And the New year?
Life goes on (which, with its blind and non-judgmental, egalitarian indifference is somehow so comforting). A new start for every nano-second, yes?
See here's the trap I have fallen into many times in the past.
Sometimes, not one but two, or three or four, or even a whole skip-load of wonderful or awful or one way or another 'noteworthy' things, will happen all at once. Then I might have formed half an idea to post about this or that occurrence or observation but am stopped by rushing headlong to experience the next thing.
Soon there is nothing to relate but a list.
Lists aren't exciting, are they?
Still, here's mine. I'll try and keep it brief, but if anything requires further explanation (or never to be mentioned ever again) , just let me know.
- Christmas was the best Christmas ever. I mean ever.
- DOH was delighted that I was delighted, and I was delighted that.... etc and we went round in circles of mutual appreciation. We kind of ended up resembling that nauseatingly lovey dovey couple off Little House On The Prairie (no, the parents, not the shopkeepers) except with really eye-poppingly excellent sex. Consistently. Hubba.
- New Year's Eve was not subdued, but unbelievably relaxed. No remorse, no high emotion, no tension; no arguments with kids that didn't want to go back to bed when it was all over. It was so pleasant. Yup, pleasant is the word; sapped of its power and just, well,... 'nice' is another word.
- Did I mention we found a Church? We found a Church. After ten years disagreeing and procrastinating, one which was discounted as cold and stern and unwelcoming very early on, turns out to feel like home. Its hard to recall how God got us through the door the first time, but there you go. The kids even asked to go to carols on Christmas Eve, which we did. Un-flamin'-believable.
- We rediscovered some really good friends on Facebook, including the children's God parents. I had some lovely 'real' emails from friends I haven't had more than a superficial chat with, for ages, and Ange (bless her) sent us one of her Christmas Cards AGAIN, even though we haven't had her address since the last house. It turned up in the new year and just about made my week.
- Everyone started back at school or work this Monday, and thank heavens my own work was closed for two days (yesterday and today) because youngest daughter is changing senior schools. We enquired on Monday, got told they were full for her year. Got a call back an hour or so later because a mother had just sent a letter announcing a move. Got invited to interview on Wednesday (yesterday), YD said it felt like home and the classes were bigger and cleaner and the corridors nicer and she can't wait to go. She starts this coming Monday, but they would have taken her from tomorrow! Too quick, too smooth, too easy, its got to be divine intervention, or something of the ilk.
- I was able to spend over £100 on new school uniform, right there at the school reception. I just had to nip out to the hole in the wall (ATM) to come back with the notes, from my current (debit) account. Trust me, having that kind of cash spare any month of the year is a miracle, let alone January.
- Her old school are 98% certain they're going to let her attend the Southern Schools Book Awards with them, in her old uniform, because she did the work and earned the certificate in their care - even though the awards take place the Friday after she changes schools. Of course it helps that they only had five girls attending in the first place, but another miracle. Its a really big deal for her, not least because it's being held at Roedean, the best private girls' school in the UK and bigger than Hogwarts. A grand night out.
Oh yes, I forgot one thing, (Thank you God) so far I seem to be sleeping better and constantly waking up with a 'thank you' in my mind. At least a month of waking up happy, and no jokes about going with dwarves behind DOH's back, thank you.
Gosh, now I know why I avoided looking at it all at once - I'm exhausted from reading it.
Happy New Year!!!
P.S. for Z, who has a new-found appreciation of The Fast Show:
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