Friday 31 December 2010

2011..... What's the new year going to bring you?

I have no plans for this evening... 
I spent most of my informative years babysitting for neighbours so that they could go out
and celebrate New Years Eve... and the few parties I attended were sometimes fun and sometimes not.... 

Since being with Les I have no memory of going out on New Years Eve... apart from the first year I knew him and we went to a beach party at his local pub... which has now been turned into an up market restaurant... :(
Les is unwell at the moment so I dare say he'll be in bed before midnight and I might stay up and watch the fireworks.... but that will be about it... I have never really understood the need to celebrate the start of a new year... and I am not sure why? I've never been one for gatherings of people all jostling for the bar and getting toes trodden on while wearing something uncomfortable and to be honest not very warm and cosy... I think perhaps I have been old fashioned all my life... lol
Don't get me wrong I have partied in my day and I have been as hung over as the best of them.. these days it just doesn't appeal....


     I have started writing a journal after my friend Joanne gave me a beautiful notebook for Christmas... its almost like a mini blog post every day... and in the New Year I have to pay more attention to my blog...  I promise...!

     I also want to get caught up with commitments and clear all the tangled seaweed of jobs that seem to have entwined themselves around my legs... I am feeling a little lost at sea at the moment but I need to stop spinning around and calm the maelstrom around me... take a deep breath and set a steady course....

     I have never been good at facing my fears or dealing with tricky situations and running away has always been my chosen defence... but I think... no.. I know that this is not going to work anymore... I have to stand tall and deal with all the debris that may knock me clean off my feet... this is the year where I will test the theory "that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger"

     Christmas was good... nothing out of the ordinary... but good.... I think I have finally stopped trying to feel the child like thrill that Christmas use to hold and have realised that the excitement and joy of Christmas was not delivered by it being Christmas it was delivered by my Mum.... She worked hard to try and get me the gifts I coveted... well the affordable ones! ;D
     Mum fed us, cleaned up after us, worked hard to organise parties and family visits.... and I thank her for it... but now is the time for me to deliver these things to my children... Now all I have to do is take all the decorations down and transfer them into storage in my mum and dads garage again... I don't like lofts and the sheds are not water tight or critter proof so mum's garage is perfect! ;D


      This year we stayed home for Christmas dinner and I spent the morning watching a film (The Last Airbender) with the children while Les did the Christmas dinner... and he did a fantastic job too... I helped with prepping the turkey crown and Les sorted the sprouts, roast parsnips, Leeks in butter, roast spuds, carrots and pigs in blankets... after dinner was devoured we cleared up and once I had gotten the girls into the coop we headed for my Mum and Dads with a basket of crochet to relax with... the children enjoyed spending time with their visiting cousins and I enjoyed some quality crochet time... I watched Poirot... and even though my youngest brother blurted out the ending it was still an enjoyable evening... lol


      I received some wonderful gifts from family and friends... My mum bought me these 2 signs but my youngest brother told her they were rude and that she couldn't give them to me... I love them... so it just shows how little my brothers understand me ... lol

     They were 2 separate signs but I am quickly running out of wall space so I have altered them to hang together... and are in full view of anyone entering through the back door...! ;D



 My Dear bloggy friend Lisa Ridgeon sent me a surprise parcel of Christmas decorations that she made... the 2 hanging origami creations are amazing... and the felt ginger bread man, Christmas pudding and snowman are wonderful... and the 2 origami birds will be on display all year around with a couple others that Lisa made me... I will take better photo's when we get any sunshine... its so dull and dreary at the moment... and also I need to photograph and show off a beautiful stitchery that Suzie sent me... I am going to get it framed... and it has inspired me to start a little stitching of my own! ;D


 I bought a Christmas cake from Emily Waters at our village cafe... and its beautifully gorgeously scrummy... Daniel of course loves the icing and I love the fruit cake so all in all we are enjoying the partnership! lol

The chickens are all doing well... Daisy is still laying an egg nearly every day... and Hettie has regrown her tail feathers and seems even more bossy now... and Amber is just trying to keep out of the grumpy Hettie's way... I think as Amber is maturing a little power struggle is emerging... and Amber is standing up for herself a little more often than running away... lol I gave 6 eggs to Les's mum on Boxing Day and she was over the moon...

I hope this New Year ahead of us brings you all as much joy and happiness as can be afforded and that the darker moments are short and unable to cause upset or harm to you and your loved ones...

May days of sunshine and joy visit you all.... love and hugs Alex x

20 comments:

Unknown said...

Oooh, lovely post! I love the notebook! Its lovely.

Its been a pleasure sharing another blog year with you, here is to 2011.

Wishing you a very happy new year. Lots of love xxx

A Bun Can Dance said...

Dear Alex
May you have that sunshine and joy in abundance too! Happy New Year to you!
I love the warm glow in your lounge around the Christmas tree :-)
Like you I'm often bemused by the whole New Years Eve thing, but my family like to gather and we all spend the evening playing games or dancing outrageously to 1980's tunes!! Usual family stuff!
I hope you have a peaceful New Year and that the next twelve months help you to shift some of that stuff which is hanging around,
Take care
Denise x
Thank you for your Christmas card!

