January; a slow month

 Overall, I don't mind January, although I always find it a contradictory month; a slow month when nothing much seems to happen, but one which slips by quickly.  It started with a bright sunny day, which always feels like a good omen, but one which didn't encourage me to dash about doing things. 

I like it this way. After the busy lead-up to Christmas and the bustle of the holiday period, there's a quiet dullness to the days immediately afterwards, and this year particularly I've tried to relax and just enjoy them. I've no work to return to. It's too early and cold to do much in the garden. So I've just taken things slowly; pottering in the garden, listening to the robin sing, watching the days lengthen, and the snowdrops emerge.

In contrast to my lazy start to the year, the weather's been pretty active with alternating clear cold (far too cold) days, and rainy blowy days. Either way it's made me want to stay inside.

It's a time of year for self care - which for me means achieving things with very little effort. Some jobs left over from last year were cleared out of the way - getting the hall carpet fitted (due before Christmas), and the fence replaced (damaged in December's storms). 

I haven't actually been totally idle but it's been a matter of low effort for maximum result. Instead of picking up my current knitting project (which has been dragging on forever), I tackled a quicker, more productive task. I have a couple of fair isle cardigans which instead of buttoning nicely up the front always flop open, so I took some matching yarn and sewed them up. Now I have two warm jumpers for very little effort.

I cleared a little of the freezer and made marmalade with the left-over lemon pieces I collect.  .

And in the interests of self care a few treats were necessary - from the sales and from my new favourite 'store', the online second-hand clothes outlet Vinted. I've been delighted with my first cautious purchases here and decided to be a little more adventurous, buying shoes, long skirts to keep me warm through the last of winter, and lightweight tops ready for spring.

Veganuary has now become a regular things for me. It forces me to slow down and take time over planning and cooking meals rather than dash around then grab a takeaway or ready meal from the freezer. 

Now February has arrived and the year seems to be really getting started - there are suddenly things in the diary - family birthdays, snowdrop walks to go on, and a short break booked for in a few weeks. Spring will be here before I know! 

and for making plans for the year ahead - booking a weekend away in the Lake district, 

2023 - a nothing-happening sort of year

 I can hardy believe we're at the start of another year - and halfway through January - already. 2023 seems to have slipped quickly by almost unnoticed. 

I feel like I spent a lot of the year waiting - for my ankles to recover, for the post-covid lethargy to lift, for the heatwave to pass or the rain to stop. The first months weren't good but I expected things to improve. They didn't. I seem to have slipped into a lethargic mood that nothing could shift. 

Getting back to something approximating normal after the pandemic, I'd planned to take more (many more) short breaks, perhaps even a proper holiday, but ended up taking just three - 

a Canopy and Stars stay in a cabin by the river Nene; a couple of days of almost complete relaxation

a weekend in North Wales via Manchester and back through Shropshire; saw the laburnum arch at Bodnant in full flower (which was one of my bucket list items) - and it's as wonderful as they say - and also the roses winding around the pergolas of the terraces - beautiful and unexpected, and like something out of a fairy tale.

back to North Norfolk; a mixture of old favourites and new discoveries

In between there was the normal round of visits to local gardens to see snowdrops, wisteria, hydrangeas, and some special things such as taking part in one of my daughter's sip and paint events   - a most enjoyable evening of painting, music, eating, and, yes, sipping. I came away with my own interpretation of  'You're the One That I Want' and think I now understand synaesthesia a little better.

A seemingly small thing which might turn out to have had a big impact was taking part in Secondhand September, and making my first purchase from Vinted, a clothes reselling site. I started small with a single top, but have since bought skirts and shoes from there. It's definitely influenced how I shop, and where I look for clothes.

At the end of the year it suddenly became busy - getting ready for Christmas, going out to see local Christmas events, while decorating the living room and hallway (which I'd been talking about all year). Overall it feels like a year that's been sleep-walked through but after all that last minute rush I'm starting 2024 quietly. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

How was your Christmas?

Here, it's been a busy, fun-filled week.

I'd volunteered to be in charge of the family Christmas dinner, and despite it being quite a few years since my last attempt I think it went well  (though I nearly forgot to cook the pigs in blankets).

 Apart from one evening when we watched Bridget Jones, it's been a tv-free zone. We've played board games - old favourites like Scrabble and Monopoly, and new ones like Catan and Dinosaur Bingo (who knew there were so any dinosaurs?!). Middle of the week saw my grandson's birthday - and MORE board games plus Hot Wheels.

On a wild, windy day we headed off to Calke Abbey to follow their Tudor Christmas Trail, and on a calmer one returned to Kedleston to see their Advent Trail again.

I feel I'm entering the New Year in a positive mood. The sun in shining, Christmas roses and winter jasmine flowering in the garden, snowdrops pushing their way upwards, and even a couple of brave polyanthus in flower. I know there's a lot of winter still to come - more dark rainy days and probably some snow - but the days are longer and it feels like Spring is on the way.