Listening to the radio on New Year's Eve, I was startled to hear that 25 years ago we had been celebrating the new millennium. Wow, how time flies! Our children were still at primary school, and our house extension had been completed 10 days earlier. We hosted the New Year's Eve party for our near neighbours that year, most likely a very raucous affair involving the consumption of way too much red wine... No wonder I can't remember! Some elements of that day seem so recent, others a far distant memory.
New Year's Eve this year was a muted affair. Lily and Helen, recently returned from long drives, watched the new Wallace & Gromit before retiring to bed pretty early. I bowed to pressure from Paul to go out. My favourite pub had a party but it was fancy dress. I really hate fancy dress. So we went to our nearest pub, where the noise levels were too high for conversation and I'm not fond of the beer. Still, I forced myself to drink some, and we saw in the New Year with the fireworks from London on the pub's tv. Underwhelming, but Paul was happy. Amazing what large quantities of Guinness can do for his mood.
So, thinking forward and making plans. One of my favourite things...
In 2025 I shall
* Eat more vegetables. It's not like that's a hardship as I enjoy them, but am often too lazy to see beyond the convenience of a baked potato with cheese and beans.
* Make more memories. I spend a lot of time with my 92-year-old dad. He is virtually blind, pretty deaf, and housebound. His memories (all as clear as the day they happened) of life as a fit, strong, young man, are what keep him going. When the present is depressing and your future bleak, that's when you should let your mind return to the past and enjoy those days again.
* Say yes to more opportunities. Noting the speed the last 25 years has travelled by at, time is getting scarce.
* Spend more time outdoors, regardless of the weather.
* Laugh more. My default resting face is miserable, so pull faces at me if you catch me looking glum.
* Ride my bike more, or walk, instead of driving the car. I've been doing this since October, and feel quite smug about it when I cycle past the cars queuing into town. I also enjoy the fresh air and exercise, and longer periods between visits to the petrol station. Also, daffodils in full bloom before New Year! Climate change is marching onwards and we all need to do whatever we can to help slow it down.
* Have more fun.
I'm very much hoping that this year will be kind to my health, also that I'll reach the top of the waiting list for some much-needed surgery. I feel full of optimism about the year to come, we've got an exciting trip to Spain and Portugal booked and Paul is retiring so we'll have plenty of opportunity to nip off in the van. The future is bright, starting now; I've just found out that there was a Christmas Day episode of Call the Midwife so a delightful evening lies ahead of me. Think there's a partly eaten chocolate orange lurking in the cupboard too... Could things get any better?
Happy New Year. See you at yoga.
I don't agree with your default face being miserable Julie, you're always smiling when I see you. Happy New Year to you and yours and I'll catch up with you at yoga this week xxx