What a way to wind up 2015 with… The Caribbean. Antigua is utterly beautiful, and I fell in love with the island, its people, and those warm, warm waters. It was perfect to just escape from this relentless revolting weather, let alone the happy reunion with my salty sea dog.

We saw out 2015 back here in Cornwall with friends, and it’s taken me a few days to gather myself for the annual appraisal. I know, it’s not for everyone, but it works for me.

When I look back at my goals for 2015, I’m feeling pleased with my achievements. Specifically my writing ones. I entered three competitions, and had success with  Sherbourne, I pitched an article, accepted, but hasn’t been published! Better luck next time. I’ve been disciplined with the daily journal and also the travel journals (Thailand, and almost done with Antigua), but only a B+ for the blog. It’s my WIP that I have most to shout about… 83,000 words last year, from nothing a year ago. I am immensely proud of this.

So, turning my mind to 2016, the year hangs around time, and the phases of the year. From now until May it’s a major on training for the Scillies (for the World Pilot Gig Championships) and getting the first draft done, and working out the direction for the first edit. I’m also hoping to sneak in a field trip to Lanzarote at the end of February. May – July we will then turn our attention to sailing on Whinchat, but where will we go?  July/August I want to see friends and family and FUN. Then the Autumn clocks around, and I will pick up the WIP and work hard on the first edit. There is much to fix, of course.

Do something that scares you? Scillies are terrifying to me, particularly as the weather has meant our training sessions keep getting cancelled, and I’m just not fit enough. New running shoes are on order! I should buy that wetsuit and get on the paddle board, my friend’s husband said he’d teach me. Body board – I’ll be stronger come May after all that training!

Learn something new – the Uke. I did so well earlier in the year, and then hit a rut. I’m going to push through that and learn some more chords so that I can strum my way around whichever body of water we end up sailing in.

I think that’s enough for now, don’t you? It’s up to me to make 2016 count.