Good morning everyone or good afternoon or whatever it is wherever you are - Happy New Year to all you lovely people who read Random and comment and keep me happy and interested all the year round. I look forward to sharing all sorts of things with you in 2014.
At the moment I am propped up in bed writing this. I went out and bought a new bed yesterday as my old one, the mattress of which rests in a frame, was proving a bit hard on my back when it came to changing the linen etc and was also far too big for my room. I have purchased a small double divan with drawers and looking forward to its arrival. Of course, it is not going to be delivered yet, all business grinds to a halt here until the end of this week, but as I have a sofa bed that is OK and I have turned my living room into a bed sitting room and it is rather nice. Last two nights I have got into bed early, watched TV or read or played games on my iPad all lovely and comfy. Add a cup of tea and a couple of choccy biscuits and all was gemutlich. Doesn't take much to make me happy.
Taking my old bed apart was a nightmare. I managed to get the slats and boards out ok but the nuts and bolts of the headboard and footboard were a different thing altogether. My neighbour, Alison, was called in to rescue me and she arrived with some special spray for loosening rusty and ancient screws etc. She also has an amazing array of pliers and hammers. Took a huge amount of hard graft and elbow grease but eventually it was done and then of course I had to view what was under the bed and oh the shame of it. The dust and dirt and detritus so a clean up started. A local charity are coming to collect it on Friday morning and then the room is going to get a thorough going over before the new bed arrives.
So a good start to 2014. A clean bedroom and a new bed. I have also got three bags of stuff for the charity shop which will be donated as soon as they are open again. There is something very satisfying about starting a new year off in this way.
I have no bookish plans for the year. I used to make copious and learned lists, bit like Emma Woodhouse, but now I just read what takes my fancy. I also used to take part in multiple Challenges set by other bloggers but don't bother with those any more either. I do not like reading to a timetable at all.
I have also decided that this year I stay in the UK. Last year was wonderful but after my nightmare journeys to and from Australia I have been airplaned out. I had two delightful weeks in Madeira as well but even that plane journey laid me low and I simply cannot face getting to an airport and going anywhere for a while. The UK has plenty of wonderful places that I have yet to visit and my plan is to see as many as I can. A nice cottage holiday somewhere as well, Cornwall or Yorkshire or the Lake District or....
I am looking forward to planning where I shall go and I shall be blogging about my visits throughout the year.
As always, my life is enriched by Random Jottings, by the responses, replies and the friendships that I have made. Wonderful to share my bookish thoughts, my joy in my grandchildren, the daft things that I do and that happen to me, and my travelling with all of you. I sit here writing this with a New Year ahead and I feel very blessed to know you all. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Happy New Year.
