New Year 2018 !

Always think that taking down the Christmas decorations is a bitter sweet event, Particularly the Tree.

My husband thinks I am quite childlike with my enthusiasm for producing the many baubles and momentoes each year. However each one has a sentimental value. Every year my children chose one or two they liked and I duly bought them - this tradition passed on to my grandchildren and they also added to the collection each year. Last year my daughter in law bought "snowflakes" for each of us with our names clearly shown in the centre.

Additionally we try to buy unusual Christmas decorations from countries we have visited on holiday and again these evoke memories of past pleasures.  Most notably we have beaded items from Guatemala and a bell from Kyoto.

 

One small item is a little needlepoint wreath my daughter made when she was about 13 and I have kept it all these years and always feel a pang as I "find" it again in the box.

Now the poor tree is groaning with these weighty donations and it was relieved of this intrusion on the 6th January the Epiphany as is the tradition.  Now the house seems remarkably bare and cold. However along with everyone else who celebrate Christmas we soon return to normality and our usual way of life.

For me the New Year signifies  new beginnings and plans for 2018 and I look forward to putting them into fruition!

Happy New Year!!!

Christmas 2017

You know what’s it’s like when main festivities are over and you and husband have quality time to lunch together and ... him to enjoy my home made lemon meringue... and its snowing outside -bliss!

LadyDay

This has been a busy and eventful year with so much happening in the world and in politics.  Like so many of us I have been caught up in day to day events which means I have neglected my blog!  But no more so as a start ...

yesterday we got caught up in town in the deluge!! We had no choice as we were going to see LadyDay.... it was worth getting drenched - this was a truly memorable occasion - 
Audra McDonald was superb acting her way through the rise and fall of Billie Holiday in a nightclub setting which spilled over into the audience. A truly talented lady who can act but more importantly can sing like Holiday - we were transfixed by her emotional and authentic performance - exhausted by the end as we got caught up in the raw deal she had in life. Tickets expensive...but worth every penny - you get what you pay for....

If we had one minor criticism it would have been preferable to have had a brief interval which would not have interfered with the story ...

What a Week!

About 10 days ago my husband complained of a headache and sore throat.  He took a couple of ibuprofen and we hoped symptoms would go away.  Of course they didn't and the symptoms were joined by a rasping chesty cough and heavy cold.  He became so bad that he had to have antibiotics as he developed an upper respiratory tract infection.

I quickly followed to keep him company! You know when you pride yourself on being fit and healthy and then suddenly you are hit with something you can't control and you realise you are mortal? Scary stuff!  I must admit it has been a long time since we have been so ill and the cough and cold is still persistent but we are feeling so much better than before or at least we are trying to convince each other that this is the case.

We were particularly anxious as we had book to see 42nd Street some time ago and we were fearful

that we wouldn't be able to go.  Well it was a challenge but we did get to see the performance at the end of this week and it was just what we needed.  It is a spectacular show and fully recommend it.  It is so uplifting and full of energy and talent.  It was also a treat to see Sheena Easton who still is very impressive. It was a good job I took water and strepcils with us as I did have one moment when I found it difficult to suppress my cough. Such an awful feeling ...that you are about to explode!

Anyway good time had by all!  Lessons learned this week....don't take your health for granted and accept that sometimes you can overcome difficulties to enjoy the things you want to do if you don't give in!

Girl on a Train

Last night we downloaded Girl on a Train....for some reason I got it into my head that it would be a little like Agatha Christie's Miss Marple 4:50 from Paddington .  Not a bit like it!

Really enjoyed it but the story was very gritty and often violent. Excellent acting. It certainly kept us on the edge of our seats particularly in the second half of the film. My husband found it quite amusing that I volunteered for this as it is not the sort of thing which appeals to me ...... 😊
Recommend it!!

Mother's Day

Lovely start to Mother's Day as my children give me these beautiful flowers.  Looking forward to being pampered for the rest of the day 😍

Diary of a 60 Something......Thursday and Friday

Thursday  23rd March 

Today is very much an exercise day as I am joined by my husband.  We go relatively early and spend an hour there.  My husband does the treadmill and weights and me the cross trainer. 
We return home and I eat earlier than usual as I am going to my Pilates class at 1pm and need to digest! 

I have got back into the swing of Pilates again - I always felt the benefits but somehow going on holidays disrupts the pattern but now I am determined to be consistent and go to my twice weekly sessions.  Its surprising how much better my joints are now and my back is much stronger.








Feeling virtuous I return home and plan the evening meal.  Quiet evening tonight watching TV....bliss!

Friday 24th March

Put a load of washing on and catch up with the ironing. Quick session at the gym and then home. Hung out washing and then go to Lidl with my husband....when I tell my daughter what I have been up to in the day she usually mocks me by saying  "living the dream"😁

Back home have lunch and then I dedicate the afternoon to painting. One of my hobbies is painting

portraits.  Just recently my granddaughter asked me to paint her so she can put on her new bedroom wall.  She is delighted with it, however my grandson wants me to paint his portrait which is fine but I am struggling with his likeness.  Children have such perfect skin no blemishes no wrinkles and  its hard to identify distinguishing features.  Its much easier with craggier older faces!

Evening we have dinner with friends then home to bed....zzzz


So ends my week long diary.....as you can see quite unremarkable but very busy and we think very fulfilling.  

Now the weekend look forward to - the weather is going to be good so look like gardening will be on the agenda!