2015 is all but over already … we saw good times, bad times, stressful times and everything in between.
I had some fantastic outdoor times in 2015 with some great folks that I’d met through YouTube. I can’t wait to do many more camps with them in 2016.
Watch this slide show of photos from over the last year (not too many of them I promise)
We’d also bought our first house in 2015 and made a big move from Cottenham (where we lived for 10 years) to Swindon. It was a huge change for us, but all in all I think it was a good change. It certainly put me closer to the places I wanted to be for my camps.
Lisa also joined Scouts in 2015 and she’s been loving it. First with the troop in Cottenham and then joined in immediately with 1st Stratton St Margaret right after the move. The transition was pretty easy for her and she fit right in pretty much from the start. I also got much more involved with Scouting myself first as an occasional adult helper in Cottenham and now I’ve started the process to become a Scout Leader. More news on how that goes in 2016. We’ve done several scout camps this year and had an awesome time at each and every one of them, and looking forward to many more in the years to come.
Emma has also moved from Brownies, which she really didn’t like. She just didn’t get out of what she wanted. She’s now in Cubs and will move to the same Scouts Troop with Lisa and myself sometime early in 2016 (once she’s about 10 1/2).
Work life also saw loads of change, some good, some not so good. Certainly an increase in stress levels, that has not been fun at all. But it pays the bills so for the time being I need to just accept it.
So, what is planned for 2016? Well who really knows haha I don’t have many plans for the new year but one thing is for certain, I plan to do a lot more camps and get out a lot more. This includes going out alone more, with groups like the MTFU and Camp Shaky folks and of course camping more with the family (we have a new big tent that we need to use). I’m also planning to do more training in bushcraft and primitive skills in 2016.
I’ve already booked one course in Flint Knapping with Hands On Bushcraft and looking forward to that. I’m also booking a full weekend (Thursday – Sunday) at the 2016 Wilderness Gathering. Really looking forward to that. We managed to get there for the day this year and the kids had a good time. Lots to see and do, too much for one day. So, next year we’re doing the entire weekend. I also plan to attend more of the various weekend bushcrafty kind of things in 2016 and take the kids along as well.
So, now I’ll close this post along with closing out 2015 and wish everyone a very happy new year and hope that 2016 brings so much awesomeness to everyone that they don’t know what to do with the excess. For everyone I met in 2015 and spent time with, thanks for the great memories and can’t wait to make more in the new year.
