08-01-25 and New Year Tag

These tag questions have been doing the rounds of some of my favourite vlogs over the last week.  I don't vlog and wasn't tagged but I'm joining in anyway because - why not?
(I got these from Nicky in a Vlog but they are all over the place in my little YouTube corner)

Off we go!

1. Who did you spend New Year’s Eve with and what did you do?

I spent it with me - just me - and it was very quiet and peaceful.  I caught up with a few recordings from over the past week and went to bed when I got tired.  Really nice.

On New Year's Day, Dave, Anna, Beth and Alex came round late afternoon and we had a lovely evening.

2. What did you toast with on New Year's Eve?

I had a half bottle of nice but financially accessible (i.e. not horrendously expensive) champagne from The Wine Society and enjoyed it very much indeed.

3. Do you make New Year's Resolutions?  If so, what ?

No, not resolutions as such, but I do think about how I want things to pan out through the year and for this year I'm continuing to work on 'health' - physical health, mental and emotional health and financial health.

I have determined on a few specific actions.  After watching Shoestring Jane doing a reverse advent calendar last month, I have made a note in my diary to start doing a pre advent reverse calendar in November, getting Festive stuff that I can donate to our local food bank for distribution before Christmas.
Then I thought 'why restrict it to just Christmas?' so I have started collecting items that I can take along once a month, checking online what is needed at any given time.  I would like to be able to donate at least twenty items each month.

4. What lessons did you learn in 2024?

Life is an ongoing lesson really, isn't it?
I think I finally realised that I am what I am and there's no point trying to be someone else, no matter how much I admire them.
I can do my thing in my way.  It's a very freeing thing to hold on to.

5. If you could have three wishes for 2025 what would they be?

Oooh - well, the silly one is to win the jackpot with my premium bonds.

More seriously, I wish that people respected and accepted each others' differences.  There's nothing wrong with being different, the problems occur when 'different' becomes 'wrong' in some way.

And I wish everyone was kind to everyone else.  Kindness (and the results of that kindness) would solve so many world problems.

I know it is all pie in the sky but I can wish and I can try to be what I wish.

6. What life pearl of wisdom would you give others for 2025?

Be kind, be accepting and be understanding and appreciate differences.  Everyone is amazing in their own way - find amazing and celebrate it.

7. If you could travel to one place in 2025 where would you go, and no limits?

I would LOVE to go back to the Arctic again.  Proper snow and amazing scenery.
And I would love to meet up with Slim Win friends around the world (that's cheating really, isn't it?)

8. Do you have any regrets in 2024?

Yes, I think we all do, if we're really honest, but the importing thing is to identify them, analyse them and learn from them.  They are probably not biggies . . .

What are mine?  Not saying - that's personal.  :-)

9. What is your favourite memory in 2024?

I have so very many, far too many to list.  I feel so very fortunate to have such a happy life.
I have shared many of them in here over the months.

10. What are your top three YouTube channels at the minute?

I have loads.  Many are Slimming World/weight loss related and it isn't fair to just pick out three so I will move outside of them and say. . .

1.  Early Retirement Wanderlust

Richard and Jackie are ex-teachers who retired at the age of 51 and are enjoying a life of travel and exploring the world on a budget.   There's also a blog here.

2.  Ali Lives Well on Less.  Ali is also an early retired teacher living on a pretty tight budget (there's a bit of a pattern here, isn't there?).  She posts on Money Monday and Foodie Friday plus on other days from time to time.  She's so down to earth and sensible.
She also has a blog.

3.  Budget Cooking UK.  Kerry cooks using her air fryers, often experimenting and trying ideas out.  She just makes me smile.

And one more . . . because I can.

4.  Sopherina.   Sophie covers food/lifestyle and parenting.  She's not posted for a few weeks because she has just had her second little boy but she'll be back.  She's just so down to earth and practical and very, very nurturing and her recipes and meal plans are delicious.  She does things like a £25 shop from Aldi and then making five meals for four with what she bought.

There you go - my answers.  I won't tag anyone but if any bloggers reading would like to use these questions, please feel free.  xx