Sunday, 30 December 2012

Not quite the end

I always find myself reflecting at this time of year.

I try not to. I tell myself it's just another day, another week.

But it's no use. I like to reflect on the last year, and look forward to the new one.

I like to think about what I've done that's been good, and what I could have done better.

I like to think about what I want to do in the coming year. How I can improve myself, and make things better for those around me.

I even like to make resolutions!!!

I don't care! It is the end of one circle, leading into a brand spanking new one, and I like to mark it.

Today I am grateful for the circles of life...just when you think you've reached the end, you find out that you're really only at the beginning!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Saturday, 29 December 2012

The brightest star

Oh what a joy it is to find something beautiful in a totally unexpected place!

I was working today. On my feet and doing paper work for most of it. It was a real wintry day...cold, wet and windy.

It was, of course, dark by the time I was finished, and I headed back through town to collect my car, and drive out to Shannon to collect Megan.

The sleety rain was coming and going, and, as is usually the case, when I reached the main street, the green man turned red and I had to stop.

Basically, it was miserable standing there, waiting for the lights to change.

As I pulled my hood tighter round me, I looked down....and there it was, on the wet road in front of me....a beautiful star.

My brightest star

What a lovely surprise!

Today I am grateful for beautiful things in unexpected places, and the joy that they bring to a weary heart.

Keep your eyes peeled and your hearts open. You just never know!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Friday, 28 December 2012

One for the workers

Today I am grateful for all those poor souls who have to work over the Christmas holidays.

Especially those who work in electrical stores!

If it wasn't for them then it would be impossible to replace a washing machine that has given up the ghost on boxing day, before the new year!

So, I sent love and light to all these guys and girls who have enabled me to get a new washing machine (to be delivered tomorrow) with very little fuss or bother!

And to everyone else who doesn't get to spend much time at home over the couple of weeks around Christmas. They remind me how lucky I am.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Thursday, 27 December 2012

Staying regular

There is definitely something to be said for eating regular meals.

I notice it at this time of year, what with left-overs, long lies, selection boxes and evening plans. Regular eating just seems to go out the window, and I'm not the better for it!

The kids don't seem to mind! They revel in it....especially Megan....but my constitution just isn't up to it!

K is very good these days about what he eats, and is making sure he is still eating properly, but I have to admit to being a bit lax today, as far as the rest of us are concerned!

I guess I'd better try and get back to normal tomorrow! Can't let it drag on or we'll all be suffering!

You know, it's just as well I have the bairns to think about, otherwise I'd be all over the place!!

Today I'm grateful for dependants!

Just as I'm grateful for Mam and Dad (and big sisters!) for looking after me for all these years!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Wednesday, 26 December 2012

The day after

Today I am grateful for family...near and far.

I had my in-laws coming today for lunch. No problem. Except that I didn't wake up till half past nine, and then remembered that I didn't cook my ham yesterday, and needed to use the stock to make one of my two soups!

Oh, how I love a cookery challenge!

Challenge number two was that, as usual, I forgot how to make butternut squash and apple soup. No problem!

That's what I have a mam and sisters and nieces for! One phone call to Scotland later, and I'm sorted. (Just don't tell anyone that after all that I forgot to put in the apple! So it was only butternut squash soup!!)

Anyway, at the end of the day, the food was good, and the craic was mighty, as they say! It was lovely to see everyone, before the Dublin crew headed back off up there. The kids love to spend time with their cousins and it's nice to have the house full every now and again!

And it was lovely to know that my nearest and dearest were with me in spirit, and on the end of the line whenever I need them!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Tuesday, 25 December 2012

Merry Christmas

Today I am grateful for presents and cards and chocolates and bucks-fizz and corny films and contented kids and feet up and sherry and pavlova and beautifully cooked steaks and Strictly and Downton....

Happy Christmas! Hope you all enjoyed your day too!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Monday, 24 December 2012

This is it

Well, this is it! Stockings are up, chocolates and milk out for Santa, carrots for Rudolf. Kids are pj'd and ready for bed.

All systems are go for Santa's take off from the North Pole.

Safe journey Santa!

I wish you all a joyful and restful Christmas, spent with those you love.. Turn and give a big kiss to whoever is nearest you as you read this, and wish them a Merry Christmas from me!

Today I am grateful for the love of my family. My Mam and sisters, K and my darling babies. I love you all.

Have a fun day! Hope Santa is good to you all!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Sunday, 23 December 2012

Two-getherness

Two more sleeps!!

We had a good day today.

Whiles when we did our own thing (golf, x-box, i-pod, laundry!!) and whiles when we did stuff together as a family.

