Saturday 1 January 2022

New Year's Day

 Good morning and a Happy New Year to you, whatever time you have emerged.  Me, I woke at the usual time of five, having crashed out before nine yesterday evening.  I was so tired but then I'd been up since four a.m. so small wonder.
I've slept like a log, have only a slightly muggy head and am ready to move on!

We had another right mixture of a day yesterday - sunshine, rain, wind . . .but no all at the same time!  The next few days look like being much the same thing before cooler weather arrives.

Thank you for your lovely comments on yesterday's blog entry.  In fact, thank you for your lovely comments through the whole of last year.  I do try to reply to everyone although I am sure I have missed a couple from time to time.

I don't do resolutions as such but sometimes I do sort of decide it's a good time to change things around a bit and I remembered that I had decided something last New Year.
We were just in a lock down, Christmas plans had been changed, I was concerned for Dad - actually, for everyone, seeing as we seem to be a family of Covid vulnerable people, and things felt like they were going downhill rapidly.
So I decided I would make a real effort to be positive in my blogs from then on and I think I managed that quite well really, I did a real Monty Python (always looking on the bright side of life) and it helped a lot, especially as parts of 2021 turned out to be pretty upsetting one way or another.

I'm going to carry on with that because it's helped me so very much.

I've started this 'A Year With My Camera' course and I want to finish that although I've crashed rather quickly - in the second section about aperture.  Oh, dear!  I understand it (I think) but can't see any depth of field difference between the large and small aperture photos - not much anyway.  
I'll read through again and have another go.

There are other things but I won't bore you with them now.   :-)

Yesterday was lovely.  Beth and Al arrived, we had a delicious dinner (though I say it myself), played games and watched DVDs.  My Twelve nights gift was more smellies - a selection of bath crystals this time.  I thought I had taken a photo but it seems I didn't.

Today I have three quarters plus of a turkey to 'process'.  I'll enjoy that, definitely.  I'm also using one of the spice mixes to make some leftover turkey curry.  Yum
I have sheets to wash and, I think, some decorations to sort out, a living room to dust and sweep and ironing already in the basket.

Wishing us all a very good first day of 2022 that starts a year when things get increasingly better for us all.  Thank you again for reading this blog and for all your encouragement and support.
Stay well, stay safe and be happy and content.  xx


22 comments:

  1. Welcome to 2022 Joy. New Year resolutions don't happen in this house either. Thank you for being so positive even when life has been very difficult for you. Sometimes that silver lining gets a bit lost in the grey clouds doesn't it.It has been so good to keep visiting you and I look forward to sharing this year with you x

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    1. I always feel resolutions are more easily broken unless the are very slight and if they are slight, why need them anyway.
      However, when I say 'I resolve to . . .' it sounds so much more workable, even though the root word is the same.

      I look forward to seeing you here and on your blog.
      xx

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  2. Wishing you the best for 2022. I've always found your blog pretty motivational; your PMA, your persistence, and the way you get things done, so thank you for that!

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    1. Thank you very much for that encouragement. Lovely to hear from you.
      xx

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  3. Happy new year, Joy. I'm all confused today (and it's not drink related!!), keep thinking it's Sunday today....just a confusing time of year I think as our routines are all thrown out. Yes, you (and Sue in Suffolk) are both very positive people, I'm going to take a leaf out of your book this year. I have so many blessings to count. xx

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    1. So do I, Sooze, it feels really odd to be Saturday somehow.

      Thank you - I do try to stay positive and 'counting my blessings' (which sounds very pious but really isn't) helps a lot.
      xx

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  4. You really did stick to your resolution last year and this blog was virtually always a lovely upbeat place to visit. I hope you can keep it going, how you managed at times last year I have no idea ... but you did!!

    We should have been going to my Great Grandsons 3rd birthday party today but have had to say no just to be on the safe side. We heard who was on the guest list and there is every chance that at least a couple of them will have taken no precautions whatsoever against Covid, so better safe than sorry.

    I hope the coming New Year is good for you, all the very best. xx

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    1. Thank you, Sue, that's love;y6.

      Not so lovely is not going to the party but, honestly, I think you are very wise. This variant might not be so 'dangerous' but it is remarkably easy to catch and why be ill if you don't have to be.

      It would be nice to finish the year not being concerned about things like that, wouldn't it. Here's to it < chink > (the nearest I will get to alcohol this month!)
      xx

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  5. Happy New Year Joy love. Hopefully this will be a good one for us all. x

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    1. Very definitely. I hope you had a lovely New Y4ear's Eve. xx

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  6. Happy New Year, Joy. You lived up to your name in 2021 with your positive attitude--even when times were very hard indeed. May 2022 give you many more opportunities to seek and find more joy in life. :)

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    1. Thank you so much, Mary, that is very kind. xx

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  7. I love reading your posts and you and Sue akways seem to find the good in things it's not always easy I have stopped reading a few blogs for they cannot see any good in things. HAPPY NEW YEAR Joy.
    Hazel 🌈🌈

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    1. And back to you, Hazel, with thanks for those lovely, encouraging words.
      xx

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  8. Making the effort to be positive does pay off in the long term. Your positivity does shine through in all your posts despite life being so very hard and stressful at times for you this year.

    If it's any consolation H's two friends are struggling with AYWMC chapter 2 as well. Remember that help will always be given at Hogwarts for those who ask for it ... just Email me if I can help you in any way.

    Happy New Year to you and your family xx

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  9. < big smiles > Thank you very much, Eileen. I didn't go through it again but I will tomorrow. I've never been great with numbers. You may very well hear from me . . .
    xx

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  10. I hope you have a wonderful New Year. You will get the aperture thing, I know.

    God bless.

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    1. I hope so, it sounds quite crucial. Thanks, Jackie, that's encouraging.
      xx

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  11. Happy New Year, Joy! I hope this one will be more kind to us. X

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    1. Wouldn't that be great! I think already it is in that omicron is not nearly so dangerous, by all accounts. So more may get it but fewer will be seriously ill with it. That has to be a positive. Maybe that's where this whole 'herd immunity' thing makes a bit more sense.
      xx

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  12. Happy New Year! Keep going with the A Year with my Camera course. If you have any questions I'll try to help. Try using extremes in your aperatures. Something at F2 or so should have a lovely fuzzy background and be focused on one item, something at F22 should have most things in frame in focus.

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    1. My camera seems to go from F3.2 to F8 - that's a much more narrow range than you say. Maybe that's the trouble? Maybe it is just not the right camera for the course?
      xx

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