[Ann of Owlshire]

 

 

Briefly, a Who I Am: I'm a 44 year old American woman living on a 10 acre woodland property in rural England I call Owlshire with my partner and 5 y/o son. I work in gamedev, our son is home educated (by ourselves and outsourced help), we have a bouncy adolescent golden retriever pup, a flock of plucky rescue hens, and as a family we enjoy nature and gaming. We moved to Owlshire not quite three years ago in the midst of the Global Pandemic/UK Lockdowns and we're still trying to find/form our tribe of fellow misfits and geeks.

 

This challenge looks a lot like the last one, but with more travel. I turned 44 at the end of the last challenge, and my intention is to embrace the unknowns of our unique and quirky life and not worry so much that just because something changed that everything is "bad" or "wrong." Because it isn't at all! It just doesn't look quite what a past me thought it would look like! We are living an off-the-road-most-traveled adventure, and here be dragons.

 

Dragon Form
Building my strength and stamina and getting a sleeker dragon shape.

• Continue to aim for 80,000 steps a week.
• My weight at same or lower by the end of the challenge.
• Also, reduce snacking. This has become a real problem, I'm nibbling on something between nearly every meal and I'm not even hungry. I suspect it started as stress eating and has now become a habit I need to break.

 

Dragon Wings
Exploration and adventure at home and beyond.

I have two overnight trips known for this challenge:

• A two day business trip to London.
• A three night trip to Devon for pleasure (my annual "Mum's holiday")

 

There are some more in discussion but not yet defined. 

 

I decided not to do the cruise I was pondering last challenge, as it was causing me a lot of stress to decide on and figure out, and the whole point was a holiday plan that didn't stress me out. I haven't yet decided when or what I'll do instead.

 

I also need to set up arrangements for trips which will happen later this year:

Spoiler

• A three day business trip to London for an industry conference.
• A 3-4 day family holiday. We're currently talking London but might be elsewhere.
  • If our family holiday isn't in London I'll be taking another trip to London with the Enting because I want him to see the Titanosaur. It could end up being during this challenge.
• A three day business trip to Prague.

 

I'm trying a new train route to London in September, once I've evaluated that I'll start to book other trips.

 

Mr and I are talking some trips for next year, but I don't think there'll be any serious planning during this challenge.

 

Dragon Heart
Vision, community, and mental health.

• Update Vision Statement
  • One things I realized during the last challenge is that I was feeling out of sorts because life had deviated from The Vision. But actually, life was going in good--even great--directions. I'm still walking toward the same Mountain, it turns out; I'm just approaching from a different route. So I'm updating The Vision. I'm still working to align it and make the verbiage pretty rather than just a bunch of haphazard bulletpoints, but I'm already feeling better.
    • Complete the Vision 2023 Update.
• Be more social
  • Reach out and arrange things with local people.
  • This includes with my family!
    • Arrange regular games and outdoor activites with Enting
    • Arrange regular date nights with Mr.
• Spirituality/Pagan Studies
  • Spend more time on spiritual activities. It always ends up the first things sacrificed when things go sideways, and that's probably when I need it the most! For this challenge I'm focusing on lessons and learning as part of the pagan groups I'm in because it's easily measurable and pleases my inner Hermione Granger.
    • Complete 3 lessons (including the one in progress) for my coven.
    • Reinvestigate the Hearthkeeper's Way (ADF) to integrate in my practice.

 

Dragon Horde
Taking care of Owlshire, creating a comfy place to live.

• Continue the decluttering project.
• Look after my autumn garden. There are pumpkins! 

[Ann of Owlshire]

Week 0 Orientation:

 

It's back to school week which has all sorts of feelings. We pulled Enting out of school late last year so this is will be our first full year of home education. If he was in school, he'd be Year 1, which feels like we're really in it now. 😬

 

Mr is away on a business trip this week. In fact, for every week during this challenge either the Mr or I will be away. We are not quite ships in the night as our outings are usually only 2-3 days at a time, but still....

 

Boiler engineer finally came yesterday, on Day 10 without hot water. He needs to order a part. We may see him again later this week? I hope? I'm getting braver with my cold showers. Wim Hof here I come?

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following along. I like your challenge. 

[sylph]

Here for this

[shaar]

Oooo good luck on the hot water!! We were out for a good 2-3 weeks last summer while we sourced parts too. Something about cold showers building character…! Heheheh

[Ann of Owlshire]

1 hour ago, shaar said:

Oooo good luck on the hot water!! We were out for a good 2-3 weeks last summer while we sourced parts too. Something about cold showers building character…! Heheheh

 

At least it's during the summer this time. A couple of winters back our boiler was out for a cumulative 5+ weeks.  I've become very skilled with the wood stove....

[TrashcanCarla]

Following! A trip to Devon sounds lovely, by the way

[Sovalis]

Here to cheer you on, Ann! 😁

[Snarkyfishguts]

Following along! Woot woot!

[Kalitraz]

Here to follow along! 🥳

[Mistr]

Could you say more about the Hearthkeeper's Way?

 

I used to be an active member of a pagan circle, but have not found a new group to practice with since I moved (mumble mumble) years ago.

[Rebel Pilot Gar]

Following! Best of luck with a fix soon for your water heater!

[WolfDreamer]

Following! Hope your boiler gets fixed soon!

