January 1st/2nd and Just-Stay-In January

  The Twelve Months

Snowy, Flowy, Blowy.

Showery, Flowery, Bowery.

Hoppy, Croppy, Droppy.

Breezy,  Sneezy,  Freezy.

George Ellis (1753 - 1815)

From the Illuminated Book of Days by Eugene Grasset

January 1st passed happily as I spent the day with Son, DiL, YD, the 3 Suffolk Grandchildren and BiL too. We ate a repeat of Christmas dinner - much too much - Son and DiL always cater for a multitude!

Then home to watch another night of all the quizzes - been enjoying them. I couldn't decide whether to watch the first of the new series of Traitors or not so half watched. Before going to son's village I called in at Tesco as my fridge was veg-less, now I don't need to go anywhere for a week and I can get started on all the things to fill up the month although I have two grandchildren here on Monday [PD day for their Mum at school] and they've requested more cheese straws so that's another thing to add to the list.

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The Anglo-Saxons thought January 2nd to be the unluckiest day of the year and in Medieval times people thought  marriage, travelling and birth should be avoided.....not sure how they made that last one possible? I'm going nowhere so should  be safe.

Just-stay-in-January came about because I used to dread the month - often getting depressed - it seems to start right after Christmas and goes on forever, only gets lighter by a few minutes and can be the coldest month of winter.....as the day lengthens so the cold strengthens

It isn't to be taken completely literally as there's the weekly Keep Moving Group and  a January Jumble Sale so I'll be there for that and I'll need shopping for fresh stuff - but not much else - hopefully. I thought about a trip out to one of the bigger towns for charity shops but not sure I'll bother if the weather is going to be icy cold.

I've got several things to fill the 'dark days'....................

 [Taking tree, cards and decorations down was top of the list - but it's already done and dusted!]

Letters/cards to write to penfriends in Essex and Scotland

The folder full of 2025  paperwork to sort and keep/recycle or shred.

A jigsaw puzzle to get started

The new diary to fill in dates

A box of books to process and send off to World of Books

Library books still to read - with more due next week. I heard that 2026 is The National Year of Reading here in the UK - that's an easy one to join in with!

New books to enjoy

Dishcloths to knit

And I'd really like to do some cross stitch this year after not doing any for a while, so ought to get started.

And blog posts to write - Hope I can think of things to say!

Back Tomorrow...........

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?