Friday

. . . and it is also Epiphany, also known as Twelfth Night, so I have changed the picture at the top.  It's still a winter picture - frost on my rosemary bush.
Talking of frost - brrrrrrrr again.   Yesterday was so cold that the frost didn't thaw on the shaded parts of the grass and come the evening I turned up the heating a bit, thankful that I could.

I got quite a lot done that I had planned to do which was good.  The kitchen is a lot tidier now and more of the decorations are away.  The tree stays up until Sunday when Beth and Alex come over to help, so I shall enjoy just a few more days of bright sparkle from that corner.  There's no doubt, the decorations do brighten up what is often an extremely gloomy time of year.

I went into school in the afternoon in hopes that I would be wanted and I was, which was nice.  I do enjoy doing the reading with the year 2s who are full of chat about what they have done.

Thankfully, the internet seems to have picked up again.  It's not perfect, but it is loads better than it was.

Today I have some ironing - the bedding wasn't dry by the evening so I couldn't do it then) - and I will get the last bits of decorations done and dusted.  The Friday page on my lovely new diary is pristine and unmarked so once I have done the necessary I can take it easy - knit, sew, read, whatever.  Life is good!

Today's food:
B:  granola and natural yogurt, orange
L:  soup and an apple
T:  30g cheese, cuppa
D:  sausages, home made wedges and either sprouts or a salad.  I'll see how I feel.  Then yogurt.

Given that it is the last of the Christmas festivals and which celebrates the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem, I thought one more festive carol might be appropriate so here it is - the old favourite, We Three Kings, sung by guess who!

Thursday

. . . and it feels like Thursday too, for a change.  It's frosty out there again so I'm glad to be warm and cosy inside.

The biggie for yesterday was the car service.  All done and dusted now with nothing to do except for the usual general service stuff.  They always give the car a little wash and a valet as part of the service so it came back looking more shiny than it has for ages.  The next thing is the first MOT but that's not till September so I have written in my diary to help me remember!

After the car had been collected, I got going with the ironing.  I've been avoiding the fitted sheets which are my least favourite thing to iron but yesterday I bit the bullet and got them all done while watching daytime TV.  I'll have two more sets to wash and iron by the end of today so I had to really, didn't I?

After the car came back I was tempted to go for a little drive, just to see how she handled, but I was strong and resisted.  There probably isn't any change anyway, except that the flashing neon light saying 'your car is long overdue for a service, stupid' will have gone out.
OK, so really it's just a small 'service' on the dashboard but it seemed to get bigger and bigger the longer I left it!

Today I have a kitchen that needs a bit of a clear up, sheets to change and wash, my bedroom needs a tidy and it's time I did my meal plans for next week so I know if I need to buy anything.  I am trying to be a bit more organised and food shop just once a week.  It's not any kind of resolution or target, just me making a bit more effort.

Today's food:
B:  porridge with dried fruit and natural yogurt
L:  leek and potato soup, apple, orange
T:  50g nuts, cuppa
D:  more of the turkey casserole of which I made loads and it's very tasty too!  The rest will go into the freezer for an easy dinner in the next few weeks.

But first - a coffee.  I love the first coffee of the day!

Wednesday

Good morning, everyone.  After a very cold day yesterday is seems to be a bit warmer now.  There's no frost anyway and slippers and dressing gown are fine, no need to put the heating on early.

This will be a short entry as there's not much to write about really.  That's the main problem with uneventful days - they create boring blogs!

It's not being helped by the fact that my internet is very, v-e-r-y- s-l-o-w at the moment.  It's like the bad old days when it could take over 20 seconds to connect.  I gather there's problems the other end so I won't nag them right now but it's better be back to normal soon because it's most frustrating!

Today's food
B:  bran flakes, orange
L:  home made soup, apple
D:  turkey casserole, rice, yogurt

Stay safe!

Tuesday

Well, it's all over now, bar the tidying up.  New Year is over and done and 2017 is well under way.

I've started clearing some of the decorations.  The flower 'arrangements'(aka chuck 'em in a vase and see) are dying and will see the compost heap today, always assuming I want to risk frostbite to do so!  The (artificial) wreath is off the front door too.  Today I will sort out all the candles.  I'm hoping that by Epiphany, which is Friday, all that will need taking down is the Christmas tree - and I might leave that until Sunday when Beth and Al will probably be here to help.

I got on with my knitting quite well yesterday evening and have about 3/4 of a shepherd knitted.  There's the making up on top of that, of course, and I am undecided as to whether I make up as I go or leave it all to the end.  It's nice to see progress but, on the other hand, it takes up much more room once made up.  I think I might do the latter.

