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On another grey, miserable day, I'm grateful that I have hundreds, if not thousands of photographs, most of them taken on sunny days, to lift the spirits!!

Not that there aren't some lovely scenes even on a rainy day, but the light just isn't good enough to do them justice.

But I guess the secret is in finding even the smallest thing to brighten your day.

Just love how these flowers grow out of the wall!

Gratefully yours.

xx

Teamwork

I am lucky that I am part of a fully functioning team!

Thomas was very ill this morning and there was no way I could let him go to school....I knew just how bad he was when he agreed to go back to bed!!

I had work this morning, but thankfully my trusty right-hand man is able, at a push, to work from home. So that's just what he did!

Now that Thomas is feeling a bit better, as you might expect, Megan has gone down hill rapidly! She's been asleep in bed since 8 o'clock, after eating none of her dinner. Unheard of (well, not the not eating her dinner part!!)!

So tomorrow, K will trundle off to work, and I'll be the nurse.

Like I said....I'm grateful to be part of a team!!

I wonder if Meg will like hot milk poured over bread, covered with sugar?? Bring back memories, anyone???

Gratefully yours.
xx

Satisfaction

It gives me great satisfaction to finish a job, especially one I didn't think I would get finished!!

I'm talking work here, not personal goals or housework!!! Although, I'm sure if I ever achieved a personal goal or finished the housework, I'd be delighted too!!

I was asked to tackle a pile of paperwork today that, literally, took me all day. At about mid-afternoon, I had been delayed so much that I wrote a wee note apologising for not getting the job done, but as soon as I got my feet cleared again, I went back at it and got it finished, with about 5 minutes go to closing time!

So, today I am grateful that I finished what I had been asked to do.

It was a very good feeling!

Gratefully yours.
xx

And then there were eight

This year was our eleventh Burns Supper!!

And I think it was the smallest!

What with one thing and another, only eight of us sat down together last night.

It made for a different dynamic, with less informal chatting and more debating of topical issues!

The food was, so I have been led to believe, delicious (Yes!!! The stovies worked!!!) and the Drambuie bottle took a substantial hit (so what's new??).

We were joined later in the evening by three more friends, who brought their wonderful singing voices with them, so that, into the wee, small hours, the rafters rang with "I belong tae Glasgae", "By yon bonnie banks" and "The northern lights of old Aberdeen"....to name but a few!!

Once all the dishes were done, and the furniture returned to it's rightful place, the house seemed very uncluttered and spacious! It has a lovely, calm feeling about it, after the hubbub of the last two days.

I am grateful to all our friends, without whom there would be no Joyces' Annual Burns Supper!

Now, I don't have to do any more housework till the middle of March!!

Yippee!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

The best laid schemes...

Appropriate really, considering that that is a quote from "To a mouse", my favourite Robert Burns poem.

My day didn't exactly pan out as I had planned it!

K decided yesterday that he was going to take a day off today, to help me get ready for our annual Burns Supper, tomorrow.

So, of course, we ended up at the Crescent, in Costa, drinking coffee at about half ten this morning!

We then went on to refill K's wardrobe!! Well, he hates shopping, so when he does go into a shop, it's a good idea not to let him leave until the credit card cries for mercy!

Well, in fairness, he did clean, scrub, dust and polish the sitootrie to within an inch of it's life, and help me with the grocery shopping, so that I could make a start on the cooking. Bless! And I did get my customary Friday ironing done. So I'm happy!

Today I am grateful for plans that "gang aft agley".

Sometimes going with the flow is a good thing!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Surprise

I received an unexpected gift today.

When the postie said he had a parcel for me, I couldn't think what I had ordered!!

I opened the packet and took out a bubble-wrapped box. Inside the box was a beautiful Willow Tree Angel.

I had no idea who it was from!!!

Thankfully a quick chat with my mammy revealed the culprit (I knew she would know!! She knows everything does my mammy!!).

So "thank you" Mags!

What a wonderful surprise to get, and a beautiful gift.

Today I am grateful to have, not one, but three beautiful angels, in the shape of my three wonderful sisters, in my life.

Love you all.

Gratefully yours.

xx

An old friend

I met an old friend today, on my way to work.

I was dawdling along the river, as I do, on the way to work, and she was out power-walking for health and fitness!!!

