2021: The Best Year Yet! April edition

So March was a bit more successful than February... not that February was unsuccessful. Just because I didn’t fulfil some challenges, it doesn’t make it unsuccessful. The weather was better too. We had that random day where it was like 25 degrees... before it went back to cold again :’)

So what happened in March? Well, like over 30 million other people in the UK, I got my Covid jab. That was quite exciting. And can I just say how calm and collected all volunteers were at the Cable Street Surgery in Shadwell. A big round of applause to them because I was actually embarrassed for the way some of the other jab recipients were acting. There was shouting, screaming, accusing volunteers of deliberately losing forms because they’d been waiting 10 minutes, being deliberately unhelpful... and with what is going on, I could not believe they were being so selfish and so disruptive to other patients around them. Myself included. No one likes having jabs, no matter what they say. And having to deal with the stress of waiting in a place you don’t know, surrounded by people you don’t know, waiting to get a jab, the added stress of restless patients is the least helpful thing imaginable.

Moving on from the excitement of the Covid jab, the other huge thing to happen in March was that, after 5 months, I finally got to see my mum. I gave her a big hug when I got there. And getting to spend an entire week there, even if it was working, was amazing. I really hadn’t realised how much I missed her, and when I got back home and sat down for work on Tuesday, it felt weird to be away again. But I know restrictions are lifting soon, so we will start being able to see more friends and family. I’m holding on to that.

So what have I achieved in March physically and mentally? Well, mentally I’ve listened to some more music. I posted my Marvel playlist here, just in time for the release of Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and I’ve taken a lot of pictures. I’ve also done nearly 3 weeks of intense workouts with Josie - Courtney Black is literally the best as far as I’m concerned - and in the space of 12 days, I feel a lot more healthy, a lot happier... but most I’m proud of myself.

PHYSICAL HEALTH - APRIL EDITION

So to keep the Courtney Black (CB) work going, I’m setting myself a squat challenge in April. The days I find hardest for CB are when she does a leg shred, as my legs are not actually that strong. I can walk for miles and miles but as soon as it’s up a hill... my legs hate me part way up (although I expect my stamina has something to do with it).

Anyway, for my physical challenge this month, I’ve decided to do a 30 day squat challenge... 30 days of all different types of squats... see below. And please wish me luck. My legs will be super by the end of April I think! :p

MENTAL HEALTH - APRIL EDITION

This is going to sound incredibly sad, but one of the things I do to keep myself calm and grounded some of the time, is to colour. I’m sure I’m not the only one as well. When I’m watching something I don’t necessarily have to concentrate on, I sit and colour in on my iPad, and it’s so therapeutic. The app is free - although you can buy some packs (the Marvel ones, which do tempt me!) - and it’s awesome to do on my iPad now that I have one. It’s one of the first apps I got on there actually, and it’s quite fun to do. They do daily pictures, animals, cars, nature, stories, Marvel, Disney, and thousands of others, so for my Mental Health challenge I’m going to share a few of those with you every day. (29/29)

THE OTHER STUFF:

FILM YEAR TALLY = Jan 33 / Feb 41 / Mar 23 (97)

APRIL EDITION: FILM TALLY - 24

Pompeii, Big Hero 6, Made in Italy, After, Wonder Woman: 1984, Lady and the Tramp, Australia, The Fast and the Furious, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Fast and Furious, Ready Player One, Fifty Shades Freed, Fifty Shades of Grey, Sleepless in Seattle, Fifty Shades Darker, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Fast Five, Robin Hood, Wonder Woman, Everything Everything, Shrek, Shrek 2, 27 Dresses, Rise of the Guardians

APRIL EDITION: BOOK TALLY - 2

Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other

After We Fell