Looking Back...Looking Forward

So then, 2010 is over and done. On the whole I would class it as a good year. I'm finally home now so can get round to thinking about it enough to write a blog post.

I stuck to all my resolutions. They weren't major things (stick to the diet, go swimming, learn to cook a new main course every month etc) but I think it was the first year I've ever made any so I'm quite pleased with myself. I haven't thought about any for 2011 yet and given that it's already 4th Jan, I probably won't end up making any for this year. Perhaps just the vague idea of losing a bit more weight. Not too much but just a wee bit more would be nice.

Speaking of which, in 2010 I lost a smidgen under 4 stone to add to the very similar amount that I lost the year before. Yay me!

My confidence levels have risen dramatically this year. I wish I could say that it wasn't linked so strongly to the weightloss but I'm afraid it is and that's just the way of it. Getting braver is a good thing though, whatever the cause of it. I've done lots of things this year that I would never have been brave enough to do in previous years. I won't list them because they're all very minor things but hey, I have to start somewhere!

My tastebuds have definitely expanded. I now eat curry, capers, sprouts, broccoli and am getting less wussy with spicy foods. I've developed a bit of a taste for red wine and a very definite taste for coffee. Mmmmm, lovely coffee. Why have I ignored you for so long?

I was a bridesmaid for the first time. It was so much fun! I think it helped muchly that the bride was as chilled out as it was possible to be and so there was no hassle other than dress fittings (where I shamed myself by nearly passing out).

I read 345 books. Not many in March (only 18) - clearly I was quite busy that month, or reading weighty tomes rather than books I could romp through. Perhaps next year is the time to get more adventurous as I didn't discover as many new authors I liked as I usually do. Any suggestions?

I revised my opinion of shopping. I still don't enjoy it particularly but it's immensely liberating to just go into shops and know things will fit you and that makes it less of a hellish experience than it used to be. Also I've found myself rather approving of H&M and River Island. Yes, there's still much cheap tat on offer but if you ignore that then there are lovely things to be found. New green bag, I'm looking at you as I type this.

I started the blog. Thank you all so much for reading it! Perhaps I'm just sheltered from all the bitchiness that can be found out there in internet land but I've met some truly amazing people through blogging. The warmth and generosity and friendship that I've found has really touched me. You're all lovely. I've even met a few of you in real life (see, told you I was getting braver!).

As for 2011, it's starting off with what feels like a rather rotten sore throat. Oh well, best to get the annual cold out of the way early I suppose! I don't have many big things planned so far - a couple more theatre trips to London, a 4 day residential course for work at the end of Jan (eek, scary!), the annual Easter jaunt. I'm sure the diary will fill up quickly enough and I'll soon be griping about my lack of free weekends but for now I'm enjoying the peace and the chance to loaf about reading. I'm heading into work for my rearranged PDR today but then I've got the rest of the week off. Don't expect any outfit posts; it's unlikely I'll get dressed till next Monday.