Happy New Year!

It's a brand new year!  This year I do not hope for a new me but a better me.

I'm going to look back at my weeks and look at at least one good thing that happened that week.  I think that should help with my motivation and whatnot.

I got my good buddy Sooty (basically) last year from the adoption centre

I'm going to take more photographs now that I have the technology.

I moved into my last student house in July and this was the sunset a couple of day after moving

I'm going to stay motivated.  Mistakes will not stop me as they are signs of progress.

I walked 10km for charity in May with my dad

I need to stop procrastinating so much because this year is an important one.

My boyfriend and I visited Ashby Castle in Leicestershire

I WILL spend more time with my family and contact them every week.

My plan for the weekend is to:

• Write as much as my final report as possible
• Finish a section of my final year project
• Revise every subject at least once a day

I'll get back to you all on how my plan is progressing.

I hope to record everything I do weekly, getting my weekly blogs and vlogs started again now that things seem to have slowed down a bit again.

People usually write new year resolutions at the beginning of the year, but I never stick to them.  This year, I'm writing a check-list.  Like my to-do lists, it will comprise of three things and will be added to when all three are completed.

1. Go somewhere new.  This can be anywhere in the world
2. Learn a new language.  I've always wanted to learn Italian, Irish, or Japanese properly
3. Learn a new instrument.  I got a ukulele for my 22nd birthday and I think it's about time I sit down and practice

What are you all planning on doing this year?

Exciting Updates

I walked 10km on Saturday with my dad and raised over £300 for Crohn's and Colitis UK and FORTH. I'm really proud of myself because I didn't stop once, and my dad thought I was going to on the final hill (I would call it a mountain).  We did it in 2 hours and 25 minutes and managed to finished just before the rain decided to fall.

It was also my dad's 60th birthday on Monday.  I can't believe he's 60!  You wouldn't think it if you met him.  He has too much energy for someone who is meant to be 60.  We (my mum, sister and I) got him a microlight experience and he should really enjoy that as it's his kind of thing.  We ate a lot of food over the weekend in celebration (we went out on Saturday, Sunday and Monday).  But alas, I could not eat any of the cake :(

Wednesday Wonderings: Travelling with Headphones On

This is something you probably see every day - someone with their headphones on listening to music while walking around. Are people so anti-social these days that they can't go for an x minute walk without listening to music or even an audio book? And, not to forget, it's rather dangerous because you have little awareness of your surroundings, no matter how carefully you look around when crossing the road.

It's not just people walking around but I've seen cyclists and drivers wear them too. Cyclists need to be extra careful because they are on the road with little protection on (especially as many people don't wear helmets anymore) surrounded by heavy metal boxes going faster than them. And drivers with headphones in is just stupidity. What happens if something goes wrong with your car but you could have prevented it because you heard it before it got worse? Or if an emergency vehicle is coming up but you don't see them?

What's worse is when you can hear someone's music from across the road. That person clearly doesn't want to hear anything in a few years time.