We had A Blustery Weekend at the end of January but it didn't keep us indoors, we took Archie out for walks on both the Saturday and Sunday.
In February I told you about the Hobonichi Techo which I'd recently bought. I was hoping that going back to a page a day diary would encourage me to journal on a daily basis and I'm pleased to say that it has. There hasn't been one day which I've missed since starting it.
Mick had quite a bit of annual leave to use up in March and took some of it towards the end of the month. We had a bit of a staycation which I told you about in my Holiday Week post.
I wrote my Up Days And Down Days post towards the end of April. It had been a hard few weeks since my mum died and I wanted to thank everyone who had taken the time to leave lovely comments and send emails and cards, they were all very much appreciated.
In May we had a Day Out In Derbyshire. It was a weekday so we avoided the crowds and we had a wonderful time.
Whilst having a day in the Yorkshire Dales in June, we literally stumbled upon Clapham. I've been visiting the Dales all my life yet this is the first time I've come across this beautiful village. We've visited again since.
2019 saw the hottest July day on record and it just so happened to coincide with Eleanor's Graduation. We were flagging in the heat but it was a wonderful occasion and we're very proud parents.
I told you about the Warty Pigs And Rock Hyraxes, as well as other animals, which we saw on a trip to Lotherton Hall in August. We're so lucky to live close to this Edwardian country hall and estate, there's always something going on there.
We had A Bumper Apple Harvest in September. The trees we have in our garden are just dwarf patio trees so we're lucky that they produce as much fruit as they do. This year was exceptional though.
Autumn arrived in October. I always try to cling onto Summer for as long as I can, I'm not a lover of the darker evenings and colder days, but there was no denying that summer was long gone.
It's not often that I'm poorly, I don't even get many colds, but I was Under The Weather with some sort of bug in November. I had a bad chest, aches and pains and felt generally grotty. I developed a cough which lasted for weeks.
I visited a new yarn show in December. Yorkshire Yarn Fest was held in two barns on a farm and though it was rather cold, there were some great dyers there. I came away with some lovely purchases.
A very special thank you to everyone who has visited my blog this year, especially those who have left comments and those who left such supportive messages when my mum died. It's been a tough year but I think this post illustrates that I didn't just get through it, I did manage to enjoy a big part of it too. Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2020.
Happy New Year!
We are also happy 2019 is passing, not the best year here, but like you it was not a totally bad year. I love reading your blog, it's interesting and I look forward to 2020. PS where is Archies photo .
ReplyDeleteHa ha, there really should have been a photo of Archie somewhere in that mix. I think most years are a mixed bag but there's just some years where you tend to remember the bad stuff more than others. The death of a loved one can seem to overwhelm you for a long time but I think this post demonstrates that there's always a bit of light tucked in there somewhere.
DeleteA Happy New Year to you Jo, I hope 2020 is a good one for you :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI wish I could write in my diary everyday. I start with such good intentions but it always falls by the wayside. I'd love to have more to look back on and read with the benefit of hindsight. At a time when grief feels ever present a reminder of the good things really helps. It nice to see that you've have some lovely memories of the year to look back on.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Jo, I hope 2020 is a good one for you and your family.
xx
Mick's bought me a new Hobonichi for Christmas, I love it, it's really encouraged me to write something every day. I definitely think it's to do with the size, it's big enough for me to jot down what I want to but not too big that it overwhelms me. The paper is brilliant too, so thin so that I can write a whole year in one book, but I can use my fountain pen without it bleeding through. Thank you.
DeleteWhat a lovely way to look back on your year. I think I would forget one day to the other if it wasn't for my blog. It's hard to believe another year is coming to an end! Days and weeks just blur into one another at such an alarming rate you're left spinning and confused! Looking back over my blog year it's been pretty good, just a shame it went by all to fast. Have a fun and wonderful New Year's Eve. Best love, Jane x
ReplyDeleteMy blog is the best kind of diary, I often refer back to it when I want to know when I did a particular thing. You're right time is flying by so quickly, I don't know where the days go, never mind the years. Thank you.
