Amaryllis, originally uploaded by DragonDrop.

.. seems to be doing well. Planted about 6 weeks ago. Looks like it may flower soon..

Regular readers may remember me blogging about a Geocoin that Eirene gave me as a prezzy back in September . In brief, a geocoin is a coin that has a unique code. The coin is hidden in geocaches (hidden treasure troves – found with GPS). A geocache visitor who finds the coin then has to place it in another geocache somewhere else (on logs the activity, using the coins unique code on the geocache website). The DragonDrop adventure coin (as I so christened it) has been on quite a journey. Since I placed it at DragonDropping (a geocache I set near my house) It’s been in 10 geocaches, travelled 4785.2 miles and is currently residing in a geocache near Colorado Springs USA.

The incredible thing is – the person who’s just had it, found it in a geocache about 1 mile from his house – he looked back at the coins history to discover that it started out from a cache in Harrogate about 1 mile from where he used to live in the 1970′s! so is it a Fluke? a meaningful coincidence? Perhaps I’m biased but it all sounds a bit James Redfield to me!

This detox thing is going well. I decided to not drink or smoke or do anything stronger than caffeine for a month. Doing it more as a experiment of will power rather than for any particular health reasons. I’ve been really good, bar one emergency pint when a friend dropped his camera into Earby beck.. (it was a pint of mercy.) The last time I smoked was on New Years day.

‘Giving up’ smoking is not what I’m doing. I’m pausing. I’m going to start smoking again at 12:01, Feb 1st. Perhaps I wont, perhaps I will. If I can manage a month this year, then two months next year.. then in theory, I’ll of stopped smoking in about 12 years. Or I may just stop. It’s not been that bad really. It’s certainly shown me some technique in the art of wanting a ciggy bit riding the storm.

Just a quick utilitarian blog to keep the blogospere rolling. It’s a new year. It’s January. We had a superb NYE in the company of lots of our favorite people (although a few of our favorite people weren’t there..) Had a bunch of beers and that. Carried on until deep into the next day. Decided on attempting a detox which involves not smoking or drinking. Broke that today as I went for an accidental pint. It was a pint of mercy as my friend had just dropped his camera into Earby beck during a lunchtime walk to the enchanting Earby Waterfall.

I’ve embarked on the task of growing a beard. Into uncharted territory – about 2 weeks in now. Not quite sure how long I’m going to keep it up. First thoughts are “until it gets warm”. Second thoughts are “until it gets to be a mahoosive grizzly adams jobber. We’ll have to wait and see.
Here’s how it’s looking today:

Righty – I’m off to put the cubs to bed. G’night.