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A few hours into the new year I was shocked to realise that I had traveled to only three (3!!!) new countries in the past decade. Totally unacceptable, seeing the decade before that I made it to 11 new countries. Now that I am greeted with a new start, 2010 is going to be a year of planning and dreaming.

Countries to revisit in the next few years:

• France – Paris again and explore hiking routes in Grenoble
• Switzerland – climb Santis
• Philippines – home. Explore Cebu and Palawan. Hike up Banahaw!
• Indonesia – Bali!

New countries I would like to visit before 2020:

• Australia
• Canada
• South Africa
• Russia – Moscow!
• Scotland
• Czech Republic – Prague
• Netherlands – Amsterdam
• Iceland
• Greece
• Morocco
• India
• Japan

The already visited list:

Europe

• Switzerland
• England
• Germany
• Liechtenstein
• France
• Italy
• Spain
• Austria

Africa

• Nigeria

Asia

• Philippines
• Indonesia
• Malaysia
• Hong Kong
• Singapore

Memories, no? :)

I can’t remember the exact date when I started blogging, but I estimate that it’s been almost eight years now. One of the earliest incarnations being the blog above. He Says, She Says on Lockload.com was created purely for my entertainment.

But from what was supposed to be a tiny web home for my thoughts, grew something bigger than I expected. A number of readers would check in everyday to see how this teenage-earlytwentysomething girl was handling her life in Switzerland and her relationship with a young Englishman across the channel.

I never thought anyone would be interested in my writing or daily happenings. Blogging brought me in contact with people who read me daily, people who hated me and some people, who genuinely cared about the neurotic emo girl typing away hidden behind the glare their monitors.

Then one day, a few years later, that awkward girl grew a little and deleted the blog.

Why?

I realised that I was not that person anymore. When I went back and read my old posts, I cringed at the whiney voice that spoke between the lines. Was that really me? How personal. How pathetic.

I wanted to cut off from my blog, from my writing,  from my readers, who would send me emails inquiring if I was alright. I knew I needed the space. I left my personal internet and concentrated on my new life in the UK with Mr H. Thinking it would be forever…but it only resulted in a hiatus.

Because no sooner did I get settled to the routine of not-blogging, did my fingers begin to itch with a need to write. And a need to be read.

I first tried offline writing. You remember? Good old paper and pen. But I was an addict. The online community was my drug of choice. I slowly found myself starting up different blogs and after a few trial and errors this is what you see. A mixture of my interests and my life. My readers held not too close and not too far.

Do I regret that I deleted my original blog? No. It was the right choice. But I do keep a record of those old blog posts. Hopefully some day in the future, I will look back at that awkward young writer with fondness.

Because I don’t know the exact date I started my journey into blogging, I take Jan 7 to be the blog’s anniversary, the date when this new version was built. So, happy birthday little bloggy!

I want to thank all my readers for your lovely support. From the oldies of the lockload.com days to the newbies, who themselves have just started stepping into the blogworld.

As the old year dies, it is nice to reflect on what was achieved, before planning for the onslaught of the coming year. In 2009…

• I have gotten married twice to the wonderful Mr H
• my career brings a new job & job title. More responsibilities, hurrah!
• I lost 10kg! More than the 4kg, I was hoping!
• Went home to the Philippines
• While there I finally got my tattoo :)
• Building and sealing good friendships with lovely people I met in 2008
• I climbed the Three Yorkshire Peaks

I think I am ready.

What have you achieved last year?

The first few minutes of 2010 were greeted with hopeful cheers and a bottle of Philipponnat. The latter was a surprise birthday gift from Mr H, which naturally had to replace Pol Roger, which will be kept for another night.

When we finally decided to crawl out of bed (it was snowing again and the house was freezing!) it was 10:30 am (late for me!), but we managed to squeeze in a lot during the first day. No birthday cake for me, no, it’s all about pancake breakfasts.

Then we headed out to Beamsley to walk up to the Beacon. This is where I would at one time quote poetry to describe the beautiful landscapes around me. But I have learned that there are some things that evade description, demanding only experience. It really was.

At the summit, we poured ourselves a hot cup of Italian Roast sweet black coffee and toasted in the New Year. I walked down from the peak motivated to try new things. No matter how crazy they sound at the moment. Everest Base camp, anyone?

