IF YOU ONLY MAKE ONE RESOLUTION...

I don’t believe in New Years Resolutions; It makes no sense to me at all to promise to do something (which invariably involves a DRAMATIC LIFE CHANGE) in the middle of winter, when the days are grey and roll in to night so seamlessly that it’s impossible to determine whether the sun has actually shone in the last 24 hours; when it’s so cold, even inside, that you can’t remember the last time you peeled off your vest; and when the rest of the animal kingdom has gone in to hibernation yet despite the superiority of our cleverly evolved minds and bodies, every internal instinct is screaming out for more sleep, more bed, more food and more warmth.  So this year, I thought smugly, would be a year of no ‘New Year’s’ resolutions – I would save them until spring, when signs of new life and sunshine could inspire me…  

But then January is soooo terminally dull, that actually, it is rather nice to have things to look forward to.  Not weight loss, gym-membership or super-stardom, more like untapping a hidden talent or just trying something new this year. Recently, two people have inspired me:

Lovely lovely Sue from Posterity is currently running Dark Room workshops.  As well as making delicious cakes Sue is a brilliantly talented photographer; take a look at Sue's website and you'll be inspired to sign up!  

The black and white printing workshops are run with the maximum of 2 people. They are appropriate for anyone with an interest in learning the basics or brushing up on their previous knowledge. All courses are for one day 9.30am- 5pm and are based in my darkroom in the village of Colwall on the Malvern Hills. The cost is £85 (includes lunch and materials). If you are interested or have any questions please email or phone (number on website) and Sue will be happy to help, send you more details and a booking form.

Available for 2012 bookings.

Accommodation from £35.  

If your talent lies with words, not pictures, then pick up your pen and try your hand at writing.  From memoirs to fiction, short stories to children's poems, it can feel truly wonderful to lose one-self  in a stream of story.  And if you'd love to see your work in some form other than your notebook or on your computer screen, but have no luck with the big publishing houses, it's relatively easy (and inexpensive) to self-publish.  David from Posterity has recently produced his brilliant book with the help of local printers Allan and Sue at Aspect Design.    

Whilst we're on this creative tip,  all at Salvation HQ are busy making plans for Spring.  We are hoping to run workshops for children and grown-ups, varying from crafts to cake decorating, sewing to sock-puppet making (!! OK, sometimes alliteration can lead to bizarre results...)!  We's also like to put on music nights (dependent on necessary licenses).  If you would like to lead a workshop, or organise a music night, please don't hesitate to get in touch.