Happy New Year! Frohes neues Jahr! З Новим Роком!
I know I’m a bit late with this, but give me a break – I had a baby less than eight weeks ago! As we settle into 2020 and a new decade (!), here are some reflections on my 2019.
Running and fitness in 2019:
2019 Fred Hughes 10. Photo by New Pixels Photography
2019 Met League Ally Pally. Photo Credit: Tom Hosking Photography
Two of the best London running friends I could ask for!
- Distance run: Strava tells me that in 2019 I ran 530.4km = 329.58mi, which is less than half of my 2018 distance, but considering I was pregnant for 9.5 months of 2019, I think that’s not too bad.
- I had a really good start to the running year, with a solid Fred Hughes 10 Mile time and one of my best XC races in recent years. I snuck in a casual but swift-ish 5-mile intra-club race in March in Finsbury Park. Due to pregnancy, I consciously slowed down and cut out speedwork by April-May, so ran a steady Crouch End 10k with Jo (at around 11 weeks pregnant) in May. That was also a bittersweet final road race in London before moving to Germany.
- I ran 12 parkruns from January through May, including a course PB at Finsbury parkrun in February.
- Distance cycled: 1,527.9km = 949.39mi of commuting in London and then Münster, with a few fitness rides thrown in on Cape Cod. I was happy to be able to cycle (in flat Münster on an upright, Dutch-style bike) throughout my entire pregnancy.
Favorite books read in 2019:
- In 2019 I read 24 books. Here are some I enjoyed the most:
- Deborah Frances-White, The Guilty Feminist. I discovered DFW’s “The Guilty Feminist” podcast in late 2018 or early 2019. It’s a hilarious comedy podcast with appropriate serious moments covering a range of topics relevant to feminism and broader equality today. The podcast let me to DFW’s book of the same name, which was fun and insightful to read. Highly recommended for anyone who calls themselves a feminist or believes in gender/person equality.
- Patrick Rothfuss’ The Name of the Wind is a fun bit of fantasy; I read the first two books in this trilogy and then ran out of steam, as the second book got a little repetitive. Some good unrequited love and magic, though!
- Speaking of magic, F, my parents, and I all read the first trilogy of Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series (first book: The Final Empire). They feature a fascinating and unique magic system as well as a strong female lead and a good amount of political and philosophical musing. Would recommend.
- Yes, I was an English major. No, I hadn’t read Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale until late last year. I was finally motivated to pick it up by the press and awards Atwood got around the publication of its sequel, The Testaments. I read both and they were equal parts fascinating and terrifying. The writing is also much more accessible than I anticipated it would be.
- Jo recommended I read Mark Sullivan’s Beneath a Scarlet Sky and it was excellent. I love historical fiction, as you may know, and I also learned a lot about World War II in Italy.
Other highlights of 2019, in no particular order:
Thames/Greenwich/London
Goodbye for now, London
Last Tube ride – Baby on Board!
We miss you, Extraordinary Chickens!
New home, new bike!
Münsterland cycling at 20-something weeks pregnant
Münster Aasee
Very pregnant
Hello, baby E!
- If you know me and/or follow this blog, you’ll know that 2019 was a big year for F and me:
- We decided to move to Münster, Germany after 6.5 years in London.
- We got pregnant (March) and had a baby (December)!
- The above events included a new job for F – working remotely – and me going freelance as an English teacher in Münster. New work arrangements for both of us and so far going well (although I’m currently on a break from work given the second point above).
- I passed a German exam to gain my B2 Goethe-Zertifikat. Next up: C1!
- We spent a lovely two weeks with my parents in August on Cape Cod.
- We celebrated Thanksgiving in Münster by sharing all the best desserts with friends here and making a two-person feast for ourselves.
- I’ve continued to cook and bake loads, which is fun in our new larger kitchen in Münster. I had 6 weeks (that turned into almost 8 weeks) off before baby E was born, so I filled my time with many projects in the kitchen. F and I are still being mindful of how much meat we eat and where we get it. We’re eating a lot more vegetarian now and have added some new recipes to our rotation from Bon Appétit magazine and Priya Krishna’s Indian-ish cookbook as well as the ever-present NYT Cooking website/app.
I’m not big on resolutions but my main intentions for 2020 are to live as much in the moment as possible, enjoy baby E’s growth and development, get back into decent running shape, and figure out how I want to work as a freelancer going forward.
In some blog-related reflecting, here is a listicle of of my top posts via views in 2019:
- Lemon, Ginger, & Turmeric Infusion with Cloves & Honey – still my number-one viewed post! A delicious, warming, healing infusion
- A New Favorite (& possibly the BEST) Pancake Recipe – this remains our go-to pancake recipe and we’ve made it for and passed the recipe on to multiple friends in Germany
- Baked Scallops in White Wine Cream Sauce – a creamy, slightly fancy scallop bake nice on a cold winter’s day
- Issues in Modern Culture – overview of my MA program(me). Already 6-7 years ago!
- Smitten Kitchen’s Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies – just the best classic oatmeal-raisin cookies
- Kale Sautéed in Olive Oil and Garlic – my favorite way to cook and eat kale. Works well with chard, too
- Käsekuchen (German cheesecake) – F’s favorite. Takes a bit of work but is totally worth it
- English Grammar Workshop: Prepositions – should I write more English teaching content?Comment if yes!
- Roasted Eggplant with Crispy Chickpeas, Lamb Meatballs, & Yogurt-Tahini Sauce – 4 recipes in one! Choose a couple or make them all
- Rhabarberkuchen mit Quarkcreme und Streuseln (Rhubarb Cake) – another classic German cake of many layered components. Make it in spring/early summer when the rhubarb is fresh!
Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and successful 2020.
Wherever I am, you are there also 