Meet Friends and Have Fun (in 43 different ways)!

This is one goal that I’m happy to sign off for now – not that I want to stop making & meeting friends, it’s just that I’ve easily made my 43 ways target! Even though it’s only February, I’ve already met lots of new people that I really like this year – local and further afield. I’m now a member of a few local groups and have also got to know fellow society members while working on the newsletter. This has resulted in lots of tea, cake and skype-ing! My priority is to keep these friendships going into the future and building on the fun times we have together.

I intend to be a lot more sociable this year – meeting new and old friends. My reluctance to drive has held me back in the past so I’m determined to get behind the wheel more often. Luckily I also have a regular bunch of people to meet with within walking distance so won’t have to use the car every time.

I met a couple of writer friends at a local cafe today. It was great to discuss all things books over a delicious snack or two. Afterwards we browsed a local antique shop. A fun, relaxed day. Hope we do it again soon.

My last post was in July so I can’t remember all the friends-type stuff that I’ve done. Here are some of the highlights though:

• Meeting excellent new people A&E at a book launch
• Celebrating A’s birthday at Rules with S&S
• Having a giggle in Devon with Mum,N & E
• Having a live webcam chat with E
• Racing around the conference with D,S,H & T
• Pub quizzing it with M&M
• Having SiL & kids over for a DVD marathon
• Partying with M,A,T&S,J&J in NYC
• Randomly bumping into ex-colleague J in Central Park!
• Doing a camera course with S,A

Planning more fun & games for Jan 12.

We came together to celebrate A’s grandma’s 97th birthday this weekend. Had a chilled time with the family drinking Prosecco and eating hamburgers. Unusual combination, but it worked.

Met with a local group of volunteers last night for a tour of their small town. Although it was raining, we enjoyed hearing about the history of the buildings and were grateful for the tasty tea they supplied. Hopefully, this is the first of many visits.

Spent some quality time with my parents and grandparents yesterday. As usual involved far too much food and wine!

Our second wedding of the year was an absolute blinder. Beautiful weather, superb venue, lots of mutual friends and delicious catering. I think it was possibly one of the best weddings I’ve ever been to, mainly because we knew so many people. Lots and lots of fun.

I met a bunch of writers on Saturday – all lovely people. Hugely enjoyed talking about books, stories and the industry. It was great to feel part of a tribe.

I hitched a lift with a couple of colleagues that I don’t know very well today and really enjoyed their company. It’s amazing how much you can learn about a person during a one hour journey.