Why do we make New Years resolutions if we have no plans on keeping them?

Happy New Year everybody! I hope everyone had a good new year, didn't get (too) drunk, and celebrated the arrival of 2012 in style?

Personally, we went to a family house party, just a small gathering with the kids running about, the adults joining in with the party games and all having a merry time.

Just like everybody else, as the bells tolled at midnight, everybody across the world made their New Years Resolutions, and probably by about the 3rd Janurary most of these resolutions have been broken...

So why do people make big life-changing plans when we are moving from one year into the next?

I can totally accept moving into a new year can mark a fresh new start, the chance to make the decision to change your life for the better or the chance to quit a bad habit.

However, if these changes are all swept under the carpet under a week, is there any point in making them in the first place?

Whether you have decided to quit drinking / smoking / unhealthy eating or start going to the gym more often, these kind of changes will not happen if you decide to change it overnight.
Making these kind of changes will take time, and maybe New Year isn't the most sensible time to decide this is how you are going to live your life...

The chances are, if you were not prepared to make these changes in the previous year, they won't happen in the new year...

Should "New Years Resolutions" be disbanded in that case? They give people a false hope that because the calendar has changed so will they... Or does it give people a new hope to find the courage to make the changes required to live a happy life?

Your comments please.

- TheLittlerich.

How much can a job change your life?

Hi folks! I'm sorry that I havent blogged for ages... I have a lot going on over the last few months, so thought I would write about my updates in one blog, as a way of catching up...




Working in a toy shop: Brilliant fun!

 I think the biggest change is the fact that I now have a job!
It is a part time vacancy, working for a local toy shop in town over Christmas, but it's amazing the difference that getting a job has made to me!

I've secretly always wanted to work in this shop - being a big kid at heart I always imagined it would be quite fun.

When I applied and was called in for an interview, I actually told the manager that I wanted the job because I wanted to play with the toys! Ha ha!

(This approach worked though, because I pretty much nailed the interview and left feeling on a total hype!)



Picking up my uniform...


After being out of work for over a year, and having sent out literally hundreds of applications for job vacancies, now I have found a job I feel a lot less stressed out, frustrated and fed up!

I really enjoy the job, and despite only being within the position for a few weeks, I've had a few of my colleagues mention that I'm doing a really job!

In fact... In the short time that I've been there, I've managed to prove myself to my manager. He has been great and has asked me to work in two seperate stores (he is the manager of both of them!) and because my contract ends before Christmas, he has recommended me for another local store!

I am not sure what he said, but he must've put a very strong recommendation forward because basically I've been head-hunted!

I went into the store that is offering me the job, and without even undergoing an interview I was asked when I could start! Not only that - today they called me up to ask what size uniform I require!

It really is true that once you are in a job, finding another one is soooooooo much easier! I've been emailing my CV and covering letters out for months before I got this job, and now I'm in it, I've secured a permanent job from it!

Yaaay!!



Meer-ry Christmas!



I've also been focusing on a new hobby... Needlecraft! I've been bitten by the bug to sew and stitch fabric together and be creative!

I mentioned starting up a needlecraft hobby to Jan, and she seemed to think it was a good idea. She told me she likes to make the cross-stitch patterns!

If I'm honest, I'd never heard of cross-stitch until she showed me what it was... However we found a couple of kits in a local hobby craft shop, and I started by making a small cross stitch pattern of some meerkats.

I was very pleased once I had completed it, I think it looked pretty cool! 

I fancied making some other stuff, and so I tried making a teddy squirrel from a kit we bought. After maybe 4 or 5 hours of sewing and about half an hour of stuffing I had managed to piece the kit together and make a squirrel!

Stitching up a squirrel....

The following night, I decided to trawl the internet and see if I could find any other soft toys to make... I discovered a great teddy lamb pattern to follow and ended up making my very own lamb, out of my daughters old sleep suit.

I made this! Not Baaaaaad, is it?!

I will admit that the lamb is the one I am most proud of - in my opinion it looks quite professional! I've given it to my daughter and she loves it! (Her reaction was to cuddle it and go "Awwwwww!").

Our next step is to invest in a sewing machine and start making more things, such as cushion covers and other items!

When I showed some of the photos of my creative handywork to a few friends, some of them mentioned that I should make more soft toys and sell them... Who knows - maybe I can start to sell some of my creations online?!

If I don't update before Christmas, then I wish you Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and whatever festive seasons greetings you wish to celebrate!

- Thelittlerich.