Monday, January 01, 2007

1st January

A fairly quiet start to the New Year last night, with some family friends and a horde of bell ringers, who all disappeared at 11.15 to ring in the New Year at the cathedral.

I've got some "unofficial" resolutions, some of which I don't want to share. Some are just ideas of things I want to do, which might not happen this year but sometime in the future.
So, the things I'm thinking about (for public consumption) are:

- to improve my driving and become more confident. I think driving is a fairly essential skill (well, I couldn't do my job if I didn't!), and I'm a reasonable driver, but I would like to be much better. I would encourage others to do the same - my mum has come across a large number of people (mainly women) at her bereavement group who let their partner do all the driving. Some have now had to move house to get near to shops or a bus route, or depend on friends for lifts, making it much harder to be independent. So, after a discussion with a neighbour (who's in the police) I'm going to join the Institute of Advanced Motorists sometime this year. Not just yet as my cash flow needs to improve after having time off sick in November and December! I have made quite a lot of progress in the last year as I've done so much more driving for work - a year ago I'd hardly ever driven outside Lincolnshire!

- to spend considerably less time online! I mean when I'm at home. Wireless broadband is dangerous as I can be online anywhere I feel like. I'm now going to attempt to keep my laptop in the study and use it much much less! And this should mean I have more time to go out and see friends, or relax with a book or whatever. So expect to see a lot less blogging this year.

- I've also decided to start the process to become a Chartered Librarian. I didn't think this would be possible as I'm self-employed, but it is, it's just a bit more long-winded and complicated to get the necessary work and formalities completed. The organisation I usually work for is supportive, but the work will have to be done in my own time because I'm freelance. I'm also not sure how long the process will take, but that doesn't really matter as long as I keep up with it. Again, spending less time online and more time doing this will help!

- and I'm signing up for Knit From Your Stash 2007, first seen on Sue's blog and now various others have signed up too! This is partly because my stash is getting big and I don't want it to be, and partly to save money.
These are my "guidelines", adapted from Wendy's:

1. The Knit-From-Your-Stash-a-Thon will start January 1, 2007 and run through September 30, 2007 -- a period of nine months.

2. I will not buy any yarn during that period, with the following exceptions:

2.a. I joined the Fyberspates sock club last month, so some yarn will arrive from that, but it's already paid for!

2.b. If someone asks for a specific knitted gift that I really and truly do not have the yarn for, I may buy yarn to knit that gift.

2.c. If I'm knitting something and run out of yarn, I may purchase enough to complete the project.

2.d. I get one "Get Out of Jail Free" card -- we are each allowed to fall off the wagon one time. For me this will be Skip North in March.

3. We are allowed to receive gifts of yarn.

Have a Happy New Year everyone and see you sometime in 2007! I'm not back at work until next week but I'm going down to London for a few days in the meantime...

14 comments:

artyfartykat said...

You really seem to know where you want to be!
I hope you manage to achieve all your goals,I think I'd struggle with the no wool buying bit, but I think its a brill idea!

Anonymous said...

I like your resolutions and good luck with them all. I would sign up for 'Knit from your Stash' but I wouldn't last :) I note that you are allowed to receive gifts of yarn, which is good news, lol. Happy New Year!

Rain said...

Happy New Year, I hope it's a good one.

Good Luck with your resolutions. You brave thing for signing up to KFYS.

Linda said...

Have a great 2007. You will be busy with your resolutions and you are good doing the knit from your stash thing!

Anonymous said...

The very best of luck for all your goals this year!

Piglottie said...

Happy New Year to you too. Sounds like a good set of resolutions, and wish you lots of luck with them all.

susoolu said...

They sound wonderful and exciting, all your plans. Does a chartered librarian get a special super hero costume? 'Cos I think they should. And you are right about the driving - I know a few elderly women who are now very socially isolated, having to rely on rural public transport.

Happy (belated) tonsil-less New Year.

Mary Anne said...

best wishes with your resolutions, kiddo and happy new year to you and your family!
hugs,
mary anne

Badger said...

Good luck with the chartership, several friends of mine got their's this year, and they've all said it feels great to get it. When I'm a big growed up librarian like you I'm sure I'll end up with that as one of my New Year's resolutions too ;)

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year and here's to you achieving all those wonderful goals this year!

Iris said...

Happ New Year! good n you with the resolutions - wish I had some... ;-) Good luck with it all!!

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year! Love your resolutions. Good luck with achieving them all!

Lindsey said...

This is the first time I've read your blog, but I enjoyed it. Good luck with all your resolutions, they're great! (They resonate a lot with me....I am trying to de-stash as well, and I am a teacher thinking of going back to school to become a librarian or archivist!)

Also....you've been tagged. Visit my blog for the rules. Sorry about that! :-)

Anonymous said...

ah ha! I have found you at last! I think I was your secret pal from whichever one it is. I appologise for you not getting the rest of the deal, my computer died a very quick but painful death, I still have the skeins I was meant to send you, I can't remember what else was meant to be sent, if you coud could remind me of your address I'll get these skeins and whatever else sent to you.

I feel so bad! I never had anything from my secret pal either!