Christmas was great. The best thing about it is always the precious time spent with loved ones. The food, drinks and presents are just huge pluses. This year I must have been extra good because I didn’t get any coal (the traditional gift for the naughty) and instead got lots of lovely presents:
Christmas presents I was fortunate to receive from friends and family (1).
Christmas presents I was fortunate to receive from friends and family (2).
MPR is magical, musical and all-round marvelous. It had a number of brilliant cameo appearances by: Julie Walters, Meryl Streep, Dick Van Dyke and Angela Lansbury.
My Christmas was finished off by seeing Adam Lambert perform Believe in tribute to Cher. A gorgeous man with an amazing voice. This performance made me cry the first time I saw it. I have watched the performance numerous times since.
Read & Review at least 20 books. I have read 19 books this year and reviewed 17 of them. The two books that I have not reviewed yet, will be reviewed in January 2017. See my Book List 2016 for a list books that I’ve read this year, along with links to reviews I’ve written for each book.
To create more time for creative projects. I am more than happy with my creative output this year. I’ve reduced my working hours, so that I can still afford to live, but so that I have more time for creative projects. I have also been careful about how I use the limited time and energy I have to get the most out of it. This combination of working less and using my time and energy better has significantly increased my creative output.
To complete 2 creative projects. I’ve completed 12 creative projects this year. This is a massive achievement when compared with my creative output in previous years. For more details of my creative projects see: 11 Creative Projects That I Never Intended To Do… This Year and The Finished Project (candle making project).
To get up-to-date with my financial obligations and continue to reduce the balance on my debts. I am up-to-date on my mortgage and other household bills. I have continued to reduce the balance on my debts. I have paid monies back to family that I owed monies to.
Save up for and buy a new rug and corner sofa for the living room. I still need to do this. The sofa is getting in desperate need of replacement. Both of these will be goals for 2017.
To give up smoking. I’m still working on this on a semi regular basis.
Monthly Goals
January
Start a new creative project. I published my latest short story Soulmates, here is an excerpt:
Treat yourself to a reiki treatment. I haven’t had a single reiki treatment this year. At the start of the year it was due to lack of money. Towards the end of the year it has been due to my Reiki Practitioner changing where she works.
April
See a sunrise. This has been a goal for the last few years. I think I need to take a day of annual leave off work to experience this next year. So this will be a goal/new experience for 2017.
May
Celebrate your 30th in style, including a night out in Newcastle and a family meal. I didn’t manage the night out in Newcastle, but did do the family meal which was wonderful. I blogged about the family meal here: My Thirtieth Birthday.
June
Visit Chester Zoo Islands Exhibit. I actually did this in May, as part of my birthday celebrations. See A Day Trip to Chester Zoo. Start a new creative project. One weekend in June I wrote, edited and then published an article on The History of the National Health Service (NHS). It was a creative project that I have been thinking about for sometime and I was proud of myself because I had finally done it.
July
Spend time in nature. Go for walks in places of natural beauty. I visited Astley Hall Park with my friend Simon. I would have liked to spend more time in nature during July, but the variable weather influenced what I was able to do. Visit a botanical gardens. I visited Southport Botanic Gardens (Churchtown) with Simon in August.
August
Visit a castle, one that you haven’t been to before. Okay, technically I didn’t visit a new castle this year. But I did do a tour of acient sites along Hadrian’s Wall with Simon. See The Hadrian’s Wall Adventure (Part 1) and The Hadrian’s Wall Adventure (Part 2). A goal/new experience for 2017 will be the finishing off of The Hadrian’s Wall Adventure, meaning that Simon and I will have followed the wall from one end of the country to the other.
Celebrate Samhain. Celebrated Samhain in style with my friends Simon & Chrys. Great food, drink, fire, music and company.
November
Take it easy. I tried to do the bare-minimum in November. This was probably why there were only a few blog posts in November.
December
Bring people together to celebrate Yule. Yule fell on a Wednesday, which made it difficult to arrange a get together. Perhaps I will put this on future goals when it lands on a weekend.
This year I’ve completed 14 of 22 goals/new experiences for 2016. That’s over half and not at all bad when you consider the 12 creative projects I’ve completed this year, along with how busy the year has been otherwise.
Mary Poppins: Outside The Palace Theatre, Manchester.Me Outside The Palace Theatre, Manchester.
At the weekend, I went to see a matinee performance of Mary Poppins with a group of people. Mary Poppins live at The Palace Theatre, Manchester was marvellous, magical and magnificent.
On the way to the theatre, I saw a homeless man outside a shop. I did my good deed and bought him something to eat. It wasn’t much, but it was something. I always remind myself how fortunate I am when I see someone homeless. Anyone could end up homeless. All it takes is bad circumstances and some not great choices.
Once seated, the lights dimmed and the show began. The set was brilliant, switching between scenes fluidly. Sets included the victorian style living & drawing rooms, the Nursery, the park and the roof tops. There was also a vibrant and colourfully lit imaginary world that Mary Poppins’ takes the children to.
The performers were all on top form. Special mention must be made of the two children in the cast, each who played their role superbly. Singing by main characters was acceptable, dancing by all performers were in perfect time throughout, with everyone on their marks. The plot was familiar, with the odd addition, but kept its magical elements. The songs were captivating and have remained in my head, days after seeing the show.
If you like a spoon full of sugar, I’d highly recommend you go see Mary Poppins. Here’s the trailer for the show:
Read & Review at least 20 books.
To create more time for creative projects.
