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Entering the 'new year' is one of my least favourite times. I have a strong nostalgic streak (medication awaited) and always feel sorrowful that the good and positive things of the past are, yet again, retreating in favour of unknown (and frankly uninviting) future prospects. (The uncertainties of Brexit and its divisive and disruptive effects on the UK do none of us any favours and I do fear the more anarchic elements that seem to be sharpening their weapons on the sidelines.) And making dubious resolutions is but one unwelcome but expected immediate chore. Like the others above, I suppose my main resolution is to get more out of life before old age, increasing deafness and the ever-tightening band of external red-tape preclude most of what small pleasures remain open to me. (Cue violins.) Heel-wearing ought to continue to feature, but will be constrained by my limited opportunities and the recent unwelcome discovery of my very low-key activity by my totally disapproving wife. Other than that, I will endeavour to maintain a reasonably healthy lifestyle - i.e. not putting on weight permanently and getting a little more exercise (through useful activity as I loathe any form of sport or work-out) and continuing to do my best to help my sons, stepsons and (now) grandchildren with their various property ownership and improvement/renovation problems - whilst not totally ignoring my own.

Lenses are the one constant for me in the constantly evolving world of digital. Probably because I have spent a lot of money and bought myself a set of Zeiss primes - they are beautifully made of steel and glass, nothing plastic, and their resolution generally outperforms even my pro DSLRs. They are timeless classics - but, obviously, quite expensive. Since they are manual focus, there are no autofocus issues to worry about. I am increasingly much less concerned about advances in digital technology. My Canon 5d3 is more than sufficient - overkill in act - to meet any needs in professional magazine or on-line work, even if one is blowing up fairly large for advertisements, 22MB is plenty. So much of what is being added on now is purely to fuel a costly (but profitable!) mass addiction to constant upgrades and improvements, solutions found for problems that don't exist

Yes, grabbing life - carpe diem! - is the best of all resolutions.

Don't know about 'resolution', as I'm pretty useless at doing anything that needs anything beyond a moderate level of commitment ..... but .... Time is running out for sitting on walls regarding making any changes in my life. I'm fed up of being (practically) penniless with no regular income. I've a new camera that I've been playing with, and of the two bikes I could sell with a view to riding the other, I sold the wrong one. So I'm looking for a bike to ride - that I simply MUST use during the next couple of years. So, I need to cycle, get at least a part-time job. Take photographs that must also produce a small income (somehow). I also need to get out of a house that continues to find new ways of spending (my) money, and making my life uncomfortable. (I will not be buying another doer-upper, I also have to live in.) We still have no central heating (now almost 2 weeks) though all the (expensive) spare parts are here..... Staying healthy would be very agreeable. Had a scare in 2017 I don't want to repeat, though the outcome was good-ish. A year or two without root canal work would be nice, and no extractions even nicer. (Though I already know I need some on a tooth my dentist has been avoiding doing for at least a year.) Getting old(er) is only an attractive prospect, when the alternative is considered. I suppose if I were to sum it all up as succinctly as possible, it would be to 'grab life' even harder than I have so far. Quite a challenge when those around me are looking for a quieter, more sedate life ....

Ahhh! You've joined the dark side .....