I am a big believer in complaining. I like to moan. I think it makes everyone feel better, when things go wrong; moan to a friend, complain to your family and whine to your online connections.

 

I can moan just as much as the next person and I have no problem with people complaining to me. There is just one rule, which I try very hard to hold myself to, and which I really think other people should abide by….

 

You are only allowed to moan if you are willing to do something to make it better.

 

Now I’m not saying everyone can solve all the problems in their lives themselves, but you must be willing to stop making excuses and try.

 

It is because of this stupid rule I give myself that I ended up, this afternoon, looking like this:

 

I was getting fat. I was overweight and didn’t like it. I started to complain about it and then my rule kicked in.

 

Damn! I’ve done enough complaining now I am going to have to try and fix it.  So now, I run and I have for a year and it works I lost weight.

 

This is me after running in the rain, not for fun, not because I love to run but just because, if I’m going to complain I better get off my bum and do something about it!

Ok so with a bit of perseverance and with help from my wonderful daughter I now have Instagram, Facebook, pinterest and twitter!

Oooohhh look at me all up to date and techy! Hmmmm.... I think am probably missing a few but they will do for now. I'm not really sure I have enough going on to fill all these sites! Maybe I need to get more interesting!

Well it's been a while (bit of an understatement!) but since my last little blogging journey I have been having some big changes. The biggest was a change of career. I finished my teacher training and now I teach :)

So to match these changes I thought the blog could do with a bit of a update too so welcome to, drum roll please............. The Happy Teacher!

Yep that's me :)

I have been a very bad blogger the last few months, but I have had very very good reason!

There was a secret mission on my before 30 list. I couldn't put it out in the public because I wanted to retrain to become a teacher! I am now on my way to my new career and it feels great! this was a big huge part of my list and I am so pleased to be making my way towards it!

Apart from the career stuff I have only 3 days left and I need to take a good look at my list and see where I've got done and also the things I didn't even get close to doing!

Sorry its a bit long

I will start a blog and keep it updated (even if I'm the only one to read it!)
Well I kind of did this I haven't been great lately but I did it!

I will learn to drive a manual car again (been driving automatic so long I've forgotten how)
Nope didn't do this, I just stuck with the manual oh well

I will cook a fancy pants meal for blokie
Yep did this - more than once!

I will finish the current WIP
Well I finished it in first draft so I'm gonna let that count

I will finishing editing my other WIP
Nope only half way through oh dear

I will CLEAN the kitchen bin properly (it really needs it)
Yep although it does need it again now

I will start some form of exercise and get a bit fitter
I've started to be a bit more active, but this actually happened by accident as I am no longer sat at a desk all day!

I will scan my photos onto disks
I did a lot of these not all but a lot and that's good enough for me




I will increase my collection of articles and try and write one at least once a week
Nope with the new job I just have no time!

Finish my degree
I did it, I did it, I did it!

Register with a new dentist
Yep I was brave



Register with new doctor
Did this too

Mow the front garden
Didn't happen although now it's winter its kinda dealing with itself :)

Sort out the junk in the child's bedroom
Done and done! even got around to decorating it for her!

Either make proper contact with or delete my FaceBook friends
I mainly opted for the delete option but at least I trimmed by friend list

Sort out the boxes in the loft
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha yeah like this will EVER happen!

Sort out my personal draws at work
Well yep I did this coz I left lol

Use up my free photo prints I was given when I signed up to online offer thingie
Nope still haven't done this...

Go and see my neighbour (haven't made time for her in a long time...)
Yep spent time with her

Get my shoes heeled
Well kinda I got new ones in the end

Get the zips and seams and things fixed on all those clothes I love but can't wear
Nope they are still waiting to be fixed

Get my tattoo removed
I'm gonna count this as a win it is still there but I am working on it, in films it is gone in a day!

Get AA membership
Did it! Well Asda recovery but same thing!

Replace all the light bulbs in the house
I did this but now it's too bright and I use lamps

Dye my eyelashes - just to see
Didn't get around to this! I'm still on the mascara

Sort out the O/S on the laptop
Yep I'm windows 7 all the way now!

Organise the hall cupboard
Did this too, even decorated the hall at the same time!

Sort out my Direct Debits so they all come out at the same time and I stop thinking I have money when I don't
Didn't do this but that was intentional, I am now earning a lot less and I tend to pay my bills in bits and pieces now

Organise some sensible 'work' clothes
check :)

Plant some flowers
Nope still no green fingers

Sort out ALL my hand bags
Yep I emptied them and even threw some of them away go me!

