In the deep and loving it.

Bev made the right choice in taking photos of Liliya rather than me and the gala...Martin was thrown in free of charge virtue of the fact he was the one holding the baby:)

I was worn out by the end of the evening, but it was a great night (as usual) and well attended.

Well done Martin Cox for whipping up enthusiasm in Nottingham...it was all worth it at they ended the evening as overall winners. Thanks also to Nigel and Jan, Sarah, Chris, David, Peter and everyone else that helped us out and made it an event to remember.

Had the pool officials not stopped Bev from taking photos, there'd be more to show. C'est la vie!

Calm before the storm...

 M&L making an early start in the little pool...

 David, Eileen and Bobby...for once, David isn't the baby:)

My goals...

1. Landscape back garden.
2. Have 4 Plein Air expeditions lasting two or three days each outing.
3. Self-publish a 'DailyPainting' book.
4. Extend and re-fit bathroom...including a new tank in the loft.
5. Make 12 videos for Youtube.

We've already demolished the outbuilding and shed in the back garden, cut dead trees down...as well as others, erected, relocated and stocked another shed, replaced old posts and fitted newer fence panels.

I'm really pleased that I haven't over committed myself this year because (as you know) there will always be children, friends and acquaintances to help out...not to mention the odd emergency and the list of jobs waiting for me in France.

We also have unspoken goals...like making certain we have a well balanced lifestyle and maintaining good habits.

Bev has her own personal goals, two of which we are doing together.

We are ready!!

I'm still standing

I sit here wondering what this year will bring.
I sit here wondering about my apparent diminishing capacity to cope with what seemed quite easy last year.
I sit here hoping for little change, but for everything to change.
I sit here fearing an invasion of my world...for the robbers of time and stagnation born of apathy.
I'm standing now and want to make a difference again...my capacity has just increased and I want to slay my demons of which there are a few...none of which are sitting.

What I'd like to do in 2012...
Try some things I've never experienced before.
Windsurf the English Channel (something I've wanted to do for years)

What I have to do in 2012...
Be realistic...It'll take more than this year to prepare to windsurf the English Channel. I think it will have more impact if I wait until I draw my pension:) Extend the upstairs bathroom instead, and for an encore landscape the back garden.
I also have to stop over-committing myself.

That'll do for now.

foreboding

I've got that feeling again. You know...the one that you get when you've done something wrong and you know you'll be found out.

Do I come clean straight away and take it on the chin or choose my moment carefully?