How to reward myself

This question has remained unanswered for quite some time now. I can't seem to think of suitable rewards for when I have completed a particularly arduous task or project.

How do you reward yourself?

Some rewards I have considered but discarded:

Massage - too expensive in the UK (I mean I can get a full-body treatment in a Korean bath in Sydney for £35! Why should I have to fork out £100 here?)
Ipod - too indulgent
New book - I already have a shelf full of books waiting to be read
Go to the Movies - nothing in particular I want to watch

Perhaps I am already so content I don't want anything else ;-)

For now, I have to bask in the glow of satisfaction of a job completed.

Do you use a system of rewards to help you stay focused and motivated? Would love to hear your experiences/thoughts.

Far flung friends

I got up today really inspired to write to my close friends who are scattered the world over, mostly in Australia & Angie in Canada ;-)

Much as they are in my thoughts and heart, I don't think I write often enough for them to know this. With the time difference, it makes calling/skype-ing rather difficult to co-ordinate.
Writing a handwritten note always appeals to me but the lack of immediacy rather negates that feeling.
Sometimes they don't write coz they think there is nothing to report about their daily lives so I'm left wondering - just what are they doing and how they are faring.

Ironically, I keep in closer/better touch with such far-flung friends than those in London! We keep meaning to meet but hectic, disparate lives kinda take over. Keeping in touch by email seems silly when so close. Texting I have found seems to be the best medium of communicae, at least I hear back from them as opposed to emails ;-)

Although it does hearten me when we meet up to hear that they have been following my exploits (via the emails) with attention and glee. Just hadn't replied!

Another friend says that now that I'm blogging, things will become even more impersonal - I sure hope not!

Do you have the same experiences?

Another pet peeve

I go absolutely bananas when I receive voice mails that ask me to call them back. My imagination goes into overdrive and I imagine the worst scenarios....

However, I have started to be more sympathetic - perhaps these people are uncomfortable talking to a machine? Hence the leaving of short uninformative messages?

If you are guilty of this, do write in and let me know why. If you have the same reaction as me, share that too!

Happy Day

My first time winning anytime in a lottery/lucky draw.

I won a £50 voucher to shop in Selfridges! Finally, after a year of filling in London Voice surveys, my hard work (well I do like offering up my opinion!) has paid off. The irony is that the survey was so long I almost did not complete it. So imagine my surprise when I received notification that I won the very next day.

Let's see, in the past 4 years I have 'earned' about £40 payment in cheques, £36 in Boots vouchers, £48 in Amazon vouchers and $50 in American Express traveller's cheques.

Not bad but like DH says - in the time I have spent filling in online surveys, I could have made more money working ;-)

Does anyone else like giving their opinions away?

A Fan, A Fan - my kingdom for a Fan

Let's take a vote: do you use an electric fan or air-conditioning unit to keep cool?

Now, I refuse to get an air-conditioning unit simply for the few weeks in the year that we can actually use it.

HOWEVER, for some bizarre reason - an electric fan never even entered the 'keep Hazel cool' equation. I wonder how a device that blows hot air around and around and around can actually keep me cool? I mean afterawhile, there will be no more perspiration to evaporate and cool me down ;-)

Would an electric fan really work to help keep me cool? Can I finally sleep for more than 4 hours in a row at night?

That's it. If this heatwave lasts beyond the weekend, I may have to voluntarily ask my DH (dear husband) to take me to Homebase. I just hope they have some stock left....

Hint hint: our wedding anniversary is coming up - gifts (especially of machines that blow out cold air) accepted.