A New Year, A New Start
As I am sure you are all aware, it is now 2010. Unless you are still worse for wear and are lying in a drunken stupor in a gutter somewhere, in which case you are probably not going to be reading this blog anyway which is a great shame as this my first blog is very much going to set the tone for the year!
Most years I come up with a list of around 5 new years resolutions which I invariably keep for the first few weeks of the year until one by one they fall by the wayside. I could use the excuse that by early February those that I told about my resolutions have forgotten about them and I can get away with forgetting about them, but that suggests that my resolutions are reliant on others which they sometimes are, but often not.
So to overcome this, I intend to post 2010's resolutions as my first blog and this will hopefully serve as a reminder for not only me but for anyone who else reads this blog (which may just be me, but well one is better than none). Plus I intend to make 2010 a year to remember in many ways and to enjoy it fully, but in a largely alcohol free way.
So by now, I have either sent you to sleep or have you waiting with great anticipation for those all important commitments for 2010:
1. Be a much improved friend - ok that makes me sound like I have been an a-hole, well whilst I do not believe that to be the case I still need to pick my game up! I moved to Bristol 18 months ago, and before that had been to University at both Lancaster and Reading whilst growing up in Cheltenham. Since my move for a job that I love, I have become a bit piss poor at meeting up with friends from Lancaster, Cheltenham and Reading.
So it is my aim to meet up with a friend at least once a month, if not more often. Some friends obviously live closer than others (Bath and Cheltenham are far closer than London, Southport and Burnley) but will commit to meeting up as often as I can!
2. To read a book or extended journal article in its entirety once every two weeks. This is one that I aimed for last year but failed somewhere around April time. I am mainly into fantasy type books but really need to broaden my horizons and there are plenty of classics that I have not yet got around to. Suggestions for must reads are most welcome :-)
3. Achieve an Xbox gamer score of 15,000 by the end of the year! Currently had a live membership for around 2 years and so far managed to wrack up 6,000 which is pish poor given the number of games that I own. When I buy them I intend to play them but get bored after a couple of hours and never finish them, and then pick up the next title I fancy when I am in town! So my aim is to be far more committed and aim for those achievements!
4. To submit an application for full RTPI status by the end of 2010! This one is work related and for those that don't know about the RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute) in order to complete your chartership you have to complete two years of on the job experience. then submit an extended written piece and pay a submission fee. This is then evaluated and the powers that be decided whether you have experienced enough and can be registered as a MRTPI (member of). This is important for my future career prospects and I will hit the 24 month barrier in September so I could be in a position to submit in October (usually two dates for submission in the year April and October). So need to knuckle down and ensure I am organised enough to hit the October deadline!
5. Similar to number 2, but on the films front, to watch at least two films a month. I am one of those people who when asked have you seen this film I often sit there with a blank expression for example I have not watched any of the matrix films all the way through, I fell asleep twice whilst watching them. So I am looking to watch more films this year and again would welcome suggestions!
6. To do more with weekends and days off. Last year I often spent my weekends doing not a lot, getting side tracked by sky sports (3pm-5pm on a Saturday is important for any football fan, and well Mr Stelling is worth a watch). So when I am not reading, watching a film or unlocking those achievements I intend to make the most of other activities that are on offer. Currently I have booked in to see Frankie Boyle, Dara O'Briain and Stephen Lynch early in 2010. I have a spare ticket for the final two. I would also like to take a proper holiday this year, as in going away for a week some place rather than relaxing around Bristol.
7. To start one new hobby and stick to doing it. Now that I have got to the grand old age of 24, I have realised that I do not have a hobby as such which I devote lots of time to. I also acknowledge that I have yet to find something that I excel at when compared to others, but accept there is more to enjoy than just being good at something. I play a bit of football and cricket, and can hold my own at ten pin bowling and pool but not to any great level but am keen to try new things. So whilst I have said this a couple of times already I would welcome suggestions, but just so your all aware I have no musical ability it seems whatsoever and am tone deaf when it comes to singing!
8. To maintain this blog on a regular basis, aim to do post once a week. I tried youtube, and whilst I enjoyed the buzz of posting a video, it took too much of my time and I still ended up with a video that probably wasn't worth watching. Plus I do not have any video editing software other than standard stuff on my Mac so to compensate I will write a regular blog.
I think that is about it for now, I may add a further two to get to a round ten if I think of two that I am likely to stick to and will be of benefit. As you have probably guessed some of these are interrelated as seeing friends would be a better use of a weekend and going to the cinema hits 6 and 5.
