Remember dream

I found a notebook I used to write in a few years ago while I was at law school and living in Clapham.

It is filled with food diaries and long lists of books and poems I wanted to read but, on the very first page, is a list of New Year's resolutions for 2006. I've since given up making New Year's resolutions as, being honest, I find January a profoundly depressing month in which I'm in no frame of mind to tackle all those things I know I should do more of (exercise, eating fruit/veg etc) and everything I should probably do less of (drinking, spending whole days in the flat in my pjs etc) is exactly what keeps me going until things get slightly better in Feb.

I'm also the kind of ridiculous person who hates being told what to do (even by myself) and I have an almost pathological fear of failure. So, for all of the reasons above, the whole process of New Year's resolutions is overly fraught and I gave it up for the sake of my sanity.

My (final) goals in 2006 were fairly underwhelming - make it to the gym three times a week, but only for the rest of January, eat two pieces of fruit or veg a day - but I had as resolution number 5, following 3. 'Keep reading poetry - carry it on person always' and 4. 'WRITE - anything and everything:' 'Remember dream.' Although I hesitate before I type this, but if I'm not going to be honest here then where else: my dream is to write and be published.

While I haven't forgotten the dream exactly, I had hoped to be further along the line with it by now. And so this is why I'm writing now, in this blog, because I need to start thinking and putting the equivalent of pen to paper to help me on my way. I'm extremely out of practice so, to anyone reading, please bear with me while I get back into the habit.

Off now to a picnic in Battersea Park but, as the sun is refusing to come out, I leave you with a perfect image of a summer afternoon: the view from my favourite bar on my favourite Greek island, Hydra.

Until next time.

Basil