October has rushed past us and we’re nearly in November. October has been better than expected but I am struggling with the darkness a bit. I’m doing everything I can to keep from it getting worse and so far November is looking like it has the right amount of balance between challenge and people and being by myself and/or asleep….

So let’s recap October

Bedtime, Wake up time and Golden HourI’m sticking to the getting up at 6am and leaving the house at 7am-ish, bedtime at 10pm and golden hour are a bit harder but it makes a difference when I do it and I’m managing it 4 out of 5 days…

Walking

Walk to and from the station every work day. 30 min lunchtime walk when I’m in the office. I would award myself a 95% on this one. It’s a pain but it works!

Yoga

I’ll like to do something everyday while I’m on holiday (and maybe get Ma to do with me as she’s given up Pilates) and at least three times a week during the month. I got to this 2-3 days a week, not perfect but better…

Tone

Squats (20), sit ups (10), press ups (10). It’s pathetically little but I want to hit it every other day. 50% I’m not doing well on this.

HouseworkA weekly clean of the kitchen, hall and bathroom (including hoovering and mopping). Ironing, nothing that needs ironing hanging around more than a day. I can’t help but feel that the house is a mess, it’s not actually that bad, but I need a weekend devoted to it. I’m getting to most of this…

ProjectsDefrost the freezer/clear out the fridge. Clean the oven. No I did not do these things, again…

I’m going to Barter Books so time to get rid of my excess books, so I can trade them in for more books. Of course this is the one that I did, I got £18 for the old books and brought 4 ‘new’ ones back and paid for Ma’s ‘Life of Samuel Johnson’ with my profits.

Allotment

We didn’t do much with this list in October, we have a plan but it’s not going to see any significant work until mid November.

New things

• Make a patio next to the shed
• Buy sand,
• Buy pavers
• Level ground
• Path next to shed
• Woodchip
• Borders
• Pavers

Maintenance/planning

• Paint the shed
• Sow garlic and broad beans
• Get the remaining lavender into the ground or bigger terracotta pots.
• Sort out the canes and get rid of the weak broken ones
• Manure the rhubarb
• Manure and cover the beds we aren’t going to use over winter

Other 

Meal Planning and Food budget & Birthday/Christmas prep

Meal planning and food budget are more or less under control.

I’m getting myself sorted. I’ve bought Oli’s birthday present, I need to get Christelle and Ma’s birthday presents. For Christmas, I’ve bought a couple of small things for Christmas and honestly, other than doing that, I’m not going to fussed until closer to Christmas

My plans for November are more of the same, November is always a struggle for me, so I just want to concentrate on getting through with calm and no major issues so repetition is a good thing….