01 Jan 2007
Happy New Year
Happy New Year to everyone!
As I've almost certainly said somewhere here before, I'm not really one for making resolutions in the New Year, partly because I think that the coldest, wettest, grimmest time of the year is the worst possible environment for encouraging you to stick to them. However, I have been thinking about some things I'd like to change a bit in the coming year.
The second half of 2006 involved a lot of upheaval; we bought and moved to our first house, I had a long trip to Brazil, and then I was in hospital or recuperating for much of the rest of the year. So in 2007, I want to slow down a bit. I know that it's going to be incredibly busy (particularly the first half of the year), but I want to make sure that I make time to relax properly.
You all know what an inveterate geek I am, so I'm sure you'll appreciate the import of the following resolution -- I want to spend more time away from the computer, preferably outside. Now, I *love* messing about on the computer, writing, coding and tinkering, but it does tend to suck you in. A vague idea that you might spend an hour or so working on something turns into an entire day hunched over a keyboard. So, while I still want to write here, post my photos and work on Tracks, I want to focus that activity into smaller amounts of time, and spend the rest reading, listening to music, working in the garden with Mr. Bsag, walking or cycling. [Getting rid of the car](http://www.rousette.org.uk/blog/archives/christmas-roundup/) should certainly increase the walking and cycling (I plan to cycle to work most days, rather than taking the train), and we've also got another incentive to spend more time outdoors. A short while after we moved in, we rented an allotment plot at the end of our street, for the princely sum of £25 a year. Our plot had been under grass for a couple of years, so we were waiting for the Council to rotovate it to plough the grass into the soil and break it up. I was excited to find on a walk to the allotments this morning that it has finally been done, so we can start planning all the lovely vegetables we're going to grow in the spring. Healthy outdoor exercise with some fresh, tasty, organic vegetables and salads as the end result sounds like just the ticket for 2007.2
Gardening and cycling, great combo. Hope you're able to get digging soon!3
Keith: Oh yes, I'm not into New Year's Resolutions that involve unpleasant or difficult things
. Seriously though, I don't see why resolutions can't be enjoyable things -- it certainly makes them easier to keep. Though prising myself away from the computer -- however nice the alternative is -- won't be easy. Thanks for your kind words about this blog. I'm not planning to give it up, though postings might become slightly less regular. On the positive side, I might have more interesting things to post about!
Pica: I did some of the cycling today, but the digging will happen as soon as the soil is warm enough to plant in. We've got a little bit of work to do before then to divide up the plot for crop rotation.
by bsag @ 02/01/2007 6:12 pm • Permalink
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I agree with the comment about not making New Year's Resolutions. If you want to make a lifestyle change, do it when you're ready, not because you feel you "should" make a resolution. Des Lynham was on TV the other day, saying he always makes a New Year's Resolution to not smoke. Since he's never smoked, it's an easy one to keep!5
I look forward to lots of pictures of your garden; what are you thinking of growing? Oh, and speaking as an American who lives in the suburbs, what is an allotment plot and what's entailed in renting it? Have a great new year!6
Bsag – Crop rotation! Just how big is this garden of yours; next you’ll be telling us which area is to lie fallow come autumn…. Radagast, Allotments – now there’s an English concept for you. On the margins of towns, where the working classes, and I do not use the words pejoratively, in their tenements and 2 Up 2 Downs did not have their own gardens, the local council would often provide areas of cultivable land; anything from the size of a football pitch, to a couple of acres; small parcels of which, for a small fee, would be “Allotted” to local residents to allow them to grow their own fruit and vegetables thereby enabling them to supplement their meagre diet. Hence Allotments an area Alloted. And a happy new year to you too.....by Jonathan Briggs @ 03/01/2007 3:50 pm • Permalink
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Good luck with the resolutions. I think relaxation is whatever you make it, for some it's time on the pc! Crop rotation is an essential - how else to remember what went where the year before? Before you know it there will be planting plans, internet searches for veg varieties, pest control......by Julian @ 03/01/2007 8:36 pm • Permalink
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Andy: That's a good one! I could resolve not to smoke too! Radagast: Jonathan summed up allotments nicely. Incidentally, Birmingham happens to be uniquely well-endowed with allotments. I think I remember reading that there are more allotments in Birmingham than any other city in the UK. They really are a brilliant thing -- an accessible way for anyone (even penniless academics!) to cultivate a plot of land in the middle of the city, producing healthy, home-grown veg and getting a good workout in the process, and getting to know others in the community. There was a BBC documentary about Birmingham allotments a couple of years ago, showing the wide range of people who have plots. My favourite was an elderly West Indian woman who grew loads of gooseberries and had a cracking recipe for a gooseberry drink that she has for breakfast, with condensed milk, cinnamon and rum. Yum. Jonathan Briggs: I think I've inadvertently introduced some confusion; the veg cultivation (and therefore crop rotation) is all taking place on our allotment (about 10 mins walk from our house), and the garden will be fairly conventional flowering plants and shrubs. It has quite a few mature shrubs and trees (including a palm tree!) already, but we're planning to gradually add more plants, and probably remove the tiny and rather pointless lawn. Julian: Oh, we're already into the planting plans and researching veg varieties. I've just ordered a load of rare and heritage seeds from [RealSeeds](http://www.realseeds.co.uk), so I'm raring to get on with planting as soon as the soil warms a bit. I do indeed find time on the computer relaxing, but I just feel that I should be also getting a bit more fresh air and exercise for a good balance
by bsag @ 04/01/2007 6:55 pm • Permalink
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Relaxing more that sounds like my kind of resolutionby Keith @ 01/01/2007 3:26 pm • Permalink