A Year in the Life

As it was my birthday this week I have been thinking about what a year really is and how it is defined in different circumstances.

For example, we have the calendar year which starts on 1 January, the financial year on 1 April, a year of our life which starts on our birthday, anniversaries, special events etc, etc. I think you get the picture.

I think the year which probably means the least to me is the calendar year. Such a fuss is made each year about New Years Eve and having a good time. But to me, it’s just another day and a chance for businesses to make some money. It doesn’t really mean anything when the clock strikes midnight. It happens every day!

I know other people will feel differently about New Year, but it’s just a total anticlimax for me.

This week I was thinking about the past year in terms of the year I was 25, and whether it was a good or a bad year for me.

I’ve come to the conclusion that actually, it was a pretty good year in the grand scheme of things. I went on holiday, had a day out in London, felt confident enough to visit London on my own, made some fab new friends, went on a creative writing course and have read loads of great books. And even better, I have finally started to be comfortable in my own skin and not worry so much about the fact that I am ‘different’ and a bit of a geek. I’ve found that there are plenty of other people out there like me and that the people I care about like me as I am, not how I think people want me to be!

That is quite a revelation for me. To be able to be yourself shouldn’t be that difficult, but it is something I have always struggled with to an extent as I have been too worried what other people think of me and surrounded by those who are very ‘normal’ and basically, not like me.

Well, anyway, here’s to being who you want to be and not following the crowd! And let’s hope that 26 will be even better than 25!!

 

Come fly with me

So it's been a long time since I have blogged as I have had a little break, but I'm back and I expect there to be an up in my blogging action as I am going to review some books and get back into the blogging swing!

July was a big month for me as I went on my first ever holiday abroad, and it was amazing!!

We went to Playa Taurito in Gran Canaria, which is a small resort between the towns of Puerto Mogan and Puerto Rico. This is the gorgeous view from our balcony:

We stayed in an all inclusive couples hotel which was great as we had as much food and drink as we wanted and there were no screaming kids to contend with. It was lovely and relaxing being able to sit by the pool with a pina colada and a book!

The water park you can see was next to our hotel and a little bit noisy, but nothing you couldn't get over. Every afternoon a "DJ" came on and played the same three songs and shouted over them which was quite funny. Particularly as when we got home and put the ipod on, the first song that came on was one of the three the waterpark dude played!




On the Friday we visited the pretty market town of Puerto Mogan. There was a full on tourist market with some "lookey lookey men" trying to flog us the same crap they sell in our local market, but it all said Gran Canaria on for the tourists!

We didn't think much of the market, but the town itself was very pretty with a harbour full of a mixture of yachts and fishing boats and canals running through the town.

It was a lovely change to walk around the town and strange to see the canals when the rivers we passed on the way down had dried up.

It was really hot because it was a built up area so we were relieved when we got back to the pool!






The hotel had entertainment was a bit hit and miss, but there were a few crackers. My favourite acts were a drag act (I have posted a pic of him being Tina Turner) and the flamenco dancers.



We had an amazing holiday, although, after being back for three weeks, it now feels like we have never been away! On to booking the next one then...



P.S. This is my 100th post! Woohoo!


My name is Sheli and I have a problem...



This is what my to read pile could look like!


Ok, so I think I may have a problem. An addiction if you like. My name is Sheli and I am a bibliophile.

I have bought far too many books this year and we are only ten days in! Some people buy shoes or handbags, I buy books. So far this year I have bought 17 real books and 12 for the Kindle. Although, to be fair, some of the e-books were free.

So what am I to do? I spend more time on Goodreads than I do on Facebook. I pore over The Book People catalogue when it comes as if it were something sordid. I am worried that as a hobby this may be going too far. Although, this may be more down to me only recently realising that reading was a hobby and not just something that people do for fun! (Do not ask me how my mind works and how I had decided what a hobby was!) The more I read, the more new books and authors I find that I want to read so it's a bit of a vicious circle for me. But I suppose it's a better vice than crack cocaine or a bottle of whiskey a day!

I'm thinking I may set myself some kind of book budget. By doing this I can still make sure I have money to do other things I need to, like buy clothes and do fun stuff. And I am also saving towards two things at the moment, redecorating my house and the possibility of going on my first ever holiday abroad this year!! 2012 could be a big year for me!



This is how I picture my holiday. I think I may have watched too many Carry On films.

Although in reality it will be more like this!!

Anyway, enough of my ramblings. I am starting a creative writing course next week so I am feeling pretty nervous about that. I feel a bit like it's going to be like my first day at school and have got a new pen and notebook in honour of it. I just hope that there will be some nice people on the course and even if I don't get a multi-million pound publishing deal out of it, then I hope to make some new friends.

I'll keep you updated on my book purchasing progress and on any developments relating to our holiday decisions!