Lent Update

So, when we gave up TV for Lent, I hoped to get loads of crafts done and spend my time doing something, well, more valuable. So far, I'd say I've done that 50% of the time. I've...

Made Easter Nests (when it's not even Easter yet)!

Got a bit more work done on the long stitch I started for my dad over a year ago!

Aside from the above, no TV has had some positive impact:

• House is tidier than normal
• Lots of bubble baths
• Earlier nights= more sleep= happy Rachael
• Reading lots of lovely books
• Went to a Zumba class I'd never been to before

But there has also been a few negatives:

• Restlessness- sometimes I just need to watch rubbish and unwind
• Hefty investment in trashy glossy magazines- for when I just need a quick fix of brain junk
• I can't contribute much to some conversations: "Ohhhh, did you see the final of Masterchef?" Mmmmm, let me think...That'll be a no then!
• I haven't got any more school work done than normal (I hoped I'd be totally up to date). There's something about marking a pile of exercise books at ten o'clock at night that just doesn't appeal- TV or no TV!

Ben and Steve are to be truly tested on Sunday when there is a derby football match on the TV, I'm very curious to see if they fold under the pressure!

One things for sure, I'm going to be watching a lot of trash TV on Easter Sunday evening!

Bye Bye Black Box

So, you're probably familiar with this black box that (probably) sits in the corner of your room. We're giving it up for Lent!

We've been talking about it since January, we usually give up chocolate/ sweets for Lent, but as I've already cut right back on those, we needed something new.

I have a bit of a love/ hate relationship with it, even when I could buy a much larger TV for the same price, I opted to buy this more modest size; in fact, if I had my way, I would hide it away in a discreet TV cabinet so I wouldn't have to see it when it's not in use. 

We thought about giving up the internet too but realised that it just isn't practical with work/ on-line banking etc. To ensure we don't just fill our time on-line we've capped internet use to three hours per week and Ben to one hour (to play on the computer e.g 'Little Big Planet' and 'Lego Star Wars'.

So, until Easter Sunday, we'll be finding other ways to entertain ourselves on an evening! Ideally I'd love to try some simple crafts that are reasonably easy and not too expensive. Ideas anybody?x