My First Challenge for 2015

2014 was all about work. I did very little else. After graduating in 2013 I found it difficult to find work here in West Wales. It wasn't that I didn't try to secure a job that would have suited my skills set better, I just wasn't successful.

I think of myself as an artist, a photographic artist, but it was never something that I intended to do as a career. My Degree was a dream that I had held for a very long time, to achieve something for myself, to find my niche in the creative field. I did that. I love analogue photography. I hope to sell my work on line when I have organised my negatives and created digital files to enable me to do that. I'm working on it.

The only work I was able to secure in 2014 was as a Community Carer and then as a 24 hour Carer. I resigned from my job after Christmas. A year of Care work was enough for me. I knew I had to take a leap of faith. Being a Carer was stressful, exhausting and physically tough. It was also a very lonely job. The job is all encompassing, there is no time for life outside of work. On my days off I was too tired to do anything, I slept and watched TV. It became very depressing. It began to affect my health, back ache, stress, high blood pressure, depression ..... I had to take my first steps into 2015 on a new path.

So today I was in the Library, reading the paper, working on my CV ...when I heard singing coming from the hall. It sounded lovely. I love to sing and I asked what was going on. It was the auditions for the next show by Saundersfoot Footlights. I had no idea that the auditions were happening today, I had no intention of auditioning, but I thought why not. Its a new challenge for me in 2015, something that is completely different. I gave it a go.

I haven't sang for ages and I hadn't practised, so I'm not sure that the panel will decided to take me. But I feel good that I gave it a go. I would love to take part in the show, but if my singing isn't good enough then I think I will help behind the scenes. I was chatting to some of the other members and they said that they are always looking for background people, and they need a photographer!

I'll wait to hear what happens....

In the meantime, I'm happy that I've done my first challenge ... what will the next one be ...!