2010’s New Years Wishes Revisited!

Last year I wrote a post about my New Years Wishes, not resolutions because well, I never keep those.  They are wishes because they are things I really want to happen but am aware that I may not quite get there.

Hey, a least I’m realistic, right?

Now I’m looking back to see what I have achieved and what still needs work.

Last year my New Years wishes were (Summary, you can see the linked post for the full story):

I want to continue on with Weight Watchers, pushing past this frustrating first plateau.
UPDATE: Umm, yes and no. I did push through the plateau but not with any help from Weight Watchers.  After four months with no improvement I took the advice of my in laws and tried something different, low carb.  The Harcombe Diet, to be exact.  After reading that book my thoughts on food changed drastically and I saw how flawed Weight Watchers really is.  Pity, since I once thought so highly of it but I chalk it down to ignorance.  I did lose weight on WW but the health benefits were minimal.  A low carb lifestyle has rid me of Type 2 diabetes, IBS and a number of other ailments that were easily cured with a change in what I was eating.

Although I’m still at the point where I hate exercise I’m hoping that I’ll soon reach that point other people say they are at where they really LOVE it.
UPDATE: Not so much!  I went to the gym for a few months but didn’t like it for a number of reasons and stopped going.  I did do other things I enjoyed more for exercise and was doing well there for a while but over the last few months I’ve become somewhat lazy again.  I am out and about more in general but not for the purpose of exercise. Thankfully I’ve been extra good where my food is concerned so it’s made up the difference. I do still hope to improve in this area.

Hopefully we’ll finally get this flat on the market this year.
UPDATE: Unfortunately this didn’t happen.  The market is still not so great and there are a number of flats in our building that have been for sale for a loooonnng time. They just aren’t selling.  We are going to be here for at least another year, I suspect.  So this is temporarily on hold. In the meantime we are working on organizing better and making the best use of the space we have.

Since I’ve been living here in Holland, I’ve never gone back to Canada on my own.
UPDATE: Oh HELL YEAH I have! This is one wish that totally came true! :)

Having been to Blijdorp Zoo here in Rotterdam a number of times and Apenheul back in 2007, I’d really like to visit some of the other popular zoos in the Netherlands.
UPDATE: This one didn’t happen either. I did go to Blijdorp again a few times and had plans one weekend for a zoo in Arnhem but those plans fell through. I’ll definitely be making this happen in 2011!

Start riding my bike again.
UPDATE: BOOYA!! Another one done!

I’ve always had an issue with worrying what people think.  I would like to be the don’t give a shit type…
UPDATE: Ok I have improved on this, but it is still an issue, probably will be next year too! haha

The Dutch language…
UPDATE: Umm, right. This will ALWAYS be an issue. I do believe I’m speaking more and more each year though, but I haven’t gone back to school for it… yet!

I want to be more sensible about friendships.
UPDATE: This one is a bit difficult and not fully achieved yet. I’ve decided that while I’m still a bit of a social fuckwit, I am always open about that with my friends.  So, the ones who know I’m trying, stick with me, love me in spite of it and help me to be better are the ones I’ll move mountains for. The rest, especially those who make me feel bad about myself because I’m not good enough or have not quite gotten there yet, well…

 

I absolutely positively MUST do more crafting this year.
UPDATE: I’m pleased to say that this most definitely, absolutely, has happened.  There are still a few projects I haven’t blogged about but I’ve been a busy bee crafting this year and already have loads of birthday and Christmas gifts planned for the coming year!

I’d like to learn to cook more and would like to try at least 1-2 new recipes a month.
UPDATE: Sorta happened. I still don’t really enjoy cooking, but I’ve made a lot of new recipes over the past year and have had to learn to cook a lot of new things to go with my new low carb lifestyle.  Maybe not 1-2 a month but a shitload more than I had done before.

We have decided that every month just after pay day we are going to try a new restaurant.
UPDATE: This didn’t happen but it was by choice.  Eating out is expensive and it doesn’t really jive well with how I want to eat right now. I want to know what is in my food and don’t eat potato, pasta, rice etc.  It’s difficult to find places to eat out that are suitable for how I eat nowadays.  I can go out from time to time but I won’t be trying a new place every month like we planned. I’m happy to let this wish go unfulfilled.

Take more photos!!
UPDATE: I’m pretty sure I took enough photos on my holidays this year to make this count as finished. I want to take more and more though. I don’t think there’s ever really enough photos so this will be on my list every year!

Another area I’ve been showing slooooow improvement is my housekeeping skills.
UPDATE: HA! I still have dustbunnies bigger than my dogs.  I’ve grown rather attached to them though.  I’m thinking of naming them.

Camping, there absolutely must be more camping!
UPDATE: We didn’t get camping this year because we chose to go to the south of France to visit Xander’s family instead, I also went to Canada for three weeks.  While we didn’t get camping we certainly didn’t suffer in the holiday department! Perhaps we will dust off the tent and get out camping this summer.

Right, well those were my wishes for the year 2010.  I haven’t achieved everything on my list but a lot the things I wanted to happen did or are on their way.  A lot of things that weren’t on my list happened this year too, good things. I’ve tried new things, made some amazing friends, got to spend a lot of time with both my family and Xander’s, and lost a crapload of weight.  I’d call 2010 a win!

What are my wishes for 2011?  I need to think about that a little more, also about exactly how much of it I feel comfortable sharing on my blog.  That’s a bit of an issue for me at the moment.  I’m also tired of typing right now, so I’ll have to get back to you on that one.