Happy New Year!

 Wishing everyone a.....................

Did you know that January 1st  became a Public Holiday in England in 1974, mainly because of all the absenteeism due to people staying up far too late and drinking too much! ............ It wasn't me!

Thank you to everyone who has read the blog through yet another year and to new readers too, all around the world. Thank you to all who comment regularly or just now and again. 

And another big Thank You to everyone else who write interesting blogs for us all to read.

Thank you for all the 'Happy New Year' wishes yesterday. 

Looking forward to new adventures in 2026.

Looking Back - The Annual Photo Review of the Year for 2025

 January 

The first of the library book photos for last year, I always put a photo on the blog of the books I collect on mobile library day and lots of people say they like to get ideas, so that will carry on next year.

February.

One of my favourite things found at a jumble sale for 50p. I love jumble sales, car boot sales and charity shops.

March

I had a sort out of old photos in March and put many into a proper storage box rather than the albums.

On my trike and in a pedal car

April

I used my English Heritage Membership before it ran out, to visit Orford Castle on the Suffolk Coast. Looking magnificent after it spent a year wrapped in scaffolding being cleaned and repaired.

May

A photo of a page from one of my umpteen books that get used for First of the Month - Country Folklore posts.

From 'The Illustrated Country Year' by Celia Lewis

June

Somehow I got an Art O Level without ever learning to paint or draw, I wish I really could but instead I go to all the local art exhibitions and admire what others can do.

July

Ringshall church. One of many Suffolk churches visited during 2025. I'm now up to 130 out of the 600+ that we have in Suffolk. Hope to get to  a few more in 2026

August

I didn't grow so much in the garden in 2025. In 2024 the neighbours cat and pigeons ruined so much I was quite off gardening, but the greenhouse was full. The plum tomatoes were used for Red Tomato Relish which was the only chutney made.

September

I had a few days away in a static caravan on the Suffolk Coast so that I could visit some places I'd not been to for many years without having to drive an hour each way. This was Southwold - it was incredibly windy that day.

October

A tea-light holder car-boot find to add to my Portmeirion Holly and Ivy ware. I enjoy my early morning walks around boot-sales from March to October. There's no knowing just what treasures will be discovered - usually things that will save me buying something new at a later date. 

November

In November I did an A-Z .....for the third time

B was for Blackthorn

December

I like to find out about local events happening, especially if it's something a bit different and went to the Nativity crib display church fundraiser in a nearby village. 

But of course the best thing about December was getting to see all the Grandchildren all at once- the sofa load of mischief! .

Thank you to everyone for reading the blog and all the comments through 2025. I'll keep writing through 2026 -  what adventures will a new year will bring?

Shopping Early For Christmas............. 2026!

I had a post earlier in the month about buying things from charity shops that would make good presents. So through December I looked to see what was in the charity shops and in the Home Start shop in Eye that I popped into on my way back from Diss, I found two things for next year.

First was this box that is holding a very lovely ceramic olive oil jug/pourer (£4.50). I know one of the local farm shops has unusual flavoured olive oils that I could add and then I spotted all sorts of flavoured olives in the Co-op. That's one present planned. 

And this box has a mini potting tray, trowel, gloves, twine etc and was also £4.50. Other gardening things could be added to this to make a gift.

And then another from  Stowmarket RSPCA charity shop - a Robin nesting-box shaped like a tea pot. The outer box is faded and dis-coloured but I can wrap the inner box, this was £4.

And then another............a tin of 10 lovely notelet cards by Whistlefish for £4. Coincidently in the cupboard I have another but different tin of cards that I found in a charity shop last year and thought would be a draw prize when it's my turn to take one to Over 60's group but then I took something else instead.

So now I have a tin for both sister and sister in law.

Add the hot water bottle found at the one-off Christmas car-boot sale and I'm doing well for next year already.

Then, when I was in Stowmarket for the Christmas trees in the Church, I found the new East Anglian Children's Hospice charity shop had reduced their Christmas cards already - a whole week before Christmas. 10 cards for £1.87 - half price.

 I've put these into next years accounts in my accounts book. So I can remember what I've spent when it gets round to Christmas shopping next year.

Back tomorrow with the annual photo Review of the Year