Monday 7 January 2019

Into the New Year


Hello 2019!

I hope the New Year finds you well rested, following the festivities of the last few weeks. We've enjoyed a lovely time since school ended last month and, I won't lie, I'm going to find it really difficult to get back into the swing of things when my alarm clock goes off in the morning, as the new term begins.

I've never been one for huge celebrations at New Year. I see it, instead, as a time for reflection of the year passed and of my hopes for the year to come. So, instead of staying up and celebrating at midnight, we were in bed by 10.30p.m. in anticipation of an early start on New Year's day. The top photograph was taken when we arrived on the shores of Ullswater, just as the sun began to rise above the mountains. It was a beautiful and clear morning with a distinct chill to the air but it was oh-so-quiet and still there. The perfect way (I think) to begin our New Year.







We lit the stove and, while we waited for our sausages to cook, enjoyed a mug of steaming hot coffee, as the sun rose and the sky changed from a deep grey into a gorgeous shade of bright blue. Lily amused herself paddling in the lake and climbing trees, unaware of New Year,  only concerning herself with having fun. Our peace was only disturbed when some New Year dippers swam by.  The water was, in their words, 'refreshing.' 






The following day and, blessed with more good weather, we went for a walk up Silverhowe near Grasmere. It is only a short, steep climb to the summit but the views from the top are stunning, and on a clear day you can see for miles around.  It felt so good to  be up in the fells again, our last 'proper' walk having been back in November and seeming like a long time since.

Unfortunately, during this last week we've been dealt a bit of a blow, which has thrown us off our stride, to put it mildly. Life does have a way of throwing curve balls now and again, and although  I'm trying to stay positive and hopeful this will only be short term, any kind of uncertainty is difficult to deal with. So, if I am a bit quiet on here for a while, this is the reason.

I hope this New Year brings you everything you wish for.
J. X

82 comments:

  1. Hi Jules - I noticed your comment on Joy's blog and was going to get in touch if you went quiet so I am so please to hear from you. I am sorry to hear you are facing some difficulties already and only days into the New Year - how very unfortunate. I remember we have had one or two similar starts in January and my goal is always to pass through it unscathed before I can relax. Life is so unpredictable - I do hope you can weather this storm OK. I will be thinking about you in the coming days.
    Your pictures as always are beautiful and even though I am vegetarian those sausages sizzling on the stove made me smile in fact seeing the stove reminded me of our Christmas dinner a few years ago when we camped out in a car park in Shrewsbury for Christmas dinner and heated up some cup a soup on the stove before going to see my MIL in the care home as all the cafes are closed on Christmas day. I did write about it with photos but it may have been before you started reading my blog!
    Sending you all my best wishes and a hug x

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    1. Thank you for your lovely comment, Vivien and I did chuckle at the story of your Christmas dinner in the car park. You will be pleased to know the sausages are vegetarian, so you can enjoy the idea of them sizzling even more now. X

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  2. What a lovely way to start the new year! I do hope the 'blow' you have been dealt is nothing serious and will soon be okay. My best wishes to you, Jane x

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    1. Thank you, Jane. I'm hopeful all will be well in the end. X

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  3. We don’t celebrate New Year either despite being Scots! Photos are lovely and we went for a walk locally on NYD and said hello to so many people enjoying the bright, fresh day. Sorry you have been dealt a blow-take care, and deal with it in your usual thoughtful way. Love to Lily and hope she settles back to school after the break. X

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    1. I really thought you would celebrate in some way, Catriona. What about Burn's Night? New Year's Day was beautiful and so much more pleasant to enjoy such a day without feeling tired or worse for wear. X

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  4. What a lovely way you chose, to begin your New Year!

    Sorry for the "troubles". Ours were before and over Christmas. But we weathered it, and things are looking up.

    Do hope the same, happens with your "troubles". And hope you can try not to let stress make things, any worse.

    Gentle hugs,
    ✨✨✨✨

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    1. I'm glad things are looking up for you now and I'm sure things will be fine here eventually. I've decided stressing about the situation isn't actually going to make any difference to our predicament, so I'm trying not to worry. X

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  5. I hope everything sorts out. Loved the photos. Long time since I went to Ullswater. My husband is from Workington so the Lakes are well known here.

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    1. Thank you Jill. I do love it around Ullswater and it was so nice and quiet on Ney Year's day. You'd not catch me swimming, however. X

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  6. Sorry to hear you've been thrown a curve ball, just when we all hope the new year will bring good luck. I hope whatever it is can be sorted soon. Your photos are beautiful and you certainly had better weather on new years day then we did in Essex. It was very mild but overcast. Take care Jules. Tx

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    1. Thank you, Tania. There's always something, isn't there. Although, who knows, it could be a turning point to something better. Fingers crossed. X

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  7. I think that is a beautiful way to begin a new year.
    I love the photos you shared, and lingered over each one, imagining how wonderful it must be to be there. I hope and pray that your curveball will be resolved soon, and you can settle into the new year in peace and calm. Hugs from Pa~

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    1. Thank you, Billie Jo. It was a really lovely day. X

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  8. What gorgeous photos - you live in a beautiful part of the world. How nice that you were able to get out and enjoy it. I hope you have a blessed New Year and the issue you are facing has a positive outcome.

