Monday 31 December 2018

Looking Back At 2018

One of the things I love about keeping a blog is looking back through old posts. I don't read posts I wrote a long time ago very often but they're a bit like a diary, I can look back at them if I need to know when I did a particular thing or when something happened and when I do, I find myself reading more from that particular time and I enjoy the memories.

I thought I'd end this year by taking a look back through each month of 2018.

January saw us taking A Woodland Walk through Middleton Park. My mood, just like the sunlight, can dip in the depths of winter but getting out and about is a great pick me up so even when it's cold and grey, I like to make the effort and go for a good walk.


In February, we went to Meet The Penguins at Lotherton Hall. A colony of Humboldt Penguins, capybaras and a tapir have all arrived at Wildlife World this year so we went to visit them. They've certainly made themselves at home here.


There were a few Itty Bitty Craft Projects completed in March. My craft time is taken up with mostly knitting these days so I especially enjoyed making the little felt star which had come in kit form, a gift from my lovely friend, Lisa, from Jumble and Jelly.


Eleanor's lovely long locks were cut off in April, Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow. She donated a 17 inch ponytail to The Little Princess Trust, a charity which provides wigs to children and young people who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment and other illnesses. Since then, Eleanor's gone even shorter with her hairstyle.


The Temple Newsam Rhododendrons bloom in May so we took ourselves off to see them. It's such a riot of colour, not to be missed, especially as the weather was so good this year which made them look even more colourful, if that's possible.


We try to visit as many theme days and events as we can at Lotherton. We have an annual pass and most of these are included in the price. There was a Wartime Weekend being held there in June so we allowed ourselves to be transported back to the 1940's. A good time was had by all.


We had A Wonderful Holiday in Cornwall in July. We weren't going to bother having a holiday this year but we booked at the last minute after being offered a good deal. I'm so glad we did as we had some fabulous weather and we all came back feeling relaxed and refreshed.


Snap! That's the sound that was heard in August when I broke my toe. Who knew that a break in such a small bone could be so painful. It actually took a long time to mend and still aches from time to time now.


It was my big birthday in September, 50, so we had a weekend away with the family on Mersea Island in Essex. It was the perfect way to celebrate and a little holiday I'll always remember.


In October it was Time To Say Goodbye to my trusty old car. I was sad to see it go to the big scrap yard in the sky after it served me well for nineteen years. I've been managing fine without a car since then so I doubt I'll be getting a new one anytime soon.


I've been knitting a few baby items this year for A New Arrival. One of Eleanor's friends had a baby girl in November, born on her mummy's 21st birthday, what a perfect gift. These little socks have to be the cutest thing I've ever knit.


Eleanor and I went to see The Nutcracker at the start of her Christmas break from university. It was a lovely way to kick start the festivities and we both thoroughly enjoyed the ballet.


Many thanks to everyone who has stopped by my blog this year, especially those who have subscribed and those who leave comments, they're always very much appreciated. Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2019.

Happy New Year!

42 comments:

  1. Ir's always a treat to pop in and see what you've been up to. Let's hope 2019 is a good year. Sending best wishes for a Happy New Year. 🍸

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    1. Fingers crossed that 2019 is kind to us all. Thank you.

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  2. It's nice to look back at what we have done, many people have stopped blogging in favour of other social media but although I do post on Instagram I much prefer reading blogs.
    Happy New Year, I hope 2019 is a good year xx

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    1. I've never indulged in any social media other than blogging but I'm building up to joining Instagram so you must let me know how to find you on there. Thank you.

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  3. I've been reading the blogs I follow and I find that people who keep blogs always seem to find lots more good things to reflect on over the past year than people who don't. I hear so many people say 'I'm glad to see the back of this year' ( as I commented on Marlene's blog ) I think people focus on the doom and gloom and forget about the good, fun things that happened. I too have found that keeping a blog helps me to reflect the good times and I can shove those bad times behind me and out of my life. Your poor broken toe and my brush with flu might be hard to forget, but they happened and we are still here! So I's like to wish you and your family a very Happy New Year. Love Jane x

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    1. Having a blog certainly helps me to remember happy and fun times. The bad things are going to happen to us all in one shape or form at some time in our lives but, as you say, there's many more good things to reflect on than bad. Thank you.

