January beginnings

We start the year with the first full moon, a supermoon, the Wolf Moon.

It was incredible, watching it appear from behind the Tor. It literally took just over a minute to be fully visible and it was so big and so bright. Amazing!!

The day started off beautifully clear and bright. 

I took myself off, over to Coombe Hill woods.

It was so peaceful and calm.

That is something I want to do more of this year, get back to my walking.

If it's dry and I've nothing on, I want to get out and walk!!

Sometimes the thought of it is too much but once I am out, actually walking, it feels great to be out in the fresh air. I do prefer to walk on my own, at my own pace, taking photo's as and when I like. I must be stronger at carving out time just for me and not waste hours scrolling through social media!!

I have been using my time off to get organised.

Starting the year off with a tidy desk. Remove the clutter!!

I've also been LOVING the Traitors.

It's such a good show and I've managed to persuade Jeff to watch it with me this series. I love the fact that everyone has to watch in real time and that it's something to talk about afterwards. Although I do wish they didn't leave the episode on a cliff-hanger and we have to wait days to find out what happens! 

Daffs are back in the shops. Best £1 spent in January.

Something so simple.....

....brings me so much joy!

The weather these past few days has been dry and cold. Perfect winter weather!

This was the sky this morning!

So tomorrow marks the return to work.

Sam returns today. He came back from Bristol late Friday evening and is back in today 2 - finish. Jeff is back in tomorrow morning, a six week term ahead. And, I start back on Monday afternoon, invigilating an A'Level mock Politics exam. The Student exhibition opens this week, with the Private View on Friday evening and then I'm in for the following three Saturdays.

I'm spending today organising our next trip away, during the Easter break. We've had the flights booked for ages but haven't got round to sorting out our accommodation. It's slightly tricky as we fly out on Maundy Thursday, straight into the Easter festivities and we have no idea what public transport will be running, so getting around could be a little tricky. I like to spend January plotting and planning out our adventures. Gives me something to look forward to. 

Our Summer trip is 90% booked, just two places left to book and then we have our October adventure to organise. The flights have been booked but that's it, so I can start to research that. We most probably, won't be going anywhere at Christmas this year, as Jeff breaks up a little later, so I will turn my attention to 2027! We already have our Summer destination figured out, so I can start looking!!!

Hello 2026

Pinch and a punch.....

.....hello January and .....

......hello 2026!!

I remembered to snap this photo, just as Sam was heading out the door to catch the bus. It would be my only chance to get a photo of us altogether, as Sophie would be back in Cardiff by the time Sam returned. But, I hadn't put up the banner...

...so we had to make do with Sam's Graduation photo!!!

It's tradition!!!

Sam spent New Years Eve in Bristol with Poppy.

Sophie, Jeff and I had a quiet night in, watched a film, then the fireworks and Big Ben!

It was far too cold to be celebrating outside!!

I wonder what's in store for us all this year. 

Sophie? A new house, maybe!?! (it didn't quite happen in 2025)

Sam? A new job? Move to Bristol??

Me? Feel more energised and in control of the menopause!!!

Jeff? Stay fit and healthy! Inching ever closer to retirement!!

Good health and happiness all round and no dramas please x

Our travel plans are in place for the year ahead. Not as many trips as last year but we have our BIG Greek adventure in the summer planned, to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. 

Starting the 13 week countdown to Italy in April!

As always with a new year, come the fresh starts/plans/goals/intentions...

But no big start over here, more plodding on from where 2025 left off, 

but with a renewed commitment for 'consistency'.

In August I returned from holiday vowing to make August count. And I did! It's usually a month of drifting, with Jeff home & now Sam in the mix too, but I set out routines for 'me' and I stuck to them.

But then September happened, a week in Corfu with Sophie, back to work in the gallery. October & gallery/ exam work and a few days in Cornwall, followed by half term and a trip to Lisbon. November is a birthday month with lots of jolly's/celebrations and then bang, it was December, 5 days in Italy followed by all the festivities.

So with the start of a new year, I draw a line on the past few months and move back to August (my August intentions) and will set up and commit to the routines that had started to make a difference.

