All is quiet on New Years Day

New Years Day 2016 - first Poets Day of 2016 - I wonder what this year will bring?  :)

How appropriate that 2016 starts with a Poets Day. How annoying that I have to write a blog with a New Years haze :)  Actually I don't have a haze at all. New Years was a quiet affair with my Dad visiting from New Zealand and the kids playing on their electronic game of choice. We spent the evening with a couple of quiet adult beverages and College Football on the Child Hypnosis Device that is now blaring shows from the Mickey the Rat Channel. Before I look forward to 2016 lets have a quick recap (as that is the thing to do apparently) of what happened with my Poets Day blog in 2016.

There were 26 posts (not bad) with one awesome guest writer. The most popular post was 'Who gave out so many Soapboxes' and the least most popular 'I believe you have my stapler'  - and after quickly re-reading that one I can see why, it was pretty crap. Audience wise the biggest group of readers were from USA! USA! USA! USA! with New Zealand 2nd and Russia third, so Спасибо President Putin and perestroika in general :) I also had readers from Italy, Poland and other Baltic states and it also seems that people in that sodding prison colony off the West Coast of New Zealand had people read the blog to them. In 2015 I outed myself as the sole author of these posts (apart from one guest writer) which surprised a few people and had at least one person (I won't mention your name T.R.) who is probably still shaking his head :) All in all around around 4,000 hits on this drivel at some point in  2015 - well that is a number to try and beat for 2016 I guess.

Nice segue James :)

So what are the plans for 2016 - maybe if I put them out in public then I will actually keep these resolutions :)

• Write at least 26 posts deeply researched out and thought provoking posts :) One every 2 weeks for the mathematically impaired - not that easy as my 1,000 hired monkeys haven't finished typing Shakespeare yet so it is still on me to concoct this mockery of the English language
• Write a blog without any swearing in it so my twin Annabel can share it with her adoring Book of Faces friends - apparently my use of 'so many fucking profanities is not bloody appropriate for me to share with my friends you stupid twat' - I might be paraphrasing her just a little :)

• Poets Day T Shirts - the last of the original batch is hopefully hanging in a barn bar in Nashville - that is what I gave it you for Deb :)  Going to go with some new wording on the shirts including 'Take my advice, pull down your pants and slide on the ice' to replace the original 'They may be drinkers Robin but they are still human beings' - so keep your eyes and wallets open for notification on that.

• Poets Day Triathlon in Austin TX Sept 5th. Plan is to get some like minded (that is probably a scary phrase for some people to here) people to join me in Austin for the race/just try and finish event. I will be looking for kit sponsors possibly but more important people to sponsor the 'team' to raise funds for charity. Celebrity contestants should include the awesomely talented Jonno Roberts, star of screen and stage including Othello opening in DC Feb 2016, a short South African who sounds like a Pomme, a buddy who 2Talks too much and large breasted women jumping on trampolines at the finish line for those who like that sort of thing :) Oh, and firemen for the girls, and anyone else who likes that sort of thing :)

• Continue preaching that working hard and playing hard is the way to live life - you don't have to be rich to do it (I should know) as playing hard is relative :) It is all about enjoying life, even the simple moments. Dad has been here for a week over Christmas and probably the best night I had was just him and I standing around a fire-pit talking with an adult beverage in our hands. That was quality time and in 2016 I am going to make sure I have more of that. 

• There are personal goals like healthier living, being a better friend, making lifetime memories and making the most of opportunities. So if you have a lake house, beach house, tree house or out-house expect a visit from me :)

So to those of you who read this I wish all y'all the best for 2016. May your year be full of fun and laughter to go along with the shit that usually happens. Be prosperous, be giving, be caring, be a shoulder for the sad and and hand for those that need lifting, be a decent human being and don't let negative shit get you down. Move your fulcrum to find your balance.

So work hard, play hard and earn your inspiration.

Happy Poets Day and have a great 2016

Cheers
James