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    1. Thank you, Sue. Yes, I'm hopeful it might work out for the best in the end. X

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  9. I was enjoying your lovely pictures and positive post but then when I read of your unexpected curve ball, I was saddened for you and Lily. I hope it is something that can be dealt with easily and won’t cause too much disturbance or pain for you.

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    1. Thank you, Arleen. I've given myself a shake and decided to try not to worry too much, as it won't make any difference to our situation. We're going out for a walk later this morning, which is always good to blow away the cobwebs and feel better. X

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  10. What a perfect way to make New Year memories and to gather strength before whatever life has thrown at you since then. Wishing you love as you work through it. I doubt there's anything I can do to help but if there is . . .
    xxx

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  11. Glorious photos of Ullswater particularly the sunrise. Hope life sorts itself out for you and your 2019 if full of good things. B x

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    1. Thank you, Barbara. It was a beautiful start to the day and a lovely way to watch the sun rise above fells. X

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  12. Wow - your photographs are amazing! Looks like a fabulous place, and so quiet too.

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    1. Thank you. It was lovely and quiet there. A wonderful way to start the New Year. X

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  13. Oh my....I can almost smell those sausages from here. What a perfect way to spend New Year's Day.

    You will be in my thoughts as you deal with your curve ball Jules.
    Much love-x-

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    1. Thank you, Sheila. Thinking of you too. X

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  14. Such lovely scenery and your photos are as beautiful as always. It's a wonderful way to celebrate the New Year, I think. I'm sorry to hear that you've had to deal with an unexpected blow. It is nothing too, too, serious, I hope and my wish for you is that you are able to deal with it as best you can. May it turn out to be just a small bump on the road and hopefully, not something that can have a very major impact on you. Take care and take all the time you need.

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    1. Thank you, Bless. Yes, I'm hopeful that it is just a bump in the road and that it might even lead on to better things. We will just have to wait and see. X

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  15. Hello Jules...It looks as though you had a beautiful and perfect start to the New Year...What lovely photographs and such stunning scenery. I'm so sorry you've been dealt a blow at the end of the year...Hoping things improve quickly for you. Your blog is lovely...just what I needed to follow to kick start my blogging year. Debbie x

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    1. Thank you, Debbie. I'm looking forward to reading more of your blog. X

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  16. What a great way to start the new year, though I can think of other ways to describe the water other than refreshing, hmmmm, there's some hardy souls about. I'm sorry to hear about your curve ball, sending positive thoughts your way and hoping this is only temporary.

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    1. Haha! I love the outdoors but I'm definitely not a hardy soul and you definitely wouldn't catch me swimming in the lake at this time of year. I'll stick with eating my sausage bun and shouting encouragement from the shoreline.
      Fingers crossed that it's only a temporary blip. X

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  17. Your New years day sounds perfect what a lovely start to the new year the scenery is stunning such a lovely place to visit. I'm sorry to hear you have had bad news I hope things improve very quickly. :) xx

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    1. Thank you, Linda. It was a beautiful start to the New Year. X

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  18. Thank you for your gorgeous photos, it looks just like the perfect way to start a new year. Positive thoughts and hugs being sent your way for the bump that's entered your life. xx Susan

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    1. Thank you, it was a rather lovely way to start our New Year and I'm hoping our predicament will turn out to be a positive turning point in the end. X

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  19. I enjoy your blog. I liked the scenes from Ullswater and the sausage cooking-what a lovely idea--I wondered if you put them in baps to munch or just ate them as is. I hope your worry sorts itself out. I do sympathize. Not knowing how things will work out is always the hardest.

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    1. Thank you for your comment. The sausages ended up in buns with a little bit of ketchup and were delicious. A much more pleasing activity than swimming in the freezing cold lake. X

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  20. Such beauty Jules, what a stunning walk you took us on. Sending you a hug and hope your situation improves. Take care and best wishes for the New Year.

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    1. Thank you so much, and I have enjoyed reading about your Christmas travels and celebrations. X

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  21. What a beautiful start to the New Year. I'm so sorry to hear of your difficulties and I hope they can be resolved quickly for you. Take care Jules x

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    1. Thank you, Eileen. A quick resolution would be nice, it's uncertainty I don't like. X

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  22. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Hopeful for a positive outcome.

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    1. Thank you, Julia. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. X

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  23. It's the not knowing that's the worst thing - hope problems are resolved ASAP

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    1. It's just wondering where we go from here. I'm hopeful it will work out for the best in the end. X

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  24. I've realised that comments left with my phone don't seem to appear on some blogs, so I'm trying with the laptop.
    From a comment you left elsewhere it appears you are facing the same uncertainty that we did in 2017. Things worked out for us, and I hope with all my heart that you have a positive outcome too. Thinking of you during such an uncertain period. xx

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    1. Thank you, Scarlet. I'm hopeful there will be a positive outcome sooner rather than later. In the meantime we will muddle through. X

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  25. I hope everything works out well for you Jules. Take care.
    XX

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  26. Wow, Wow, and Wow!
    Your photographs are just beautiful … and I feel I'm there with you. There is no place like The Lakes, it's just beautiful... and I could smell the sausages cooking! I think you chose a great way to start the new year.

