First footing

 

Happy New Year!

A swift look back at 2012 in no particular order

The ups:

Swam in North Sea

Completed a full year of the Write 1 Sub 1 monthly challenge leading to short stories being published.

Joined a writing group and wrote for a read some pieces on local radio.

Started Flower Arranging classes and won the trophy for best beginner out of two classes

Held a party at the coast.

A healthy new grandson

Special people treated successfully for cancer

Spent a weekend away with my sisters and an afternoon tea with many of my female cousins; ideas which had been talked about for ages.

The downs:

Lost close relatives and friends.  The downside of being blessed with a large family is that lots of celebrations are balanced with worries and losses.

I have much to be thankful for.

So what of the coming year?  While I subscribe to the Yiddish proverb which translates to “man plans, god laughs”,  I do believe in trying new things, so:

I have taken up the weekly W1S1 challenge.

I aim to complete my novel/novella

Finish those projects on my to do list.

The eat healthy, keep fit, watch weight are givens!

What would yours be?

James, from my writing group, is doing a survey and asked me my 5 best authors and 5 best books, which are not the same thing.

It wasn’t easy but this was my reply:

Authors:
Penelope Lively
Anita Shreve
Faye Kellerman
Anne Tyler
Nora Ephron

Books
The Millennium Trilogy:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl who played with Fire
The Girl who kicked the Hornets' Nest
by Stieg Larsson

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

and

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

 

Reading:

Just read The Colonel and his Daughter by fellow blogger Teresa Ashby.  Great read, funny and pacy.

My next read will be by A life of two halves by my friend and ex-colleague Tom Murphy.  The title refers to the years being brought up a catholic and becoming a priest then leaving the priesthood to marry and a change career to teaching.

Watched:

Quartet.  Lovely film with great acting.  Apart from the main actors, other parts were taken by real musicians and artists.

Absolutely nothing on the TV over the holidays to mention. 

Writing:  As much as I can to keep up with the weekly challenge.

I leave you with the thought that the days are getting longer and shoots of bulbs can be seen in the garden.  Make your year a good one.