New year

I've somehow avoided going near a computer very much over the past week of holiday. We've been catching up with family and friends and it has been lovely avoiding technology- reading and talking has been the order of day and I've enjoyed it.
I'm not all that into New Year introspectives in terms of examining my life and things but I have been thinking of the past year and it has had some wonderful elements and some gloom and also.
I've played with a few new orchestras which has been wonderful, I've visited some grand places, I've worked at being eco-friendly, I've written and arranged some pieces of music successfully, worn some fun outfits, gained some new cosplay pieces but equally I've felt very gloomy at times and anxious too. I've worried about health and politics and the environment a lot- I think I've felt more anxious about things this year than for a while.

I want to work at being KIND. I want to be THANKFUL at all times for the good things and I want to go forward with those two words- being KIND and THANKFUL.

Happy New Year to you dear blog-friend.
xx

New Year- the obligatory 'Blog summing up introspective!'

It's funny, the concept of New Year- really it is just a certain date like any other to signify that 365/6 days have passed, I supposed we could celebrate a new year most days, like Unbirthdays, but anyway, it is nice to have a little moment to take stock. I'm not going to say much as that takes far too long and I am far too lazy (couldn't be doing with all that faffing through old blog posts!) but it is also nice to celebrate some things

One thing I thought I MUST share from this year is the kind and generous accolade I received from my dear blogging friend Ally.  Ally hosts blog awards every year called the Bloggies and awards a trophy and prize to the lucky winner.  Last year, my blogging favourites, Minnesota sisters, Megan and Nora, the Two Birds won the award.  This year, to my amazement and delight, Ally awarded the prize to me and the amazing Suzanne Carillo, stylist extraordinaire.  What touched me the most was the comments that Ally made about me over on her blog. She acknowledged those things that I do well, particularly my trying to comment as much as I can on people's blogs.   This is something, I Ialways try to do where I can as I think it is so important to acknowledge you've read something and also enjoyed it.  I've mentioned here before, I do get a bit despondent when I constantly comment on someone's posts and they never acknowledge my existence, even when they don't get many comments from elsewhere, but they comment on other people, but to hear Ally acknowledge that I try to do that, was really heartening and made that despondency recede somewhat! I will try my best to continue to uphold that aim!

It was wonderfully exciting to receive the parcel from the USA from Ally with this wonderful trophy, a present and a card featuring Ally Cat!  Thank you Ally and I want to say that Ally too, is a wonderful force for good in the blogging world- she constantly supports, has fun and acknowledges the good of people in a constantly supportive way and shares a true journey of her style evolution. If you don't know Ally, head over!

In other blogging matters, I have blogged more than any other year previously (319 posts) which is almost 30 more than in any other year!

I've met up with several lovely bloggers- Melanie , Sophie twice and Hazel and had a very lovely time on all occasions. I also briefly met the lovely Vix at a vintage fair!

I've even cohosted a link-up TARDIS Tuesday with the lovely Maricel who I miss for her cool, quirky and amazing outfits and Doctor Who equal fandom. I will try to do some more TARDIS Tuesadaying next year, there's plenty left to do!

I did Blog every day in May and did fairly ok with it- got to know a few more bloggers through it! I met some lovely new bloggers including Sarah by the Sea, Polka-Dot Pink and the lovely Penny-Blossoms,

I wore lots of things, bought too many clothes, lots from charity-shops and made a fair few things!

I've continued and started new regular features- What is it? reached its 30's and then went off the radar as interesting clouds left the skies and 5 brooches came along has reached its 13th post at least and the world has wondered how many brooches I own!

My number of followers reached the lofty heights of 169 GFC and 111 Bloglovin and then sadly dropped- current state of play is 167 and 112 respectively!

UPDATE:  I forgot to include reference to my book log- I read 81 books in 2015 which, though it is not my 100 books of 2009, isn't bad! I read MANY murder mysteries of a historical nature but also read some different books from my favourite genre!

When people discuss whether they should continue blogging, that isn't even a question for me- I like blogging too much for that and I count too many of you as friends to abandon it so I say, I hope to keep it much the same here in 2016, I am not one for dramatic changes and never have been. It might be quite nice to get a better header and template but I'm not going to bank on getting around to doing anything!

In the real world, I'd like to make a resolution to get to bed earlier by 10 if I can (pah!) and try and stay tidier (double pah!)

Now, enough about me, the word 'I' has appeared far too frequently in here, particularly in sentence openers, tut tut, so what about you? What does the new year in blogging mean to you, if anything!

