What will the New Year bring? So far it's been a quiet start, back to work and full of good resolutions. What keeps us from keeping them? The comfort of old habits even if they're bad habits is surprisingly strong. It's easier to stay on the sofa than to face up to challenges that take an effort- yet that's where new energy comes from. The joy of throwing out clutter, of letting go of legacy items, of feeling lighter because those heavy old 'things' have left the house for good-even letting go of friendships that no longer fit- all of these things create space in which we can feel free. The simple power of breathing, of stepping back from impatience, of forgiving oneself for mistakes...it all feels good.

New Year's Day

It's been a mild day with the sun trying to break though as we walked from Killaloe to Ballina Marina and back. There has been no 'development ' of multi storey apartment blocks at the Marina so far but it all looks run down and on the verge of dereliction. Looking down on the river and upwards towards the lake was magical, and strange to see ice still floating on the surface of the canal. Waterways Ireland seems to be constructing a walkway along there although the work is proceeding very slowly.

This evening we will pay our last respects to Frida who after a long and heroic battle with cancer finally came to rest on December 30th. May she rest in peace, and may her courage and thought for others inspire us all. Remembering death is a good way of inspiring us to live life to the full and not to waste the gift. My wish more than anything for all of us this year is to enjoy good health, both mental and physical.

Life as someone has said starts at the end of your comfort zone or perhaps when you move out of your comfort zone. I saw that in Belfast last week and the thought has stayed with me - not sure how it will manifest just yet. Blessings to anyone who reads this today.

New Year's Eve

On the brink of 2011 which feels good. Looking forward to a year of positive developments including more travel and getting more involved in the community here. I am not sure what will happen this year a little more than usual but know that if I want things to happen I need to be in the driving seat. Will we continue to live in Ireland as the heavy hand of the IMF begins to make itself felt ? Where would we go instead? How would I set up and manage a portfolio career? What new usful skills do I need to acquire? How can I better understand moneyand how to use it ? So lots of questions and the answers will be interesting. Happy New Year to anyone who reads this.

Book group

Meeting of 8 tomorrow evening to discuss "Room" which I haven't made time to read. Started it but couldn't get into it. However have also suggested that we might talk about 'Claiming our Future' which seems to be a popular/populist? movement of people who want a new way of doing politics in this country. Talk usually drifts onto other things anyway after a hour or so.

The there's the whole 'supper' issue. One of our number goes crazy and produces the likes of lemon meringue pie when we visit. Someone is making me a pumpkin pie which would clash colour wise with my proposed offering of chicken korma so I'm having to rethink this. Is it time to get back to cheese and wine? Maybe I'll bring it back there so and start a 'simple' movement, first cousin of the slow movement.

This is a kind of morning page blog today - there's a pneumatic drill going outside my window putting in new bicycle racks and inside I'm only waiting for the racket of the new lift being installed, but what a godsend it will be when it's in.

Meandering on and into the day. Gospel choir practice with Kathleen tonight which is usually good craic.

The music of what happens - not

I've lost count of the number of emails about the psychic show coming to UL which may 'damage' the reputation of the University. It strikes me that there may be other serious issues to worry about in this respect - poor attainment of funding for research recently, high drop out rates, bttom of the list of Irish third level institutions not just universities on some indices of world class performance for a start - yet none of these issues have elicted any comment from academics or anyone else.



Really like my new office and the new work set up - light is flooding in and the trees outside are heavy with crisp golden leaves as I walk along the river- I could (almost) be in Paris. Today at lunch time I plan to go to hear a poetry reading in the Hunt Museum, Catherine Phil McCarthy reading as part of this year's Cuisle Festival. Last night as part of the same event I read my poem 'Thirteen Ways of drinking Bull's Blood' in the Daghda space at John's Square which was really exciting - and I got a few laughs.

New home for the Downtown Centre

Starting again with 23 things - got behind last year when we went into RSS feeds! It's hard to get to UL for the lunchtime workshops. But my personal goal is to improve my knowledge of technology so here goes. I'd like to think of myself as an early adopter but feel really behind in this domain.

About to move into our new offices in George's Quay and as always with change there's excitement and apprehension. It's a beautiful building 'on the list to be listed' and it's been refurbed especially for us so the Downtown Centre will have a definite locus of its own in the city at last. My office faces out onto the river so I am looking forward to having light flooding in.

I wonder if Google Street View will have a pic? Must look later.

1 December

Have stopped breast beating and taken action, so as ever that feels better.

Kitchen suddenly making very good progress - floor may be down today, painting finished off, light fitting ordered to be in next Tuesday,new doors and architraves to be fitted.

Just realised that the point of all of this is to participate in 23 things -RSS feeds kind of passed me by, so I must find out about Podcasts and hope to be able to use my Ipod afterwards. Bought it in Canada and let someone set it up for me there so I am now finding it difficult to use here .However technology is my friend although extensive reframing is required ...