Saturday 30 December 2017

Decemberish













Hey folks,

I'm sat in the kitchen drinking a gin and tonic. The rain is pelting the windows outside, and the wind is gearing up for another stormy night. Christmas has passed in a blur of wrapping paper, food and socialising. Apart from some horrid twenty four hour bug that felled me, I have mostly enjoyed it all. I love Christmas Eve, and I love the bit in-between Christmas and New Year. The expectation followed by the quiet contemplation. And permission to lounge and loaf. To lie in, and follow a leisurely pace during the day. A bit of topping and tailing around the house, but no more than that.

I've enjoyed the blustery walks along the beaches with the boys, and absolutely loved spending time with them all. We've laughed (and bickered) and watched good (and bad) TV. We've gone to the cinema and been to the shops. Alfie bought me a rather gorgeous mug and Sam a book on foraging for Christmas. Olly bought me a couple of lavender bags. They had some nice things too; clothes, Lego, crafty bits, books, hair products. Nothing particularly out of the ordinary, but it was a treat to be able to dip my hand a little deeper into my pocket with my Ship Shape spoils. I enjoyed filling their stockings with a few extras.

Of course I think I spoil them too much at this time of the year. And my Mum went totally over board with the chocolate, biscuits and Quality Street. And I guess that I could get bogged down in the guilt of it all, and how I get sucked into the commercialism of this time of year. My dream is for a simple affair, but that's more about my feelings at this time of year than anything else.

When I look back on 2017, there has been a lot of stuff happening. Ship Shape of course. But other highlights include our holiday to France, the butterflies and moths spotted, my running progress, Marc's new job that finally saw him settled, little adventures with Olly, Mum moving back to Cornwall, a smattering of writing at the dining table and a slow confidence building within. Not bad, if I say so myself.

I have made a couple of promises to myself. Not resolutions. Small steps forward perhaps. And if I was to choose a word to see me through the new year, it would be 'persevere.' I intend to keep marching forward, looking up instead of down. I intend to do battle with the black dog and win more than I lose. I intend to commit to paper more than I did in 2017. I intend to be the master of the smear free executive shower screen.

I wish for all of you a happy, healthy and exciting 2018. I reckon it's going to be a good one. Thank you so, so much for stopping by and reading what has become a rather sporadic blog. Another intention of mine; to kick start this space. I have so enjoyed connecting and sharing with you all.

With all my love to you and yours,


Leanne xxx

17 comments:

  1. I remember the sea freezing at Kirkcudbright when I was very little, the only time I have ever seen thus. It must have been bitter on the coast on those windy days

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  2. That rain and wind has just reached here, so different from your fantastic beach pictures, I particularly love the colours in the last one. I'm so glad that 2017 has been good for you all and hope 2018 will be just as good, best wishes for the New Year. Sarah x

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  3. Beautiful beach photos. I do envy you your blustery coastal walks. You seem to have had an excellent 2017. Here's to a good New Year too. xx

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  4. It sounds like a very good year Leanne. I am wishing happiness and contentment to you and yours for 2018. CJ xx

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  5. Wishing you lots of fun and happiness in 2018, Leanne. I'm so impressed with how you've got shipshape up and running. My 2018 resolution is to give up the work that makes me stressed and replace it with something that makes me feel better. Sound simple doesn't it? Oh and start painting again. Lots of love

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  6. Lovely photos! I need to get my work,life balance sorted out in 2018. I just wish I could win the lottery!

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  7. Oh, happy new year! I like the sound of your promises - less demanding than resolutions but a smear-free shower screen? You could be setting yourself up to fail there! 😳 - and, yes, your year has been great and it's been a pleasure to share snippets of it with you, here and on Instagram. Happy 2018 to you all Xx

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  8. Happy New Year Leanne. May it be filled with happy things, and gorgeous beaches x

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  9. Happy new year to you and yours Leanne. I'm glad you enjoyed Christmas, sickness aside, and I'm very glad to hear you'll continue blogging. I feel a bit flat about 2018 if I'm honest, which is all tied up with my approaching 40th and the feeling that I should do something more with my life... Xxx

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  10. Lovely to catch up on your news and to find you so positive. It’s richly deserved xx

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  11. Greetings from St.Agnes loving the photos,is that Gwithian.I do follow your blog sometimes,hoping you are well.Happy New Year.

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  12. You've hit the nail on the head about Christmas, I love the build up on Christmas Eve and then family time and doing not a lot in between Christmas and New Year. Wishing you and your family all the very best for 2018.

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  13. I hope there'll be more posts from you Leanne, I really like reading your "stuff".
    Happy new year to you and all the family.
    I'm right with you on the commercialism and "simple affair" thing too - I never quite succeed but do make a few slimmings-down year on year.
    Beautiful photos too.
    Warm wishes on a chilly day, from West Yorkshire

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  14. Hi Leanne. Wishing you a fantastic 2018! Glad you had a good holiday, it sounds just like our own, in its essence if not in the detail. There was a dire lack of quality street in our house! I like your word of the year, persevere. It is a word that has served me well in the past and no doubt will come in handy again. Building up on your newly gained self confidence is definitely a very worthy aim. You have so many talents and you are a wonderful person, you should always try to believe in yourself. I know that black dog inside sometimes barks quite loudly but it is about time it is banished to a far away kennel. That's where it belongs. I'll send my own black dog along, too. Christina xxx

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    1. P.S. once you are the master of the smear-free shower screen, I'll come for a lesson :-)

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