2021 in review

There are some things I can look back on and measure and they don't look great this year in comparison with previous ones mainly due to Covid and illness, the passing of mum and just generally worse weather. Being without a dog for a period played a part, as did Maisy just getting older. Also, having the bikes stolen didn't help my cycling!

Running - 552 miles

Cycling - 827 miles

Walking - 398 miles

Daily steps - 13826 compared to 14975 in 2020

Targets:

Running - 750 miles

Ride - 1000 miles

Walking - 500 miles

Daily steps 14500

End of 2021

We have had a lovely Christmas and are determined, as mentioned elsehwere, to enjoy the full 12 days of Christmas which has included trips to Joe and Kate and the girls and to Crossways to see Sandra. It has been a good celebration despite Glen testing positive for Covid, along with most of his band at one time or another during the festive period. It means we are staying in for the NYE celebrations rather than attending the Ragwormers gig which we were going to go to. Maybe not a bad outcome given how commonplace this new Omicron varinat appears to be.

That means a time to reflect of course and I am reminded that a year ago I was in Lewis worried about mum who was in Stornoway hospital at a time when restrictions meant I saw her but my sisters didn't. We determined to enjoy the day though and they made use of every tartan or Scottish appearing item to put together a great night of partying in trying circumstances.

I wouldn't put 2021 up there in terms of best years with mum passing away, Covid and the challenges it brought but there have been so many joys too with several new members of the family in Plymouth, engagements and holidays together. I know 2022 will be a good year. I feel like I learn more each year and am better able to focus on the things that matter which means I'm ditching a few habits which eat into my time e.g. twitter, flciking the phone on. I am going to be less wrapped up in distractions and pay attention.

Mixed

 

We had a new door fitted to the playroom between it and the dining room which ought to allow Sophie to come into the warm. However, whilst that was going on I found that the shed at the back of the house had been broken into and £2500 worth of bikes had been stolen. They took the three bikes in the photos, a road bike, mountain bike and ebike which left us with Maria's frog bike which they ignored for some reason. Really annoying to have had it happen but at least we have been vigilant in locking the shed due to posts on social media advising local people have had people hanging around of attempting break ins. That will make the insurance claims easier.

On the plus side, we have had a lovely time with the children out in the New Forset. I took them on my own as Alison has had a bit of a reaction to her covid booster. We slid down the sand bank on the sledge, played pooh sticks, hurkey and detectives before having toast on the motorhome with crisps and biscuits for our feast. 

Christmas is coming

We are getting more and more festive with lights in the garden and all decorations all over the house. Most of the preparations are complete now and we are embracing a more traditional Christmas with stockings over the fireplace and we are going to celebrate right through the 12 days of Christmas. 

I am glad to say that I have had no ill effects from the booster jab and have been out running and walking again. The walk round Cranborne was lovely yesterday, really mild and overcast but calming in the solitude of the paths listening to a combination of the latest Sally Rooney novel and some atmpspheric mood music from the BBC.

The car is in Verwood now being checked out for a faulty switch which has caused the reversing lights and parking sensors to fail. We are also waiting for the grandfather clock to be delivered and have had a new door dropped off which is going to separate the dining room and play room. We took an old one off years ago to create a little more space but we want one now to allow the cat to come in to the room without the dogs being able to get to her. It also shuts them out from the room where they would be out of sight. Don't want any little presents left for us in there.

Pfizer booster

Got my booster jab this afternoon, so I had taken the opportunity to have a run earlier in the day as it is likely to mean I have to rest a bit for the next 48 hours. I did a 3.2 mile run at a slowish pace before running the final mile home in 8.45, which is the quickest I've run for a while. Felt good for it and hope to keep bringing the times down into 2022.

Juno and I have had a couple of walks, off to the woods and then to check if the boots I'd found during the litter pick had been taken away. I was pleased to see they'd gone.

Now for a quiet Saturday.

Christmas is coming

I thought I'd start with Bob, our elf on the shelf, as we have been swapping photos with Joe and Kate and their elf, Brian. Today he had kidnapped Juno's santa toy and was riding off with it on the clock bike. 

Incidentally, Juno has been so gentle with that particular toy. She seems to really enjoy playing with it and hasn't destroyed the squeaker or anything.

Yesterday I popped to the allotment and picked the last of the carrots and beetroot, all of which were pickled before the morning had ended. I also picked up a leek and a turnip. There's still plenty of greens there, turnips and leeks, as well as the autumn planted veg. 

