Reflections on the Year that's Been - 2015

So considering it's kind of holiday time for many (especially school kids and hard workers) I'm taking it more easy, reflecting on the year that's been - 2015. Here are the highlights of my year.

I haven't written enough this year, I got stuck along the way somehow: I won't go into the details. In a sense I'm still trying to find my writing feet, whether it's best for me to write articles, poems or short stories or all three.

All three, whatever draws me at the time. I did a couple of articles in the middle of a cold winter this year (I live in the Southern Hemisphere) and the research was intense. It's summer here now, much better.

I like to take walks at the local seafront - hence the photo of the remains of what apparently was an old whaling station in the distance. Glad they stopped that practise.

In January I took a drive into the country doing a recce for a possible day hike. The photo is of the 'office' that runs hikes in the Maitlands Reserve. I went on a hike in this area later in the year but with a group.

On the road back from the recce I snapped a photo of some nonchalant cows with my trusty smartphone which I purchased in 2014.

A relative had to have their driver's licence renewed and the local renewal office is always jam-packed with people; we drove to a small town called Kirkwood for this, I took lot's of photo's and decided to write a four-part fiction short story inspired by my visit to this area. I never thought I'd write a short story that included romance but it just emerged. I gave the town a fictitious name.

The sign in the photo reads 'Carwash of Valley' - not quite sure what that means but it's definitely advertising a car wash.

Right near the end of February I went to a newphew's wedding which took place in a small coastal town in my province. I won't tire you with all the details of the wedding, the people of whom you probably don't know, but have a photo of the dog at the house of the relatives I stayed with. He's such a friendly looking chap isn't he?

Some flowers I'd planted earlier in the year bloomed in March and my girlfriend who works and lives full time at someones house got a much needed weekend off.

In April it was my mothers 95th birthday, she's quite amazing what she does for her age. We went out to lunch; I took some photo's but refrain to put therm here as she'd had a fall and bruised her face.

The photo is of the area I hiked with a group at this time; the walk was strenuous with lots of uphill and downhill - my legs were sore after this one.

In late May I started researching and making notes for hubs about the Khoisan People. This one proved to be a challenging project.

The next two months were really cold; the colder it got the more walking I did to get warm. The eczema I've had all my life got worse and I hibernated somewhat.

In September it was the Rugby World Cup, I went to some braais (barbecues) at my girlfriends work and watched the rugby on TV. It was entertaining. Being from South Africa rugby is like a religion to many here; I'm not so obsessed with it but do like watching the international games.

The weather has warmed considerably, I've been for swims in the sea. Many more of those to come.

I was saddened as well as angered by the Paris bombings - it seems so senseless.

The year has gone by fast, it's been a good one for me. It hasn't been all plain sailing but was better than last year. Hope you've had a good one too.

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