Post-Christmas Catch Up

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

I’m sorry! I’m here… finally. Things got a bit manic for a while back there. We were snowed in. Sort of.

Gah. It’s annoying isn’t it, when people say “sorry…blah blah blah I’ve been busy”. I could have found 10 minutes or so to write something, I know I could have. But I didn’t. And, actually, I was busy.

Of course the run-up to the Christmas break was a bit manic at work. Then I was on leave for a quick trip up to Edinburgh. It was a lot of fun, it snowed, it was magical, but tiring, and having previously been on the cusp of being ILL, I finally succumbed during the five+ hour train journey (one change, a few delays, police on board etc etc) on the way home. So in the days leading up to Christmas I was knocked out for a bit, then of course there was Christmas itself, during which time I took a lot of drowsy medicine, which meant that I was falling asleep at the drop of a hat. And then of course there was the Aftermath of Christmas.

You know… despite having sat around and not done too much, you’re really really tired. So you take time catching up on more sleep. You continue to eat a lot. You lay down on the sofa watching dodgy films all day. All that jazz. My sister is the one who braves the slightly maniacal masses and hits the sales. I don’t. I couldn’t bear it. I stay at home and saunter around in my pyjamas eating cake and stirring my hand around the almost-empty tin of Quality Street. Although, yesterday, I did manage to go out for a walk, enjoying being away from work, computers, flashy lights and technological things.

So, besides ill health (now on the mend), Christmas and bad eating habits, what else have I been up to at the Smallest Smallholding?

Well, of course, there was a fair amount of ice and snow over the past two weeks. Which basically means that aside from feeding the birds, I haven’t been able to do much. Although, I am getting prepared. Between Rich’s parents and his Gran, I was given lots of bits and bobs that will see me ready for the next growing season. So for once, I may be a little ahead of the game.

As ever, I’ve also been doing lots of Smallest Smallholding/Self-Sufficiency plotting, but I shan’t reveal anything just yet. Oho, you may be a bit impressed by my plottage, but you’ll have to wait a while to find out what I’ve got planned. Tantalisingly… annoying. I know, I know!

Rich also gave me a Panasonic Lumix camera for Christmas. It’s very handsome. It also takes absurdly good pictures and videos for its size. So, unfortunately, you may be seeing a little more of me this year, moving and talking and everything. It may not be pretty, but I’ll try to make it constructive and a bit interesting.

I am planning to be bit more regular with my Smallest Smallholding posts in 2010. I’ll have more time, so I have no excuses, although I plan to pack the year in, and not spend so much time whining about Things That Go (and Grow!) Wrong. I think in my next post I may reveal some of my resolutions. I’m looking forward to the prospect of a new year, I think. I always worry about saying that, as if I’m inviting disaster or something. Positive vibes, people, positive vibes!

Oh, and it’s my birthday on New Year’s Eve. I shall be 27. I’m not ready to be a ‘proper adult’ yet, so I’m going to let go, ignore the trappings of adult life, and just enjoy it. Well, that’s the plan anyway. I don’t think I’ll ever quite grow up.

Tags: birthday, catch up, Christmas, Smallest Smallholding