January blues? Not this year !

So we have started the new year and usually I’m getting the blues by now. I’ve never liked January and usually spend the first month of the year waiting for the second.  This country’s weather always seems worse after Christmas and summer seems so far away.  We don’t get much snow  in this part of the country, it’s just very damp and very cold.  Scarves and gloves weather if you can drag yourself away from the cosy couch.

This week saw the first of our boxes packed to go to the US.  Usually our Christmas decorations are returned to the loft without much packing and thought.  This year was entirely different.  Each decoration that we have decided to keep has been carefully wrapped in bubble wrap by my daughter Alex.  As each bauble etc was removed from the tree she lovingly wrapped it and each box was like a Tetris of shapes so they became the perfect fit.  We ended up with three boxes full.  Labelled ‘Christmas’ they are now ready to go.  All of our Christmas lights will be useless in the US so we won’t need to pack them.  Our next task will be the loft.  We don’t tend to hoard much but I must admit to putting things our children had when younger up there to be ‘sorted another time’. Of course this sorting rarely happened and this along with my daughters reluctance to dispose of any of her childhood things has meant there is a fair amount of children’s stuff in the loft to go through ! We had a box full of Halloween kids things which has already gone to Bradley at the charity shop.  Not sure if that was gratitude or dispair I saw on his face when I took it all in !

Our house has four bedrooms.  Three are used as bedrooms and the fourth is used as my office where I work, listen to music , do the ironing etc… it’s my very own sanctuary. One wall is wardrobe space for Randy and I and we also use the room for storage.  Personal paperwork..stationary ..board games.. photos.  .etc etc.  It’s not usually messy but I am planning on this being my next project after the loft.  I’m thinking this may be difficult.  Why would we take it all with us ?   As I said before the photographs will definitely be packed and sent but what about everything else?  Do I need to take my supply of new envelopes and pens, folders,..picture frames.. tablecloths…. leads for every electrical appliance…?  ha ha. I think I’m going to be quite ruthless with this.  We need a skip !

I always wanted a summerhouse.  We had a space in our garden that was crying out for something and over the years when the children were small we used it for a huge trampoline .. a Wendy house.. sandpit… but the last couple of years it became an empty space as each outside toy was disposed of.  Two years ago I got my wish.  I had a concrete base put down and searched the internet for someone that would build a summerhouse to my exact specifications to fit.  Once it was there I wished I had done it earlier.  It has a sofa bed which is great when the kids have their friends over.. it has Alex’s gym equipment..exercise bike, weights etc and a large monitor so she can go out there, close the blinds and  watch music videos or DVDs while exercising.  For me it’s lovely to go out there with a book and just be on my own a while.  My brother Martin put electric lights and sockets out there so it’s a fully functioning room.  I have heating there too so even in the winter it’s used by us all.  All those years I waited for it and now I have it ….

Last night I met up with a couple of the Pings.  Just three of us..no alcohol as driving  but so much laughter I had tears rolling down my face and I could hardly speak.  It’s making me smile just thinking about it now. 

Lesley, Avril and me laughing…and no alcohol in sight !

 

Just before I go …I thought I would show you this which my sister Lisa and her partner Malcolm gave us at Christmas….I think I’ll give it prominent place  in our new house

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Hope you have a good week..until next time