Out with the old

The last day of 2012 and  a quick look back at personal memories. Sorry! I'll try to keep it brief :)
Last January I joined Slimming World along with my friend Linda and started off enthusiastically, losing my first half stone fairly quickly. It slowed down dramatically after that but I am within 2 pounds of losing 2 stone now. I have come down 3 dress sizes and starting to wear clothes in the next size down from that too!
My health generally has been ok apart from knee trouble and I am now 'on the list' for a new knee! Yippee!
The old diabetes seems under control - as long as I stay away from chocolate and cakes! The most recent check up was good - all the test results were 'normal' and I got a verbal 'gold star' from my doc. I just have to lose more weight and watch the sugar levels.

I have managed to get away a few times this year - first having a week on the Isle of Wight with Linda and our 2 dogs. We rented a 'cottage' on a farm smack bang in the centre of the island. The weather was very mixed but we did have some sunshine between showers. The dogs loved it and behaved very well.

The summer was, of course, London 2012 and the Olympics and Paralympics! Having been totally apathetic before hand, I swiftly got caught up in the excitment and thoroughly enjoyed all the events I watched. Well done Team GB! Didn't London look great as a back drop too!
I also got away for a few days in August - twice!. Cropredy was mid-August and the best one weatherwise so far for me. Look! Sun hat and sun burn! Ouch! And I got off lightly! Lobster was a popular colour this year!

Then it was Shrewsbury! Another longer weekend away and a lot more folk music.  Loads of great bands and concerts over 4 days. This was Show of Hands plus orchestra - superb!

Saw lots of 'new to me' acts - some superb, some definitely not!

Hot on the heels of Shrewsbury was our own Swanage Folk Festival. We were blessed with a warm sunny weekend and huge crowds leading to a decent profit for the festival. A year of preparation and planning came to fruition over the weekend, making many people happy.

In November my sister and her husband had joint 70th birthday celebrations, taking a group of friends and family to lunch on a train! It was a freezing cold and very wet day but we were warm and dry on the train! A good time was had by all. I had the pleasure of the company of my great-nephew Sam.


I was greatly looking forward to Christmas celebrations and managed to get to Chipping Sodbury for the day on 23rd December to deliver the parcels for that section of the family. As the day progressed I became croaky and started coughing. By Christmas Eve I was decidedly unwell, coughing up catarrh. I felt hot and sweaty too. I managed to get up Christmas Day and cook lunch for Jen, James and myself before taking to my bed with a fever and feeling really ill. I cancelled my Boxing Day at Craig's and missed seeing the boys :( A week later I am feeling a lot better but still coughing up clear mucus. It seems to have been the mild fluey virus that's been doing the rounds. Very unpleasant but not life threatening. I wish the bug would leave with the old year and I could start 2013 with a clean bill of health, however it looks like just a new box of tissues instead.

I hope 2012 was not too bad for you, and whatever it brings, may 2013 be kind to you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!