Last year I made a list of a few things I wanted to have a crack at during the year and I found it to be a good form of motivation. Even with everything else that was going on last year I still managed to do some of them. Though I'm still struggling to get a recipe up on this blog! So this year I thought I'd put together a similar list and share with you. There are even a couple of ideas that other people may want to join in with!
Actually, this year I have so many ideas for what I'd like to do that I've had to split them up into categories! I may not get all of them done, but it's good to put them out there to provide me with inspiration on days when I just want to lie in bed!
Let's Get Physical!
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| The road less traveled |
With a lot of this blog revolving around cycling, it can come as no surprise that some of things I want to do this year involve bikes! But just for balance I have added a couple that don't necessarily involve bikes.
So maybe I'm a little kooky, but the idea of running through scrub in a gentle misting rain really appeals to me. With Cobblers not that far away, I'm looking forward to Autumn, running through the trees at twilight with a gentle misting rain. Definitely no lightning allowed!
Go somewhere new
It's easy to slip into routine, doing the same thing, going to the same places, even for holidays. This year I want to go somewhere I've never been before. And take my bike!
Ride the north eastern end of the valley loop at Cobblers - the one with all the switch backs
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| Skills to be learnt |
Cobbler Creek is becoming one of my favourite places, but I get frustrated by my inability to ride switchbacks on anything that cuts across a slope. I have visions of sliding down the hill, dirt, bike and prickles going everywhere. I probably just need to fall off a few times then I'll be fine, but I just need to stop chickening out first!
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| Rocking a Crit! (photo c/ Carl Purczel) |
Ride another criterium
One of my goals last year was to ride a criterium. I had a crack at this in a women's only event hosted by the Skinny Latte Cycling Club and really enjoyed myself. I ended up surprising people and jumping off the front about half a lap to go. I got caught, but it was awesome fun! Now I want to mix it up with more people!
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| Happy times! |
Go bike touring
2013 was an awesome year for bike touring, and the reason this blog was actually started. Events in 2014 meant that no bike touring happened, much to my dismay. I think out of all the bike related activities I have done, I've enjoyed touring the most. Eventually I'd like to do it self supported, but for now I'm going to have to settle for being absolutely spoilt by Bike SA on the Outback Odyssey! Yes, that's right, I've talked Mr Carl into going back to where it all started, mountain bikes and dirt! I can't wait!
Food, Glorious Food!
On many levels, food is one of my passions. Creating with it, sharing with friends and eating make me happy. One of the things I noticed during the stressful times last year was that I lost interest in cooking, it started becoming a chore. Something you love should never be a chore, it can be hard work, but never a chore. To re-inspire my love of cooking (and maybe a few other peoples as well) I've decided on a cooking challenge for 2015.
Getting my Mojo back - The Great Cooking Challenge of 2015
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| Inspired by Chocolate . . . (photo c/ Carl Purczel) |
It's simple - one new dish per month. It doesn't have to be fancy, just something I haven't tried before. I've got stacks of cookbooks, the whole interwebs thing and loads of excellent cooks as mates! Should be easy! I'm even going to try and post pictures and a summary of the dishes up on the blog, so you can share in my triumphs and failures (I'll try not to set the kitchen on fire again, Mr Carl). I'm also opening it up to anyone who wants to join me. If you do want to try a new dish, feel free to send me a photo and a blurb and I'll add it to the blog (hopefully). With any luck we can all inspire each other!
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| . . . more chocolate . . . (photo c/ Carl Purczel) |
Some of the other food related things I'm thinking about are trying to make things I've never made successfully. This includes:
- Sour dough
- Pavlova
- Sponge
- Meringues
I'll settle for any improvement really, especially with the sour dough. Something that doesn't resemble dwarf bread would be good!
If, after all that I'm not in a delirious food coma, then I might try and continue with some chacutarie experiments. The swausages were pretty successful last year!
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| . . .and more Chocolate (photo c/ Carl Purczel) |
I'm not going to commit to putting recipes on the blog for now. One thing I discovered about myself every time that I attempted to do this last year was that I am not meticulous enough for recipes. All you're ever likely to get from me is an ingredient list and a vague description of how they go together. Cooking isn't meant to be hard work!
The Art of Zen
Last year I discovered that sometimes, something a little unexpected turns out to be exactly what is needed. Whether is was the unexpected emails from the Alice in Wonderland Kickstarter campaign, being thoroughly entertained by the likes of Dennis Loccraine, or spellbound by Nigel Westlake and Lior, they all brought a smile to my face when I most needed it. I'd like to continue that in 2015, so here are some ideas:
Last year I discovered that sometimes, something a little unexpected turns out to be exactly what is needed. Whether is was the unexpected emails from the Alice in Wonderland Kickstarter campaign, being thoroughly entertained by the likes of Dennis Loccraine, or spellbound by Nigel Westlake and Lior, they all brought a smile to my face when I most needed it. I'd like to continue that in 2015, so here are some ideas:
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| The Basil Experiment |
- Go to a roller derby event
- Be a patron (again)
- Go to an unknown/new event
There are also other, non bike or food related skills I'd like to develop further, particularly writing, gardening and photography. Gardening is less skill development, more just getting out there and doing it. Possibly I can combine it with photography and writing and write a blog post about my garden experiments!
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| Zen Gardening |
I'm definitely planning on continuing the blog, and I'm hoping to do a particular post I've been planning for the last two years! A new acquisition should be all the motivation I need to get that done, though it may distract me for a while. But I'd also like to get back to writing stories. I'm not sure how to go about getting them out there, but I've got a few sci-fi tales sitting in my head that I'd like to share.
Photography - The Great Photography Challenge of 2015
So, photography is the last thing on the list, and just to see how busy I can keep myself, I'm going to propose another challenge. I'd definitely like all my photographer friends to join me in this one, assuming you'd be happy to share your photos on this blog, otherwise it might get really boring with just my happy snaps. The challenge is as follows, once a month I pick a theme and we all try and take photos to do with that theme. You (and me) select the ones you like best and I put them up on the blog. You can provide commentary or I can, but you might want to consider my sense of humour before allowing me to comment on your photos.
I will be taking suggestions for themes, but to start things off, lets have a theme that is fitting for this blog. The theme for January 2015 is:
"Wheels in motion"
Please don't send me hate mail!
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| You looking at me? |
So 2015 promises to be a busy and interesting year. Hopefully I will be able to share some of the stories from it here. Hopefully you will enjoy the tales!
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