Looking back at 2015

I wasn't planning to look back at 2015, but then I found my post looking back on 2014, and realised just how much fun it was, so here goes. 

In January, I added up how much we'd saved by growing food in our small city garden (I'll give you a clue - it wasn't very much). We spent a weekend hibernating in our friend's cottage in the Yorkshire Dales, and the second instalment of my blog book arrived (the third is now here - more on this soon!)

In February, we braved the cold to explore another local nature reserve, and I abandoned my cheerful old blog and set up home here instead. I spent quite a long time pondering about being a musician. 

In March, I sat still for a while, got all misty-eyed about growing food and communities, and learned to plaster. 

In April, I lost my camera (yes, the one I bought to replace the one I'd previously lost, which turned up five months later, sodden and rusty on the community allotment), and spent quite a bit of time outside. 

I got quite enthusiastic about knitting, and together with Robyn went to visit the lovely Fay up in Fife, where I dipped my toes into the sea for the first time in 2015. 

In May, I pondered being half way to seventy, finally got round to planting some seeds, and we sorted most of our possessions into tiny plastic boxes. Needless to say, they're still there... 

In June, I got enthusiastic about running again, bought a new camera, and spent much time sitting amidst the chaos in the house and the garden. 

It looks like I got uncharacteristically verbose in July. We started the month with a trip to Skegness. 

I made a ripple blanket.

In the middle of the month, I did something to my back, and spent what felt like weeks (but was really just a few days) unable to move properly. It's still not quite right now. We packed yet more boxes (bigger ones this time), harvested a teeny tiny amount of berries from the garden, and I learned to plaster - a skill I have yet to put to good use in our house. 

In August, we sneaked away on holiday. 

We had a few picnics, and hung around in the garden, and I went to Chatsworth House and pondered how to live fearlessly. 

In September, in an attempt to live fearlessly, we started to learn German. Needless to say, we soon gave up, but we will rekindle our enthusiasm ready for a visit to friends this year. In our house-packing-up frenzy, the garden got rather neglected, but nevertheless managed to put on a good floral show. 

I went to the International Permaculture Convergence, where I spent a week sleeping in the car, and came back with a renewed enthusiasm for being outside and noting the changing of the seasons. 

In October, I had an interview for a new job, and everything else was ignored for a while. My neglect paid off though, and after working what felt like 47 years worth of notice (actually just 12 weeks) I started my new job this week. Hooray! 

In November I was still running, preparing for another half marathon and noticing as things turned ever more autumnal.

I also had a wisdom tooth removed, which caused no end of trouble, but at least kept me quiet for a while. 

I lost my blogging enthusiasm for a while (again), but regained it slightly in December after my final day at my old job. Just before Christmas, we spent a night at the seaside in Scarborough - a recent tradition which I'm very much enjoying. 

Towards the end of the year, I finally got (relatively) organised, tidying the house, buying presents early in December, and even preparing food in advance. I don't quite know what came over me, but I'm pretty sure it won't last. 

Overall, in comparison to previous years, 2015 felt a little nondescript. I've felt unsettled in a house full of boxes, unwilling to start a new craft project, not wanting to do much in the garden. I've run a couple of races, but nothing too big that required (much) training. The last quarter of the year dragged a lot while I was working my notice, and I lost enthusiasm for many things.

I've felt a lot like I was looking forwards, towards our new house, my new job, change in general. I'm a big fan of change - I like routine and familiarity, but I feel refreshed after a change. I feel like too much of 2015 was spent waiting, and I'm not known for my patience. 

When I thought about 2015 at the start of the year, I didn't want to set any goals, any themes. I pondered that we might move house, but we never quite got round to that. 2015 felt unfocused, wavering somehow. 

In contrast, 2016 will be a year of action and change. I'm a week into my new job, and today we had an estate agent round to value our house. Already things are moving on. I'm excited. 

What are you looking forward to in 2016?