Posted on: January 3, 2017
I hope you all welcomed the New Year with joyful spirits! We enjoyed welcoming the start of 2017 with our dog, eating our 12 grapes at midnight and watching fireworks from our terrace.
I just returned from a successful launch in Canada of Amanda on the Danube – The Sounds of Music. I am so happy with this book and hope the readers will enjoy this adventure through a beautiful part of the world!
2. Finish Amanda in New Mexico – The Ghost Hotel
I just finished Amanda in New Mexico – Ghosts in the Wind and hope to have it published by, October 1, 2017. Yes, I did change the sub-title. These things happen as you go along with the writing.
3. Do more promoting of all the Amanda books and Pig on Trial
I did a lot of promoting of all my books but still feel I could do more.
4. Connect with local schools and bookstores
I did 4 presentations in Spanish bookstores last year. Have not connected with any schools yet.
5. Continue to explore Spain, attend cultural events and write about them
I saw a lot of Spain and attended many cultural events. Of course, there is still much more to see and do.
6. Travel to Holland, France and England
I made a trip to Holland and France last year. England will be soon.
7. Work hard at making new friends in Spain
I have made some wonderful friends here in Spain. I also just recently found a writers group that meets every week. I am so excited about that and have been to a couple of meetings. Everyone has been very welcoming.
8. Attend Pueblo Ingles with friends
This didn’t happen due to conflicting schedules but we will keep trying.
9. Take time to read more
I did read more and learned how to read in the pool during the hot summer!
10. Practice Spanish
Need to work on this but seem to be communicating fine with my Spanish friends.
11. Keep learning more about writing
Thanks to the many blogs filled with writing information, I feel I have learned a lot.
12. Enjoy my more relaxed lifestyle
I am enjoying this lifestyle very much. I have learned not to get upset when things don´t happen as fast as I would like.
13. Look after my health by eating better and exercising more
We got a dog, which wasn’t on the list, and now I go for many walks.
14. Keep in touch with family and friends back home via social media and mail
This has worked out well. I even Skype on a regular basis with my 88-year-old mother. I have been sending postcards of the area I live in, to my great granddaughters. They tell me they love them.
15. Help other writers meet their goals
I have promoted other writers on my blog and given assistance to writers whenever I can.
16. Be thankful for at least three things every day.
This is now a habit. So much to be thankful for.
I think I did quite well with my list, although there is always room for improvement.
In the next few days, I will post my goals for 2017 as I look forward to things that have never been.
Whether you wrote them down or not, I hope some of your goals for 2016 were met. Or maybe a dream you didn´t know you had, came true! The best thing about 2016 was getting our dog and I didn’t even know I wanted one.
Dot at the beach on Christmas Day
Posted on: January 4, 2016
2016 has started off well. We ate our twelve grapes at midnight for good luck, viewed fireworks from our terrace, and watched Bryan Adams bring in the New Year in London on television, while he played all my favourite songs. Then watched the amazing fireworks in London. It was a Spanish/English/Canadian New Year´s Eve for us.
12 grapes each to be eaten at midnight for good luck. A Spanish tradition
To learn more about this tradition read about it on Glamour Granny Travels http://www.glamourgrannytravels.com/2015/12/24/grapes-and-cava-a-spanish-new-years-eve-tradition/
On New Years day we went for lunch with my in-laws at a fabulous restaurant called La Herradura (The Horseshoe) where we enjoyed a delicious eight course meal and a Flamenco dance performance. A great start to the New Year.
La Herradura
Flamenco dancer
With my mother-in-law at La Herradura
New Year´s Lunch with the in-laws
Now it´s time for me to look forward and set goals for 2016.
1. Amanda on the Danube – The Sounds of Music successfully launched
2. Finish Amanda in New Mexico – The Ghost Hotel
3. Do more promoting of all the Amanda books and Pig on Trial
4. Connect with local schools and book stores
5. Continue to explore Spain, attend cultural events and write about them
6. Travel to Holland, France and England
7. Work hard at making new friends in Spain
8. Attend Pueblo Ingles with friends
9. Take time to read more
10. Practice Spanish
11. Keep learning more about writing
12. Enjoy my more relaxed life style
13. Look after my health by eating better and exercising more
14. Keep in touch with family and friends back home via social media and mail
15. Help other writers meet their goals
16. Be thankful for at least three things every day.
By writing these goals down and sharing them with you, my wonderful readers, I will be more committed to reach them.
Thank all of you for your encouragement and support over the years. I truly do appreciate it. May all your dreams come true in 2016!!
If you can dream it, you can do it! Walt Disney
I´ll leave you with two short videos of the flamenco show.
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