Clean the wax off my bedroom curtains (instead of just hiding it behind the radiator
No they still hiding

Touch up the paint that has all flaked off the skirting
Yep I went on a bit of a decorating spree at half term

Put all the clocks in the house to the right time
Job done :)

Put up the mirror in the bathroom... I've only had it two years...
I'm counting this as a win as I decided I didn't want to anyway, it now hangs in my mums bathroom

Get the back gate fixed
It's fixed works and everything

Figure out how to use the digital box thingies on all the TVs
nope they are still useless silver boxes under my TV sets

Fix the loose tile in the kitchen
yep no more nails is my friend

Make the garden sane
Ha hahahahahahhahaha One day I will post a picture of my garden, I have actually lost people in there its so over grown

Go to Paris on the EuroStar
Yeah baby! I love Paris!

Get my hair cut
Yep its not too short though nice and healthy

Do something useful with my wedding dress
Does stuck in a box, in my loft count? hmmm fail I think

Take the child ice skating
I haven't actually done this yet but we have booked it for my actual birthday so it's a win!

Have a conversation exchange in Spanish
I did this and it went really well

Go roller disco-ing
I still want to do this but just haven't organised it yet!

Spend some time with my cousin S
Yep did this, will need to see her more but its all good

Spend some time with cousin J
I actually managed to do this too he is a hard one to drag out but once we see him its fun!

Win a pub quiz
I didn't get to do this

Decorate my wheelie bin with nice stickers
Nope this didn't happen

Move the boat engines!
AGGGHHHHHH I did move them but they have started to drift back! Still a win though

Make a YouTube video
Yep, not a great video but still I did it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkdQf8xfEpU&context=C2707aADOEgsToPDskJ1OlwURr1fF-mK0GRIDbvd

Get my eyes tested
Yep and now I wear my glasses (most of the time)

Do a self defence class
I only went to the one and it nearly killed me but at least I went

Remove the wasps nest
Nope but its winter so they not bothering me right now

Organise my birthday...
I did and it was fantastic

Organise the garage
Nope, in fact the garden is so over grown I don't know if it's still down there!

Sort out all my odd socks
I did this, but they are collecting again...

Sort out the radio in the car so I can listen to music I like
it's broken and I can't afford a new one right now so this is a fail

Add ring tones to my phone
I did this and it makes me very happy!

Do something about the bush next to the front door
I hacked it back a bit I'm taking that as a win

Do something about my cat allergy
I did a medical trial and it did help a little I'm not cured but I am better so I count this as a win.

So there you go, I managed to do 41/61 I think this isn't actually a bad score I only have 3 days left of my 20s so I doubt I'll manage the last 20 but there is always next year!

Merry Christmas everyone!

On the iPod today: Pink raise a glass – I used to not really like this song, but it has grown on me and now it’s one of my favourites

I have been neglecting my blog lately because again I have been very, very busy but I can now tell you my secret mission! I am leaving my job. I am changing career and it’s scary and exciting and a bit sad and lots of other emotions. I also have exams again one in three weeks and another the week after so it’s been all go! But I will get back to regular blogging activity as soon as possible.

But enough about me so how’ve you been?

I read a quote today which made me smile:

"The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.”

This is nothing special, people are always complaining about the youth of today except that this is from 399 BC. I think maybe our kids aren’t actually any worse than the young people that came before them.

I have been trying to find a reliable source for this quote but it seems it was either Socrates or Plato so pick your favourite and go with that one…

Hope you all have a good weekend (when if finally gets here!)

Help Wanted of the Day: 89-year-old Aaron Biber has been cutting hair in Tottenham for decades.
Last year, Aaron lost his wife. This year, he lost his business. Rioters ransacked his barbershop, smashed windows, and stole hairdryers. “I will probably have to close because I haven’t got insurance and I can’t afford the repairs,” Aaron says. They even stole his kettle :(


“Not so fast,” responds the Internet. A website has been launched to help Aaron fix his shop. So far nearly £17,000 have been donated.

Another riot post sorry people but it’s all over the place now (and bored at work I’m reading constant updates!)

I’m proud of the residents that have stood up for their communities and high streets. I’m particularly proud of the Millwall fans that came out and patrolled Eltham high street. A group of people that are always portrayed as trouble makers it’s nice to see them doing the protecting. And as the man in this video says ‘we are just protecting our own’

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2011/aug/10/eltham-riots-police-videos

I’m proud of the people that came out with brooms and bags and worked together to clear up the mess. The people that have offered to help in any way they can, these are the important things to see in all this rioting mess, the people that care. It is a minority that have caused this problem a minority that are working together to cause hell, but the good people can work together too and there are more of us then you!

London might have suffered but rioters and looters won’t win.