I will keep track and post on a monthly basis progress made against each of the above 8 aims/goals. If I was clever enough I would be able to create some king of graph to track progress but for now you will have to make do with words only.
Take care and Happy New Year to you all!
Most years I come up with a list of around 5 new years resolutions which I invariably keep for the first few weeks of the year until one by one they fall by the wayside. I could use the excuse that by early February those that I told about my resolutions have forgotten about them and I can get away with forgetting about them, but that suggests that my resolutions are reliant on others which they sometimes are, but often not.
So to overcome this, I intend to post 2010's resolutions as my first blog and this will hopefully serve as a reminder for not only me but for anyone who else reads this blog (which may just be me, but well one is better than none). Plus I intend to make 2010 a year to remember in many ways and to enjoy it fully, but in a largely alcohol free way.
So by now, I have either sent you to sleep or have you waiting with great anticipation for those all important commitments for 2010:
1. Be a much improved friend - ok that makes me sound like I have been an a-hole, well whilst I do not believe that to be the case I still need to pick my game up! I moved to Bristol 18 months ago, and before that had been to University at both Lancaster and Reading whilst growing up in Cheltenham. Since my move for a job that I love, I have become a bit piss poor at meeting up with friends from Lancaster, Cheltenham and Reading.
So it is my aim to meet up with a friend at least once a month, if not more often. Some friends obviously live closer than others (Bath and Cheltenham are far closer than London, Southport and Burnley) but will commit to meeting up as often as I can!
2. To read a book or extended journal article in its entirety once every two weeks. This is one that I aimed for last year but failed somewhere around April time. I am mainly into fantasy type books but really need to broaden my horizons and there are plenty of classics that I have not yet got around to. Suggestions for must reads are most welcome :-)
3. Achieve an Xbox gamer score of 15,000 by the end of the year! Currently had a live membership for around 2 years and so far managed to wrack up 6,000 which is pish poor given the number of games that I own. When I buy them I intend to play them but get bored after a couple of hours and never finish them, and then pick up the next title I fancy when I am in town! So my aim is to be far more committed and aim for those achievements!
4. To submit an application for full RTPI status by the end of 2010! This one is work related and for those that don't know about the RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute) in order to complete your chartership you have to complete two years of on the job experience. then submit an extended written piece and pay a submission fee. This is then evaluated and the powers that be decided whether you have experienced enough and can be registered as a MRTPI (member of). This is important for my future career prospects and I will hit the 24 month barrier in September so I could be in a position to submit in October (usually two dates for submission in the year April and October). So need to knuckle down and ensure I am organised enough to hit the October deadline!
5. Similar to number 2, but on the films front, to watch at least two films a month. I am one of those people who when asked have you seen this film I often sit there with a blank expression for example I have not watched any of the matrix films all the way through, I fell asleep twice whilst watching them. So I am looking to watch more films this year and again would welcome suggestions!
6. To do more with weekends and days off. Last year I often spent my weekends doing not a lot, getting side tracked by sky sports (3pm-5pm on a Saturday is important for any football fan, and well Mr Stelling is worth a watch). So when I am not reading, watching a film or unlocking those achievements I intend to make the most of other activities that are on offer. Currently I have booked in to see Frankie Boyle, Dara O'Briain and Stephen Lynch early in 2010. I have a spare ticket for the final two. I would also like to take a proper holiday this year, as in going away for a week some place rather than relaxing around Bristol.
7. To start one new hobby and stick to doing it. Now that I have got to the grand old age of 24, I have realised that I do not have a hobby as such which I devote lots of time to. I also acknowledge that I have yet to find something that I excel at when compared to others, but accept there is more to enjoy than just being good at something. I play a bit of football and cricket, and can hold my own at ten pin bowling and pool but not to any great level but am keen to try new things. So whilst I have said this a couple of times already I would welcome suggestions, but just so your all aware I have no musical ability it seems whatsoever and am tone deaf when it comes to singing!
8. To maintain this blog on a regular basis, aim to do post once a week. I tried youtube, and whilst I enjoyed the buzz of posting a video, it took too much of my time and I still ended up with a video that probably wasn't worth watching. Plus I do not have any video editing software other than standard stuff on my Mac so to compensate I will write a regular blog.
I think that is about it for now, I may add a further two to get to a round ten if I think of two that I am likely to stick to and will be of benefit. As you have probably guessed some of these are interrelated as seeing friends would be a better use of a weekend and going to the cinema hits 6 and 5.
I will keep track and post on a monthly basis progress made against each of the above 8 aims/goals. If I was clever enough I would be able to create some king of graph to track progress but for now you will have to make do with words only.
Take care and Happy New Year to you all!