Goal, is the word on the street!

                                 Welcome one and all to the first blog of 2016.
Kick back with a glass of water to soothe the pounding head from the night before. Or revel in the knowledge you woke up bright and breezy and half the world            are nursing hangovers.
BEER
2015 was a grand old year despite the not so grand weather we've had towards the end of it. I was left to run Eden Brewery on my own for a few weeks out of the year, at various stages, having only learnt how to brew beer two months prior to the boss going on holiday! He clearly had faith in me, or, was desperate for a holiday. I've helped create some pretty good beers – although as always this is a personal thing. I also drank more beer than I thought I would, as back in 2014 I didn't like it!

I managed to cycle quite a few times to work, although in November I seemed to start using the car more. And then the floods happened and the bridge I cycle over was deemed out of action, so I stayed in the car!

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It's a little further on than this now

ART
I may still be completing the same painting, but, I created three Lino prints this year. Surprisingly I only stabbed my finger three times! They were a little rough round the edges, but that's all in the learning curve. Two Lino cuts I created cards/notelets out of and the other I'm going to frame and sell. I managed to do three little drawings for #colour_collective.
My Website is getting a small revamp this year, you may even be able to buy my paintings lol (not that you couldn't before, I just need to work out prices and actually tell you the price). A quarterly update page will appear for those interested in my art work.
There are two interesting Postcard exhibitions coming up. Surface Gallery in Nottingham and the Twitter Art Exhibition in America. I am hoping to submit a small painting to each one. Although one painting is to be submitted by the 6th January 2016!! Need to get a shifty on with this me thinks.

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Covered in weeds!
I was amazed by the garden this year, I did not kill anything!!?? Well at least I don't think I have. My “Is it dead yet?” corner is fast becoming “My Gosh I've grown roots!” corner. There were a few things that didn't happen so well and that was down to the pesky Aphids and Slugs. I was asked to review a book by The Thirsty Gardeners in 2015 (Brew it yourself) and devoted an entire blog to it, which I rather enjoyed and the Authors did too. This has lead to something great in 2016 – as long as we can get the timings right. Watch this space.

MUSINGS
Forget the resolutions, goals are better.
The whole goal of no sugar in my tea happened for a good period till I realised I was substituting the Tea for Coffee! I don't like coffee without sugar unless it's a Soya Latte. So the goal this year is to drink less coffee at home (I know it makes me sleepy – so why do I do it?!) and stick to the no sugar in Tea – unless I actually feel the need to do it I.E in the morning at work.

Towards the end of the year my Blogs tailed off, for this I apologise. I was rather busy with lots of things and Friday evenings crept up on me so quick I didn't want to do a rushed blog. So this year I need to organise myself better when I'm home from a long day at work to not let you all down. Be a little more organised at home. I'm an awesome organiser of people and work, I need to transfer that skill to me.

Here's a new Goal for me. Start a book! No not a story book! A friend suggested to me 15years ago when I was a Sports coach/ Development Officer I should do a sports related coaching book and finally I am listening. I may just start this year so watch this space.

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What are your goals this year?
Start off small, create achievable small goals on a daily basis. Progress to weekly in your own time. But, make sure you give yourself a realistic end date.
If I give you one piece of advice DO NOT JOIN A GYM!! You will waste your money in the first year. Pay as you attend and start with a class, this way you are more likely to stick with it. The Tutor should be good enough to encourage you when you need it and not be pestering you to step it up when clearly you need a sit down.

Have an amazing 2016 to all of you. Enjoy the year ahead, go and do something you've always wanted to do, or something you've never had time to do. Then come back and tell me what you did.

Tune of the week
Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Express yourselfElla Fitzgerald - Blue Skies  (well we've gotta hope what with all this rain)
Moon River - Breakfast at Tiffanys (love this film)

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