm intimidated by those. How do you know when the soap's going to stop? What if you're only halfway round your car? What if you run out of change? Don't you get very, very wet? No, thanks.

So, it's back to the drive-thru, by-hand, car wash for me next time. Painted tyres and free air-freshener, thank you very much.

Resolute reflection

As we're on the cusp of another new year, I thought I'd take a look back and see what I said at the beginning of this one.

Aha - true to form, I chose not to write too much about resolutions, because making them always leads to breaking them, but I was pretty specific about a goal that Mum and I set ourselves to walk a walk over the year. Hmm... shame we only managed the first leg of the walk... Must try harder. But it just goes to show that resolving to do something means that it very rarely gets done.

No other resolutions made for 2007 means I don't have to sit here now and make excuses for breaking them/failing them. Which is a good thing.

But, I just can't help myself and, in an unspoken, not-telling-anybody way, I always make some kind of determination to myself that next year will be different. This time, I can tell you that next year will be different because:

• I'll almost certainly need to find a new job
• I'm already well on the way with my weight loss goals
• I've already got a plan for getting rid of a bunch of my credit card debt
• I've already established a gym routine that has seen my fitness levels improve enormously over just 8 weeks
• My skin is finally getting better after a year of horribleness

I'm excited to ponder what life holds for me in the year to come - it's been a very long time since I've been able to say that. And I'm excited to wonder what I will be writing in this spot this time next year when I look back on this post.

I will try to resolve to blog more... But I'm not making any promises...

Pesky ducks

So, just when you think all your ducks are lining up nicely... They're not.

It's been 2 months since I last posted, and my only excuse is my flighty brain. I've really found it difficult to focus on more than one or two things at once, and totally unable to boot up my computer during non-working hours, so blogging has gone out the window.

I won't bore you with the details, because there's nothing earth-shattering going on, but in summary:-

My job is up in the air

My skin has been bad

Ah - that's it. And because of those 2 things, I've found myself unable to do much else than worry about work, and scratch.

However, I'm coming out the other side of it with great optimism for the new year.

Since I last posted:-

• I've lost a lot of weight and gone to the gym about 24 times.


• I've found out that my company will be moving to Guildford next year, though I doubt I'll still be working there


• I've tried, and given up on, homeopathy to help my skin


• I've gone a little bit organic (except where I can't bring myself to pay the exorbitant price for brocolli)


• I've thrown away a lot of shampoo and shower gel


• I've started to recycle


• I've had 2 reflexology sessions which have been the best thing ever


• I've had my hair dyed (to hide the grey for the first time)


• I've ridden a bike for the first time in about 12 years


• I've watched 2 series of The Sopranos because I missed it first time round


• I've been to the theatre a couple of times, once to see Ottershaw Players' production of Treasure Island, and once to see Avenue Q (which I can't recommend highly enough - it's fab)


• I've been to bingo for the first time


• I've seen (sort of) Tutankhamun and the Terracotta Army

It's all mostly positive and I'm planning more of the same for 2008. I hope the new year brings you everything you wish for (and a little bit more).