Traditions

The other day I blogged about traditional things to do on my PoMo holidays. Well, yesterday we kept up another (new) tradition - missing the New Year Penguin Plunge off PoMo pier. Perhaps understandably given the weather (much kinder to spectators than last year, but a bit on the chilly side for the Plungers - yes, that's ice you can see on the Inlet!), by the time we got there at 1.15pm (for a 1 pm start time) they'd all been in, were out and had rushed off to get warm again. To be fair, we hadn't really planned to get there in time but it was quite amazing how quickly the place had cleared.

What we were up to was gentle walking and some intrepid cycling by the Wee Guy. Followed by a restorative cup of coffee at Cafe Divano in Klahanie. Mmm, very yum! A wonderful reward for a very chilly walk on a beautiful crisp New Year's Day.

Then it was back home for New Year's Day dinner (very garlicky roast beef, thanks big sis) and the most beautiful sunset I've seen in a while (of which, more photos on Flickr). A perfect New Year's Day all in all - let's hope it's a portent of what's to come in 2011.

Now what?

As promised - having cogitated, ruminated and digested - here are my goals (aka resolutions) for 2011.

This year I will: -

• work out who I am and what I want to do with the next phase of my life. At the end of the year I'd really like to know what the answer is and not feel all freaked out when people ask me what my dreams are
• carry on picking daisies and trying to live a life less ordinary
• stop living small

 On the specifics, I'm going to try to commit to: -

• blogging more regularly - both on here and on my other somewhat experimental blog
• getting on with the online book writing
• rediscovering poetry
• learning something (anything) new - not sure what, any ideas welcomed!
• travelling more - again, suggestions for new destinations welcomed
• living more sustainably
• exercising more

It's a lot of goals, I know - but I think I'm up for them this year. And I promise to keep you updated on progress if you pop back every once in a while.

What about you? Any resolutions you want to share for 2011?

All in a day's work

So, how did you see in the New Year? I saw it in very quietly with my sister and brother in law at their pad in Canada - knitting since you ask! We (big sis and I) had been entertained earlier in the evening by Mr Ebb wrestling with a large box and 2 beautiful teak chairs. Sadly he declined to assemble the 2 flat pack flower troughs I'd provided, mindful perhaps of last year's adventure!! But as the bells tolled (or more accurately, the iPod alarm beeped) I was on the finishing stretch with the last of my Christmas hats. I started this one first thing in the morning and was trying to finish it by midnight. As it was I was only 15 minutes overdue on my goal.

So what else did we do today? Apart from knitting, we partook of another couple of PoMo traditions - a big box shopping trip followed by a visit to Value Village (thrift shop extraordinaire!). Otherwise it was a fairly quiet day, although the Wee Guy did find time to see the man with as many noses as days in the year and tell Grandpa all about it. Ah, family traditions handed down from father to daughter(s) to grandchild - the way life is meant to be.

I also spent some time ruminating on my resolutions for the year but they're still a work in progress on which I'll reflect overnight and blog tomorrow - maybe!

Meanwhile, goodnight to one and all. May 2011 bring all you dream for.

The roads we travel

It's that time of year when everyone seems to be looking back at what's been and making plans and promises for the future. So I thought I'd join in too.

As many of my friends will know, 2009 has been somewhat of an eventful year for me. To be honest I'm hoping for a quieter time in 2010.

But in terms of a review, in 2009 I have:-

• become single
• moved house
• lost and gained a job
• got a new boss
• cried at the funeral of a friend
• been admitted to hospital as an emergency
• said goodbye to my feline companion of the last 17 years
• been on TV
• learned to snowboard and cross country ski (both after a fashion!)
• spent more weeks with my sister in one year than the last 10 put together (and enjoyed them!)
• made new friends and rediscovered old ones

I've also:-

• climbed a grade 6b (indoors, outdoors perhaps next year?)
• lost weight and got fit
• lost more weight and got ill
• put back on all the weight I lost in the first place
• started walking to work
• remembered that I like cooking
• travelled on a steam train and a paddle steamer
• laughed till I cried
• cried more than is good
• developed crows' feet round my eyes
• survived rumour and gossip
• bought a designer suit
  
• treated my sister to a girls' day out
• discovered Wii Fit and Singstar

I've learned:-

• that good friends are worth their weight in gold
• too much stress can make you physically ill (see hospital admission above!)
• being alone isn't the same as being lonely
• there is such a state as "too thin"
• being single at 40+ is harder than at 30
• exercise does make you feel better
• laughing at good jokes (or even bad ones) is good for the soul

I also know:-

• how to make a Cosmopolitan
• how to put on mascara properly (on the top and bottom of the lash)
• much more about climate change, sustainability and peak oil
• to look up more and see what there is above eye height
• that being an Aunty is a great job
• that my sister is one of my best friends

And as for 2010, my main aim is to have quieter time, and hopefully to be less high maintenance for my friends (thanks guys, for all your help and support this year). I also resolve to:-

• live life
• laugh more
• never act my age
• take more risks
• be as good a friend to others as mine have been to me

In fact, this pretty much sums it up. I don't want to look back later in life and wish it had been different.

See you next year.


If I had my life to Live Over - Nadine Stair

I'd dare to make more mistakes next time.

I'd relax, I would limber up.
I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I would take fewer things seriously.
I would take more chances.

I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.
I would perhaps have more actual troubles,
but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who live
sensibly and sanely hour after hour,
day after day.

Oh, I've had my moments,
And if I had it to do over again,
I'd have more of them.
In fact, I'd try to have nothing else.
Just moments, one after another,
instead of living so many years ahead of each day.

I've been one of those people who never goes anywhere
without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat
and a parachute.
If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over,
I would start barefoot earlier in the spring
and stay that way later in the fall.
I would go to more dances.
I would ride more merry-go-rounds.
I would pick more daisies.

Now that Christmas is over...

...you'll probably be thinking about what to do for New Year, or Hogmanay as it's called in Scotland.

Well, think no more - I have the perfect Hogmanay evening out for you. Come and join us at Scotland's friendliest Hogmanay party on Stirling Esplanade where you can see (and hear) the magnificent Deacon Blue bring in the New Year with style.



Tickets are still available at £25 each, or £80 for a family ticket, online or from various outlets in Stirling. You won't be disappointed.

And even better, the weathermen say it's going to be a dry and frosty night - wrap up warm, but then you'll be dancing so much you won't worry about a bit of cold.