Greetings To You

Yet again it seems ages since I have had time to sit and write for the blog - I've been doing far too much sitting, but there has always been too much noise and disturbance to focus on writing for this but happily, today, Kim is flitting about the house in "Dobbie" mode cleaning and vacuuming and I have retreated to my study for a bit of peace and quiet between bouts in the kitchen.

This has been a fascinating year, filled with high and low spots, happily many more highs than lows. We have, in no particular order: made some wonderful new friends, got an allotment, had wonderful dinners and parties, got married, my business has taken off, the cat is still alive and I have been touched by the thoughtfulness and generosity of so many people that I feel truly blessed. Thinking about things, there haven't been too many negatives - one or two people who have turned out to be sad or bad, but it's no tragedy to loose those from my life, and the perennial pain in the bum that is my dicky hip - and that will be mended soon I hope. I don't think that I'm even looking at things through rose, or should I say merlot, tinted glasses; no, this has been a good year.

To my amazement, I'm finding that married life suits me very well; that probably sounds odd, but having tried it once before, I entered the state with some trepidation - but it's just wonderful. There are, of course, times when I could quite gleefully throttle Kim, but they are few and far between and luckily for south Somerset's crime rate, I'm managing to resist the urge when it comes upon me! It's also caused by a promise I made to a friend who is a Police Officer, that if I were to do some heinous crime, I'd let him know first so he could have a splendid arrest record - truth is, I know he'd just tell me off so badly that it's not worth considering!

The solstice passed quietly and though I can't get out and about to mark the turning of the year (walking up a gravelled driveway laid me out for a couple of days), I know that I shall be able to change all that next year and will appreciate it so much more than I did before. Though the Solstice is the time of year I mark, we both like to mark Christmas too and Kim has been buzzing about making preparations so I'm off to wrap a present to tuck under the glossy pine needles of our tree as I know he will be like an excited five-year-old tomorrow morning.

With all the news of the credit crunch, shop closures and the increasing glee of news organisations to revel in horror and tragedy, it seems to me that it is reminding many people about the things that are really important - taking stock of one's year, being with those whom you love and sharing fellowship rather than the insane consumerism that has pervaded for so long - at least, I hope that's it.

Wherever you are and whatever is happening in your lives, I wish you peace, joy and contentment and may your Gods bless you.