New Year

I don’t like New Year’s resolutions. They tend to bring false hope and send me into a fug of gloom by the third week of January. This year feels slightly different however; not so much for the need for resolutions but more a strategy of ‘how on earth are we going to get through 2019 with our sanity intact?’ sort of attitude. National politics is embarrassing, International politics is frightening and we seem intent on gradually chipping away at our planet like an out of date Edam. 

Thrive or survive, awe are often told, and with a young family, who have dreams in their eyes, I will do everything I can to thrive, whilst chugging along in survival mode. To that end, it is all about priorities not resolutions - keeping close what matters to us - family, friends, the arts, the outdoors, our church and as much laughter as we can manage. 

The year started as I meant to carry on - lunch for 10 and a walk. Dear friends from London visited us, (post NY celebrations) so a hearty lunch was planned. Thinking ahead, I made a rich roasted vegetable Bolognese on the 31st (anticipating little capacity for cooking in the morning of New Year’s day) and had the freezer stocked with plenty of garlic bread for pre-teen appetites. A green salad, soft drink (ahem) and Christmas candles decorated the table and we whiled away time catching up on news. Pudding was skipped in favour of a walk and recovery was provided by builders tea, gingerbread and hide and seek in the house before the day is complete. Weary from the previous 24 hours but content, we got to bed fog-free and had the best nights sleep for some time. 

2019 - Let's be 'aving ya!