Christmas has been firmly stuffed back in the box and locked away in a deep dark recess. The tree put up a good fight. It was a particularly fat one and wrestling it out through the doors and into the green waste bin was not an elegant moment. I put the bin out in the street first, in readiness for collection. As I tried to stuff it in the bin shot out sideways and attacked a passerby. He kindly helped me wedge it in as far as it would go. There was a trail of destruction left in its wake. I hoovered for an hour or two. Of course every time I go into a room there is a pine needle on the floor right in the middle. It makes me wonder if someone has a secret stash of them and is quietly trying to drive me insane.
Now January is biting it is time for a resolution or two. I daren't look back and see what I resolved last year. Obviously I have achieved none of it. I have high hopes for 2017 though. This will be the one! I shall be pressing on with the writing, and I want to try a little fiction writing too. And all the usual healthier stuff. More exercise is something that will benefit me a lot I think. I don't always sleep well, but it makes a big difference if I'm physically tired. I've heard it gives you more energy too. Definitely could use that. I have a list with different headings. As I type that I can hear how ridiculous it is. What can I say, I am eternal optimist. Any dreams you're daring to dream this year?
(Photos from our first walk of 2017.)
Oh CJ, your post made me laugh out loud! I'm so glad I called by (sorry I've been such a less-than-sporadic visitor over the last year or so).
ReplyDeleteWe had a two foot Christmas tree called Derek this year (don't ask!) He was far easier to dispose of, being ickle.
I'm jumping on the bullet journalling bandwagon this year. They do say that if everything in your head is down on paper, it does aid a good nights sleep. I also agree with the exercise thing. I've been to the gym today - it's a real bind to motivate yourself to go but, I promise, just half an hour's puffing and panting really does lift your spirits and energy levels.
xx
Whoever is sprinkling pine needles around your house is doing it here, too ;)
ReplyDeleteI hope you give fiction a try. I'd love to hear all about it. All the best in 2017!
i'm starting to think there's a pine needle imp skulking around. i generally still find pine needles in the carpet well into July. which may or may not say something about my housekeeping skills. i prefer to attribute it to the pine needle imp.
ReplyDeletei'm afraid to speak my 'resolutions' out loud...for fear of jinxing myself. let us just say that they're quite similar to yours. ;)
we should be writing accountability buddies. although maybe we're both too soft to be seen as a threat by the other person. i find i do best when facing the disapproval and ire of a Slightly Terrifying Person.
xoxo
What great photos on your blog today, you live in such a pretty place. There will always be at least one more pine needle, always.
ReplyDeleteSo are you going to treat us to story time.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos! Exercise is a very special pill that delivers all the promise of every other pill in the shops. Not only good for the body but very under rated on the mind :) Best of luck with any new year resolutions, I haven't done any for years and haven't broke any since doing so.
ReplyDeleteGood pictures. Happy writing. As for dreams have a look at my post tomorrow! Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteI bet when you find that last pine needle in June, you'll feel all nostalgic :-) I have no new years resolutions other than continuing with last year's, which was not to always apologise for the mess in my house. Maybe I'll look after my mental health a bit better. My dreams are that the year is not quite as awful as the one just past. Looking forward to your writing, always a pleasure to visit your blog. Here's to happy dreaming in 2017! xx
ReplyDeleteWe have an equivalent glitter problem here. I thought our glitter days were safely behind us but hadn't counted on two younger nieces with a penchant for putting half a tonne of the stuff on an Insufficiently glued small box.
ReplyDeleteI am off for a run now. I don't want to go so am forcing myself because I know I'll feel better for it. Lovely photos as always and I am grinning at the bin attack xx
That tree didn't want to go! My husband is organised with tree disposal. All decs off then in comes the garden sack and the secateurs. Only when the tree is down to a stump does it get moved out. Then down to the nursery it came from where they will chip it.
ReplyDeleteHave a great New Year. I intend to move more in 2017. I also find that getting things in paper gets them out of my head!
Oh CJ, thanks for the laugh! I usually shroud our Christmas tree in an old sheet and bundle it outside to shred what I can and the rest goes down to the allotment as the natural oils kickstart the bonfire of raspberry and asparagus cuttings. I share your delight in looking in looking at old wonky houses although I can whisper to you that the reality isn't quite as picture perfect as you might think - still dreaming about it though. Have you tried yoga and meditation for the not sleeping well? I try and set aside half an hour for this before bedtime, then have a relaxing bath and a good read. Seems to work more often than not.
ReplyDeleteOh you do make me giggle, I can just see that tree shooting out if the bin. Beautiful houses and doorways. Best wishes for 2017 and whatever it might bring.
ReplyDeleteYour walk made me happy, so beautiful. As for the needles, I swear when I had a real tree, which I stopped doing a year ago, I would find them in July. Really where were they hiding all that time, and what made them surface on the carpet in July?
