An Alphabet Year

So when I said that I had picked one word for the year that wasn’t entirely accurate.. In true rock ‘n’ roll style, New Year’s Eve found Tom and I sat by the fire with coloured pencils (I know, wild huh?) and a whole alphabet list of things we want to do this year. A few will be easy to do but some might be more challenging (read: unlikely). Lindyhop anyone?!

Astronomy, Botany, Curry vegetables, Dinosaur hunting, Easter egg hunt, Fly a kite, Grow a pumpkin, Hilltop running, Invite friends & family to the island, Jar jams from foraged fruit, Knit something lovely, Learn the Lindyhop, Mountain challenge, Nettle soup, Oppose injustice, Print something, Quote of the month, Read more, Sign up for a race further than you can currently run, Transform some junk, Use the library, Visit with someone lovely, Wander and wonder, Xylophone, Yarn bomb, Zoology.

New Words

I’m not one for new year resolutions but, being a word nerd, I do like to nominate a word for the year. My 2013 word was resilience. I had recently taken on a new job that presented a whole host of challenges: setting up a service, managing a team, and generally sticking my neck on the line. I felt the weight of people critiquing my actions and the vulnerability of exposing my mistakes. So, I’ve learnt to be a little tougher, acknowledge errors and move on, rather than cringe and wallow. I’ve become surer of my own decisions and been happier to stand up for my ideas.

Having survived 2013 and toughened up a little, I want to keep my momentum going, pursue and actually complete all the many plans I scribble in to notebooks late at night. So my 2014 word is projects, to generally be up and doing.. creating lovely things, learning new piano tunes, writing more (including about my work as a Speech and Language Therapist) and reading many more books (a pretty constant endeavour…) I hope 2014 is looking good from where you’re sitting. I’m excited to start sharing it with you!

Home for the Holidays

I know I’m not the only one who struggled to get home through the storm today. Lots of trains and boats, splashed sidewalks, and wet boots. Rows of passengers dripping wet on waiting room seats, and long queues for a cuppa.

It’s so good to get home, after riding stormy seas and marching rainy streets. I have a pile of books, some knitting to pick up, and nowhere I have to be, for at least a little while.

I hope you’re all tucked in well from the storm. Safe travels and happy holidays. xx

Tom the Camera Man

I’m sure Tom won’t mind me outing him as an Instagram addict. He’s always loved taking photos, and he’s been happily sharing them with others over on Instagram for over a year. There’s never a walk where he isn’t getting fodder for the feed, especially if we’re out in the golden hour, and he’s a merry hashtag inventor (#chasingwight and #offroadisland for a start.)

So he was petty delighted to get an email from the guys at IG the other day letting him know that he is now one of their a suggested users; a well-deserved accolade for his beautiful gallery! Do go check it out for a snapshot of this island life: forest, beaches, country lanes, and a few flowers and honeybees…

Bringing the Outdoors In

My most favourite thing about this season is the excuse to fill the house with winter greenery. Sure, I have flowers in vases in the summer, and even the odd house plant that survives long-term neglect. But none of this compares with squeezing an entire tree in to your front room. And it just isn’t Christmas without the smell of pine needles.

This year we’ve found ourselves without an armchair (you’ll now find it in the new kitchen) and no way to buy one before Christmas. So we had the perfect excuse to fill half the room with a tree far too big to be sensible.

I felt seven years old all over again, feeling so excited about how ridiculous big our tree is. I loved last year’s tiny tree, but this is the real big-kid hang-your-stockings-santas-coming deal. I am revelling in it, and it hasn’t even got lights yet. The 25th is still a while away after all.