Tuesday 9 January 2018

Easing into January




All of a sudden the celebrations have become a distant memory, the decorations are packed away once again, the house has had a thorough clean and we find ourselves looking towards a brand spanking New Year ahead. I really hope it holds good things for us all.
We slipped quietly into the New Year watching some TV and enjoying  a drink (or two) on the sofa. In fact, I only realised it had arrived once I heard the fireworks outside. New Year's day itself was a very relaxed affair. We went for  a gentle morning walk, then spent the rest of the day at home. 
I took down our decorations a couple of days later, and although it was so good to see the house clean and in (some sort of) order once more, it did look decidedly bare and I still miss them.  Fortunately they all survived intact - child and cat behaved themselves! - and are packed safely away ready for next time.  I have since consoled myself with some fresh flowers for the mantel. An impulse purchase while in was in town during the week. I'm so pleased I did, they really brighten it up and I've decided I should treat myself more often.
The following day Lily started back at school for the Spring term and everything was back to normal. It feels good to be back in routine again, but those wonderfully lazy mornings and much loved family time are sorely missed.
Since the recent days have been sunny and bright, it has become noticeable that they are ever so slowly increasing in length, which is always so pleasing to see during what can be a long drawn out month. The  cold and frosty weather has been a beautiful backdrop to some gentle walks. This is definitely a good thing as I really need to start increasing my activity levels. The horrible cold which put me out of action for weeks at the end of last year has left me feeling lethargic and sluggish. Not good!
With this in mind I have signed myself up for a running group which meets once a week for a social run and chat in the hope it will give me that nudge in the right direction. My first run was last Thursday and I really enjoyed it. The ladies are all supportive and seem good fun.



So what lies ahead for me in 2018? I really have no idea. So far I haven't made any plans. I haven't even booked any holidays or trips away. Being healthy and happy with my lot will do for now. And I suspect there will be a lot more walking.
J. X

52 comments:

  1. Being healthy is priceless. Lovely photos as per usual.

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    1. As you sadly know all too well at the moment Tania. Much love and good wishes to you both for a speedy recovery. X

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  2. My goodness Jules....those photos are amazing...I wish you all a healthy year ahead. x

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  3. Great photos, I particularly like the first one, it's gorgeous :)

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    1. Thank you. It turned into a beautiful morning, but would you believe not long before that picture was taken the valley had been shrouded in rain and mist!? X

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  4. Jules....you should frame your photos and sell them they are just the most beautiful photos I have ever seen. I would suggest that you find a way to watermark them though when you use them on your blog. There are a lot of unscrupulous people out there who would have no problem stealing the images and using them for commercial purposes and I would so hate that to happen to you.
    I'm really missing our decorations too even though I was ready for them to come down. I think it's the twinkling lights I miss most of all and am sorely tempted to fetch a set of battery lights back down to drape across the fireplace.
    At the moment I couldn't possibly do running but I definitely need to get out and walk more.
    Hugs-x-

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    1. Thank you for your concern Sheila, but I wouldn't worry too much. If you zoom in you will find the picture quality isn't all that great as they're really just snapshots taken on my (not very good) phone. I hope I can upgrade to something better soon.
      I'm so tempted to get some lights back out too, but I'll stick with enjoying the flowers for now. X

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  5. What fabulous photographs. How lovely to live amid such scenery.
    Hoping that you will feel less "sluggy" soon!

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    1. Thank you Eloise. Feeling sluggy is not good. X

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  6. Gorgeous photos. I particularly love the frost edged leaves.
    J x

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    1. Frosty is much nicer than wet and soggy. X

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  7. Your pictures are so lovely with the blue sky and the blue water. What a wonderful place to walk and contemplate the nature that surrounds you.

    i often get the after-Christmas blues so I try to find projects and keep active to get through the dark days. Exercise and walking help and enjoying the extra minutes of sunlight is a joy. Before you know it, spring will be here and flowers will bloom. Winter is so hard for me.

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    1. It was a lovely, albeit incredibly cold walk. It is so important to make the most of the bright days and get out at this time of year. X

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  8. Being healthy and happy is all one can hope for, I take one day at a time. Sounds like the running club will be great fun for you.
    I have just realised after all this time I only follow by email so I shall hit the follow button now. xxx

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    1. Healthy and happy, then anything else is a bonus. Thank you for the follow. X

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  9. Beautiful photos. Being healthy and happy with your lot is a great start to the year. Love the sound of your walking group, I need to work on fitness and lose a few pounds. I am sure some Spring gardening and working on the outbuildings will help.

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    1. Thank you. I've certainly started this year in better health than the last, but I'm hoping to build on that. Once the weather improves and we find ourselves outside more it can only help. X

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  10. The house does look bare when the tree and decorations come down and fresh flowers do seem the perfect treat. Good for you signing up to your running group, something to look forward to each week. I wish you a happy and healthy 2018.