    I'm so sorry to read about your curve ball, hope things can be sorted.
    Thinking of you and sending my good wishes.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you, Jan. We enjoyed a beautiful couple of days. I'm not sure what has happened to the weather since, but it has been as grey as my mood.
      I'm beginning to feel more positive now, I just hope it lasts. X

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  27. Hey Jules, beautiful photos x sending love n light to see you through x

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  28. Fabulous photos of some lovely scenery, it looks like you had a lovely time. Sorry to read that you've been dealt a bit of a blow so soon into the year, I hope everything works out okay for you x

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    1. Thank you, Eunice. It really was a lovely couple of days and a great way to start the New Year. X

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  29. I wonderful start to the new year. I bet the water was 'refreshing' as the swimmers said!
    Sending good wishes for the little hiccup to pass you by quickly and be resolved with the best outcome.

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    1. Refreshing!? They must have been numb with cold. I was more than happy to be stood on the shoreline eating my sausage bun :) X

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  30. I LOVE the Ullswater picture. The effect of light on water is such a lovely thing. What a wonderfully uplifting way to see in the New Year. I hope it's a happy one for you

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    1. Thank you, Eloise. It was, and I'm sure it will be eventually. X

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  31. I'm sorry to hear about that curve ball - I know how that feels and it really can knock you sideways. X

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    1. They do send you into a tailspin don't they. I'm sure things will work out for the best in the end. X

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  32. Happy New Year.
    I've been looking for your blog on bloglovin and only just found it. It looks like you don't live to far away from family I have. Ullswater is stunning isn't it. x

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    1. Thank you for taking the time to find me. It is beautiful around Ullswater and we enjoy spending a lot of time there. X

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  33. What a perfect way to start the New Year. Good job Thomas wasn't in the vicinity he'd have tracked those sausages down in no time :) Now why am I not surprised to see Lily halfway up a tree! Hope whatever has hit you out of the blue is only a temporary set back. Love and best wishes to you all for 2019 xx

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    1. We really enjoyed it, Suzanne, and Thomas would have been more than welcome to help himself to the sausages. Why do they taste so much nicer when eaten outdoors like that?
      And thank you for your good wishes. I'm sure things will work out, I'm going to try and stay positive anyway.
      Thinking of you and your family too. X

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  34. Just stopped by to say that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope whatever it is that has caused worry will resolve itself in the best possible manner. (((HUGS)))

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  35. Unsure just how I managed to miss this beautiful post. The pictures look absolutely amazing. Hope that whatever has knocked you sideways a bit soon gets resolved. x

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  36. Lovely photos Jules, sausages cooked outdoors sounds great. Take care and I hope all is well with you, all the best for 2019, Cathy x

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    1. Thank you Cathy. The sausages tasted delicious and the views weren't too bad either. X

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  37. Hi,thank you for commenting on my blog,thought I had been forgotten as I don't get many comments these days lol.I do hope you are ok and things are looking up for you.I LOVE the photos really Beautiful,those sausages looked soooo yummy.Take care,thinking of you.Hugs xxx Happy 2019.

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    1. Thank you, Lee. I did have a quick look on your page to see if you'd posted recently, as I sometimes miss notifications. You're definitely not forgotten and it's good to read all is well with you. X

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  38. Sorry, I am so terribly behind. Lovely way to start the New Year - that shoreline looks familiar, were you at "our" little parking spot :-) xx

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    1. Thank you Jayne, your messages mean a lot. Yes, it was 'our' spot where I took the photographs. I always think of you now, whenever I pass by.
      If you ever want to get in touch directly, my email contact is on the sidebar. Xx

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  39. I came over after reading your comment on my post today Jules, but am sorry I didn't read your post in early January sooner. The photographs are beautiful - I have friends in Windermere and we are not so very far away
    I do hope things are beginning to sort themselves out for you and that in the end everything works out for the best. Thinking of you.

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    1. Thank you, Pat. Yes, I think I remember you mentioning your friends in Windermere. Ullswater is not too far away - just over Kirkstone Pass.
      I've given myself a bit of a shake this week. No amount of worry will change anything and I'm sure things will work out soon. Thank you for your concern. X

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  40. What a great way to begin the year! I am ambivalent about the whole New Year business too but this time I found it easier, in part because I didn't have to attend any funerals last year, I think. I'm sorry you are having a tricky time. And thank you for explaining to me that Midwinter is another name for the Winter Solstice, I hadn't come across that before and I'm always happy to learn new things. x

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    1. Thank you for your kind words. New Year is often a tricky time for many of us, for one reason or another.
      Midwinter, much like Midsummer, is a funny one isn't it. The term doesn't really make much sense with the timings of the seasons. X

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  41. Just dropping by to say hi and hope you are weathering your storm OK - thinking of you. x

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    1. Thank you, Vivien. We're doing OK. I've given myself a good shake, as worrying about it all so much won't change anything. X

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