We played board games and listened to Christmas songs on the radio. We wandered round Bunratty folk park and enjoyed the Christmas lights and atmosphere. We had dinner out with all Kieran's family...well, the ones who live in Ireland. And we finished the night, unintentionally as it happens, watching a film together. Even Gorgeous joined in!!

It was a good day... a good Christmas eve's eve!

Today I am grateful for togetherness.

There really is nothing like family.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Saturday, 22 December 2012

3 more sleeps

Three sleeps and counting!

I was in the supermarket at two minutes to nine this morning and home again by ten.

So that's it. No more to be done. Decorations are up, pressies bought and wrapped, food sorted.

So, now we wait!!!!!

I've really enjoyed the build up this Christmas. Tried every now and again to remember what it's all about and not got too bogged down by the commercialism of it. I've watched hours of Christmas films on TV and listened to every Christmas song every written, several times a day on the radio!

Today I am grateful for the magic of Christmas. It can melt your heart.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Friday, 21 December 2012

The end of an era

What the intellectuals and academics failed to grasp was the fact that the Mayan calendar maker just decided to retire to the country and put his feet up after a long and un-varied career!

Today I am grateful that the world has survived and Christmas is set to go ahead as planned, in four (count them!) days time!

But, d'ye know what? The end of one thing only heralds the beginning of something new.

Just as the end of one day heralds the beginning of the next, brand new day. The conclusion of one challenge sheds light on the next one. The passing of one chance leads to the next, possibly more exciting possibility.

I am grateful for the possibility of new, exciting and positive beginnings, each and every day.

Gratefully yours.
xx


Thursday, 20 December 2012

That Friday feeling

...yes, I know it's only Thursday!!!

I still have that Friday feeling, 'cos I am now on holiday for two weeks (well, if you don't count Saturday 29th December!!).

Work was actually quite good today...very busy, but good. Everyone seemed to have that frenetic "last few days before Christmas" vibe about them, both colleagues and customers.

Then it was off to Thomas's school pre-Christmas mass, which was, as usual, lovely. The boys in the choir always finish off, after the official mass is ended, with a medley of Christmas songs which they sing with gusto, and much cheering and egging-on by the rest of the school. I always come out with a lovely warm, fuzzy, Christmassy feeling.

I then had a visit from my buddy, Audrey, and her partner and wee boy, Conor, who is 10 months old and a gorgeous wee rogue.

Just a lovely day.

Today I am grateful for days like these.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Wednesday, 19 December 2012

A wee nudge

I was tidying up in the kitchen this afternoon (it happens!!), and had to go through to the utility with some bits and bobs for the recycling bin.

When I walked in to the utility I wondered what the strange pink glow coming in the window was...it was the most gorgeous sunset I've seen in a long time!!

Now, working in the kitchen I had seen nothing because the window faces north!

Today I am grateful for the wee nudge that made me go through to the utility.

Yes, it really was that pink!!!
By the looks of that sky it's going to be one heck of a good day tomorrow!!!

Here's hoping!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Tuesday, 18 December 2012

Creative inheritance

Today I am grateful to my darling Mum, for passing on, amongst other things, her creative genes.

Meggie is in a group called the Sunflowers, which is run by a group of local nuns, loosely associated with her school.

Every year, the Sunflowers do a Nativity play at our church on Christmas eve.

This year they are doing a somewhat different take on the Christmas story. For example....Meggie is playing Wonder Woman!!!

Anyway, the long and short of it is, she came home the other week with a request for me to make her a Wonder Woman outfit!

Amazing what you can do with some fabric paint, gold card and elastic!!! And, of course, creative genes!!!

Thanks Mam.

No photo as yet, but I will let you all see her dressed up over the next few days, when I get a photo taken!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Monday, 17 December 2012

Human beans

Oh, it's nice to feel human again!

Never again!!!!!

And amazing how much one can achieve in a single morning when you know it's the last one you'll have before Christmas on your own!!!

Presents wrapped and posted, cards written and stamped, food shop to feed an army, new bulb in car headlight, pick up parcel from post office. I felt like I was turbo powered!!!

Only 8 more sleeps!

Today I am grateful that Christmas is nearly here, and the preparations are nearly over!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Sunday, 16 December 2012

And to all, a good night

Okay, okay! I know I didn't do my blog last night!!

It is as you suspected....not only was I a dirty stop-out, I was an ever so slightly overly tipsy dirty stop-out!

We didn't get home till very, very late - or very, very early, depending on which direction you come at it from, and I was in no fit state to be left in charge of a keyboard. Don't worry, the kids were safely tucked up in bed at Nanny's!

The reason for this stopping-out was two-fold.