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    1. Thank you Eileen. I must try and make the flower buying a regular thing. X

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  11. good for you joining a running club, it will be good fun :)

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    1. It seems like a nice friendly group with the emphasis on the social as much as the running. X

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  12. Langdale area? Looks like you had perfect weather for your visit.
    Good luck with your running group, the company and friendships will probably do you just as much good, if not more, than the actual running :)

    As for not having any plans or trips booked, sometimes I think it is nice ~not~ to have a lot of commitments lined up.

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    1. I don't know why but I'm quite liking not having anything planned, for now at least. I usually like the idea of something to look forward to during the cold dark days.
      The top photographs were taken at Brothers Water. It had been rainy and misty shortly before they were taken. X

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  13. Your photos, as ever, are beautiful. That countryside and scenery must give you the nudge you need to get out there. I'm not a fan of January, the days are too cold and short for me but it does help to have something to look forward to, even if it's just getting out of the house for a walk.

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    1. Thank you Jo. I don't need a lot of nudging to get out walking, as long as the weather is OK. January days can often seem so cold and dark but we've been lucky to get quite a bit of sunshine this last week. X

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  14. You look to have had some beautiful days, we are still languishing beneath grey sullen stuff. I agree that the days are beginning to feel a little lighter.

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    1. We have been so fortunate with the weather recently. This morning has been dark and misty but even that is clearing now and it's getting brighter.
      I'll send a little sunshine your way. X

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  15. What more could we ask for then to be healthy and happy. Hoping 2018 is just that for all of us xx

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    1. I'll second that. I've found it's not something to be taken for granted. X

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  16. just beautiful. Beautiful photos, beautiful words. I took a very similar photo to your last one today, I couldn't help but notice the sky seemed to be made up of three streaks of colour, too pretty to ignore. xx

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    1. That's very kind of you to say Sadie. I sometimes think I take a few too many photographs of trees at this time of year. I love the beauty and simplicity of their silhouettes against the sky. X

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  17. Thank you for sharing your lovely pictures with all of us. Being healthy and happy with our lot - that is a good goal. :) Good of you to sign up for the running club; sometimes, we need that commitment to get us to do things. Glad you got yourself some flowers, too. It's one of the first things I did after I took down what little decorations I put up, this year - I picked some flowers from my garden and arranged them in a vase to put on the altar. May 2018 be a wonderful year for you and yours. Bless (posting during my lunch break, so, "anonymous").

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    1. Thank you Bless. I've reached 'that' age where I've realised I can't take my health for granted and I know I need to be more proactive in this area.
      The flowers make a lovely change. I don't often have flowers in the house. X

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  18. What a lovely post. I feel I've eased into the New Year right beside you :) A little treat every now and then is good for the soul and flowers are a prefect choice. Healthy and Happy sounds perfect to me, really what more could any of us wish for. xx

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    1. Aw, thanks Suzanne. Treats are good, so in future I should maybe make sure I get myself flowers on a regular basis rather than chocolate! X

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  19. Your sunshine looks gorgeous, its been very wet, dreary and dismal here this past week. Hope you meet some nice new people on your runs.

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    1. We've had a mixture of weather here but have really embraced the good days. The ladies at the running group seem very friendly so I'm looking forward to the next session. X

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  20. Another lovely post from you with those gorgeous photographs and lovely words.
    I think to be happy and healthy is truly wonderful, and to enjoy every day we have ... whatever the weather!

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thanks Jan. You're right, I need to enjoy every day, it's just that when the weather is bad here, it's really bad! X

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  21. Everyone is going down like flies at my workplace - I just hope I don't join them! Hope you feeling more energised soon - your photos are just beautiful.

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    1. That's always a worry, just bracing yourself for when it's your turn. I hope you manage to stay well. I'm making some small changes health wise and I'm hoping I will start to notice a difference soon. X

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  22. Healthy and happy is good enough, I think. Happy New Year Jules, I plan to be here more often. x

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    1. It's a good start isn't it. Thank you, it will be lovely to see you here again. X

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  23. Lovely photos Jules, breathtakingly beautiful. I agree with you about the decorations etc. It's great to put them away but it feels bare and dreary without the twinkly lights. I always love the no rushing round days, despite the teens lounging about on the XBOX and other electronic stuff. I relish the time to just be, to relax without 'having to do' everything. All the best for good health this year, Cx

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    1. It's so good to just be some days. Life can be so hectic so a break from routine is to be relished. X

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  24. I love your photos. So beautiful.
    Happy 2018 Jules !

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    1. Thank you Nil. I hope 2018 is good to you. X

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  25. You have a lovely blog!
    Your V Stitch blanket is gorgeous, you are a talented hooker (crocheter!) LOL!

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    1. Thank you Kay. It's good to see you here. X

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  26. I thought I'd left you a comment but I hadn't. Sorry! Here it is instead: super photos: the clarity of the light is amazing! So pleased you had a good experience with the running club. They can seem intimidating from the outside but are just made up of ordinary people really. Well done x

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    1. Thanks CT. Joining in with the running club was really positive. Unfortunately it hasn't been held for the last couple of weeks due to the weather conditions - icy roads and paths so I'm keeping my fingers crossed it will be third time lucky. X

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