Getting up at the same time every morning
Drinking a glass of water first thing
Stepping outside, awaken my circadian rhythm
No screens or coffee for the first hour
Doing my weights workout before I showered
Having breakfast of Greek yogurt, berries, flaxseed and walnuts
Limiting my coffee, introducing an afternoon mint tea
Staying hydrated with water
Eating fibre, protein, good fats meals
Walking after eating
No snacking, just three meals
Eating in a 8-10 hour window.
Same bed time every day
No screen time for the last hour
Reading every night

The menopause is killing me! 

I have recently changed my HRT due to an episode of bleeding (all investigations are clear) but the dosage still isn't right, so first off a visit to the Dr's to get things sorted.

I got on the scales this morning and I weigh just a pound heavier than this time last year, but I feel 10 stone heavier!! I don't ache as much (something is working, one of the many supplements I take) but I feel tired, I feel 'heavy' I'm fed up of my eyes streaming, the new hot flashes and the fact that the night sweats have returned.

So this year is all about 'ME'. 

Feeling better, feeling healthier, feeling like the old me!! Its not about being thinner, although a few pounds off would be most welcome, but about feeling energised and happier in myself

 'CONSISTENCY'

One thing I did set out to do last year and is something I do want to continue with this year, is reading. Such a simple thing, but one I have found really challenging to do over the past few years. My concentration and ability to remember what I had read, made reading a no go area. Thankfully, I have settled into a better routine and it's something I will actively keep doing in 2026.

I want to continue listening to my podcasts, keeping myself best informed about health and well being.

 I will continue to support musical theatre, with 7 shows already booked in for the year ahead.

I MIGHT even try and learn a little Italian (no promises) 

Whatever the year ahead brings, I hope it's one of good health and happiness xx

FAREWELL 2025

2025

I LOVE to look back on the year. See what we've done, achieved, enjoyed!!

It's been another good year, other than my ongoing menopausal woes. I'm still loving my job(s) and the flexibility it gives me and time off with Jeff during the holidays. And we've had some good holidays!! Travel is still very much a priority for us both and we've been lucky enough to visit Italy, Greece, France and Portugal together this year.

My love of musical theatre is still strong and I've enjoyed many a trip to the Bristol Hippodrome/the Old Vic/St George's to see...... & Juliet, Dear Evan Hansen, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Chicago, Moulin Rouge, Starter for Ten, Book of Mormon, Mamma Mia, the Christmas Spectacular......with another 6 shows already booked for 2026!

I've seen a few films this year - Bridget Jones - Mad about the boy, The Salt Path (disappointing), Downton Abbey - the FINAL, the Choral, ending with WICKED Part two!! 

Looking forward to the Housemaid and the Devil Wears Prada 2 in 2026

There was some good TV - I still love the Great Pottery Throwdown, Race Across the World and the Traitors has been brilliant, with a new series about to start tomorrow!

Concerts this year were to see Deacon Blue, Tony Ann (pianist), Sophie Ellis Bextor, ABC and finally, the absolutely brilliant BENSON BOONE at the O2. My total highlight of the year. The best concert I've ever been to.

I've walked lots this year, perhaps not as much as in previous years but still go out with my friend Lynn. I enjoyed a few days up in Edinburgh in May half-term, visiting Em and Ju, old school friends. Had a fab few days and loved the city. I still enjoy taking photographs, I take far too many but it brings me so much joy. I've read 13 books this year. Reading a book is something I've struggled with over the past few years, but I'm determined to keep it up in 2026.

Jeff has been busy at work, and seems to have enjoyed this year group a bit more!! He's spent many an hour watching car maintenance videos on YouTube and then spent many an hour lying on a "good bit of cardboard" under one car or another!!! He is Sophie's private mechanic!! He's also still loving the garden and planting this year. In the little free time he has, you can find him running, refereeing and quietly plotting his retirement exit strategy. Still a few years to go!!

Sophie is still up in Cardiff, working for the ONS. Has spent much of this year house hunting. Sadly she had to withdrawal from a property she'd offered on, after the searches highlighted a few things, so the search continues. We enjoyed a couple of trips away together, a few days in Italy in the Spring and a week in Benitses, Corfu in early September. She bravely endured a tyre blowout on the motorway one trip back home, and it has knocked her confidence a bit, but thankfully, through sheer determination, she's steadily getting back to where she was.