Clare said...

That notebook is lovely - very scribble worthy!
I wish you and your family and very Happy New Year and best wishes (albeit virtual) for 2011!
Clare xx

Pussycats and Angels said...

Hi Alex
Thank you for your lovely comment you left me. Love the new journal. Sounds like you had a similar Christmas.. Our Daughter went away to Devon, so first time without her at Xmas and it was quite strange...but they had a lovely time and that makes us happy. Wow your hubby really can cook up a hearty meal. Love the signs and your home looks very cosy...and that cake yummy....Glad your hens are ok...
A Very Happy New Year to you and your family....
Bright Blessings
Jules x

Sarah said...

Happy New Year to you Alex. I hope 2011 is a healthy, happy and prosperous one for you.
We too don't do much at New Year, much prefer to do nothing and veg out. I really enjoyed the Poirot, less keen on the 2 Miss Marples though.
Take care and look forward to more catch-ups in the New Year.
xx

Bliss Knits said...

It sounds like you all had a nice peaceful Christmas. Lovely!

Wishing you health and happiness in 2011. Sharon x

Snippety Gibbet said...

Oh my gosh. You had so much interesting to say and I was struck dumb at that cake. Mmmmmmm!!!!!!!!! It looks heavenly!

Jo said...

Happy New Year!

Josie x

Taz said...

Oh thank goodness someone else who doesn't do the whole woohoo it's new year, slap a smile on yer gob thing.
I'd much rather be in my bed, in fact it's the only night out of the whole year that I want to go to bed early LOL

Oh and you come and tell me things on my blog or fb anytime you like hon, I just wish we could get together and do it over a cuppa and a slice of cake but that will keep until we do our sofa testing ;)

Love ya, here's to 2011 being a good year xxxx

lisa ridgeon said...

Happy New Year Alex! Glad you like the goodies, they look great in your little nook. My bauble had pride of place on my tree!

I've never been excited by the 'New Year' celebrations either but this year we went to our local pub which had a tickets only buffet and disco thing going on which realy turned out to be just a good night out with friends, new year or not!

X X

Elenka said...

You worded your wishes so well. I wish the same to you and yours. Thanks for sharing your holidays with us.

Unknown said...

Hello Dear Alex--tis been a while since I've posted or read your blog. I don't know why I haven't been blogging but the excitement of the Holidays I'm sure had something to do with it. I'm back now and ready to take on the New Year. Here's hoping that 2011 will bring us nothing but joy and love for all! Your Friend across the big pond- Angie

Marigold Jam said...

Glad it's not only me that can't see the point in staying up till midnight either! We were tucked up and fast asleep when the fireworks woke us!! I think you are right to stop trying to recapture the childhood feelings about Christmas which were perhaps a myth anyway and to accept and enjoy it as it is now. Hope that your year will be less fraught with problems this new year and that you will find happiness and health during 2011. We never did get that walk or cup of tea together did we - maybe this year?!

Jane

Sweet Birdy Love said...

Hey ALex, been a while since I visited, but a lovely post. Sounds like you had a very enjoyable Christmas.Here's to mums, they're great.
With the list of jobs etc. you want to sort, put on your bravest face and go forward confidently. Once you have started sorting out a couple of issues, you will feel alot more confident of dealing with the rest. I hate having things hanging over my head, but have found this method works for me, good luck.
Love the signs you were given think I could use the one about housework....... As I only have one child, I think I'll hold onto him for a little bit longer.....
Can't beat fresh eggs from you own hens, mine have slowed down a little due to the heat.
Sending you warm, sunny wishes for a happy and creative 2011.

Sweet Birdy Love said...

P.S. completely forgot to say how much i looooooooove the background 'wallpaper'. Red Robins are my favourite WInter bird, this is soooo cute.

menopausalmusing said...

Belated New Year wishes Alex, to you and yours. (Christmas brought the "lurgy" here!). Hope you have a brilliant 2011!

Unknown said...

Here I am at last, a straggler! Well we had a very quiet chrissy too, just at home, no wandering out on New years eve either! Your pics are great! Love your journal, I must record more this year, and perhaps even start my blog again! Susie xxx

Anonymous said...

ALEX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hello from Texas.....again!!!! It's Teresa from Eclectic Pink Rose and I have missed you girlie!!!! I am blogging under a new name and I am back!!! (Babbs is my middle name and what everyone calls me so that is the new blog) Come over and visit so we can catch up!!!) Your Christmas dinner looks like it was YUMMY and beautiful too!!! BIG TEXAS HUGS!!!!! ♥

Jim said...

Thanks for your most welcome comment on my post today.
Happy New Year by the way too!
You sounded like you had a very full Christmas.....that meal looked delicious, not to mention the cake!! Hope all is well and 'see' you soon.

Rose H (UK) said...

Hope you're okay Alex, missing posts from you.

(Don't forget to pop over to my blog and enter my giveaway as it closes on the 20th..)

Rose H