Thanks for your friendship in 2015 and God bless.
x

P.S.  Dental update:I got a dentist appointment for this morning at 9. It wasn't my usual dentist who is away until 4th Jan.  He asked what the problem was and I told him and he asked if it had happened before. He asked me to open my mouth, looked at the back where I told him and then wrote me a prescription for 2 lots of antibiotics without doing anything!  So, I hope those start to take effect soon as the pain is not getting any better and I had awful ear ache today and my jaw is exhausted as I seem to be holding it in a certain way to avoid touching the gum with my teeth.  Hoping for some better sleep tonight as I haven't slept properly for days now! Clove oil has proved useful for numbing the gum for a while as is sleeping with my face on a hot water bottle! CBC has been kind and made me nice dinners and made me go ice-skating to try and avoid staying lying down ALL day.  We're going to a swing dance ball tomorrow night so I hope that will be ok.x

New year celebrations and targets! End of 2011, beginning of 2012

Happy New year blogging buddies!!!!  I had such issues with computer, that several posts I thought I'd posted didn't actually publish. So I guess, the Happy Christmas one isn't worth publishing now!!!    I never actually think about these properly and then I forget what I've thought about.  Also Lauren of Someone like you made a good point that it you can get disappointed if you fail at them!  Also, on a daily basis, I strive to improve things about me, so I need to actually work on things!  I do love the fact about blogging that it somehow makes me think about things more!

Great things about 2011
2011 has seen many great things happen:

• I performed a concerto with my orchestra for their 75th anniversary.
• I began a drumming club at school.
• I achieved a Distinction for my LTCL Music teaching diploma.
• I blogged lots.
• I read lots of lovely new blogs and got to meet lovely new bloggers including gaining a lovely new penpal!

• I declared my hat obsession to the world.

•  I cycled lots!  Completed the London to Brighton ride and then cycled Brentwood to Cambridge.  bought my lovely bike, Celeste!

•  I visited the home of my ancestors, Greece! And learnt lots of Greek vocabulary. 
• I went back to my all-time favourite place Hay-on-Wye in Herefordshire and canoed on the same wonderful river Wye which I longed to do.  I capsized for the first time ever and I didn't die!!
•  I fulfilled a life-ambition and played Maria in the Sound of Music.

So much more than that, but I can't think right now!  So many blessings unnumbered!
Resolutions for 2012:

1.  I will have a tea-party in which I try to cook lemon drizzle cake and lots of other exciting items in my lovely Christmas present book- the vintage tea party.  I will also try to make my own fascinator- which it gives instructions for!!!! Therefore, my birthday will not be a total last-minute disaster!

2.  I will try to go to Lindy-hop classes once a week when I don't have loads of rehearsals on!  CBC and I both love doing it, but when we go, because of musical committments, we don't even manage to go once a month!

3.  I will compose at least 4 new songs or pieces of music.  Only done a couple this year.

4.  I will try to discuss my feelings a little more articulately.  I am awful at this and I know that this is really important!

5.  I will go abroad on holiday and get some sun so I don't constantly catch every bug that children bring in!  Marrakech, here I come!

6.   I will read some more classic books:  Great expectations (Dickens), Treasure island (Er- Louis Stephenson?), (I'm wanting to say War and Peace but I'm scared!)

7.  I will read the entire Bible- I am so rubbish that though I've read most of it, I've never read the whole thing in one year (er- Lamentations, I've avoided it!)

8.  I will get my Guided reading preparation done before the night before.

9.   I will learn to cook something new and exciting for dinner from a recipe! I have several recipe books that I have not used.

10.  I WILL sort out and tidy my house properly and be ruthless with what I cull, though disposing of it in an entirely environmentally friendly way (Like Mrs Thrifty's 30 day house detox).  Then I will actually maintain the state of tidiness!

11.  I will learn to speak some Arabic (for Marrakesh!!) 

12.  I will see my family more than I have done this year- it is shameful to have only seen my 2 year old niece 4 times or so in a year.

13. I will do lots of cycling including at least one epic expedition! 

14.  Super secret target alla Stephen style!

So, 30 things with meaning and purpose and hopefully achievable!  What do you reckon, are they ok resolutions!

Happy new year everyone- 2011 has been a great year for me in many respects, one important addition has been all my new blogging buddies- it is an absolute pleasure to know you and to be inspired by you!!!
And another lovely year with my lovely CBC and his family!