"To do" Lists....

 Hey....where did that twelve months go.  I have broken one rule at least. I haven't posted anything since the last one on 31st December 2014.

Lots has happened - given up one of my jobs just one month ago, I was spending long hours with very little in return.  I estimate I have at least 40 hours extra a week to do other things!

Let's look at the last  post in 2014, I had a "to do" list for 2015.  Can't say I accomplished much. 

Well lets see - 
1.  Join a local art group - there is one that is only a couple pounds a day (no tutor), just turn up.  Not done this yet.
 
2.  Continue to go to a knitting and natter group - really loving this - not that I can talk and knit, and since I don't do knitting at home, I just have to knit and not talk at the group.  Whoops gave this up on the first base.  Must think about that for 2016.
 
3.  Plan and build my retirement home.  Ha - a dream for years - I have lots of sticky notes dotted around the house of design sketches.  Will I achieve it - probably not, but we can all dream.  Nope not a dream entirely.  In the process of drawing up plans for an extension (larger kitchen).  We are hoping to build it ourselves. We did the roof extension twenty years ago, but were twenty years younger then.  This will be fun.....
 
4.  Use the buses - see how far I can get in a day. To Cambridge (twice) took best part of a day to get there!
 
5.  Visit friends by trains and buses - cars stress me out - and I don't like driving long distances. Have been in touch and met up with "friends" of the past, not seen for over 30 years.  That was fun. 
 
6.  More weekends away - just love the feel that I can't do anything because I am not there to sort the problems out. Not so much weekends, but a couple days in Cambridge and Weymouth and an overnight stay near Bristol.
 
7.  Clear the garden - accumulated junk, that was to be made into something, but never got round to it.  Ha Ha - I am sure it multiplies.  Lots gone, but still lots left!!
 
8.  Ebay - love it - I have cleared loads of stuff - over forty years worth, some have been packed in boxes and never seen for years til I got them out dusted off and offered on Ebay.  Gone gone gone....a great feeling and to be honest I can't remember any of it.  Yep more gone - some big stuff nobody wants so looking for other means of recycling. Lots gone to charity shops.  
 
9.  Get painting - all my projects in the garage just waiting....Yep still waiting.
 
10. Another trip to Australia to see family......no....to see Australia.  Really want to start from Perth and travel on the train to Sydney.  Then I want to do the East Coast trip.....again. I will call in to see family on the way past. Nope - not planned anything yet. 
 
11. Make my own bread in a breadmaker.  Need to buy one first. I bought one in January - a lovely red one to match the kitchen. I reckon I have baked 150 loaves to date.  I am afraid my own were awful, so gone for the packet bread mixes. 
 
12.  Grow more produce in garden and bake more.  The trouble is I love my own cooking, which of course is not good for waistline. Certainly done more cakes - tend to do ones in the cake cases - all flavours.  If I see something in the cupboard in it goes.  The only fruit we had an abundance of this year were apples (from two trees) and I have peeled, maybe, 20 builder barrow loads, and frozen them for making pies, etc.  No...nothing thrown away - these will last us at least two years. And yes there will be more yield next year. 
 
13.  Read more books - still have over 800 on the shelves to be read. Well I have to get a move on, I am still two down from last year.  I have culled some which now gives a total of 735.  The only author I keep is Mary Higgins Clark, the others go once read.  There is about ten I started and never liked, so they too have gone. 
 
14.  And finally post more often on the blog.  It certainly has lapsed this year and lots have been happening too. Ha Ha that I never did - but it will change I promise. 

Mmmmm.....room for improvement don't you think?  Lets first concentrate on No.14......!