Review of "resolutions"

I've just had a look back at my post where I put my aims for 2013.
I haven't managed to cover all of them, but I have done some of them, and done things that weren't on the list yet needed doing
So.....What did I manage to do?
I've managed to lose around a stone in weight, but it has gone off gradually, more needs to be lost but I am happy with having lost some weight.
I read some classics.  I even read Madame Bovary by Flaubert, which was originally banned as it was a scandalous book, but by today's standards it is quite tame and almost boring.  You have to be good at reading between the lines to get what could have been construed as "racy" back in the 1850s.
My fabric stash is undented, although I did have plans for the next couple of days, but it will just scrape the surface slightly.
Denting my yarn stash has been slow and steady.  As part of my plan to dent it, I decided to make a crocheted bedspread, for extra warmth in winter and to be use in place of my duvet on the warmer nights in summer.  I needed 400 squares, and have currently got 375.  I also made some of my Yule gifts with yarn from my stash.
And I am going to at least swatch an entrelac square before the year ends
The patchwork has remained untouched.
I have made bread, including a couple of focaccia breads, malt loaves and pain au chocolat, although I think pain au chocolat is technically a pastry,
The pot garden did get weeded, but as weeds are living things, it needs doing some more, and I am considering knocking the soil out of some of my pots and starting again.  The reason I am reluctant to do this is because there are quite a few bulbs and primulas in my pots, which are not visible.  If I do knock the soil out I might do it in the alleyway against the wall, so the primulas can then grow to their hearts content.
The kitchen was not decorated, however I have , with the help of Edwin got all the gloss painting and ceilings and landings done in the stairs.  The walls need stripping and painting.
So all in all, although 2013 has been a struggle in some ways, I have managed to complete some of the tasks I set myself.
Perhaps for 2014, I should set myself tasks/goals again, rather than making any resolutions?  After all, I have completed some goals.
I can't say that 2013 has been a happy year for me, but the festive period has been spent in the company of my three and their partners, and I'm happy to have them around.
Perhaps I'll make myself a list of aims for 2014?

An achievement! Well, it is for me.

On Sunday, I switched my oven on in order to bake some part baked baguettes. Around half an hour later I remembered and went to put them in, only the oven appeared to be off.  It had in fact tripped the circuit breaker.  So I flicked the switch and left the oven for a few minutes to warm up.  Nothing.  The element had gone.  I hunted out the oven handbook and left it where it would remind me in the morning.
Yesterday, Monday, I looked online for a replacement part, and after a discussion with a very helpful man at www.elementreplacement.co.uk I found the right replacement part. I ordered it & it had arrived before 10am.
It wasn't that difficult to fit, & after watching a You Tube video I set about the task.  I did have to do it twice though, as the first time I didn't push the spade connector on properly and it came off as I fastened it in place.

That was yesterday.  Today I intended to get stuck into the undercoating, but found that I only have extremely narrow brushes, so I will buy some broader ones and get stuck in on Friday.
I have been baking/cooking things though, and so far this week have made butternut squash and tomato soup, cauliflower cheese soup, ciabatta bread and a pork pie.

By the way, the achievement?  Fixing the oven myself of course!  :)

Resolutions?

Have you made any?
Nah! Me neither.
What I think I will do is make decisions to try to do certain things.
One nearly everyone decides upon is to lose weight at this time of year.  I'm not going to go on a silly drastic weight loss diet, that as soon as I stop the weight will pile back on, no, I'm just going to pick healthier food, and try not to comfort eat.
I love reading, so I think I might try to read at least one "classic" book this year.
I'm also going to try to make serious dents in my fabric and wool stash, even trying not to buy any of either, for at least the first six months of the year.
There's a patchwork quilt I have all the fabric for and started, but ground to a stop, make a bit more of that up, perhaps even finish it might be a goal, but definitely  do some more.
I've long thought I would like to do some entrelac knitting, go that can go on my list.
I'm enjoying making my own bread, and like the varieties I can create, so that can join the list, too.
Try to tidy up my pot garden, get rid of weeds, etc.
This one is probably a necessity.  I think the kitchen is long overdue a re-paint.  Peach/apricot I think, with white wood work, and try to get a kitchen door.

There, I don't think those goals are too bad, they are achievable, and require me spending time doing things, which will keep me distracted from being on my own.

I'd love 2013 to bring along a "Mr Right", but I'm not holding my breath.