ReplyDeleteA few of us are supporting each other with 17 for 2017. I found 16 for 2016 surprisingly motivating - you are welcome to join us. https://nanacathydotcom.wordpress.com/2017/01/01/17-for-2017-the-beginning/
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your photos very much this morning. They reminded me a bit of my too brief visit to Ireland. You brightened my day both with the photos and your humorous story.
ReplyDeleteOur tree is nine-and-a-half feet tall...I am a little worried about dragging it out the back door, but that won't happen until the temperatures climb back above -20°C!
ReplyDeleteThese photos are so interesting. I love seeing the small details of other people's homes, even if I don't know the people. Your tree sounds like it didn't want to go, it just loved your house and the happy holiday season that much! :)
ReplyDeleteHello! Wandering past this afternoon by way of Countryside Tales and am laughing loudly, the kind of deep belly laughs that do a soul good over your Christmas tree removal antics!
ReplyDeleteI love looking at all your photos of such charming cottages and houses. What a beautiful area indeed.
Love the photos of the houses lit up in the gloom - so pretty and very English. No resolutions here, just a wish for balance and simplicity which I know sounds a bit twattish but I do kind of mean it. Happy New Year to you dear CJ, I hope 2017 is magnificent.
ReplyDeleteStunning houses in your pictures. I've always fancied a thatched roof (though one would look most peculiar on our 8os box). Good luck with the resolutions (I've gone with the guiding word thingy and no, it isn't kale). Love the sound of your list.
ReplyDeleteThose pine needles get everywhere don't they!! Your last walk of the year looks wonderful. I am always drawn to look through the windows as I past by especially if the lights are on! Wishing you good luck with those new year resolutions. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteWe are on day six of healthy eating and I'm amazed how much energy I have. And I'm sleeping better too. I may not keep it up all year but it certainly has got the year off to a good start. I thought cutting out sugar would be hard but so far not. I haven't had to bake any cakes though. Good luck with your resolutions x
ReplyDeleteI'm ignoring the fact that it's January and therefore don't have to start planning anything yet. not sure how long I can keep this up though....
ReplyDeleteHaha! Loved your description of the Christmas tree fighting back!
ReplyDeleteThose photos...like postcards! Good luck with the pine needles.
ReplyDeleteIt's a Friday night in Indiana, USA and I'm home alone and decided I needed some crafty/fun blogs to read and I found yours. Oh...those pine needles. I'm still finding them, but I wouldn't have it any other way. One thing we do that helps is buy those Christmas tree bags that you can pull up and around most of the tree when you are taking it down. You'd probably have to take it off, once you get outside, if you are recycling it. But it does help with pine needles IN the house. Resolutions....I'll just look up last years! But not until I finish posting about Christmas Eve and Day. I'm behind on my blog, so I best stop writing on yours, and get to it. Nice to meet you.
ReplyDeleteCindy Bee
Little and often CJ, that's my top tip. If you want to write fiction, why not start with flash fiction? Mini stories are great fun, and don't take long to write. I do one 150 worder every week.
ReplyDeleteYou need to 'make' time though, and that is a tough one. Again I commit to 15 minutes a day. It's amazing what can be achieved. Try it. Hell, take your notebook into the bathroom with you if you have to...
You can do it, you find time to do this blog don't you?
Best of luck - I believe in you.
Happy New Year CJ! Lovely pics as ever. My resolution is to comment more on the blogs I read (starting here) and maybe even try and write some more posts myself. I managed one last year! Looking back, it's such a great way to document our family life and I feel a little sad I've let it slip. So there you are. I hope the pine needles are no more, Emma x
ReplyDeleteOur hoover nearly choked to death one year on all the pine needles. They got jammed in the hose. We went non-drop this year but it didn't smell as nice. Walks in your neighbourhood look very uplifting. Nothing wrong with headed lists and an optimistic nature.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. It looks chilly but very pretty. Your blog always makes me chuckle :)
ReplyDeleteHappy new year, CJ! Are those houses in your village? It all looks very idyllic, especially loving the house with the long path up to the pale green door, that pretty much sums up my dream home! I have one wish for 2017 and that's to find more time to get things finished - I didn't even get round to putting up the tree this year but instead had a lovely peaceful christmas filled with time to cook, chat, think and garden. Would be lovely if life was like that all the time! Cxx
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year CJ. I swear I can see needles of the year's previous tree when I put up the "fresh" one. I am with you and your sleep:exercise correlations. It's a real sanity saver for me. Lovely photos as always. I'm ready for a fresh start. No looking back with what if. It is what will be now. :)
ReplyDeletemy 2017 word is 'chill'. take it more easy and be more zen like. Not to be so uptight and go with the flow... "pants rei" as Heraclitus said... everything flows.
ReplyDelete(Not the cold 'chill' we're experiencing today!!)