First, I had my Christmas concert with the choir! It was great! We really sounded good...though I say so myself!

We then moved on (much later than we had hoped) to a friend's house for his Christmas party.

Needless to say, the singing was mighty after a few glasses of wine, and not enough to eat! And, of course, a great night was had by all.

Today I have been suffering with a terrible bug. At least, I think it's a bug!!!!!!!!!!!

So, today I am grateful to have been looked after very well by K and the kids.

Now...I'm off to a very early and much needed bed!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Friday, 14 December 2012

Funday Friday

We love Fridays!!

Fridays mean no homework!

I was just getting a cuddle from Meg, and asked her what she thought I could be grateful for today, and that was her reply!

And I do believe she's right!!

I had a lovely afternoon wrapping Christmas gifts and making cards.

So, today I am grateful for Fridays.

I intend to cherish them a bit more in future, enjoy the freedom of no homework!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Thursday, 13 December 2012

Instant Christmas joy

It has to be Christmas magic.

Everyone should have one!

It's like, click your fingers and feel instantly Christmassy!

I am, of course, referring to a Santa hat!

Thomas was singing in the school choir this evening at our local shopping centre. I went along to lend support, so I decided to bring my new Santa hat with me. I bought it for my choir concert this weekend, if you're wondering why I bought a Santa hat in the first place!

Well, as soon as I put it on...Pow! Instant Christmas joy!

And to top it all, the boys singing was lovely! Great acoustics.

Today I am grateful for my Santa hat.

Must remember to wear it more often! Maybe to lighten the mood at work? Or, just out and about to totally embarrass my too-cool-for-school son!!! Ha Ha!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Wednesday, 12 December 2012

Winding down

I like the lead-up to school holidays.

All the after-school activities are winding down!

No more piano. No more Brownies. No more Speech and Drama. No more choir.

Ah, now....what to do with all the extra time!! What bliss!!!

Today I am grateful for a little bit more time.

Now, the real trick is not to waste it!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Tuesday, 11 December 2012

Here and now

I was just checking e-mails and such before I did my blog, and discovered that Lindsay has started a new facebook page called Mindfulness - Here and Now.

What a brilliant idea. And especially at this time of year.

I don't know about you, but my days are disappearing at such a great rate of knots that it's frightening!

Time to slow down and appreciate the here and now a bit more.

So, today I am grateful for the timely reminder by Linds.

Thank you!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Monday, 10 December 2012

Joy to the world

That's it. I can do no more.

I am well and truly finished.

In fact, if I have to set foot inside the door of one more shop this side of next year, I am likely to explode!

Crack the eggs for the eggnog, light up the brandy butter and start handing out the mince pies....my Christmas shopping is done!!!

Today I am grateful that I can tick one BIG thing off the Christmas list!

I was "niver aff the heid o' the road" this morning, but it was worth it. All done and dusted. I even started some of the wrapping! That'll be the next task....wrapping and posting!!!

And then, all I'm left with is the cards! I'm afraid I've not stuck to my card-making schedule, so I could be in a bit of trouble!!!

Maybe a good year to start saving the planet one tree at a time!!!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Sunday, 9 December 2012

You light up my life

Lovely to come down in the morning and switch on the Christmas tree lights!

It doesn't matter what kind of day you are having, you turn round and see the lights and it gives you a lift.

Oh I wish it could be Christmas every day!!

Today I am grateful for little lifts.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Saturday, 8 December 2012

All that glitters

What can I say....what could be better than coming home from a days work, putting feet up with a glass of wine and watching Strictly?

I mean it's got the music, the dancing, the gorgeous guys and beautiful girls and the frocks!!!!!

I really want the dress Danny was wearing tonight!! Or maybe the one Kimberly was wearing!!! Okay, I know I'm not quite the right size or shape, but I'm sure they're made of stretchy fabric!!

Today I am grateful for dreams!

So what if they never come true! It's having the dreams that's fun!!

I'm sitting here writing this beside a beautiful wee girl who has a world of dreams ahead of her. I hope she has loads of them, and doesn't care too much if they come true or not!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Friday, 7 December 2012

Christmas lights

We put up our tree tonight.

Correction....K put up the tree, Meggie played Christmas tunes on the piano (where does she learn them???) and Thomas sang.

I did a little bit of supervising, a little bit of singing and not much else.

I love to see the house all decorated for Christmas....but I'm really not fond of actually doing it! I would much rather just get up one morning and voila!!!

Still, lots of Christmas cheer with the singing and piano playing, and, of course, the Christmas lights!!

Today I am grateful for my darling family, without whom my home would be a much, much duller place.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Thursday, 6 December 2012

Her indoors

Today I'm grateful that I didn't have to be out and about today.

