So what will 2008 offer

Like most people I believe I always see the start of a new year as a reason to make plans, develop expectations, and plan my life. Ok quite often we can be doomed to failure but that never stops me making plans.

This year is a first for me cos I will be starting it without a job, in fact I'll be signing on at the Job Centre on wednesday this week I already have an appointment. I wont be entitled to many benefits but can claim Job Seekers allowance (its not a lot) for a few months while I've no income and am looking for a new job.

I've decided to draw my Works pension in April (Job seekers allowance would stop then) following my 50th Birthday, I'll get around 55% of what it would have been if I left it 10 years until I'm 60 but I've put a large part of my redundancy payments into it to boost it back up. It is inflation protected so goes up each year and I've calculated it'll cover my running costs Gas, Electric, Car, Telephone, Internet, Food, Council Tax, insurance etc. there should be a bit left over for emergencys.

So that leaves me using the rest of my redundancy & other investments I've made in recent years for pleasure activities (Holidays, Nights Out, Sport, etc). Ok I'm hoping to find bits of work eventually maybe only part time but to be honest I'm in no rush I've been given an opportunity to live how I want.

Anyway 2008 plans :-

Weight Loss - As always I do plan to lose weight but I wont be weighing as a routine each week, I've come up with a different approach - "Clothing". Yes I've bought some shirts that don't quite fit they are too tight so I post a photo now and I will post a photo every few weeks for you to comment on my progress. I'll also post occasionally on what I'm doing to help. Fitness - As a sportsman I want to get Fitter, yeh sure I'm getting older but I reckon I've never really been as fit as I could be and to maintain my standard when competing against younger players I need to get fitter. Thats my plan to counteract slowing down with age.

Not working will be benefit I'm sure because my job was too much office based in recent years and sat on your backside never helps.

To be honest I've started over Christmas (but the Food & Drink aint helping) by starting an exercise program each morning, ok I'm not doing much each day but my plan is to keep increasing repetitions each week.

I've also started doing long walks (hell I'll be jogging next) on days I've nothing on, I've done three 6 mile walks in the last week (the rain did stop me today though).

Sport - I'll still be playing Table Tennis and hoping to train when I can, I'm joining a new club in York where I can train during the day instead of an evening. I want to keep playing at my current level but its hard with a lot of younger players coming through.

Another sport I want to spend more time doing is Golf, I've always enjoyed it but haven't had enough time to play in recent years (work got in the way). I've got a couple of contacts to play with and I plan to join a Club. I'd like to get my handicap to single figures although thats a big ask.

Travel - Love it and I'm planning at least five trips this year, the first is booked for a long weekend to Chicago. I'm looking for another trip around April/May time and others June/July, September & December.

Nothing cast in stone yet but it'll be great if I get to meet some online friends on my travels, I'd like that. Anyway I'm sure I'll meet some interesting people I usually do.

Romance - Well all us singles are looking for their ideal partner and I'm no different, maybe I'll find somebody on my travels you just never know. I've never really considered online dating, maybe I should but I'm a bit old fasioned and would rather meet people as friends first and if something develops great, if not we can still be friends (hope that makes sense).

2007 - Finally I'd like to look back on the highs and lows of 2007.

Blogging - "Low" Lost a few online friends that are no longer blogging - "High" Made some fantastic new online friends.

Another "High" Met one of my online friends Rebecca - "Low" Should have met two online friends but circumstance meant Rachel couldn't make it, maybe this year, I really do hope so.

Soccer - "Low" Leeds United got relegated then docked 15 points - "High" Fought back from brink of extinction and are up to third in the league aiming for automatic promotion in May 2008.

Weight Loss - "Low" Not sure how I finished the year as my home scales arn't working properley but my guess judging by how my clothes feel is I'm maybe a couple of pounds heavier than I started the year. - "High" I'm determined to give it another go.

Travel - "High" Managed three trips to the States taking in four new cities for me (Seattle, Boston, Philadelphia & Atlanta) - "Low" Was planning four trips but work situation resulted me not travelling in December.

Work - "Low" Redundancy for the first time in my life I'm out of work - "High" At least they gave me a decent pay off, this is a opportunity right ?

Table Tennis - Suffered numerous injuries in the first part of the year forcing me to miss loads of important matches - "High" so far this season I've been ok and have played quite well, had a few decent results.

Hope you all have a Great 2008. xx