Farewell 2014

So the time has come to say goodbye to 2014. It’s been a great year on the whole with some fantastic experiences and achievements for me. I can’t list everything but here are a few highlights:

The Snowy Sligo photo and how it went viral. I still don’t understand it, it was only a quick snap with my iPhone but there you go!

Getting my camera, an absolute dream come true for me.

Being on TV twice, both exciting and nerve-wracking. Once on TV3 when the photo above got into the final of a competition. The second on Irish TV on Sky for Sligo-Secrets (more about that later).

On a personal level seeing Lucy and Jono growing up and being so much more grounded than I was at their age. I’m very lucky that I have both of them as not only my children but my friends and I really enjoy spending time with them both. Jono is busy building a model railway layout which I will take photos of soon. Lucy is doing an internship which she enjoys and is also blogging, I know I’m biased but I think her blog is brilliant!

Being invited to some wonderful experiences including a mother/daughter weekend at the Yeats Country Hotel, a night in the Radisson for Lucy’s birthday (to this day I’ve no idea who paid for that for us, so thank you so much whoever you are).

Summer Solstice Paddle with Wild Wet Adventures, moonlight paddle with Sup For All. Joining a Seatrails Discovery and Adventure tour, seeing Wheatus at 5th on Teeling and these are just a few.

Going to see Magnum!

Now for the food! Again I can’t list all the wonderful places I’ve been to in 2014 but here are just some fantastic ones:

Afternoon Tea at Eala Bhan, lunch at Harrison’s, lunch at Eithna’s by the Sea, dinner at Cromleach Lodge, dinner at Lang’s, dinner at Tra Bhan, a pumpkin carving night at Shells and of course the So Sligo Food Festival.

I’ve also met some new people this year, some of which have become friends. I’ve done a photography course, a jewellery making course, a ceramics course, finished level 3 drama and am now on level 4. I’m always on the lookout for new things to try.

So I suppose that will do for the highlights. Now for the not so good:

Moving. I guess I didn’t really want to move, I was happy where we were before and it did take me a while to settle into the new house. Id love to be in a position where I didn’t have to move again. I’m wouldn’t stay in this village though and not 100% sure if I’d stay in Sligo. I love the place but after 23 years here it’s difficult still feeling like a ‘blow-in’ at times.

Not having a job. I’d love a little part-time job that fitted in with the family. I’m in town so much of the time usually waiting for one or other of the kids to finish a course and it would be great to have a purpose. Plus I could do with the money.

Saying goodbye to Sligo-Secrets. I thought it was a good idea. I still do think it’s a good idea but without the powers that be supporting it, it was never going to come to anything. I’m glad I tried it though.

So what next for 2015?? Who knows.

I’d like to do more exploring. There is so much of Ireland I haven’t seen yet and places that I really want to go to especially Cork and Northern Ireland.

I’d like to try new adventures as well, I’ve always wanted to try kayaking, surfing and maybe even kite-surfing – even though Andy thinks I’m bonkers and I’m terrified of the wet suit.

I’d like to try a new course. Maybe drawing or something…even though the only thing I can draw are the curtains! I’d love to learn a musical instrument, the piano I think – think of Les Dawson when he played out of tune, that would be me 😉

We’ll just have to wait and see what the new year holds. Thank you all for reading my blogs throughout the year. Wishing you all a very Happy New Year.