It's a new dawn, it's a new day...


I can't remember a New Year that crept in so quietly, no noise in the streets, little in the way of fireworks and even the television coverage (what I saw of it) seemed quiet and underplayed.

Went for a walk this morning and even the beach was quiet and unassuming. A thick mist prevented us seeing the Isle of Wight and apart from the ubiquitous dog owners giving their animals a New Year outing there was little going on. The main point of excitement was a notice on one of the beach huts announcing its sale in a closed auction - the reserve price for the hut, which you are not allowed to sleep in by the way, was £23,500 on top of which you have to pay annual ground rent of close to a thousand pounds. Now you get a great view, when the mist lifts, and there are very good amenities in the area and I suppose if you have the money why not, but I'm sure £23,500 could buy you a decent timeshare in a part of the world guaranteed good weather.

Driving home it looked as if most shops were taking advantage of a long weekend, even M & S remained closed and there was a distinct lack of 'Sale' bags compared with recent days. I have to be honest, when we didn't have any money, in the late 1980's New Years sales were viewed as something to aspire to, now I do have some disposable cash there's nothing I'm desperate for and the one thing we need - a new suite for the living room, is still expensive, despite the promises of interest free credit, nothing to pay for a year offered by a certain furniture retailer.

Anyway a New Year gives you time to reflect a little but mainly look ahead. I've decided that it's not worth making a long list of resolutions as I only tend to feel I've let myself down when they disappear from view one by one, until by the end of February I'm left with something that clearly wasn't a serious option in the first place. Somethings have to be planned in advance simply because work, whilst I still have a job, dictates spare time available but others are enjoyed that little bit more if done off the cuff and we all need a surprise now and then don't we?

Shy - I'm sorry to see you've decided to delete your blog, that was a quick change of mind, you only posted last week that you were going to leave it up for a while. I hope you pop by now and then to let us know how things are going. I know you are on Facebook but as you are aware my visits are few and far between. I hope that 2011 does see something positive happen for you.