You can still see it with a small telescope

Having set my last annual goals in April 2024, it's time for my annual review.

Goal 1: To do something new each month
In January I went to London and Sadler's Wells by myself, which was something I've not done before.  February I joined the church trip to look at the heating system in Rugby - not successful as the vicar's car broke down on the M5, but I did get to ride in two breakdown trucks, something none of us had done before!  In March I met Catherine who had worked at Nature in Art at a reunion she'd organised and we went to the Elmore Chamber Group launch of their summer festival.  And this month saw the end of my reduction in meat consumption, which I was doing for Lent.  That was really successful and J and I will be continuing with eating less meat.

Goal 2: To do a monthly review
That's been achieved.  My thinking behind this was to reflect on how my life was going, and whether changes needed to be made.  Being retired means there are less specific goals now than there once were.  On the whole it established that in general things are going well, my involvement with both Gloucestershire Bundles, the charity I'm treasurer for, plus our church is at the right level.  Inevitably church commitments vary depending on the season but that's within my bounds of commitment.  I've decided that there's no reason to specifically plan holidays and activities as they tend to turn up anyway and I can just take part if they appeal.  If anything, sometimes I'm trying to do too much writing/crafting/courses/reading but that's because there's so much that appeals and one way or another it gets done - and since they're all entirely my own choice I could cut back on things - except I don't want to!

Goal 3: To complete a bigger knitting project
This one didn't work out, for cost reasons I've already explained, but I have managed to complete one new garment and am well on the way to finishing another.


Which leaves me ready now to set my goals for 2025/26!

FutureLearn

Italian for Beginners (Part 1)  (Open University)  Continuing with my language learning, and because I'd like to go back to Italy some time - maybe next year?  I'm now taking the six part course, which should keep me going until the end of the summer.  So far it's reminded me of some of the basics.


OpenLearn

Migration
This was an Intermediate course, which, given my previous study of animals I was able to follow.  It looked at the different ways animals migrate and the different reasons for doing so.  I enjoyed it.

Evolutionary Tree of Mammals
While I fully accept that mammals have changed over time, I'm still never entirely convinced by the dogmatic way this is presented based on limited evidence which could, potentially, be interpreted differently.

What can Philosophy tell us about Race
Told me little I wasn't already aware of and ignored certain characteristics of racial origin which may effect the tendency to develop certain illnesses.  Not my sort of course, and I disagreed with some of their conclusions.

An Introduction to Floodplain Meadows
A very interesting course, relevant to where we live and I learnt a lot.  It was also realistic when talking about the benefits of good maintenance but considering other external pressures which will impinge on this.  However, some of the research currently being undertaken by the OU and other organisations sounds quite long-term, when there is immediate needs to maintain what is still available before it's lost to other uses.

Succeed with Maths Part 2
I completed Part 1 in February and enjoyed the need to keep my brain active with the second part.  I obtained my badge.

Everyday Maths 2
A slightly more basic course, I finished Part 1 last month and so, because I'm a completist, I took Part 2.  Another badge!