Hopefully it is back to normal with the old food as well.  Back to planning and frugality most of the time.  Back to swimming, which has taken a back seat recently.  Back to saving up leftover money for next Christmas.  And next week, back to tuition too.  The circle of life continues in all ways..

As I type, I am looking at my pound coin tin.  The round coin is being replaced, of course, by a rather handsome, twelve sided, bimetallic affair with lots of security features.  I wonder how that is going to affect the supermarket trolleys.  After many years I now have a token that goes on my key ring so I am now never in need of a trolley coin so fingers crossed that they produce tokens for the new shape too.
As for the cash in the tin, I shall just have to make a point of using it/replacing it as I can.  I have until September, I gather, and after that the banks will change any random coins that turn up.

Today is a normal day.  Housework, some tidying up, some quilting (planning size and maybe cutting out) and knitting.  Doesn't that sound nice and normal.  And there's no underlying knot of worry about going back to school and thinking of all the things that still need doing.  The most worrying thing on my plate right now is the car service tomorrow and whether they will find anything expensive (don't think they will) but I have money tucked away for that so it's not major - lucky me.

Today's food:
B:  granola and natural yogurt, apple
L:  curried parsnip soup, orange
D:  mixed pulse stir fry (I'm going vegetarian today)

Have a good day and, please, mind how you go.  It is very icy out there.

Monday

. . . but I had to check that it was Monday.  The first of two bank holidays, I gather.  After a nasty, wet, mild day yesterday, it has turned cold again so watch out if you're out early.  It's possibly going to be a bit treacherous under foot after the dampness yesterday.

Thank goodness I didn't need to be out very much apart from dropping Alex off home.  He could have made his own way but it really wasn't nice walking weather at all.  He stayed for most of the day, which was lovely, although he didn't emerge from the bedroom until late morning.  I remember when I was his age I could stay in bed all morning quite happily.  Not any more!

It was rather a nothing day.  I didn't do the ironing so that's on this morning's list.  I did sort out the kitchen after the 'Christmas dinner' but that was self defense really!  I watched a lot of DVDs, did some social networking and knitted.  The doll is now done apart from the face and hair and I won't be tackling that until I can see my way through how to do it.  I've started on the first garment now but might take a break from that to produce a couple of shepherds or wise men - start on them anyway!

I have absolutely nothing in the diary for today.  Zilch.  No complaints as I have another lot of bedding to deal with as well as the usual 'must do to keep the place habitable' chores.  No shopping needed, no going out, just a nice, peaceful, gentle day in my own space.

I haven't decided on meals yet but it will all be stuff I already have in.

Have a lovely day, whatever you are doing, wherever you are going and whoever you are seeing.

Sunday: New Year's Day

Good morning, gentle readers, and welcome to a New Year.

As the saying goes . . .
Pinch and punch
For the first of the month
A clip round the ear
For the first of the year!

So that's tradition satisfied!

Yesterday was good, even if the weather wasn't.  I was right about Hobbycraft, it was more or less empty when I arrived and the only cars were those of people who work there.  They had plenty on sale but nothing that really caught my eye but it is always fun looking around the store anyway.  I went upstairs to the yarn and they had three for the price of two which was great.  I found the colours I wanted - some realistic skin tones plus some red.  They also had the ombre fat quarters back in so I got a couple of packs of the pink ones to make something for a friend who is having a baby this year.

And, joy and delight, I handed over an old gift card, explaining that I didn't know if I could use it or how much there was on it and got a tenner off the bill.  Really can't complain about that!

After a Morrison's stop off to get a few bits and bobs for the evening, I sorted stuff out at home, prepped all I could and then sat down with my knitting and some DVDs.  I've nearly finished the doll, apart from the face and hair, so I can start on the clothes.

When Alex arrived, later on, we had his Christmas dinner and I have to say it was very good.  I'm pleased that there's enough left over to reheat and have with a couple of rashers of bacon on the side.

I shall spend the rest of the day planning that gift I am making, knitting, ironing and all the usual daily stuff that goes with daily living.  I've no idea if there's anything decent on the telly but, if there is, I will watch it.

Today's food
B:  I'm still recovering from last night so fruit for me and toast for Alex.
L:  soup
D: reheated veg with some bacon - and all yesterday's roasties have gone so it's just veg, which is great
I also have some leftover cheesecake but Al will take some of that home with him, I expect.  I wonder if it freezes.  I'll pop a little slice in the ice box and see.

A review of 2016

I found these questions on the site of one of my new followers, Eileen, and thought I would borrow them (thanks, Eileen). I know my life is rather ordinary, no exciting happenings, no utter disasters, but it has taken me all this time to appreciate that that's what I want from my life. My so-called 'bucket list' is plain and simple and I am happy that it is so, however boring it may appear to others.

