New old baker

I guess new year brings us all out.

My name is Ivan, I live in north Wales (U.K.). I've been baking virtually all of our (me, partner, child) daily bread for nine years: say six loaves a week. Unfortunately, it had become a routine chore.

Around Christmas a couple of good things happened: (1) my partner bought me Dan Lepard's The Handmade Loaf, and (2) I found this website. Between the two of them these events have inspired me to bring a more experimental, conscious approach to my breadmaking.

I've been lurking for a week or so and this website looks like the perfect forum for me. I plan to work my way through Dan Lepard's book blogging as I go, and to venture through the other blogs and fora on this excellent site.

Best wishes

Ivan