Blimey it's been a long, long time.

Eight and a half years! An absolutely scary amount of time. Not only has the eight years disappeared in a blink of an eye, but so much has changed in my life in that time frame. 

Ive found it quite a difficult decision whether to write here again, on my Real Life blog, or to start a new blog and move on as I have in my 'real life' I guess, but Ive decided that I don't want to give up on this blog just yet.

Why start again now? Why not throughout this year when there's truly been things to write about? I've actually been wanting to start again for a while, but lacked the equipment. For the last umpteen years I've only had my iPhone and iPad, neither of which can cope with writing or updating a blog properly. But here with a new MacBook and a new opportunity. 

Major changes since 2012?

Since my last post, my family has grown and I now have three beautiful grandsons. Two from my eldest daughter, who are now 6 and 3 and the newest addition from my younger daughter, who is nearly 9 months old and very sadly for all of us a lockdown baby.   

My mum was diagnosed with Alzheimers in 2014 and I lost my amazing sister in 2016. I found myself after my sisters death having to hit the ground running becoming a part time carer to my ageing parents and still have days so full of sorrow and grief that sometimes I'm surprised life can just go on as normal. But life does go on and changes along the way, mum is now in a home and has been since February and although its good that she was settled in before lockdown, its also very sad that she no longer knows who I am through lack of contact.

It's not all doom and gloom though, I retired (very early I would point out) on the last day of February this year, so very lucky that I didn't have to worry about working when we went into the first National Lockdown. I learnt during this time to start enjoying making things again, having time to get more into art projects, pick up my crochet needles and learn new skills. I also renovated a house this year that we have had empty for some time and thankfully it has finally sold, with fingers crossed it still manages to go through early next year. 

So here I am on Boxing Day 2020, very nearly the New Year and a new start. I may add odd bits and pieces from the last few years if I feel it either warrants a mention or just simply takes my fancy and one other thing I'd like to write about this time around is getting control of my physical and mental wellbeing, hopefully writing about how things are going will be not only cathartic and also spur me on to stick to my goals.

October 2020, one last day out as a group of 6