A new year's resolutions

I would quite happily forget my birthday and pretend it doesn’t happen and hasn’t happened for many a year - I already forget what my age is so I guess the next step is forgetting the entire date. Look forward to that one! But people just won’t let you.

So when it was that time of the year again at the weekend, I was very very pleased that it was on a day when I had already been invited to someone else’s party, so when people asked I was able to say that yes I was going out on my birthday - but quite happily not to a party thrown for me or by me – just turn up and be a guest at someone else’s do. And very enjoyable it was too. I think one of my worst horrors would be anyone ever arranging any kind of ‘surprise’ parties – surprises like that are the stuff of nightmares and Cilla Black…

But I have had to accept the fact that I will now have to put 'age 38' on forms – well, if I can remember how old I am – and I am indeed moving ever closer to that over 40s category. Bugger, do i have to change the intro to this blog too?

To test out the spirit of maturity and sensibleness that presumably must now come with my increasingly old age, I thought I’d have a look back and reflect on the past year and think about what I want to do over the next 12 months – which I know will, like the last, fly by whatever happens – that's an age thing as well. If nothing else birthdays seem an apt time to make resolutions - better than those that everyone makes at New Year then finds January so depressing they have to turn to cigarettes/ alcohol/ chocolate etc.

So things I am pleased I have done in the last year – I have:
Finished – and successfully passed – an MA (and must remember though I love learning things... never again !!)
Stopped smoking – properly as opposed to the just-maybe-having-well-ok-one or- two-wont-really-count type stopping
Got fitter and healthier – although not yet marathon woman type fitness – I have lost weight which took me by surprise, I do some – albeit at the moment ‘gentle’ – exercise regularly, I think i eat much healthier – I think recent nagging from the chiropractor helped – and even have less wine without too much trauma.
Rediscovered the joys of horse riding – after a good 20 years or so out of the saddle
Got the upstairs of the house done up and redecorated – except the bathroom but that will need serious surgery some time in the future and will do for now
Been to 2 new places I’d never been to before – Paris and Belfast, both fab in very different ways.

All in all not a bad year then, had lots of fun and enjoyable stuff… so what about the next 12 months..

What do I want to do?

The most challenging – bollox I’ll just say difficult/ terrifying/ hugely risky thing – will be leaving my job. Having decided that I don’t want to just get another job as I would be doing the same things and have the same things that bore me or frustrate me just in a different organisation - so I want to set up on my own.
I've given it lots of thought and spoken to others who've done similar, I’ve shared it in much confidence with one or two people I trust and who are potential good contacts – and their advice and supportive comments have been hugely encouraging.
I know the only thing stopping me is the financial risks but if I give myself 12 months then I can work it out properly, get some proper advice and have plans in place. I know it’ll be hard work – but I work damn hard at the moment just for someone else!

By default this will help me with my next resolution – to sort out my finances and stop spending every penny and more that I get in. If I want to work for myself then I have to get much much better at the financial stuff. And I really should start doing things which sound tedious but mature like compare prices and companies for stuff like insurance and phones and gas and boring stuff. (see that’s the wrong attitude I have there already – I should be saying it will be exciting when I realise what I’ve been missing and how much money I can save by switching things – honest!)

I definitely will do at least one charity run – though maybe not a marathon this year; and will continue to not ‘diet’ because I don’t/ cant do that – but keep up a healthier lifestyle. I have clothes that range from size 8-14 in my wardrobe(s) and though I don’t think I’ll ever see a size 8 again I would like to be more towards the smaller end of that range.

That’s just made me think I need to have a clear out. A new year spring clean (in autumn) And stop hoarding stuff and become more organised so I can find things, and, don’t have to have huge clear outs of stuff when I can't shut cupboards or drawers – the garage would be a good starting point – if I tried to park a car in there the only one I could get in would be a toy car. And become more organised generally so I’m not always rushing, late, forgetting to pay bills, or send in dinner money to school etc

Keep up the horse riding – starting again this week as I haven’t been since I hurt my back – and I am very excited as I have found a friend to go riding with who is just as excited about rediscovering horses as I am. So that’s going to be fun. And I would really like to take up guitar playing – I bought one over a year ago intending, as I do, to find a night class to join – and never have. But I'd like to give it a go.

And finally, be a better blogger. Having just discovered the world of blogs a few months ago, I haven’t written as often as I’d like – and also don’t check in regularly enough so I end up missing things on the other blogs I really like and having loads to catch up on.

So, reading this back, the picture I seem to have painted is that in 12 months time I will be sitting on a horse, having just completed a marathon, wearing size 8 jodhpurs, organising a meeting with my bank manager in my diary which presumably will be on the laptop I am using to update my blog while I strum a guitar.. Over ambitious – me?! watch this space!