When I finished last week's blog, there was a palpable sense of relief. Ahhh it was like that feeling when you fall spread eagle onto the couch after a mammoth day of non-stop running around. Its that wave of respite and sense of achievement. But thank goodness its over. I am utterly glad that I did it, I don't regret it for a minute but man alive did I struggle with it. It was not easy in the slightest but there was no way I wasn't going to finish it, that's just not me. But I'd be kidding myself if I said I was never going to do something similar again. I think I'm just a bit like that - I thrive a bit on being manically busy with tasks and projects. I've always tried to fit a million things in and I don't think I'll ever change. I've already had ideas for more projects sheeeeesh.....but they are for much later.
So I thought I'd trawl back through the last year reminiscing and reflecting on what I liked the most. Having written down a few of my favourites, I've actually realised that I really did enjoy quite a lot of the things I did, at least half, if not a few more, which I think is pretty good. There were some I really didn't like, but very few and I would say that I'm now an expert in what makes a successful workshop or masterclass. For those that wish to know, the year cost me just over £1600 which is just over £30 per week. It would have been a lot more if it hadn't been for the generosity of an awful lot of people giving me discounts.
So, to my top 10 and whether I will return to any of these pursuits. It was hard to limit it to 10, there were a couple more that I really loved but here is the final list:
5. A
5x15 lecture on the "food fight"
Without question perfume-making was my favourite, its the one I've always gone to when people have asked me what I've loved throughout the year. I have a really keen sense of smell and I loved using my nose to create something. Plus it was the perfect workshop and Emmanuelle, the teacher was wonderful.
Pasta making was just an utter delight. I loved everything about it and it made me feel completely at ease. I really love cooking and feel comfortable in my kitchen and this was an extension of that. I do now have a pasta machine although it has not yet been used. Believe me it will in 2017.
Oh to be able to DJ. What a joy that would be. Plus it just is fucking cool. But....only if you do it well. I certainly couldn't master the art in a day, its bloody hard, but what I did learn from Jay is the real way to DJ with skill. Not just using the technology to fluidly mix the end of one tune into another but knowing every tune inside and out and being clever with every mix. It really is an art.
Poker night at my house was awesome. Our teacher, Jacqui brought the whole set up and was just a brilliant laugh. I'm sitting here trying to work out if I still remember how to play....hmm....I think I do, maybe just a quick refresh and then I'm good to go. If anyone fancies a poker night let me know, I'm in!
My number five is the first and only talk on the list and it is all the more poignant now since the reason its on the list at all is because of the late, great AA Gill. What an absolute phenomenal speaker he was on the subject of food. He was effortless, dry, witty, opinionated and erudite. I feel very privileged to have seen him speak.
My class at the Swiss Cottage Climbing Centre was actually very frustrating, there was another person there who was incredibly annoying and held a lot of the class up for me. However once I started to climb up the wall, it didn't matter and I didn't care about him. I was just focused on the task and was surprised how much I liked it and wasn't fearful at all. I've been invited back to do another session and will do so with relish.
The Bookbinding workshop was another one that just worked so well. It was a small class, lots to do, creative and super relaxing. It was also one of the most satisfying classes with such a lovely result at the end of it.
Clay pigeon shooting was just a couple of weeks ago so it's still in the forefront of my mind. I had a great time, maybe more so because I was good at it, but it's a good laugh and definitely a fun thing to do with a group of mates.
I've always always wanted to learn to play the harmonica and I did kind of do that in a couple of hours, but as with anything if you want to be really good at it, you have to practise. I think that was the issue I had with a lot of the weeks and none more so here. Its no good learning certain things in a day, it has to be an ongoing process. Whether I will do that with the harmonica is unknown but I still had a great introduction to it.
Finally, last on my list is the coping with imperfection class I went to at The School of Life. This is perhaps an odd addition to the list as I didn't particularly love the session the way I did with other weeks but it is the one that inspired me to write a very honest, vulnerable and open piece of writing about myself. Plus it made my Mum cry so if the purpose of it was to have touched at least one person then I achieved something good.
So there you have it, my challenge to learn one new thing every single week in 2016 is complete. I got pretty stressed a lot of the time but I did learn a great deal and also had a lot of fun throughout. I have no idea who has been reading the blog and what a lot of you have thought but I did it for me and I'm happy which was the most important thing. However, if I have inspired anyone or at least given some enjoyment to those out there reading then I'm doubly happy. Thanks for all coming on the journey with me.
1 Comment:
Well done Joey xxx
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