It was lovely to see her, and we had time for a hug and a wee chat before life took over again and we had to go our separate ways.

I used to see her quite often, as we both frequented Angel Times, and attended some of their courses together, but now we've both moved on from that and our paths don't cross.....

....although, I do believe that Thomas plays soccer, or has done, with her twin boys!!

Anyway, I am grateful to have met her today and to have been warmed by her lovely smile.

And actually, now that I think of it, there's a lovely round walk along the river now, across one bridge, along the quays and back across the other bridge....and I'm off tomorrow!!!!

I feel a (power?????) walk coming on!!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

All wrapped up

After a very long day in a very cold shop....

....today I am grateful for a thick, cosy blanket and a warm, fluffy pussy cat!!!

I've been sitting all evening with my feet up, wrapped in a blanket, with Gorgeous on my lap! Only way to warm up!!!

Sometimes all you need is to be cosy!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Gotta dance

We went, en famille, to see a fabulous show this afternoon.

Riverdance has finally made it to Limerick, it's spiritual home (it's original score was written by a Limerick man, Bill Whelan) after 20 years on the road.

It was certainly an afternoon to be remembered!

For a start, it took us an hour to get there....a journey that should have taken 20 minutes at the most....thanks to the traffic caused by a rugby match!! Against Edinburgh!!!

K dropped us at the doors just as they were calling for people to hurry in as they were closing the doors! K still had to park the car and get back!!!!! Poor Meg was nearly in tears!

It's okay....this is a good news blog, remember???....He made it just in time!! How, I do not know!

Anyway. The show itself was absolutely awe-inspiring. The simplicity of the set, the music, and, of course, the dancing. It was magnificent.

It kind of makes you think, if people can dance like that, then anything is possible!

We all thoroughly enjoyed it, from Nanny right down to Meggie.....I think she really, really enjoyed it!

Then, of course, we had to fight our way through the venue traffic to get home!!! At least it didn't take us an hour....just 45 minutes!!

I'm really grateful that we were able to go, as a family, and all have a wonderfully uplifting experience together.

Now where do I sign up for dance classes?????

Gratefully yours.
xx

Girls day

Meggie had a school  pal round today.

She only asked me about it yesterday, but it happens so rarely that I couldn't say no.

They went to the cinema together, and had fast food for tea, and had a ball of an afternoon and evening!

It's so good to see her enjoying herself with a pal. Because there's no-one she's pally with round about us here, she's usually on her own, unlike Thomas, who couldn't get through the evening without a few boys around!

It made me happy to see her happy.

I'm grateful to have been able to say yes.

I think both kids would tell you that it's not a word they hear often enough!!!

The joys of parenthood!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Full moon

A good day.

Bit of housework, but not too much.

Bit of exercise, but not too much.

Choir practice in the evening, which went very well, and finished on time, for once!

And then a walk with my son (shock, horror!!).

Well, he wanted to go out for some fresh air, and his nasty parents wouldn't let him call for Robert at quarter to nine at night!! Anyway, Megan told me that she'd been out for a walk with Daddy earlier, so that was it..."you can come out for a walk with me!" says Thomas!

Yes sir!!!

And it was lovely! He even let me lean on his head to keep my camera still while I took photos of the full moon!! Now that really is above and beyond!!

So tonight I am grateful that I was an acceptable second choice to Robert!

I guess it's okay to be out with your mother in the dark when no-one else is about!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Under my umbrella

Today I was extremely grateful for my umbrella.

It was just one of those very grey, drich, drizzly days.

So, not only did my trusty old umbrella keep me dry(ish), but it also provided some colour in an otherwise monotone day.

It also provided some inspiration for a photo-shoot. Who knew that umbrellas looked so pretty? I mean, you don't normally go around looking up into it, you go rushing about with your head down!

Just shows you, it pays to look up once in a while!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Walk the talk

Walking is good.

Walking is exercise, it's relaxation.

Unless, of course, you're walking with a family member, in which case walking is good for the chat!

I had two such walks today. One with my daughter, and one with my husband.

Both were enjoyable, although I have to admit that I'm less breathless and more able to talk and walk with my daughter than my husband! (Long legs!!)

Please feel free to remind me that I really enjoy a walk the next time I slip into slothness!

When the slothness turns to hippo proportions, definitely remind me!!