Today has been a busy day again with an early dog walk and a 5km run after the school drop off. Joseph stayed with us over night. It's just my second day in a row of running after a week or so off. Over the past month, I've only been out for a run or ride half the time. That's because I have been feeling under the weather for quite a bit, the cough getting on my nerves, and I felt I needed to rest more completely. It seems to have done the trick.

Once back I got on with bottling up the sloe gin for gifts. It's my first attempt and I was looking forward to tasting it. It was good and even Alison enjoyed a wee drop. The spent sloes got used up with melted chocolate after the stones had been removed. That tastes good too, as does the vegan pecan brittle and the chocolate covered figs which also have an almond a fruit slice inside. Alison has filled the cork jars with lavender and we've gone through our various homemade jams, chutney and beetroot. Not a bad haul at all.

There's another litre of sloe gin in the cupboard and a litre of blackberry vodka. Quite excited to enjoy those over Christmas. 

There's a longcase clock arriving next week which is to help remember mum after has passing in June. I wanted something substantial to remember her by and something we can pass on to our children too. I believe it is a 19th century clock, so quite an antique.

Juno and I went off on a litter pick afterwards and I also cleaned the motorhome, including the roof which is easily neglected being so far off the ground!

The final photos are from the recent show which Maria featured in heavily. She has been moved up classes now and is even happier with her dance than before! 

 

Monday morning

Red sky in the morning - well, we all know what that means and sure enough, the rain has arrived after a lovely start to the day. Juno had a quick walk just after 6 and was then joined by Rag for a walk round the goat farm at 7.30 when the sun was rising and the skies were looking fantastic. Juno was posing for her breakfast picture and Bob, our elf on the shelf, had taken up residence in a teapot on the dresser.

I am just back from Halfords where I had a reversing light bulb fitted but found that it must be a fuse or swtich causing the issue as the lights are still not working. Not a huge problem but irritating. I am hoping I can resolve it myself but we will see.

 

Sunday, Sunday

We were up early for Juno's morning walk and then quickly off in the car to Bournemouth to take Evie and Amelia's coats back, as they'd left them here yesterday. The new house is definitely coming on and the girls were nicely occupied doing arts and crafts with Kate. I was able to listen to Jess Gillam's podcast on the trip in the gloom but it brightened up a little when I started to clean the car. It got a polish too and is ready for the next assault of grime, salt and grit as we continue with the cold weather.

It's been lovely hearing the children playing the piano, after a fashion, and Glen actually play it properly. Alison has got the piano music books down from the attic and is rediscovering her pleasure in playing. 

The other exciting deliveries include a new internal door for the play room which is going to be used as an additional bedroom at some point with Joy likely to move in with us during 2022, if things continue to go as they are. There's also a clock arriving in 10 days which will be something to remember mum by.

Losing track

I seem to have forgotten or neglected to look at when I last updated the blog. I'll just ramble on for a bit instead therefore and work backwards. I have been watching the Beatles documentary on Disny+ and have been really enjoying it, even though I've never been a big fan of the group. I was amazed how many songs I know of theirs which says a lot about them and the way they come across has also made me question my dismissal of them. They do appear genuinely nice people and incredibly talented. 

We've taken delivery of a new piano today, a second hand one clearly but it sounds fantastic, even if we have a bit of work to do on the external appearance. In fact, Alison has already given it a new lease of life in simply washing and polishing it. She made a good sound on it too despite being a little rusty. The guys delivering it made it seem so simple and there was a minimum of fuss. 

That meant I had a few minutes before taking a delivery of logs. The trolley we bought for camping came in very useful and I quickly got them stacked and away and the wood stove is roaring away even as I type. With the heat pump in place, the stove is even more of an indulgence but it is lovely having a proper wood fire going.

Evie and Amelia stayed over last night, the third weekend in a row, and were very good. We had Evie all day yesterday as it was an INSET day and Joe and Kate were busy with work and the new house. It meant we had company for the walk to the woods and we enjoyed a big plate of pasta in the evening too with Bridie and Joseph joining with Amelia and Evie for a big tableful of guests.

Lots of Christmas things underway with the new tree up and the house just looking welcoming with the lights and decorations everywhere. It is such a wonderful time of the year. Did I mention seeing The Charlatons earlier in the week? I enjoyed the gig at the O2 in Boscombe. Looks like I am off to Southampton next Friday too which should be fun catching up with ex-colleagues after a long Covid break.