Wednesday 29 January

Another catch-up on my 100 Happy Days photo project. As I suspected, I fell off the wagon on days that I'm actually in work. I leave home before it's fully light, I come home in the dark, and no, I don't take my camera to work. So I've relaxed the rules for myself somewhat and decided that I'd still do the project, but won't force myself to have to have a photo every day, I'll just carry on until I have 100 photos. It works much better for me this way.

So here we are, catching up:

 Day 6 - three of my favourite things: blue, stripes and a handknitted dishcloth. The tea towels were a birthday present from my mum and currently my favourites.

 Day 7 - my favourite woollen blanket, keeping me warm in winter (present from dad from his annual Texel holiday)

Day 8 - car passed its MOT

 Day 9 - first sign of snowdrops

 Day 10 - sunrise from our bedroom on Sunday morning. We get up early on Sunday mornings for B's ski race training at 9am. Seeing a sky like that makes the early start worth it!

Day 11 - a carrot cake cupcake made by 11yo at school, my elevenses treat. He's been having cooking lessons at school and has come home with all sorts of delicacies (cornish pasties, sausage rolls, macaroni cheese). Above all, he's really enjoyed it and seems to be quite good at it too - although he didn't like the macaroni cheese himself at all, but that didn't matter as 14yo and I devoured it for him. Next week is the last lesson and they get to choose themselves what they want to make. He's chosen marshmallow brownies. Good job my WeightWatchers meeting is in the morning!

Monday 13 January

Catching up on 100 happy days:

 Day 2 - a reduction in my electricity bill - the 19 pounds per year made me laugh

 Day 3 - my yoga DVD. 14yo found this DVD in a charity shop a few months ago. The first few times I did the exercises, I couldn't walk for a couple of days. Now I can twist myself in knots I didn't even know existed and can almost put my hands flat on the floor with straight legs (and I have long legs!). Above all, I really enjoy yoga.

 Day 4 - Bury St. Edmunds cathedral in the afternoon sunshine

Day 5 - Norwich cathedral in the early morning frost and sunshine

Wednesday 8 January

I'm taking part in the 100happydays challenge. With my track record of finishing photo challenges, we'll see how far I'll get with this one, but I like the principle behind it!

Here's photo 1 for 100happydays:

Back to eating healthily after a 2 week break from WeightWatchers. This is a chicken and apple coleslaw and very nice it was too. Lots of things I like about this photo - the healthy and yummy salad, the 'antique' plate, the fork, the worktop and above all, the little bit of sunlight which was very welcome after many days of storms and downpours.

Saturday 4 January

Another day and the Christmas holidays will be all over again for another year. I'm back at work on Monday and 14yo and 11yo are back at school on Tuesday.

The run-up to Christmas was the usual frenetic chaos, with to do lists as long as my arm and possibly even more things not getting done. (I can't remember the last time I managed to sit down and actually write all my Christmas cards.). Christmas Day itself goes by in a haze of cooking smells, and whether the kids are with me or with J. (we take it in turns), generally by Christmas Day evening I collapse in a heap on the sofa in my pjs. This year 11yo was actually off school on the last day of term and although he recovered pretty quickly, he kindly passed it on to 14yo and then to me on Christmas Day, which I ended with the worst sore throat I've had for a long time. We had 12 people around for Christmas Day and out of those 9 have now had (or still have) the same cold - my sense of taste and smell have only just returned.

As it was my mum's 70th birthday on 1 January, and as New Year is a much bigger thing in Holland than it is in Britain, I booked the ferry on Boxing Day to spend a few days in Holland. But I didn't actually much feel like going until last Monday. Fortunately by Tuesday morning, when 11yo and I saw the sun come up and reveal the familiar Dutch landscape, I finally felt happy to be 'home' again for a few days, and it turned out to be a good visit.

We tried to stay awake till midnight on New Year's Eve (and didn't all manage it!),

 We watched some fireworks

And we did a bit of cycling at our favourite place, the Hoge Veluwe

We made the most of the little bit of sunshine we had

We did some 'alive boarding' down the cycle path in the woods near to where I grew up

We did some admiring of the light

We played with dog and ball

And we did a bit of sentimental journeying (this is my university city)

Today's the last day where I can relax on the sofa, in my pyjamas and my pink 'fluffikins' (very pink and very fluffy jacket that was a Christmas present from B. as a joke but has turned out to be super comfortable), woodburner lit, tea and computer and lots of Dutch magazines nearby. Tomorrow is bike ride day and then back home to the kids and normal life.... but I'm ready - 2014, roll on. Happy New Year!