We all woke up fairly late, suffering from the excesses of the night before. Not that any of us went particularly mad. Eldest was at a friends party and didn't get home until late afternoon, and the exchange of "Happy New Year" texts just made me realise that this will be the shape of things to come in the future. In fact, this time next year, she wont be living here if everything goes to plan. How quickly time passes. Eldest has also announced that she is now a vegetarian. This will prove to be interesting on several levels. I was vegetarian for six years, which all ended in a holiday filled with blood lust. I am not suggesting that she will go the same way, however, I think that she needs to be aware that there might be a little more planning and research involved than simply making a decision. I will of course try to join in as much as possible, mainly from the health perspective. I always feel slightly guilty that I eat meat, when I regularly pronounce that "Meat is Murder" is my favourite album. Our final guests left by about 4.00 pm, and we settled down to a Traditional Sunday Roast, with eldest tucking in to a Red Lentil and Rice dish that I knocked up after forgetting that she was vegetarian. We then settled down to watch some films that Mrs Plug had not seen yet, and that was our day. Now, as far as resolutions are concerned, I need to revisit last year's post;

1. Pass my Driving test - This was a big fat failure. I started off well, and had a lot of lessons, and would feel that I could now hop into a car and drive it. I just lost the momentum, and faith in my Instructor, who seems to have disappeared, though I hope not as a result of having me as a pupil. Our circumstances changed during the year, which meant that it was not such a priority

2. Massively expand my business and develop some decent back end systems to make it more efficient. - Well I didn't do too badly on this front. We started the year and ended the year with the same amount of weekly sessions, however, we expanded in to After School Clubs, and School Projects. Getting in to the education system has proved to be a really exciting development, and one that looks like continuing. The Back End systems are certainly better than they were, but still need a lot of work. Bearing in mind that the first part of the year was just me running the house and the business, I think it was a very successful year.

3. To write more Plays - Yes, I managed this, and I wrote a full length three act pantomime, and a one act play called Screw Your Courage. Along with this I wrote a short ten minute play. 4. To write more music again. - This was a limited success in that I didn't make the time to do it. There was some minor dabbling, and the beginnings of some ideas for a musical, but that is about all.

5. To Exercise regularly - Well it was a year of two halves. I started off by walking roughly six miles a day, but when Mrs Plug finished her course, she started dropping Youngest off at School, so the exercise regime stopped. I was quite pleased with my general level of fitness when we were in the lakes, but a bit disappointed that I didn't make ore use of the Gym Equipment that we have.
6. To write the blog every day - Yes...This was a success
7. To get my ambition of getting a play performed in London underway. - Difficult to assess. I entered a play into a competition, but it didn't get any further, but I am now having my work performed all over the world, so I think that is a step in the right direction. I also have the chance to scope out some work for possible performance in London....so not a bad start.

As for 2012....Well here goes....

1. To get us financially secure. - It is all very well being an arty farty person, and I adore the work I do, but ultimately it will be all for nothing if I have to get a part time job at Tescos to supplement our income. We are looking to start some more sessions, and to employ someone full time this year, so it is all geared up....However, at the back of my mind is the whole worry about recession and how bad it is.

2. To manage my priorities a little better - I have found that voluntary work has got in the way of the important stuff far too much, and need to make a few adjustments

3. To Read a book a week - This is a massive task, but one that I really want to do. I really feel that to write, you need to read avidly, and to broaden your palette. As a result, I am compiling a list of 52 books that I want to read before the year is out. It's a rather exciting task actually.

4. To get more work published and performed. I am not at all sure that I am good enough to do this, but I am going to have a real go at it. There is work already written that has yet to be submitted to a publisher, so I hope I can start the year with a bang on that.

I will stop there I think. There are all sorts of minor intentions, like cutting out negativity, and avoiding idiots, but I think they can just remain intentions. I would also like to be a more tidy and organised person. We shall see how these all pan out.