Today I am grateful for good walking days.

Gratefully yours.

xx

The Great Scoirish Bake-off

Megan and I have been baking!

What a lovely way to spend a couple of hours with my girl!

Daddy was working away on the computer. Thomas was upstairs on his x-box, playing games with his pals.
Me and Meg were up to our eyes in flour, sugar and eggs!

So we now have three tupperware boxes of goodies - chocolate-chip cookies to die for, cupcakes with the most gorgeous orange flavoured icing, and wholemeal banana scones for the daddy-man.

I'd invite you all over for tea and cakes....but they probably won't last long enough!

Now all I have to do is learn to like playing rugby on the x-box, and I can have some mother/son bonding time too!!!

Today I am grateful for girly things, and a daughter to enjoy them with!

Bring on the shopping!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Rainy day

I had good fun today.

I had a lovely walk in the rain, with a big, heavy, golfing umbrella to stop me from dissolving away. And I took  some nice photos, on my second walk of the day, to collect Meg from school!

I have been inspired recently, by some photography pages on Facebook, and am enjoying getting back into photography, and doing something with the photos!

Mind you, I nearly damaged my camera, trying to get too close a close-up of a big drop of water, hanging off a leaf!! Just as well I always carry tissues in my pocket!!

I think that photography is quite a mindful pass-time. I certainly find that I see more when I go walking with my camera. I could sometimes go for a walk and arrive home having seen nothing, as my mind has been working over-time. Not good! So, taking the camera helps me to quieten my mind and look around me, to be more in the moment.

So, today I am grateful to Thomas, who's camera I have commandeered since mine got broken, and to Kieran, who's golfing umbrella I found by the door when I thought I was going to have to stay indoors for the day!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Winter colour

Blowing a gasket!

Okay, how many of you have gone through the menopause??

I find myself dressing and undressing so many times a day that I'm losing count!

Too hot....cardi off. Five minutes later, too cold....cardi back on. Three minutes later, too hot again!!!

And don't get me started on the night time!!!

I wouldn't mind if I could kick off covers, or pull on covers without waking up, but oh no! Wake up, kick off blankets, turn pillow over to find cooler spot, wriggle about to try and find a cool, comfy spot, turn over again to pull blankets back on, take an hour to get back to sleep because I'm worrying about not getting back to sleep!!!!

Ah well, I know a lot of women have it a lot worse than that!

I can't complain....even though I would like to!!!

Today I am grateful for the art of layering...and am sorry that I bought a couple of gorgeous aran style knits for the winter, that are too warm to wear most of the time!!!

You live and learn!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

Motivated...

....just not focused!!

My plan to be very motivated and give my dining room the clear out it deserves only half came to fruition today.

I was fairly motivated alright, just not to clear out the clutter in the dining room!!!

I was motivated to watch the final two episodes of season three of Game of Thrones....well, K watched them before Christmas and told me there was a big upset, so I HAD to watch them!!!

I was motivated to empty all the laundry bags and fill both clothes horses...yeah, okay, that's my normal Wednesday job, but today I was highly motivated to do it!!!

I was even motivated to drop everything and go for a walk just because it wasn't raining! And it's just as well I did, 'cos the rain came on at lunch time and decided to stay for the day!

So, today I am grateful that I am well on the way to mastering my word for 2014. I just need to practise the focusing element a bit more!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Lessons learnt

Megan and I learnt three valuable life lessons today, on the way home from school.

Imagine the scene...

...Cars parked all down one side of the road - mums and dads picking up kids from school.

...Cars trying to get up and down the road in both directions, going to and from town.

...General bedlam, as is normal for this 15 minute section of the day, every school day.

...One man decides that he is not going to pull in to the kerb to let oncoming traffic, passing the parked cars, pass. He calmly takes out his paper and starts to read it.

This happened just as I was getting out of my car (one of the many parked along the road) to go and collect Meg.

About 10 minutes later, when we got back to the car, he was still there, well through his paper at this stage!! The traffic was backed up in both directions.

The lady in the car behind him got out of her car and persuaded him, much like a mother trying to persuade her child to eat a piece of broccoli, or go to bed early, that it was in his own interests to pull in, just enough to let the oncoming cars past.

Finally, thanks to her assertive, but gentle tone, he did, with a lot of grumbling, pull in, and we were all able to get home!

