Tip #1: Start off slowly

So, how was your new year?  Mine was excellent, after a shaky start.  Having bought tickets for a party, my family and I set off, enthusiastic and excited for the band, the booze and the rumoured hog roast that was going on.  At £12.50 a ticket, you got a tiny cup of mulled wine that was unpleasant to put it mildly, and entrance to a freezing barn conversion.  Now, don't get me wrong, this had all the elements of being great, but with poor organisation, a bit of greediness and no apparent forward planning, it didn't turn out so well.  

Being the adaptive family we are, we piled back into the cars at 11pm and made for the house, where an awesome house party ensued and we brought in the bells with drinks in our hands, and perhaps more importantly, warm.  It ended up being a really nice way to bring in the new year.

Of course, it also brought in the start of my project and I was eager to get going.  Then, of course, I fell asleep and got up around 11am.  Will and I lounged about, chatting away to my parents and my gran (when she wasn't on the phone) and gradually got our things together before leaving at around 2pm.

Now, I was all set for starting some of the bigger tasks on my list.  I did start one - my 365 photography project.  For those of you who don't know what that is, it's where you take a photo every day, usually around a theme.  My theme is to take pictures of things that have made me happy, and today's photo features my cat, Leelu.

Leelu's adorable at all times, but today she made us laugh by surfing a box off the top of our 6' high wardrobe, scattering all the bags that were in it, everything on our chest of drawers and our bedside table in the process.  Quite a feat!  

I managed to score off two films today as well (check me on a roll); I watched the first two Lord of the Rings films.  I haven't seen these films in years and I've got the extended editions, so they're pretty long but I'd almost forgotten how much I love them.  I get so caught up in the story and involved.  Not many films do that for me any more. 

I'm glad I started off with these two.  They're the kind of films that inspire, and they've made me feel ready to go on more of the list.  They haven't been the most difficult ticks to earn, but when you're in for the long haul it's best to start of slow.  The turtle wins the race, and all that.  Who knows what I'll get around to tomorrow.  I'll take it as it comes and just enjoy the few extra days I have off.

Happy new year!