From fundraising to homemade beer, how this year’s resolutions fared
Jeff Prestridge RAISE MONEY FOR CHARITY
I WENT into 2017 determined to raise lots of cash for my favourite charity Brathay. It is an understated charity based just outside Ambleside in the Lake District – and does wonderful work putting disadvantaged children back on track.
Yet my plans went awry quite early on – all because of a back battered by years of running marathons on tarmac.
Having promised Brathay I would run the London marathon on its behalf – and raise money in the process – I had to admit defeat after a good spring run in the Tunbridge Wells half marathon was followed by a litany of injuries.
A pulled right calf and acute lower back stiffness were the worst of my ailments.
Physiotherapy, psychotherapy, meditation and a session in the confessional box at the local church all yielded no relief. I then spent most of the summer popping in and out of hospitals to see whether the root cause of all my ailments could be identified. Protruding discs were the villains.
Thankfully, I am back running again, participating in my local Parkrun at Mile End Park in East London, albeit at a snail’s pace. Maybe, just maybe, I can fulfil my promise to run and raise more lovely dosh for the equally lovely Brathay charity – brathay. org.uk.
Sally Hamilton CHANGING THE LIGHT BULBS
I AM possibly being generous to myself as I have not quite completed the task I set out to achieve a year ago – to replace all the electricity-gobbling bulbs in my house with long-lasting LED low energy bulbs.
There are still one or two more to go – a few of the old style bulbs have not yet burnt out. The good news is that the cost is coming down for LED bulbs so it will not cost as much to replace the rest.
Laura Shannon INSULATING THE HOME
I HAD every intention of better insulating my home to keep the cold out, the heat in and my energy bills down. Draught-proofing and extra padding is needed, but it is a project too easy to sideline during the warmer summer months.
As autumn appeared, I made a hasty attempt to accomplish my goal, emailing three companies to arrange quotes. But I heard nothing back from any of them and never chased it up.
A foot of snow blanketing my driveway, garden and car this month was a chilly reminder of my jilted resolution, which just one year ago I so wholeheartedly imagined I would achieve. Note to self – must do better.
Toby Walne HOMEMADE BEER ON TAP
SETTING up my own microbrewery was not much of a New Year’s resolution – more of a promise to improve my amateur beer-making skills.
It was a pledge that was always destined to succeed. OK – so I had to invest the best part of £1,000 on all the necessary equipment. A Grainfather provided the main tools – to mash grain, sparge water and boil wort to which the hops are added. Then there was a fancy stainless steel fermenter along with a temperature control system.
But the results have exceeded expectations. Brewing beer from grain and hops means I can finally make beer without any home brew tang.
Whether a fruity transatlantic tipple, a winter warming vanilla stout, old-fashioned session beer or hop-packed Indian Pale Ale rocket fuel, the journey has been a whole lot of alcoholic fun.
The gear has paid for itself too. The aim was to brew 300 pints before breaking even but I have beaten that target twice over.
With the cost of all the ingredients, it works out at 50p a pint. Cheers all round.