h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

No. I have lots of little plans, they're much more achievable.

I have 10 letters after my name but the last 3 define my career, and it's going OK. Yeah, I'll apply for promotion if it comes up, but really, I'm quite happy doing what I currently do. I earn enough. Not a fortune, but enough.

I wanted to be a mother before I was 30 - and I achieved that. Now all I can do is hope that my children find happiness in what they do (though they seem to be managing quite well!)

I don't know that I planned to get married, but I seem to have done that 3 times now

I've travelled, I've lived abroad. Yeah, there are still loads of places I'd like to see, but if it happens, well and good, if not, I won't cry.

I've seen a total eclipse - would love to see the aurora.

I've had a motorbike. Currently buying a mid life crisis car, the process of which has shown me that I don't really care for cars, and my practical logical head will baulk at the petrol consumption and insurance grouping of most MLC cars.

"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble."

Helen Keller

Not exactly a Grand Plan. But I have taken to designating each year. So 2011 was The Year of the House, and by the end of it we had built a study, reconfigured and decorated all the bedrooms, and fitted a new kitchen. For me individually, 2011 was The Year of Exercise, and I made the Wii Fit Plus part of my life.

So not so much a plan as a focus. This year is The Year of the Garden (four roses planted today, allotment spreadsheet set up - gotta start with a spreadsheet), and for me individually it is The Year of My Feet - which are finding themselves being washed and moisturised regularly.

I suppose what I'm trying to do for myself is to create a habit, and for the household it's about concentrating our resources (time and money) into one aspect of our life, and getting it sorted. Sorting the house last year has made a massive difference to us, and although it mopped up huge amounts of time getting it all done, the result has been to create time by rationalising the way we use our space. Plus it's a much more pleasant space to be in, and we are all much better about looking after it. Those were the hoped-for outcomes, although I don't think we articulated them at the outset (which I think we would have done if it had been a proper Grand Plan).

My dad gave me an excellent piece of advice when I was 16, which was 'there's no such thing as a planned career', and certainly my working life hasn't turned out at all as I envisaged. That's probably a Good Thing though and I consider myself very lucky at work.

Mol

Oooh Mol I like that "the year of..." idea!

It's not dissimilar to Hoo's annual focus, I suppose. Although what he does sounds rather more exciting than watching paint dry (2011) and planting cabbages (2012).

Mol

"Although what he does sounds rather more exciting than watching paint dry (2011) and planting cabbages (2012)" quote of the day please

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