Hogmanay

Here we are, another year gone, and in my case another year older since today has been my birthday. And a very good birthday it has been - lunch at Five March with Davie and Chanel was followed by the new Mary Poppins film at the Grosvenor. I thoroughly enjoyed it, with my one objection being that it is practically identical to the original. It would have been nice if it had branched out in some way.
I don’t have time to write a proper round up of the year because we received a last minute invitation yesterday to celebrate New Year with Steven and Hilary this evening and we will be setting off shortly. I was looking through my blog this morning and it certainly has been a fantastic year for travel; James and I have been on some great holidays and weekends away staring with skiing in gorgeous Arabba in January. All of our trips have been fun but one of the highlights had to be our Oregon and California holiday in the summer when we met up with Jamie and Aisling and Margaret. Since that holiday Jamie and Aisling have broken up. It’s not my place to comment, however I think it’s fair to say that it had become very clear that she was not the right girl for our Jamie. Another highlight was our France and Belgium holiday in October to visit James’ Great Uncle Hugh’s grave at the centenary of the end of the First World War. We were very glad to share this experience with our dear friends Heather and Ewan, and also to visit memorials for two of Heather’s relatives and to lay a wreath for all three young men at the Menin Gate in Ypres. My two weekends staying with Ally and Cat in their London flat were absolutely wonderful too. They used their local knowledge to take me to really cool places in London such as rooftop bars and dining in Paradise Pods by the Thames and to visit the Supreme Court. They even insisted on giving up their bed for me! And we have had some great weekends in beautiful Boat of Garten with Alison and Hugh. I can still hardly believe that I climbed Ben Nevis in July, a proud and happy achievement, enhanced by meeting up with Davie, Ally and James at the summit. All of this was set against the backdrop of a long and gloriously hot summer.
I retired in June and so the second half of the year has been a big change for me - in a very good way! New adventures await us in 2019 with more changes in the offing. James and I are appreciative of all of our family and friends, we know how lucky we are to know such good people. The year has had many ups but of course also some downs, mainly regarding the health of friends and relatives. I always look on the New Year as an opportunity for a fresh start, and in 2019 I am hoping to improve my diet and fitness. James doesn’t believe in New Year’s Resolutions but has agreed with me that we both want to work on this. Roll on 2019!