Happy New Year

I've had a push to write again, but I've really been putting it off. I did contemplate a review of the year, as it has been eventful to say the least. We've done some brilliant things throughout the last year, but it has also been one of the most traumatic ones ever. After the first week in January I took so many knocks, and these continued throughout the year, with a great big one hitting me on Christmas Eve. However, although I might do a 'good bits' review it still wouldn't be right to put the rest on the world wide web without anonymity.....and yes, I do know I'm not the only one around here to have a bad time but I'm allowed a little self-pity. That is done with now.

Paul's bruised and stitched naval.

Christmas in the Kelly-Hale Household isn't quite as jolly as most! Paul puts up a Christmas tree and decorations, and I fail to acknowledge them. This year Paul had a hernia operation Christmas week, so he has been out of action. I never used to be this bah-humbug, but I think we reached new lows this year. Present buying went downhill. Although the children didn't miss out, we didn't go mad, and we didn't buy each other anything at all. We did Secret Santas for one side of the family. There are loads of children, who all get an awful lot, and it ends up costing everyone a fortune buying things that people don't need or particularly want. A present was bought for and by each person (so our family bought 4 presents, rather than 13!) and we had a £10 limit. I got loads for the £10s I spent, picking up bargains as I saw them. I think it was a brilliant idea, and whatever the others think I'm not going back to how we were.

FB enjoying her Christmas Dinner.

Christmas dinner was a change this year as well. I used to spend hours and hours cooking up wonderful things for people. For the past couple of years we have had nice food, but not turkey and all the trimmings. Last year we had lobster thermidor, but not just any lobster thermidor This year M&S did us proud again. I had my favourite treat food (a tin of M&S chunky chicken) and Paul had his (a tin of M&S hot beef curry). As it was a special occasion we had microwave rice! We had no children arguing because they didn't want sprouts etc as we gave them what they requested. Afterall, shouldn't Christmas be about everyone enjoying themselves and indulging how they like? H had hotdogs, and FB's special request was a Christmas dinner flavoured Pot Noodle. We all enjoyed our food, and there was absolutely no stress, no arguing, little preparation, and not much washing up.

The first sherry of 2011

By 27th December we had our thinking caps on, trying to come up with an alternative for next year. I thought a bit of voluntary work, perhaps helping out in a soup kitchen, might be a good idea. I found a charity in Manchester that opens for 12 hours a day throughout the Christmas period to feed and help those in need. Doctors and solicitors turn up to give advice to people who otherwise wouldn't be able to access it. I've been told though that H wouldn't be allowed there. I will check it out though. I think it would do him the world of good to see things through different eyes. 'Crossing the water' next year was mentioned, but I think that has too much potential to go wrong. We would only need a little snow and our plans would be kiboshed. Even a cruise was debated, but as my dad said, you couldn't escape Christmas at all then, and they don't do 'Cruises for Scrooges'. I do have a plan hatching though that could work very well....

Paul and H on the snow on the beach

The first Mr Whippy ice-cream of the year

I know I was miserable this year but I think that could be because I was so eager for it to end! Last night was a perfect, quiet, end to the year, with a good curry, good friend, good wine and a scary film. It was wonderful to wake up this morning without a bad head, and able to have our first grand day out of the year. We had a big lie in so were too late to go up to Fountains Abbey. Instead, we went to Formby to see the red squirrels. It was raining, but we still managed an ice-cream before having a walk and ending up on the beach. It is a fabulous beach (I've never been before), and it was a bit weird having to cross the snow to get to the sea. We didn't go to see the Antony Gormley sculptures as the weather was so bad we thought we wouldn't really see much, but that will save for another day. We saw a grand total of no squirrels (I had thought there would be loads) even though we went through the woods searching. Spotting a Waitrose more than made up for this though, until we realised it was closed. We didn't let a little thing like that spoil our day though, and had our picnic (complete with flasks of tea!) in the Waitrose car park. We know how to live.

Paul and I on Formby beach, 1st January 2011

I'm going to be doing lots of great things this year, and I'm going to ride any knocks that happen to come my way. I'm going to have new experiences and take myself out of my comfort zone more often, and this time next year I will do a review of the year that won't have to be doctored!

Happy New Year!