Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I hope 2015 has started well for you. (The photo is of my outfit for last night; I'm back in full slob gear today.)

Lots of my favourite bloggers have already done their new year posts, and it's been great looking at their plans for 2015, and their highlights from 2014. Bits of 2014 were pretty hard. There was a lot of upheaval at work and for a while I wasn't 100 per cent certain I'd be keeping my job, though when I thought about it I realised there were other things I could do and it wasn't completely bleak. Many of my friends have had far, far worse times in 2014, and on reflection I reckon for me the positives outweighed the negatives.



My 2015 highlights (with links to relevant posts)
Staying in an old farmhouse constructed around the remains of a medieval great hall.

Finally finishing that bloody navy cardigan!
Finding a 1950s Evans Tweensize brown lace dress-and-coat suit in a charity shop for £15.
Staying at the amazing art deco Burgh Island hotel to celebrate turning 40.
The Vintage Nostalgia Show. (We already have tickets for 2015.)
The Sci-Fi Chronicles coming out - I was a contributor.
Annie's 1920s-themed boat party in York.
Going to Caceres and Merida in Spain.

Visiting the British Library's Gothic exhibition.
Finding my perfect art deco tea set.

Starting to learn burlesque.

I've been trying to think of a resolution for 2015, and I've come up with one - to finish 12 knitted items in the year. That was one of mine last year and I only managed three, so this year I shall try harder.

My other resolution is a general one: after all the disheartening, horrible news that's been everywhere, I want to make a concerted effort to make things better. On the simplest level, that means trying to be a little more patient, a little more cheery for others, every day. Unhappiness, sadly, spreads far more quickly than happiness, but a smile and a kind word can slow down its progress. I've also signed up as a contact with Arts Emergency, because I feel that opportunities for working-class kids are even less than when I was a little guttersnipe, and if I can give a little advice or help to just one person, I'll be doing my bit to increase opportunities again. And I guess I'll see what other chances to make things better life throws my way, and try to make the most of them.

Happy 2015! May this year be a good one for you.

Comments

  1. Happy New Year! What an utterly lovely sentiment, to try and make things better for people in 2015. It's been on my mind too recently about trying to be a better person and help out others as much as I can, so I'll join you in the next year in carrying that out. Some lovely photos of you, that first one is great, and you look so clear-skinned and youthful in the brown suit photos, it's hard to believe you turned 40 this year. Anyway, you certainly had some adventures in 2014 and I can't wait to see what you do this year! x

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    1. Aw, thank you. To be honest, it's because I can never get the focus right on my camera for selfies so end up in soft focus - it's very flattering on the ol' wrinkles! I have fewer adventures planned for 2015, but that just makes more opportunities for spontaneous fun...

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  2. I've been enjoying reading round ups of 2014 too, thank you for yours, those are certainly some wonderful highlights. I'm still jealous of your tea set and trip to Burgh Island of course!
    Here's to a better 2015 for all. x

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    1. Ah, but you have done some immensely cool stuff AND made it to a blogger meet-up. One day I'm going to meet people when they aren't living in my computer...

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  3. Happy New Year to you and yours! That brown lace suit was a fabulous find, it looks perfect on you. Here's to an even more exciting and fun 2015. x

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  4. A very happy New Year to you miss! Great round up, I have enjoyed reading the blog. I sincerely hope that we will see each other in 2015 (I can’t believe how quickly these years pass by!) x

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    1. Not sure - I have a horrible feeling that Vintage Nostalgia clashes with the Frome event. I shall try to make it over to Wales for something.

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  5. Happy New Year. I will be following your knitting with interest. I cast on my first cardi of the year on New Year's Eve.

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    1. Excellent! I bet you finish it much more quickly than I finish any of mine!

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  6. Happy New Year. 12 knits?!! Fantastic. I've loved reading your blog last year, and look forward to more adventures this year.xxx

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    1. At my knitting speed, that might mean 12 baby socks...

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  7. Happy New Year. Can't wait to see the knitting needles fly.

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    1. Thank you! They don't fly so much as put-put-put along like an elderly car...

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  8. What lovely photos of you and what a wonderful resolution. I hope you have a good new year xxx

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  9. Happy New Year! Looks like a lovely year filled with vintage highlights....hoping that 2015 will be so much better and filled with happiness for you!
    May
    PS: Still time to enter cat inspired GIVEAWAY 2 on my blog: http://www.walkinginmay.com/2014/12/film-chinese-culture-on-verge-of-1930s.html

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    1. Thank you! I look forward to reading more on your blog. I read a piece online about the Chinese deco style of the 1930s recently, from Shanghai, and it was fascinating.

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