How did you spend your first day in 2010 and the new decade?

Ps. Oh, this post is brought to you by my new little netbook. I decided to get the Samsung NC10 over a Dell Mini Inspiron due to the amount of good reviews for the former.

Pps. I am aware I’ve been away from this blog for almost two weeks. Will catch up with my reading soon :)

By the time you read this, it is highly likely I will be busy self medicating with a beautiful bottle of Pol Roger.

Not only do I have to grieve the dying year, but  I am also one year on the other side of 25.

Have a sparkly New Year, lovelies!

Wherever you are, however you’re celebrating it (although if you are drinking wine, I dearly hope that it’s something decent…) ;

Have a very Merry Christmas.

And for a little childish giggle…Whine making!

(sorry for the blur, was a bit tipsy at this point ;) )

]]> http://www.knittering.com/?feed=rss2&p=1683 7 http://www.knittering.com/?p=1550 http://www.knittering.com/?p=1550#comments Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:45:52 +0000 Sinta http://www.knittering.com/?p=1550

And something to look forward to next year…

Recommended by one foodie friend, then another in the same week, it seems Kendells Bistro is making it to the lips of the people in the know. I had a to check it out.

The bistro is tucked in between a dance studio, a decent cocktail bar and a sub par curry house. Two of those I had encountered (if you didn’t pick up the hints), but never noticed this little gem, which I am told has existed for at least two years. On my first visit, I had to be satisfied with a dinner at 5:30pm in time for their Early Bird menu. They were fully booked from 7pm onwards. Good sign.

When I walked in I was pleasantly surprised how the atmosphere was very welcoming with their mismatched chairs, art deco furniture and beautiful Christmas table settings. It was effortlessly stylish and French, without the tackiness of blunt ‘WeareveryOohlala’ memorabilia stuck in every available wallspace and crevice. Maybe because it was mainly candlelit, but I didn’t notice one Eiffel tower anywhere. I do instead applaud their lovely Amedeo Modigliani posters (take note: I’m a fan).

There were no set menus. Instead we ordered from a blackboard, which is updated daily. I (maybe naively) believe it’s because the chef walks through the market in the morning to be inspired for the night’s dishes.

What followed was a decent house red (please forgive me, French wine has never been my favourite), a starter of salmon and main of belly pork. Very very tasty. The portion of the main was a tad too big for me though. The cooking was rustic and down to earth, definitely not ostentatious for the sake of it.

The service was lovely. No snobbery or pomp. Maybe at times the service staff were a bit overeager. But very pleasant and helpful.

It feels like this restaurant is very much for the chef. But not in a bad way. He has surrounded himself with beautiful things and beautiful food. As Steve Kendell mentions on his website:

Kendells Bistro is all about me me me with no apologies it’s the sum total of my life so far my thoughts on cooking the dishes that I have eating in through out France this is what I do for a living its one of the few things that I do well. It is what I do. Cook.

My second visit was a late dinner at 8:45pm. Again, fully booked. The food was even better and this time around, the French wine served has finally turned me into a believer. Thank you, Chateau Martinens Margaux 2005, full bodied, heavy, delicious, be careful.

This is where I came to toast what would have been my grandmother’s 81st birthday. A woman who had a flair for style and a taste for food with heart. As usual, only the best for you, my dear Lola.

T x

Kendells Bistro
St Peters Square
Leeds
LS9 8AH
0113 2436553

Yesterday was our first proper snow day. I had booked a table for two at a lovely bistro that evening. But first I needed to survive my last day in the office before the New Year. I didn’t want to bring a change of clothes, but I didn’t want to be boring either. Actually, I wanted to be a bit brave and make good my decision to add some colour into my daily wardrobe.

I decided on this lovely paint splash dress I got from Blue Inc, slid on a cinch belt (they improve almost everything) and covered my shoulders with my fave versatile blazer to ‘office it up’. I also dug out my reliable yet stylish winter boots. These babies’ 3+ inch heels work the snow and ice, because while living in Switzerland I took them to a shoe repair guy, who put treads on them that would rival Goodyear car tyres. There’s a tip for you, make these people your friends.

I was so surprised how well this outfit worked. I got complimented so much, it definitely pays to be creative. I never really thought I could pull off such a colourful dress, especially against a stark white background of snow. A sure winner for my Christmas evening outfit.