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  4. What a lovely look back over the year. Here's to 2019 then - hope it's another good one x

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    1. I often start the year off in trepidation of something untoward happening but I look back at the end of the year with fond memories. Thank you.

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  5. A lovely blog post Jo. Wishing you and your family all the very best for the new year 2019.

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  6. A most enjoyable post and good pictures. I occasionally look back at old posts.
    Thanks, and for you too. xx

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    1. It's amazing how an old post jogs my memory, it's fun looking back and reading them from time to time. Thank you.

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  7. I love looking back over our blogs, as you know I print my blog into a book each year, often I pull out a book (a complete year) and read back, it's good to remember the small things as well as the biggies. Happy New Year.

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    1. I love the idea of having the posts in book form, they must be fun to look through. Thank you.

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  8. Hope you have lots more happy memories at the end of 2019

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    1. I'm wondering what 2019 will bring, I'm always a bit nervous venturing into a new year when you don't know what it holds. Thank you.

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  9. You've enjoyed lovely times during the past year and I've had fun coming along to read all about them.
    Wishing you a wonderful 2019
    xxx

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    1. I'm glad you've enjoyed the posts. Thank you.

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  10. Wisps of Words was here....

    Happy New Year!!!

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  11. That was lovely seeing a recap of your year % blogging is very much like having a diary, but with the added bonus of photos too. Happy New year, take care & see you in 2019.

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    1. It's nice to make friends through blogging too. Thank you, I look forward to seeing you in 2019.

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  12. I am exactly the same as you when it comes to looking back over blog posts. My blog has become more and more like a diary as the years have gone on.
    I really enjoy reading round up posts at this time of year.
    Wishing you a happy 2019, and thank you for regularly reading and commenting on my blog.
    xx

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    1. It's nice to have a sort of online diary where you can look back and see what you were doing a few years ago, times do change and blogs are so good for jogging the memory. Thank you.

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  13. It's always a joy to visit and read your posts. All the best for 2019! :)

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  14. Happy new year, lovely to look back over the year.

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    1. Thank you. Blog posts are a great way to jog the memory when looking back over the year.

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  15. What a nice way to remember the year. Is your sailboat an O'Day Mariner? The Wartime event looks fun!! Sorry to hear about your toe. Anything involving feet is slow to heal and hard to deal with. Broke my foot last March...still not 100%
    Sandy's Space

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    1. It's not my sailboat, there were lots of them on Mersea Island. I didn't realise that it would be so hard to get around with a broken toe, I can only imagine how bad a broken foot is.

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  16. I agree about a blog being just like a diary, it's so easy to forget things. Some lovely memories here, apart from the broken toe!All the very best for 2019.xxx

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    1. It's surprising just how much you do forget, the blog has jogged my memory on lots of occasions. Thank you.

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  17. Happy New Year, Jo! I enjoyed your recap of the year. I must have been away when you broke your toe so I went back and read the post - ouch!

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    1. Thank you. I don't always do a recap of the year so it was fun looking back this time. It took quite a while for my toe to heal, I was hobbling around for quite some time.

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  18. What a lovely blog post, and a wonderful look back.
    I wish you and your family all the very best for 2019.

    All the best Jan

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    1. It was fun choosing a post from each month to include in this post, there was such a selection. Thank you.

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  19. Happy New Year! Yes, agree about the blog as a diary. The tag search is a great boon because if I'm out and about and want to show somebody something, I can find the picture or info quickly via the net without the need to carry all those pictures around on my phone memory taking up space. It is nice to look back on. You are not the only one Jo.

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    1. Thank you. The blog is also handy to show photos to my kids too who both live away from home now. I tell them to look at my blog if I want them to see something. It's very handy.

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