Hello 2020

The new year begins.  No resolutions made but just some promises to myself to try and make this year a good year in all respects.  I have plans to try and be better organised and bring some order to my existence - this is the same every year and every year I fail but maybe this year will be the one when I don't.  It is easy to fall into a routine and to stop appreciating everything that we have around us.  This year we will try to make the most of every moment, every opportunity because no-one knows what is round the corner.

Not only is this the beginning of a new year it is also the beginning of a new decade.  Ten years ago I think was the last time Mum and Dad returned to the UK for the festive season - we were living in married quarters.  The weather that year was awful and they were on the last flight out of Cyprus which managed to land in the UK because of snow.  We spent the New Year up at my sisters - this was to be the last year we did so.  So many things have changed in the intervening period.  We moved to Cyprus, my brother in law Richard passed away, his grandson Jack was born shortly afterwards and then two years ago my Dad passed away.  Friends and family have come and gone and we have got older and it shows!!!  We are now a walking advertisement for 50 Shades of Grey!!!

As has become a bit of a tradition for us we went out for lunch today at The Farmyard in Kathikas which is a real treat for me as I haven't had to cook and there is just so much to choose from.  This year we were being joined by Angela and Richard who regular readers will know are the reason that Mum and Dad ended up moving to Cyprus and therefore responsible in some way for our move too.  We all knew each other from Keinton Mandeville and 30-odd years ago Mum and Dad had a holiday in Angela and Richards apartment on the Tombs of the Kings Road and fell in love with the place and the rest is history.

We had a lovely meal.  Rachel had kindly seated us at the table which got full benefit of the overhead heater and we were never short of something to chat about.  The food was excellent and we all finished our meal feeling full and happy.  Richard and Angela had kindly picked up Mum so we didn't have to worry about her driving - I may well see Angela and Richard again as they may be in the same flight as me in a fortnight's time.

It had been a cool and damp start to the day, in fact both John and I changed what we had initially chosen to wear to the restaurant because we thought we might be cold, how wrong could we be?   It was toasty inside and when we had finished eating the rain clouds had gone and it was bright and sunny and quite warm outside.

Once back home the temperature began to drop quite quickly and with an evening of lounging around and watching the TV scheduled, John got the woodburner lit. 

My plans for some order in my life will start tomorrow - one drawer at a time as I pack for my upcoming trip to the UK.  I shall be ruthless in my approach and the charity shops will reap the benefit.  I have far too many clothes and far too little storage for them all - and besides how can I bring anything back from the UK without making room for it first??

Day one of the new year complete - I do hope it will be a good one - I think it will - starting with the opportunity to celebrate Hazel's special birthday with her which I hadn't anticipated doing but am so glad I will be - this means that this month's posts could be all over the place.