DeleteGood post and pictures. You certainly had a rather roller-coaster year and I hope that next year will be smoother.
ReplyDeleteThanks, and for you too. xx
2019 certainly didn't play out how I expected or wished and yes, it was rather a roller-coaster of a year. Thank you.
DeleteLovely to make note of the nice things, which happened, in the last year. And if you were able to do these things, and realize that they brought you Joy, perhaps you can build on them, this coming year?
ReplyDeleteNot only for yourself, but for the other members of your family, especially your husband.
Gentle hugs,
Happy New Year's Eve
🎄🌲🎼🌲🎄
I've acknowledged my grief throughout the year, allowed it to show itself when needed but also tried to give time to other things too, as this post shows. Losing my mum is something I'll never get over, but life goes on, I know she'd want me to live my life. Thank you.
DeleteI'm glad your year wasn't all bad, Jo, in spite of your bereavement. I'm going to take a page out of your book and make a new year resolution to journal every day. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2020, dear friend! P.x
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy the time I take to sit and journal each day, I don't write much but it helps to focus my thoughts, and it's always interesting to look back on, even just a few months down the line. Thank you.
DeleteA Happy New Year to you and your family, Jo. X
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI hope that 2020 brings only good things, dear Jo. Wishing you the very best for the coming year.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Thank you.
DeleteLovely review Jo, and you are quite right that often in our lives despite grief, there is good stuff too.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Decade to you, and your family, and all your loved ones. I hope it is filled with love, laughter, health and happiness.
J, xx
You sometimes have to look past the bad stuff but there's always something good there too. Thank you.
Delete2019 was certainly a momentous year for you and wasn't the weather good too! I'm very impressed that you've kept your journal going throughout the year. Hears to a good 2020!
ReplyDeleteMick's bought me a new Hobonichi for Christmas so I'll be continuing to journal throughout 2020, it's become a part of my daily routine now, I'd hate to give it up.
DeleteI love that you are journalling each day, how wonderful to have that record. I expect it has been helpful in your grief journey this year.
ReplyDeleteSo many wonderful things that you have done and been to this year. I am glad that you love Clapham it is a beautiful place isn't it. We had friends who lived there until earlier this year, their old house is in your photo which is a weird coincidence! Most of the village is owned by one family and they rent the houses out, all the houses are lived in, they bought them up as they didn't want it to become a ghetto of empty second homes.
It really has helped to journal throughout my journey with grief, it's quite therapeutic to just sit down and write. Sometimes I don't even know what I'm going to write about until I get the pen in my hand but it's never a struggle once I start. Clapham really is a beautiful place, I read about the village being owned by one family, it's so well kept.
DeleteDespite everything you did have rich moments in 2019. I should begin journaling myself. I think journaling is sometimes easier to confuse in than people.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I've looked back on the year as I have as there were so many good moments in between the bad.
DeleteHappy New Year Jo to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteHappy New Year.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI was glad to see the back of last year and am hoping the positivity and optimism wins through this year.
ReplyDeleteAlways something nice to read when I visit with you Jo. I am impressed you have written in the diary every day...that is a wonderful achievement.
Wishing you many happy times in 2020.
There are some years which are just worse than others but I do always try to look for some positivity, it can make such a difference even in the bleakest of times. I've found writing a diary every day to be very therapeutic, I didn't even miss when my mum died, I actually found it helped writing down my feelings. Thank you.
DeleteThis is a nice way to look back on your year...
ReplyDeleteWishing you and yours a Happy New Year.
All the best Jan
Thank you.
DeleteOnwards and upwards in 2020 Jo, you've had a hard time and I hope this year is kinder to you than last. Well done on finding the bright spots, on journaling every day and on reading 40 books, that's amazing. x
ReplyDeleteIt's been quite overwhelming at times and the good times tend to get lost amongst the grief, so I think it's good to look back. There's been more good times than you might imagine.
Delete