Happy new year everybody! Unfortunately workdays in 2011 are much the same as in 2010, but the days off between Christmas and New Year were great.

Christmas eve started with some car trouble. We were supposed to pick up my brother in Boekelo and drive to Apeldoorn to my mom to celebrate Christmas there, but we got stuck in the 20 - 30 cm of snow in our neighboorhood. Matthijs diagnosed (based on how the wheels turned/didn't turn) that the car was broken and with lots of effort we pushed the car into a parking space and called my mom to come pick us up. Utterly frustrated/disappointed/angry/sad (time of the month...) we went back inside again to wait for our 'taxi' but at some point I came up with an argumentation why the car might not be broken. After some Googleing and consulting my dad we decided that the car was not broken at all, it was just the trice damned snow. So again with a lot of effort we pushed/drove the car to a snow free street and it functioned like it always did. Called mom again, who was already in Boekelo with my brother, told her to take Chris to Apeldoorn and followed in our own car. What a waist of time and energy...

The evening was then spent in peace. Next morning we had brunch and then we played Arkham Horror with added rules that on a die roll of six or a gate opening we could get a present from under the three. Otherwise we would never get around to all the presents before Matthijs would leave for Harderwijk. I got the DVD "Princess and the Frog" a Cat Activity Fun Board, a 1000 piece puzzle with puzzle glue, teaspoon measurement tools, a subscription for four Knipmode editions, a Simon's cat book, a foldable plastic bowl, Japanese noodles, chocolate and a mixer (staafmixer actually). Some of those presents are for both Matthijs and me. Matthijs left after we finished the game to have dinner with his mother and family.

We had dinner and after that a good talk about expectations of life. Then Matthijs came to pick Chris and me up. We left Chris at my dad's place with a pile of Magic The Gathering cards from Matthijs to look through and went to Harderwijk for the last bit of Christmas celebration with Matthijs' mom. Went to bed late and did a minimal breakfast because not much later we would have lunch with Matthijs' dad. We had a good walk on the frozen Wolderwijd before lunch and quickly after lunch we departed again for a short (30 minute) visit to my grandparents from mother's side. Picked up Chris there and saw my mom and Moniek again. Then we took off again to visit my dad and Mieke. Had dinner there with my other grandmother present and around 20:00 decided to drive home again even though the roads were said to be icy. We made it home safely.

Of course I did nearly nothing of the things that are on my sewing/crafting todo list... That's how free time works: when you have to work you brim with plans you have no time for, when you do have time you get too lazy to do something. However, I did make two pants; one for belly dancing (based on an old pair of jeans) and one to wear under a skirt (harem pants) that were not on my todo list. Yesterday (of course, on the last free day of the week) I worked on a summer dress that was on my todo list. I had used the pattern before with good results but this time it was a bit disappointing. I don't know if it was the fabric or something else but it needed a zipper where my first try did not (perhaps the first one was a bit stretchy, though it didn't feel that way) and I can not wear a push up bra or it won't close.. I have too much boobage for the dress in this size. Blah. Still, it fits and I like the color, so I'll wear it anyway. I just have to find a new pattern or greatly adjust this one for the pink fabric I had planned for another of these dresses.

We went shopping on Wednesday and I got me three pairs of jeans (total about 109 euros) and two push up bras that will take some time getting used to (since I normally only wear sports bras) but actually improve my figure (well duh). So 'yay' on the clothing part of life.

Last day of 2010. In the early afternoon we made 'oliebollen' and 'appelflappen' and visited my brother to drop some off. He spent his whole week and new year home alone while his house mates were visiting family. The evening we spent quietly together, alternating between watching tv and working on a puzzle of a woman and two leopards (still not finished). Called some family after the 00:00 mark and decided that we were just too lazy to go out and "travel all the way" to Joost through the cold. Sorry Joost, really. I'm sure we would've enjoyed being there, but it really was the "getting there" that demotivated us.

I have no list of good intentions for this year. I'll keep on the Montignac diet a while longer and hope it will start working some day, meanwhile it is motivating just to eat healthier. Hopefully we'll find a house and do the big move this year. I hope to work away some of the fabric stash I have. It's mostly synthetic though and I started to prefer natural fabrics. When we've finally moved I might go look for some volunteer work (something with animals) and perhaps try out reenactment. I have no urge or drive to try out new larp events but I still like sewing costumes. And that's all I can think of for now. Back to work. Oh... trying to get a raise might be a good intention.