That awkward time between Christmas and New Years

Do you find yourself at a loss during this weird time between Christmas and New Years? I find that I have too much time on my hands. I eat constantly. The house is covered in goodies and I have no will power whatsoever. Although, I have one more day of this and it's done. Come January 1st I shall be going dry and vegan for the month.

Dry January is a big thing now. I suppose people want to detox after the excesses of Christmas. I know I need to. I had way too much wine over the whole month! I have had a dry January for the last 3/4 years and enjoyed it. I usually only drink on Friday nights so it's not too hard to knock that on the head. Previously, I've had company on the dry journey, but not this year. I'll have to occupy my time creatively on Fridays.

Vegan January (or Veganuary) is a new enough concept for me. Until a few years ago I would have scoffed at the idea of giving up meat. I loved nothing more than steak or bacon. Now however, I don't eat beef, pork or poultry. I might have fish once or twice a year, but it doesn't have the same joy it once did. I was vegan for the month last January and it was HARD, but I enjoyed the challenge. Didn't lose a pound in weight (that was disappointing), but I felt good. More energy. Of course, I was taking supplements just in case.

So that is one plan for the New Year - a boring sensible one 😏

I have a few goals for 2020 (not resolutions):

Read more books (as always)

Write (ditto)

Relax

Travel

Save money

Let go of people who make me unhappy (any tips?)

Do you have goals (whoever is reading this, who are you?)? What are you willing to do in 2020 to achieve your dreams?

Resolutions 2014

New Years Resolutions 2013:

1. Finish Devil in the Clouds  Done. I'm still polishing it off though. Always something to do!

2. Enter the ABNA Done. I entered with Bleeker Avenue. Didn't win, obviously.

3. Learn to drive Done. I have my provisional and even my own little car!

4. Get more writing jobs Done, sort of. Will explain more when I know more ;-)

5. Stop eating rubbish and get back down to my ideal weight (not sure what weight I am but know it's not ideal). A big no on this one, especially this Christmas and it leads on to a big no on number 6.

6. Start jogging again and complete the Dundalk 10k in May. I did start jogging again but didn't enter the 10k. Bold me ;-)

Time for the new ones...

New Years Resolutions 2014:

1. Get a novel traditionally published (this one would tie in with winning the lotto, given my remote chances)

2. Enter Devil in the Clouds into ABNA

3. Finish my third novel, Allie's Return, started during NaNoWriMo

4. Start jogging again, get fit and lose the Christmas pounds

5. Visit somewhere new (outside Ireland)


2013 was a good year. There were lots of celebrations, holidays and fun times. Beth started school and ballet classes. We both made new friends and tried different things. I hope 2014 is just as great for us and for all you who read my blog!!

New Year Resolutions

Good morning world! Happy New Year to you all. Hope you celebrated in style whatever way you wanted. I had a quiet night. Some bright spark let off the loudest firework known to man at midnight and, as a result, I spent the first hour of the new year with Beth. She was still up at 8am, sitting on me and telling me to get up!

I don't usually make a list of resolutions but I do believe lists make things happen so here it goes...

New Years Resolutions:

1. Finish Devil in the Clouds

2. Enter the ABNA

3. Learn to drive

4. Get more writing jobs

5. Stop eating rubbish and get back down to my ideal weight (not sure what weight I am but know it's not ideal)

6. Start jogging again and complete the Dundalk 10k in May

Just before Christmas I received the first printed copies of The Secret Beneath Bleeker Avenue. It was pretty cool to see my book actually in print.

So happy with them :-)

I made only one (sort of) resolution last year. It was to keep my blog more up to date and I think I kept that! Well, it's definitely better than previous years. 

2012 was a good year. I finished and published my first book, had articles published in The Irish Times and online with journal.ie, I turned 31, Beth turned 3, we went on holidays to Carlingford and Spain. It has been a full year and I hope 2013 is just as good!

How were your New Years celebrations?