New year resolutions? Don’t keep them for new year..

Sunrise on a new year

Sunrise on a new year

I know this is the time of year that many people start thinking about the future months and make various new year resolutions from, losing weight and eating healthily to quitting smoking etc. In archery terms its more likely to be related to I will practise more, I’ll try and increase my average or personal best etc.

Personally I’m not a big one for new year resolutions.

Why? Well I guess I think if these changes are so important why wait until the new year?

Though I can understand that many people use the start of the new year as the reason for a change which is fair enough. But what I would say is don’t let an early failure or set back stop you. We are all full of good intentions after Christmas, wanting to achieve stuff etc but as time goes on our good intentions don’t always materialise into ongoing good actions.

This can be down to a lack of motivation, working life impact on spare time or health issues.

Take me for an example. Since Christmas I had planned to get to the gym and do more archery practise, this has failed thanks to having a chesty cough / cold for over 2 weeks. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to make the change, just that its delayed.

Guess what I am saying is, if you don’t get to the gym or have a relapse into unhealthy eating, don’t let it stop you from having another go. It doesn’t have to be New year resolution to make a change. You can make a change two weeks in or two months. Remember few things that are worthwhile work first time. Think back to when you were a child, chances are you fell over a few times before you managed to learn to walk.

One last thing I’d say…

Lots of people make new year resolutions that focus on themselves. Why not think about a resolution to help others or your club?

BAFAC workday04

Volunteer to help out at your club

All archery clubs need the support of their members, not just in turning up to shoot the course but in maintenance of the facility, clearing paths, repairing targets etc. Why not make one of your resolutions to be give up a afternoon a month to help maintain your clubs grounds or help out at a have a go session.

Anyway Happy New year all and good luck with all your endeavors this year and the future.

Thanks for reading.

Wet weather and floods

As some of you maybe aware the UK has been hit over the last few weeks with heavy rain and high winds. Its been not so much white Christmas more wet and windy.

This has resulted in severe flooding in several areas with trees and numerous tree branches down across roads anf railways.

It has had a significant impact on the archery wood too. Numerous branches have come down with a few trees down in neighbouring fields.

As the wood has several overgrown ponds and collects the run off from local fields we are seeing a lot of brown coloured run off water flowing into the wood.

Flooded ponds

Flooded ponds

Several of the bridges that criss cross our woods small streams are nearly submerged. The photo shows one barely above the water.

Nearly under water

Nearly under water

I took this video from the bank behind our club house and normally there is a small stream at both ends of the bridge. As you can see it is hard to see where the stream starts.

More bad weather is forecast in the next few days, so our hopes and best wishes go out to all those families facing an uncertain future.

Thanks for reading.

Happy Christmas

snowy lane

snowy lane

I just wanted to wish everyone a

Happy Christmas and

festive season.

I hope you all have had a good year in 2013 and I’d like to wish all readers and followers a great 2014. Don’t know if we will have a white Christmas but I hope it is a safe and happy one for all.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all my followers for their support over the last 12 months, especially those that have posted comments on here or spoken to me face to face. Thanks guys.

I’d also like to thank all the archers who I have met and shot with in 2013, far too many to mention all here, but special thanks to Jim, Bob, Chris and Keith Harley, Steve and of course the very special lady in my life Sharon. There have been some great shoots (listed here) and championships (3D, nationals) this year.

Field archery is a great hobby which many can enjoy no matter their age or ability.

So keep safe, have a great festive season and good luck for 2014.

As always thanks for reading, Happy Christmas