I know that this time of year we are inundated of promises, resolutions and hopes for the year ahead. I gave up doing New Years Resolutions a long time ago when I realised that all you do is put yourself under emotional pressure (which I hate!) and end up with egg on your face when you make statements that you won’t stick to. I dislike hollow promises. Instead I just say that I will try harder to achieve my goals, work to be a better person and try fix – or improve – one of my faults.

This past year has been one of achievement for me. The Pantomime I directed got runner-up in the NODA awards, I have appeared on camera for the first time in a number of films – mainly shorts, and one feature due out next February, I got an Agent for my acting and am also on Spotlight, I moved in with Ross back in March, a decision I don’t regret at all  and I started – and stuck to – a diet. But things have been tough for me financially, particularly work-wise this year, however, we have some new targets for this coming year which I am looking forward to and hoping to make lots of money from!

So, what are the goals I’m going to try hard with this year?

Well, I have a few and the first one is to continue with my weight-loss on the Dukan Diet. I am really pleased with the amount I have lost in such a short time. I have decided that if I haven’t hit my goal by 20th January then I shall continue with the current phase of the diet until I do. I had a backward step last week because of Christmas – but I think I always knew that was going to be the case – so it just means more exercise and more perserverance.

The next one is to get my showreel together along with my Actor website up and try and generate more acting and presenting work. Maybe even go on a presenting course. My Agent has been putting me forward for loads of jobs but nothing has stuck yet because every single other Actor seems to have a showreel! As well as this, I am going to help Ross and Iain market an exciting new project to some of the major TV channels.

Ross and I are also in the process of updating and polishing two of his websites to generate more business. One is his Eventertainer page which helps promote his writing, acting and DJ business. The other is a company called The Recruitmentor where we are going to provide corporate role plays for Recruiters. Both he and I are experienced in this and we firmly believe we have a fantastic, professional service to offer. Watch this space for details of both!

I am on target for two of my personal goals.

One is to go to Britmums Live and meet all the new friends I have made through blogging plus gain loads more knowledge on the blogging and writing world. I have just booked my ticket so all systems are in place!

The other is to write a will. As you may recall from my post just over a week ago I had a health scare and it got me worrying about what would happen to Grace if I wasn’t here anymore. Coincidentally over the weekend, I got an offer from Wowcher to prepare a will for £19.99 (worth £100) with a proper consultation and everything. I didn’t want a DIY one as I was concerned that I would not get it legally correct for Grace’s care. So this is purchased and under way.

There is one final goal but I don’t want to say anything about it as I don’t want to tempt fate! It concerns my writing but I’ll leave it there for now. Watch this space!

The things I would like to try harder on will help my family. I want to be a less stressed, less grumpy person. With new work goals to focus on I believe that this will improve things! Plus, I would like to listen to people better. I have this horrible habit of not listening properly! We are also hoping to move this year once we know where the roads of our lives are taking us.

Finally, I have found a new love in blogging and writing this year – my blog went live in September – so I am looking forward to improving my knowledge, making my content interesting and finding more of a niche for my blog. I feel like it is rather general at the moment so am going to test out a few different subjects to write on and see where the journey takes me. Writing is a bigger love of mine than I had originally realised so I am also going to start to publish more of my poetry on my blog too.

Mine is an interesting and varied life and I intend to keep it that way!

A very Happy and Prosperous 2013 to you all.

Monday Motoring returns next week. In the meantime, why not enter the RAC Competition running on my blog here.