Day 294…probably

The alarm on my wrist watch vibrates gently, rousing me from my sleep.  I like to pretend it is tiny puppies jumping up and down, and that shortly a deer will gently pull the covers off me, so that the bluebirds can dress me in a beautiful gown.

But in reality, I roll out of bed, don’t bother looking in the mirror and fall into my slippers and dressing gown.  Today is not a fancy outfit day.  It is Monday and my first day back at work after ten consecutive days off.  During this strange “Betwixtmas” I have forgotten what day it is and how to type and insist on having a Ferrero Rocher after every meal.  Even breakfast.  And sometimes more than one.

I am actually quite proud that I have half a (large) box of chocolates left.  I suppose it could be that I have been noshing the G&T After Eights, Newberry Fruits, Roses, Turkish Delight instead….  But we haven’t even started on the unopened tubs of Celebrations (meh) and Quality Street (lush), so that has to mean something.  That’s what I’m telling myself anyway.

I open the curtains to a fairly miserable looking day.  The sky is grey and the ground is damp, and our beautiful Norwegian pine is outside the front door, undressed and shivering in the cold.  I find this really quite sad and vow to buy a tree in a pot next year.

I brush my hair and my teeth and sit at the dining room table ready to go.  And my Wifi does not work.

For f@ck sake.

An hour later I am just about to email a complaint to Sky, having tried every troubleshooting method available and unable to find a contact number so I can speak to a real human.  When all of a sudde, my emails start popping up.  Hurrah!  (I say this, but I am dreading the amount of emails there might be).

*****

My watch vibrates and tells me to move my arse, so I do a few lengths of the house.  Now, I did a lot of research on different watches prior to choosing this model.   I mean a LOT.  I had spreadsheets based on make and model, which I then collated in order to find the best from each.  At one point, I think Darren would have just bought me Big Ben if it meant I would stop harping on about all the different functions:

Me: “I can swim under water with this one”

Darren: “you don’t like putting your face under water”

Me:  “yeah I know, but IF I did, this one would be safe.  Or, say it fell off whilst we were on a boat.”

Darren:  Sigh

Anyway, I LOVE my new Fitbit – and to be honest I was sceptical, because I haven’t worn a watch for about twenty years – I found it irritating to know what the time is all the time.  But this has so many functions that I can probably stop time across the entire universe with a push of a button.

I bought Darren a GoPro camera, so we didn’t actually talk to each other for about three days, whilst trying to figure out how to use our electronic devices!

It was a strange Christmas.  I couldn’t see my parents due to their vulnerability and we only popped in to see Darren’s folks very briefly.  We came home and ate a massive roast, watched bugger all on TV (disappointing) and then I tidied up whilst Darren napped on the sofa.  I enjoyed looking at all my lovely prezzies (dinosaur dungarees, candles, soft dressing gown, to name but a few) and putting them away in their new home.  I enjoyed the twinkling fairy lights and glittery cards and the festive music.

But it just wasn’t the same.  In the back of my mind, I couldn’t help thinking about those who had lost loved ones during the course of this year and of the hardworking NHS staff still battling the pandemic that day.

I went to bed and counted my blessings, not my calories.

*****

We “popped” to Cornwall a few days later to spend some time with Charlotte, who couldn’t wait to open all her presents!  Darren had jazzed up the back of the camper with tinsel, lights and a little tree – it was lovely – and it felt like Christmas Day again.

We managed to find something to do, which was both festive and outdoors – a Winter Walk – it was truly magical!  We walked through the forest, encountering dancing fairies, giant baubles and decorated trees.  We whispered wishes into white ribbons and tied them to the ancient trunks, then watched a beautiful show presented by Old Man Winter, clutching hot chocolates with marshmallows.  Charlotte was completely enthralled by it all and told us “that was so cool”.

     

Charlotte spent the rest of the afternoon dancing around like a fairy and teaching us some yoga moves, then we ended the day with a huge pizza.

The next morning, Charlotte crept into bed with me, as her Dad lay snoring, and we snuggled up and talked about our adventure the day before and then we read her new book.  I taught her some of the lines from the Sound of Music classic song “My Favourite Things” and she giggled at some of the absurdities whilst I stroked her gorgeous curls.

For me, this will forever be one of my favourite moments in time.

*****

Back at the farm in time for New Years Eve – also our anniversary – and it felt like any other day.  No exciting plans with friends, or special meal or even a drink at the pub.   We barely managed to stay awake, but I gained a second wind by trying to get my 10,000 steps in whilst dancing (badly) to nineties club tunes.

Every year I get a bit tearful at midnight, something to do with reflecting on the year and hopes for the next one.  And this year there was the added sadness about what 2020 brought and a relief that it was over.  Darren popped open a bottle of prosecco and we watched the fantastic London fireworks before getting into bed with hot water bottles and Harry Potter on the TV.

We had planned a cycle or a walk the next day, but we ended up eating bacon sarnies and playing a bit of Wii and watching crap on TV.  And eating more snacks, obviously.

But the next couple of mornings I awoke to the most amazing crisp Winters day and popped my coat on over my PJs, stuffed a hat on my bonce and crept outside.  My God, the scenery was truly stunning – my phone pics don’t really do it justice:

 

 

 

Sometimes, I just need that little pick-me-up.  The solitude and peace that comes from being outdoors.  The sun rising and mist laying over the river.  I heard the faint crow of a cockerel and tooting call of the pheasants and I watch my breath as it formed tiny clouds in the air.

And it is here I will leave you friends.  Leave you to think about what this year will bring and perhaps how you can make a difference to this crazy world.

Peace x