So, prepared to yawn if you read on!

What did you do in 2016 that you’ve never done before?
I don't think I am that adventurous really. I made two Christmas Crib sets from a pattern I have wanted to use for a while and am now taking commissions from friends which is nice. I had a holiday in Suffolk which I thoroughly enjoyed - the first one on my own for well over a decade. Oh, and I did some willow weaving and went on a weaving weekend which was fab.

Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions and will you make more for next year?
I don't think I made any really. Why set myself up for failure?  If that sounds defeatist. so be it.  I am sure there will be challenges - I can already think of some - but resolutions won't help.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
An ex-colleague did and all went well.

Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no.

What countries did you visit?
Just this lovely country of ours.

What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
I am very happy with the life I live now. Retirement is great now I have got over the considerable changes of lifestyle. I loved teaching but having fewer pressures is wonderful.  To be honest, on the personal front, I lacked nothing essential in 2016.

What date from 2016 will remain etched in your memory and why?
There isn't one really.  Maybe the day I woke to find that we were leaving the EC or the day I woke to finmd that the most powerful nation is the world had incomprehensibly voted in a . . .  but that'; enough!  And I don't recall the actual date.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Oh, goodness. I'm not into 'achievement' stuff really. I crafted, I had my bedroom decorated, I enjoyed the fruits of my garden, I stayed happy . . .

What was your biggest failure?
There's no such thing as failure, just successes that haven't happened yet.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Apart from the usual problems with my feet and ankles, no, not really

What was the best thing you bought?
My new Thermomix.  And it was a joy to be able to give my old one to Beth who uses it a lot.

Where did most of your money go?
Day to day living and into my savings account.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Goodness knows. Do I get really, really excited? I prefer to go with the overwhelming sense of contentment that I feel increasingly often.  Much better than the ups and downs of 'excitement'.

Compared to this time last year are you:
Happier or sadder?
Happier - but then I would say that almost every year!

Thinner or fatter?
< cough >

Richer or poorer?
Hmmm - one would think retirement would bring less but I feel a lot richer in the things that matter to me - and there's enough cash to live a contented life.  What more can any sensible person ask for?

What do you wish you’d done more of?
Gardening at the allotment

What do you wish you’d done less of?
Not sure really.

How did you spend Christmas?
With the people I love best - my family.  It's all I ever want to do at Christmas.

Did you fall in love in 2016?
ROFL - er - no, thanks.

What was your favourite TV show? 
Oh, the usual. Bake Off, Strictly, Eggheads, Pointless.  I missed Doctor Who.

What was the best book you read?
I enjoyed Hugh F-W's Love Your Leftovers and I get a considerable delight in re-reading old favourites. At the moment it is some of the Miss Read books.

What was your greatest musical discovery of 2016?
I have no idea!

What did you want and get?
I wanted to wean myself away from teaching. I had a contract until the February half term and since then I have had very little supply offered and, to my surprise, I am OK with that. More than OK, in fact. The further away from it I get, the more I see the damage it did, especially towards the end.
I love my volunteer work at school though.

What did you want and not get? 

Ooooh - a hard one to start with. I suppose I would say I intended to get my suite recovered and didn't, but it is now in hand for next year.

What was your favourite film this year? 

 I don't watch films in the cinema, I wait until they are out on DVD. That's what I prefer but it is also sensibly frugal. If it is good I'll want the DVD, if it is not, what a waste of money. So, recently I have bought the BFG - brilliant - and I shall get Fantastic Beasts when it comes out.

What did you do on your birthday? 

How can I remember that? I shall have to wander back and check. Hang on .
Well, checking my blog post, I had a lazy day and didn't do anything much. Oh, and the weather was cold!

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I tend to be satisfied with whatever life throws at me in a general way.  Before retirement I was very worried about how I would manage, both financially and in other ways too and I was slow to sort out my pension.  I think I wish I had bitten the bullet earlier rather than relying on my ongoing contract and my savings (which have now been replenished).  I should have had more faith and a lot less head in the sand and it would have saved me a lot of silent, hidden worry.
On the other hand, I did get to grips with my finances out of necessity which was definitely a Very Good Thing

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
My what????? :-)

What kept you sane?
My family and lack of work stress.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Fancy???? No, thanks!

What political issue stirred you the most?
Anything that involves animosity, insincerity or dishonesty affects me negatively. There seems to have been a lot of that this year, sadly

Who did you miss?
A few ex-colleagues who have lost contact.

Who was the best new person you met?
Mt daughter's partner.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016.
Go with the flow and appreciate what you have.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
'That's what friends are for'.

Maybe I should be more adventurous in 2017, but I bet I won't be.