Lessons learnt  -   1. Be patient. Everyone is doing the best they can.
                            2. Someone always has to give a little. It may as well be you.
                            3. Being assertive, but gentle, gets better results than shouting and raging.

(I am particularly pleased that Megan came up with that third lesson!!)

So, today I am grateful that even though that poor man had come to the end of his patience with the busy road, and all the parked cars, some good things came of it, certainly for us!

Life is full of lessons. All we need to do is recognise them, and learn from them!!! (And, of course, the most difficult part, act on them!!!)

Gratefully yours.
xx

Almost....

....but not quite!!

Meggie went back to school today, but Thomas doesn't go back till tomorrow. Only then will I feel like everything is back to normal!

The house always looks so tidy after the Christmas decorations are all gone, but we have the Burns Supper in a couple of weeks (well, 3 weeks I guess), so certain rooms, namely the lounge and kitchen/dining room, need to be well and truly blitzed.

My sister, Lindsay, sent me a booklet, just before the new year, which helps you to round off the old year, and make plans for the new. I haven't completed it yet, but I have chosen my word for 2014.

It's "motivation".

So now, I have to get motivated to blitz my lounge and dining room!!!

I may need a few "to do" lists and planning sessions!!

But seriously....back to normal tomorrow, so Wednesday morning, once the kids are off to school, the blitz begins.

I actually have plans in my head to go through the house like a dose of salts this year....one room at a time!

Today I am grateful for new years enthusiasm! Long may it last!!!

I will keep you informed as to my progress, as I tidy, clean, re-cycle, re-organise and re-decorate my home. Don't worry, K....my plan does not involve spending the family fortune!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Your own pillow

There is nothing like your own pillow, in your own bed...especially when you've been away for a while!

That thought today made me very, very grateful that I not only have a comfy pillow and cosy bed, but  a room to put it in and a roof over it.

Not everyone is as lucky.

It's being grateful for things like that, things that you utterly take for granted and never give a second thought to, that make you realise how lucky you are.

And I firmly believe that acknowledging my thanks, in the form of this blog, on a (more or less) daily basis, helps me to realise (on a more or less daily basis), how lucky I am, and helps me also to realise that all I have is all I need....and I mean that not just in a material sense.

I simply can't stress enough the benefits of daily gratitude, and I would recommend it to any and everyone! Get a journal, a new note book, start a blog! But write it down, every day. You will be surprised!

Lets get grateful!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Two down

Today is the last day of my second year of Grateful Gretta!

It doesn't feel that long, but at the same time, it's like second nature now. I know I've not been doing it every night, but if I leave it off for a couple of nights I feel terrible!!

Having to think every day about what I am grateful for, so that I can write it down, has definitely helped me to be more positive.

There are days when I really can't come up with anything worth writing about, but I know even on those days that I am very lucky to have the life I have.

So, it's onwards and upwards for another year of gratefulness.

Thank you for your support, and I hope you keep on reading, and commenting for another year!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

The Plan

The Plan is....

....to be more healthy! To exercise more and eat less, basically.

Of course, The Plan cannot begin until all the chocolates have been eaten! I can resist everything, except temptation!!

No, in fairness, I could restrict myself to one Ferrero Rocher a night, but I seriously have enough chocolates here to last, on that basis, till mid-summer!!

Thank goodness for a visiting sister, and children!!! We may just manage, between the four of us, to clean me out by Monday!

Today I am grateful to have loving support around me, willing to put their own health, and teeth, at risk to prevent my total sugar overload!

Gratefully yours.
xx

A new start

Another chance to breathe deeply, see clearly and take notice.

I do love the new year!

What's done is done. What's gone is gone. What is here and now is what is important.

We can't change what happened last year, or the year before, or all the years before that. But we can change what happens now, and from now on.

The new year is just a good place to take stock and move forward.

Last year I decided to try being more positive. I think I was, on the whole.

This year I am going to try being more positive! If it aint broke, don't fix it!!!

I shall endeavour to take a positive approach to things, change my perspective if things don't look too good, and continue to bore you with all the details!!!

Today I am grateful for the new year ahead.

I hope it is good to you all. And if it's not, I hope you turn it on its head, kick it's behind and tell it you'll manage fine without it's help!

Onwards and upwards!!

Gratefully yours.
xx