So it’s that time of year where a new year waits with promise and change, and the old year is either looked back upon fondly or with good riddance! For me 2011 has passed very quickly. I guess the best way to describe this year would be to say it’s been a self-building year. I became a volunteer with a local environmental group, who also have a cultural/arts emphasis, and it has been great. Looking back on it I can see how I’ve grown, matured, become more confident in myself and abilities and realised that there is no reason why I’m not capable of doing something. Looking back further to my teenage self, where I was so shy and quiet, I can see how far I’ve come. Shyness is something I’ve had to work hard at overcoming, although can you overcome shyness? I think learning to live with it, and manage it is a more appropriate description. And this last year I’ve managed to do that more than before.
The volunteering itself has given me an opportunity to try/learn new skills including coracle making (and decorating!), drystone dyking and phase 1 habitat surveying, amongst other environmental conservation activities. I also got the opportunity to attend one of SNH’s sharing good practice events, which was a great experience. On the art side I’ve also had the opportunity to illustrate Environmental Education Packs, Herb leaflets and most recently a geology leaflet, not to mention being part of a wonderful mosaic group where we have been working on a bench. I can’t wait to see the finished one in situ.
It’s not all been about the volunteering however. (Although mostly it has!) Here’s a list of other 2011 highlights:
- Always a highlight, any time spent up north. Highlights from my trip west this year was visiting the Traligill Caves, near Inchnadamph (not the Bone Caves!), Uamh An Tartair cave near Elphin, and also bagging another broch – the one at Clachtoll.
- Dialogues In Motion; the inaugural group exhibition of Airt Collective at the Birnam Arts Centre…
- … the creation of Airt itself; I’m in Airt with 4 of my friends from art college – Vicky, Kay, Caroline and Sabrin. Visit our website for more information.
- Treacherous Orchestra gig at Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh in August. Amazing!
And the biggest highlight of 2011 was of course being a bridesmaid at my friend Vicky’s wedding. It was such an honour to be asked to be a bridesmaid and to be part of her big day in such a way. The day itself was perfect and so unique, simply beautiful!
So, where does this all leave me for 2012? Around August I decided that 2012 would be the year I would move up north. Even with this resolution I never expected it to happen so soon! But in January I will moving north to take up a volunteer position with BTCV. I can’t wait to get started, it’s a such a great opportunity and, I feel, a natural progression and step forward from my current volunteering. I very much recognise that this would not be happening without my volunteering throughout 2011. This makes me extremely grateful to the wonderful people I volunteered for, and all their support, but also to 2011 itself. As I mentioned before it has been a year of growth, and a year where I have figured out where I want my next steps to lead me.
