So, that was 2011

I know, technically speaking that was a week ago - but I do have other things to do (work, run, eat, sleep etc...) and if you've read this blog before you'll know how long it is between posts anyway! On the plus side, it won't be too long before the next post comes along (I know, you wait ages, then two at once) because I'll have to do the "So, this is 2012" version as well.
Anyway, 2011. Well, an interesting year - it's the year I finally decided that photography was over. For most of 2010 i'd been struggling with motivation, with finding outlets, with finding new places to visit. In hindsight I should have continued to be happy just being out in the countryside making artistic images. Trying to make a successful (albeit part-time) business wasn't necessarily a bad idea, but in a recession the first thing people forego is a luxury such as artwork. What started the seeds of dissatisfaction were my images of Northumberland taken in 2009 - what I feel is my strongest work, and yet no interest from galleries, magazines etc. From then it was a downward slope to finally deciding enough is enough this year. I took all my camera gear to the Lake District in August, used it twice and came back without a single image I was happy with. So, Natural Britain Photography is no more. I still own the web address, I still own the equipment, who knows, in years to come I may start again, even if only for fun.
In music and books nothing much changed - I still love both! Prog rock still draws me in, classical is catching my attention more now (Classic FM in the car, starting to buy CDs) but it is a very large minefield - there's hundreds of years worth of music to find out what I do and don't like! Still, I've got a few years left in me to work my way through things.
The other major change, which started in January, and is still going strong, is that I took up running. Weighing 12st 4lb was too much, and I was fed up with not feeling that exercising "high" so I decided to do something about it. It's been an interesting first year - from thinking that 2 miles around the block was impressive as a starting point to my current longest run length of 15 miles. In between I've entered races, joined Fenland Running Club (a truly great group of people), entered more races etc. I've now completed 5k, 10k and Half Marathons (all more than once) and have got some PB times I'm proud of. I'm also down to 10st13lb (still a way to go yet) and have discovered foods I didn't know I liked. Who knew that baked beans on toast was nice (especially Heinz BBQ beans with red pepper), who knew that bananas were that tasty? I know, 39 years old and only just discovered those two, but hey, life is an exploration!
So, i'll finish with my top albums of last year, then it's on to 2012!

Opeth - Heritage
Airbag - All Rights Removed
Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events
Memories of Machines - Warm Winter

All brilliant for different reasons!