It was a horrible, cold, wet and windy day. Thankfully it didn't get really bad until after I got home from work. I still had to collect the kids from school, but other than that I've not set foot outside all day.

Gorgeous, on the other hand, has been out and in like a thing that goes out and in a lot! She then climbs into my lap to warm her cold, wet feeties!!! Ye gotta love her!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Wednesday, 5 December 2012

Open all hours

Except first thing in the morning, it seems!

I decided to get a good run at the Christmas shopping today, as I am working a fair bit these days, and time is slipping away from me.

So, I got organised to go straight into town after dropping the kids at school...no mean feat in this house!

Got into the car park nice and early and decided my tactics as I came down in the lift. Head to the furthest shop away from the car park and work my way back. Good plan, especially knowing that the book shop, where I knew I wanted to get lots of stuff, is close to the car park!

Got to furthest away shop and got the necessary presents. Then plan fell apart! Only quarter past nine, and none of the shops I wanted to go into were open! I rattled doors, and peeked through windows like a poor wretch, but to no avail!

Had to resort to plan B...coffee and a scone!!! Well, a mocha and an apple scone with strawberry jam, to be precise!

Today I am grateful for plan B!!

Duly refreshed I motored on for another 4 hours and (almost!) finished the shopping!

All in all, quite a good morning! Very pleased with myself!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Tuesday, 4 December 2012

You're not alone

Today I am grateful that K had a day off.

Meggie needed to go to the dentist this morning, we had a parent teacher mid afternoon and, not forgetting, ballet at 5.30.

So, K decided to take the day off.

He took Meg to the dentist - she had a temporary filling and absolutely loves her dentist. Tick.

We were both then able to go to Meg's parent/teacher meeting, and came out glowing with all the praise for our wonderful daughter. Tick.

And I didn't have to worry about trying to get homework done, cos K was here to help and be with Thomas while Meg and I went out to ballet. And tick.

All in all, I think it's time he gave up work all together and stayed at home to help me with real life!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Monday, 3 December 2012

Productivity

What a great day.

Whole dispensary re-gigged during the day. We have just started looking after the meds for a nursing home, so stock levels have sky-rocketed. I was asked to make a start, but I don't like to leave a job half done, (no, don't laugh....I seem to have a split personality, one for work and one for home!!) so I motored on and got the whole dispensary sorted! Great feeling!

The it was on to choir.

Sometimes it can be a bit tedious by the time he goes over everyone's parts, but tonight we managed to get through three new songs! Two of them are like canons, so really there was just one tune to learn, even though we sing it in three parts...if you get my drift! And, d'ye know what.....we sound pretty damn good!! Just as well...our concert is on the 15th December. We are singing 13 songs...15 if you count the fact that for the last song we are actually singing three different carols, all at the same time!!!

Anyway, as you can gather by the volume of writing tonight, I am still on an adrenaline high from my productive day!! And it's quarter to eleven! I'm usually fast asleep by now!!!

So, today I am grateful for my full and productive day, and the satisfied feeling it has left me with.

Now, what can I find to do at work tomorrow???

Gratefully yours.
xx

Sunday, 2 December 2012

What a day

Well, we don't have the snow you guys have in Scotland, but we are in festive mood.

Two days of Christmas shopping and the marvellous "Rise of the Guardians" film at the cinema have seen to that.

Thomas is actually thrilled with himself with his shopping. He saved some of his birthday money and has really thought hard about what he wanted to get everyone. Meggie also managed to save....a huge feat for her, cos she takes after her mum!!! So everyone is taken care of!!!

Now if only I could get my head round my shopping!!!!!

Today I am grateful for the joy of giving....and the thought that maybe Megan and Thomas are experiencing it too!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Saturday, 1 December 2012

Watch out shops....

....'cos here we come!!!

This was my first Saturday off in weeks, and my last before the weekend just before Christmas!

So it was a day for shopping (not to mention Costa....shhhh, who said that??).

The boys hit the town and the girls hit the shopping centre....here come the girls!!!

Meg is a great wee shopper...bit like her dad - straight in, get what's needed and straight out again! We did, of course, manage to buy some new clothes as well as the Christmas pressies....well, it would have been rude not to!

Not sure how the boys did shopping wise...they're keeping it close to their chests! Hopefully something small and shiny??? Only joking!!!

So, tomorrow it's on to phase two....Thomas and I will be making up team one, and Meg and K will be team two. Mind you, Meggie bought for everyone, including the cat, today, so daddy may be in for an easy time of it!!

But never fear....Thomas likes Costa too so I'm set!!!

Today I am grateful for a weekend off work!

Gratefully yours.
xx