Sam Graduated from Cardiff Uni, having spent the past 4 years there. There was many a time, when we thought this day wouldn't happen. But he did it and I couldn't be prouder. His plans for life after Uni didn't go quite as planned and he's ended up back at home for the time being. He and Poppy are still together. She's in a house share in Bristol, so not a million miles away, thanks to the 376 bus!! He's a GA up at school, hates it but it's money and he's term time only, so gets the holidays off. He's applying for graduate jobs but realistically will end up spending the year with us at home.

I've only made it down to Cornwall once to see Mum and Dad, but must try and get down a few more times in 2026. We've met a few times at a farm shop in Devon, due to mum's mobility now, but it's not the same as being in Cornwall.

So, there you have it a round-up of our year. 

All in all another FAB-U-LOUS YEAR xx

I will share with you our hopes, dreams, plans for 2026 over the next few days xx

Proudest moment of the year,

seeing Sam Graduate with a 2:1 in History and Economics

form Cardiff University

Sophie and I in Corfu

Jeff and I in our favourite place, Greece

Jeff doing his favourite thing diving/swimming in the sea

Our 2025 travels

The Gallery

My book pile!!

The BRILLIANT Benson Boone with Brian May

One of hundreds of photo's, from one of my many walks!!

The fabulous view of the Tor from my bedroom window.

ME x

(55 this year!!)

Mum and Dad (Oct '25)

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

FAMILY X

Breakfast Bags

Our Breakfast Bags were a great hit again, our 7th year of doing this. 

In early October we decide on 4x £5 categories and 4x £10 categories. 

We then each pick one out from each category, as a lucky dip. 

We buy a present for each of us (including yourself) in the category picked out, 

wrap it in identical paper and pop it in the named bags. 

When it comes to Christmas day, someone chooses a gift from their bag and we all find the gift from our bags in the corresponding paper, and unwrap it as a round.

So for example in the £5 category, I got ' a jar of', so I bought Jeff chewing gum, me a candle in a jar, Sophie a jar of coffee and Sam a jar of  Biscoff spread. I wrap those four gifts in the same design of  paper and pop each gift into each persons bag. Jeff had sweet snacks, Sophie had savoury snacks and Sam had accessories.

In the £10 round I got vessels. So I bought Jeff a diet coke glass, me a water bottle, Sophie a vase and Sam a new mug. Jeff got shower gel but it became toiletries, Sophie got hobbies and entertainment and Sam got 'a pair of'.

In total the 2 rounds equal just a £60 spend per person. (You can choose to spend more if you wish) 

It still involves a bit of thought and effort but the categories we come up with should mean we get things we will eat, need, use. 

 So from the £5 and £10 rounds this is what I received. 

Two things from Jeff - the shower gel and sweet snacks.

 Two things from Sophie - the Benson Boone CD's and the savoury snacks. 

Two things from Sam - the spoon holder/tags and the socks (apparently I'm really hard to buy for)

and I bought myself the water bottle and the candle in a jar!

The kids still get money as their main gift but get something fun to open on the day. Plus they don't have to agonise over what to buy for mum and dad or each other, and waste money in the process. 

As we neither want or need anything!!

I do a few extra rounds, nothing huge and only if I think it 

involves things people, need, want or will use!!

And Jeff does a book round, with Sophie buying a book for him. 

This year I did a Traitors round, 

a pigeon round,

Family joke, as I hate pigeons!! 

Sam got some extra Lego, and the we played the Pigeon game together.

a bag round,

holiday/travel round

Italian round

Easter egg round!!!

Forest Feast bags

And a couple of main gifts that were specifically asked for!!

Sophie, a new kettle and some new towels

Sam, some socks and Lego!!

 I bought Jeff a pair of shorts for summer (very Harry Styles!!) 

and treated myself to these ornamental figs!!

I hide everything away and then in early December lay everything out and 

decide what is missing, what is not needed, what would work as a round and then get wrapping!!

They're called Breakfast Bags because Sam was always impatient to open presents, 

so we start on the bags at breakfast!!

I received this lovely selection of gifts. 

Everything is wanted, needed or will be eaten or used. 

It hasn't cost loads of money. 

It hasn't meant someone has agonised over what to buy.

It works for us, we're already debating next years categories!!