Hopes and Fears by Keen (New Year's Resolutions)

Member Name: marandina

Product:	New Year's Resolutions
Date:	14/02/06 (135 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some

Disadvantages: Who knows?

To tell you the truth, I’m not a big believer in New Year’s Resolutions. I never make ‘em, I don’t really go with the whole concept at all. The thing is, if you are going to change your life then why wait until 1st January to do it? I dinna really need a dram of whisky and a whiff of haggis to make me want to alter things but there is a place for revising you hopes and fears for the times ahead. Nope, I haven’t been watching Paul McKenna either (well, actually I have but it doesn’t have a bearing on this review). So that’s the end of that opinion then and you all mark me down with an SU or NU right? Harrrumppphhh. No, no, no, I do have objectives for this year which are simply things that I want to achieve. These will make a difference to previous years...maybe. Ironically, I noticed my good lady had written out a list of objectives for 2006 only last night. I’ve never seen her do that before. Hmmmmm.

First of all, I want to be as healthy as possible. I don’t do to badly I suppose but I’ve got the annual Marie Curie 10K coming up in March so I’m trying to make sure I’m ready and able on the day. Training is important as one year I recall a really bad preparation for the 10K where I was so busy at work that I wasn’t getting an opportunity to go out for my runs during the week. I try to go out 2 or 3 times usually clocking up around 4 miles a time. On this occasion, I just didn’t get the training in and found the circuit a veritable trial of torture that particular year. This year has gone OK so I’d hope to do the run in around an hour.

I really want to write more fiction this year. I love writing in general and fiction in particular but it takes me so long once I start. I recently wrote a piece for ABCTales.com that was around 2300 words. It took me around 5 hours by the time I’d written it, re-written it, corrected it and corrected it again. I’m like it with stuff I post anyway but I tend to remember errors I’ve made after I’ve written/posted and just have to go back and edit over and over again. It drives me nuts, really although I’m sure you haven’t noticed in the quality of my stuff on Dooyoo *grin* I am considering trying The Writer’s Bureau too which is a comprehensive writing course by correspondence. I’m not happy with the amount that they want me to pay and am waiting for a better offer. They have reduced the price once already so I am prepared to wait until they come down to a price I want to pay.

As far as career goes then I’m quite happy doing what I do just now. Having been a commuter for the last 3 years, I now have a job that is just a 30 minute drive away. This has made a huge difference to my state of mind and for anyone that does travel a lot every day then my heart goes out to you. Apparently, when you encounter traffic jams in the morning, did you know that the driver experiences the same physical forces that a fighter pilot experiences when going into combat? That’s how bad things are on the roads these days!

As far as travel goes then I’d love to repeat our adventures of last year. I loved visiting New York in March and the West Coast of Ireland was absolutely adorable. We were lucky to have 2 fantastic holidays in 2005 but if I told you where we were going for our main hols this year, you’d probably laugh. Weeeell…OK then. The thing is, you see, ma wifee disnya want to fly as she hates flying - and so she wants to stay in this country. Add to that my teenage daughter was bored in Ireland last year (she gets bored soooooooo easily) then, for the first time, we’ve invited one of her friends to come along to keep her occupied. Yessirre, we’re off to...erm...Great Yarmouth! Now, no offence to Great Yarmoutharians (I made that up, y’know) but I rather thought I’d finished with holidays like that, these days. You know, kiss-me-quick hats, trays of chips with tomato sauce and holiday camps in general. Bah, the things I do for my family but I’ve already told my other ‘alf that we is going abroad again in 2007!

I’ve also had to finally relent on the doggie front. My lot have been pestering me for a dog for ages but when you have 3 cats, 2 rats, 2 guinea pigs and a tortoise, you kinda think that a menagerie like that will keep ‘em happy. Nope, not my lot and it features as a target on my good lady’s wish list for 2006. So, I’ve agreed we’ll get a pooch after we’ve been on holiday (Gord ‘elp us). I did ask the resident site doggie expert from Yarkshire (initials SM) if she’d come and train it for me but she said she’s far too busy with her own canines. Bah.

As far as leisure goes, then I’d like to read as much as I have done in 2005. I’ve read quite a bit over the last year and it was nice to get back in the habit again. I’ve got 3 books on the go at the moment including "The Dark Tower", Kate Mosse’s "Labyrinth" and James Herriot’s "Yorkshire". I've also just started the audio book version of "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger for the car journey to and from work. As ever, I expect I’ll clock up loadsa movies as I just love the format. I’ve just watched "Exorcist: The Beginning" which I thought was much better than the critics made out. I’m also buying more music than I have in years. My most recent purchase was “Some Cities” by Doves. Even better these days is when my teenage daughter’s musical tastes overlap with my own. She’s just had a stonking school report so I usually buy her a little gift to celebrate. Following on from wanting “American Idiot” by Green Day”, “Greatest Hits” by Blink-182 and the debut album by Hard-Fi, she now wants The Ordinary Boys CD which we’ll get today. I love the thought that we can like the same music whilst I get the kudos of buying her a pressie then listening to it meself more than she does!

Ho hum, that’s enough of me rattling on. I hope you found my list of wants and desires a reasonable distraction and I hope you enjoy the rest of Valentine’s Day.

Thanks for Reading (It’s a very nice place Andy and Iain)

Marandina

Summary: My hopes for 2006