2012 – so how did I do with the resolution thing…?

Well…

1. To get to see Arsenal play at least once this year – FAILED – once again. It’s the recession more than anything else. Is there a corner being turned? I don’t know. Maybe I’ll go this year…
2. To visit a country I’ve never been to before – FAILED – not much prospect in 2013, but I will be in Belgium rather a lot for the first half of the year. Don’t ask… Oh, and I spent a few days in Nottingham – a place I’d never have imagined ever visiting, Lovely place, actually – very friendly people…
3. To start cycling again as soon as the weather improves – SUCCEEDED – actually I did rather well in the first part of the year, principally because I changed my strategy – instead of hauling my ass up to Portumna Forest Park, I decided to go cycling along the old N7, which has been altered to accommodate cyclists. I cycled most Sundays for the first half of the year, sometimes in inclement weather. Ironically, I stopped cycling altogether once the weather started to “improve”. I must get back into this, because it’s very do-able…
4. To generally get the oul‘ bod a bit more together – SO-SO – see 3. above. Plus I was doing a bit of walking there for a while, but I haven’t walked in almost two months, I’d say. Been rather busy. Must get back into that too…
5. To have a nice foreign holiday this year – FAILED – see 1. above. However, I am assured by Mrs. P that something might be in the offing this year…
6. To continue the picture painting – FAILED – but I plan to finish off that painting I started ages ago and start some more during the year. I’ve got some ideas…
7. To have a better year at work this year than I had last year – SUCCEEDED – had a very good year at work, as it happens – got a particular monkey off my back which has given me quite a boost!
8. To see friends more – SUCCEEDED – but must try harder!
9. Not to volunteer to do anything for anyone under any circumstance – FAILED – but I got away with it. Everything worked out OK, thank goodness!
10. To stop wrecking me own head – WHAT DO YOU THINK…?

I’m not going to repeat the annual resolution exercise from this point onwards. The more eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed that I didn’t do my 6-month review last year. I just couldn’t work up any enthusiasm for it at the time. And I don’t really want to go through the end-of-year process which highlights just how crap I am at setting and keeping resolutions. That’s it – I’ve decided…;-)

Regards,

 

djp

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2011 vs 2012

In which we see just how well I did in trying to keep my New Year’s resolutions this year.

1. To get to see Arsenal play at least once this year – FAILURE. Wasn’t expecting to succeed, seeing as how the economy is in a poor state and all that entails. However, I do feel a trip to London coming on in the early part of the year. I may have some business to conduct over there, and if I could tie that in with a “handy” trip to the Emirates, then so much the better. But what’s a “handy” trip to the Emirates these days…?;-)
2. To visit a country I’ve never been to before – SUCCESS. Avid readers of my blog (you know who you are…) will recall I spent a few days in Copenhagen in October. And Copenhagen is in Denmark, innit? Although technically I had been in Copenhagen some years ago, that was merely an hour spent in the transit lounge in the airport, on my way to Helsinki, so it doesn’t really count, IMO…
3. To start cycling again as soon as the weather improves – SUCCESS –well technically so, since I did actually start cycling when the weather finally improved. But it didn’t last very long (either the cycling or the improved weather). And hauling ass up to Portumna Forest Park is time-consuming and you really have to be in the mood for it. However, things may be looking up in 2012, as the old N7 road between Nenagh and Limerick is being made more “cyclist friendly”, what with the hard shoulders being widened and all. Should provide me with some incentive to cycle more regularly, you’d think…
4. To generally get the oul‘ bod a bit more together – FAILURE – although I did a fair bit of walking and even some gym-type exercising at home. Not enough, unfortunately…
5. To start doing a bit of handiwork around the house – SUCCESS –I made up a big list of things to do around the house and achieved most of them. Still some things to do, but I’m sure I’ll get to most (if not all) of them by the end of the year.
6. To get back into doing a bit of picture painting (I kid you not…) – SUCCESS  – Avid readers etc. etc. The first painting is almost finished (not much left to do with it, really) and then? Who knows…;-)
7. To have a better year at work this year than I had last year – SUCCESS – apart from a few ropey weeks in early Summer (where the ropeyness was somewhat self-inflicted), 2011 was just about the best year I’ve had workwise in several years. Several severals, in fact. Hopefully it will continue in 2012.
8. To see friends more – SUCCESS – but more to do in 2012
9. Not to volunteer to do anything for anyone under any circumstance – SUCCESS – no significant acts of volunteerism that I can recall…
10. To stop wrecking me own head – M’EH

And so, for 2012:-

1. To get to see Arsenal play at least once this year
2. To visit a country I’ve never been to before
3. To start cycling again as soon as the weather improves
4. To generally get the oul‘ bod a bit more together
5. To have a nice foreign holiday this year
6. To continue the picture painting
7. To have a better year at work this year than I had last year
8. To see friends more
9. Not to volunteer to do anything for anyone under any circumstance
10. To stop wrecking me own head.

Check back with me in 6 months, OK…?;-)

Regards,

djp

2011 – an interim review

Somewhat later than is my normal practice, it’s time to compare my resolutions for 2011 against what actually happened during the first six months:-

• To get to see Arsenal play at least once this year – UNLIKELY – what with the economy and all. And I have developed a severe allergic reaction to airports over the years, which means I try not to spend any time in airports if I’m not contractually obliged to. Having said that, we went to NYC in May which was most enjoyable…

• To visit a country I’ve never been to before – POSSIBLE – I’m being lined up for a few trips to Europe in the autumn/winter, but the chances are those trips will be to locations I’ve already visited. But YOU NEVER KNOW…;-)

• To start cycling again as soon as the weather improves – SOME PROGRESS – got off to a good start in the spring and I think I went on at least four consecutive Sundays up to Portumna Forest Park. But then I was “required” to watch a lot of rugby matches around April and May and that screwed things up for me. Then the weather disimproved and the notion of cycling around a forest in the pissings of rain did not appeal to me, to be honest. But I think I might get cracking on this again. Perhaps even locally…

• To generally get the oul‘ bod a bit more together – HMMMM – see above, plus I have been doing a bit of walking, but not so’s you’d notice if you saw me. “Must try harder”…

• To start doing a bit of handiwork around the house – SUCCESS– not a “wild” success, mind, but I did paint a bedroom, sorted out me gas BBQ (at long last) and did a variety of other little project-ettes. Some done, more to do…

• To get back into doing a bit of picture painting (I kid you not…) – FAIL – too many other things to do, unfortunately…

• To have a better year at work this year than I had last year – PRETTY SUCCESSFUL – everything was OK up to about a month ago, when it seems my mojo went walkabout on me. Things have picked up a bit in recent days, so we travel in hope.

• To see friends more – HMMMM – some success, some failure. Must try harder…

• Not to volunteer to do anything for anyone under any circumstance – HMMMM – volunteered more than I should’ve, but no-one took up the offers, so that’s OK then, innit…?

• To stop wrecking me own head – WORK IN PROGRESS

My, that was fun, wasn’t it? We really should do this again some time…

Regards,

djp