 

[JuiceeTarget]

Looks like a small dragon might be needed until the boiler gets fixed.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

It has been one week since your last post. How was zero week?

[TrashcanCarla]

Also curious! How did your week go? Here to support

[Ann of Owlshire]

On 9/12/2023 at 10:34 PM, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

It has been one week since your last post. How was zero week?

 

 

On 9/12/2023 at 10:40 PM, TrashcanCarla said:

Also curious! How did your week go? Here to support

 

Week Zero (and part of 1)

 

Already thrown off course! Mr was away on a business trip, we had weekend guests visiting from the North, and then I had a short business trip to London. Through all of this, Enting has been ill.  (He saw the GP yesterday.) Our boiler is still dead. We are currently looking into replacing it. 

 

I think on future updates I'll add a photo collage from the week, but for now I'll just get an update posted because it's like  Thursday on Week 1....

 

Dragon Form
77,000/80,0000 steps on Week 0, so a bit to improve on.

I haven't eliminated snacks, but I'm lower quantity. It's a stepped process. I'm also trying to lower portions at meal times.

 

Dragon Wings

I've been to London and back again (Week 1). Tried a new route (driving to a different station and catching the train from there), it had problems (IE, absurb traffic, I nearly missed the train), will refine for the next round. Much accomplished on said work trip. I'm going to do some research on routes and train fares for the next trip to London (November).

 

Our family trip is beginning to take form. A couple of days in the Sussex countryside (with friends whose family have a holiday cottage there), and then a couple of days at their home in London. Now to figure out what to do about the dog...

 

I have a 3 day writing retreat (Tues-Thursday) at the end of September. I decided to add Monday and Friday to my time off work to have the full week off. Those will be at home doing things with the Enting.

 

Dragon Heart
I've poked the vision statement. Not much else done, unfortunately.

 

Dragon Horde
Haha, no.

 

 

 

 

[Ann of Owlshire]

Week 1 (the remains of) Report:

 

Dragon Form
Steps: 76,786/80,000

I've had a decline in step averages lately, need to work on that.

 

I think I'm reducing net snack consumption, but I still need to work on it. I've got a habit tracker (see below) set up for this week which I'm hoping will help.

 

Dragon Wings
I already mentioned my London business travel last week. Now I need to prepare for the one to Devon next week. (And should buy train tickets for my November business travel...)

 

We have arranged our family holiday in November. Two days in the Sussex countryside at a friend's holiday cottage, and then two days in London. Hurrah!

 

Dragon Heart
I think I'll make this broader on my next challenge. I've been binge reading books on home education (more "how" than "why") and developing some activities/games tailored to the Enting to work on some things he's been resistant about (which also include more research into game design). None of my spiritual studies are getting completed.

 

I think this is fine. What Dragon Heart is really about is making time for the things that I am passionate about--home education and game design are also among them and I'm doing a lot in that regard (above and beyond the hours I spend in my day job).

 

Also, I've just signed up for four weeks of adolescent dog obedience classes for Skye.

 

Dragon Horde
Uh.

 

We haven't had a working boiler in more than three weeks. There is no fix or replacement yet scheduled. (A part--with no tracking info--supposedly on the way to the repair people from Finland.) The plumbing in the guest bedroom (runs on a different system) was leaking, so we couldn't using the shower in there, either. Last Monday, the plumber came by and believed he'd done an  temporary fix to the leaky shower but a few days later water was coming through the more wrecked than before ceiling below so... not so much. Now we've torn out the rotting ceiling boards. More fun! (Also no ETA on a fix.)

 

Oh, and my in-laws are coming to visit this weekend! (They've decided to stay at a nearby B&B given our "living history" situation, which I'm sure they won't be passive-aggressive about at all.)

 

In other news, I recently received the digital planner for the Hero's Planner I backed. The physical one comes in December, but I'm printing off sheets and putting them in my notebook. I'm going to making use of the habit tracker this week, particularly for:

• No snacks (AM)
• No snacks (PM)
• 10k+ per day
• Out of bed by 6:30AM (I've recently developed a poor habit of laying in bed long after the alarm and then being in a rush the rest of the morning.) 

[TrashcanCarla]

I'm sorry that your boiler is still out. Terrible! Are you used to cold showers? : shivers :

 

I think it's awesome how many steps you are getting in. Yes, there is room for improvement, but I am inspired!

[sylph]

16 hours ago, Ann of Owlshire said:

They've decided to stay at a nearby B&B given our "living history" situation, which I'm sure they won't be passive-aggressive about at all

Well this sounds just delightful.

[Ann of Owlshire]

8 minutes ago, sylph said:

Well this sounds just delightful.

 

 To be honest, it’s usually a better visit when they aren’t staying with us. The Mr and his sister are prone to lots of micro aggressions and this way they (and their partners) all get a break. 
 

 

[sylph]

I despise having people staying in my space in general. At least this way if they get passive aggressive about anything you know they have to leave to sleep at a minimum.

[Ann of Owlshire]

5 hours ago, sylph said:

I despise having people staying in my space in general. At least this way if they get passive aggressive about anything you know they have to leave to sleep at a minimum.

 

The Mr loves having guests to stay. Our place in London practically felt like a B&B, but (especially once we had Enting) we were all on top of one another and I Do Not Like People in My Space. So when we moved to Owlshire one of my requirements was dedicated guest quarters.

 

And that usually works out fine, except when it's my in-laws