This year has been...

A roller coaster... happy and sad, amazing and emotional, full of loss but also gain, with lots of tears as well as laughter and smiles. So much has happened over the last year that I don't even know where to start! Maybe the beginning is a good place.

The year started with me feeling happy, happy with my weight loss from the previous year, happy with all the changes I'd been through and to have finally started a new chapter in my life. I got a job so it was time to start putting myself first. I met someone last year, then didn't see him for months but met again at the beginning of this year. He is the most amazing, kind, caring man I've ever met and although we've had a rough first year, it won't end here!

Then there's my dad who became ill in April and deteriorated a lot in September. He isn't the same man now as he was and he's unlikely to get any better so that has caused the most sadness. Our family dynamics have changed because of this too.

I've lost a friend through a rumour but have also gained friends, you find out who your real friends are when you need them. My amazing man is so busy working and doing his Masters that we don't have much time together, that has been really hard while my dad has been so ill.

This year I've learnt to make the most of the time you have with people and not to take them for granted. To appreciate, secure, love, support and help those close to you.

The thing that's keeping me going is that, hopefully in April the Masters will be finished and my amazing man and I can start our lives together properly and do all the things we've talked about. I'm looking forward to moving next year and finally and definitely putting myself first.

The past stays in the past, the present is for living and the future is for planning.

Christmas won't be the same this year, we won't have the hustle and bustle of the family but I'm coping because I have to. I hope you all have a lovely Christmas and New Year.

This year has included lots of walks, sunrises, sunsets, hot chocolate and cakes, a birthday party, a Christmas party, Christmas bowling, a trip to Weston-Super-Mare, a trip to Bristol, a trip to Southampton, my sisters wedding but my favourite thing was our first weekend away to Brighton.

Happy New Year!

I hope you've all had a lovely Christmas, our's was fun and the children had lots of presents! Unfortunately, I didn't finish the crocheted Minions in time for Christmas but the children had Minions bought for them. I will add some photos once they are finished.

On Monday before Christmas it was really windy and we could hear the wind blowing in my parent's chimney so I told my niece that it was Santa's Elves making sure the chimneys were clear ready for Santa! She liked that story and was very excited!

Last Saturday was my nephew's 3rd birthday, we were supposed to be seeing him but they had a stomach bug and now it's passed to everyone except three of us. I'm really hoping I don't get it!

It's almost a new year and I'm not really into making New Years resolutions but I hope next year will be better than this one. Here are my hopes for 2014:

• To find a job or make headway to pursuing a new career
• To meet new people and see more of old friends
• To do more crocheting and finally finish my Granny Stripe blanket
• To carry on blogging and join in with '52 Weeks of Happy'

So, as this year draws to a close I wish you all health, happiness, love and laughter! See you in 2014!

Merry Christmas!

I haven't had time to write a proper post so I'll just say "Merry Christmas" to you all and I hope you have a wonderful time!

Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway

Yesterday, I went to the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway, with my niece and nephews, for the Santa Special train ride.

They use diesel and steam trains.

This was our coach.

The view, although not very clear through the window.

The children really enjoyed themselves and got a present from Santa, they were VERY excited!

We were on the last ride of the day, 3.30pm and it was quite quiet. The train goes on a straight line up and then back and takes about 40 minutes. We were served with tea/coffee and a mince pie and the children had squash and a biscuit as we left the station. When we got back to the station it was starting to get dark and unfortunately, they had taken the steam engine from the front for servicing so I didn't get any photos of it. I don't know why but I really like trains (although I'm not a train spotter!) and I wanted to be a train driver when I was younger. It was really nice to go on the steam train but it's a shame the ride isn't longer. All of the staff were really friendly and made the ride special.

The railway is run by volunteers and is funded by donations and profit from visitors using the train. The trains run mainly at the weekends from April to December. They have a small shop and a restaurant that is a train carriage, serving light refreshments.

I hope you've all had a good couple of weeks and are looking forward to Christmas.

Highlight of my day!

Today...

I've mostly been doing this!

Christmas is coming...

I finally put my Christmas decorations up yesterday!

I haven't really been in blogland these past few weeks, just dipping in and out when I can. It's been a really busy time but hopefully I'll be able to catch up in the next couple of weeks.

I hope you've all had a lovely few weeks.

Red sky at night

There have been lovely sunsets the past couple of nights.

12th November

13th November

A while back I found a pattern to crochet minions. My niece and nephew love the Despicable Me films so I thought this would be a perfect make for their Christmas presents. I'm not very quick at crocheting and didn't have the time to start until last Sunday. 

This is the first attempt. The pattern only makes it this big, I wanted it bigger so I played around with it a bit but it didn't look right so I unpicked it!

I then did it differently and have got this so far, I think it's the right size now. I may have done some of the stitches wrong as I kept losing count (which is why I've got the pin now)! This bit will be covered so it's ok.

I will post an update once I've made some progress, hopefully it will be finished for Christmas! 

I hope you've all had a good couple of weeks, I didn't realise my last post was nearly two weeks ago.

Ladybirds galore, a Christmas book and a cake!

After not seeing many ladybirds this year, last Monday I saw at least 20 over the road from my mum's by the little wooded area and they were mostly on the stinging nettles. (There is a handy identification sheet on the link above)

There were lots of orange ones with lots of spots.

Quite a few blacks ones with some orange markings.

One red one with lots of spots. 

There was also a funny looking, bumpy one which I think was the Pupa (it looked similar to the Pupa in my book), this photo is a bit blurry though.

I was looking for the book The Night before Christmas last week while I was in the town but I found this book instead in The Works and it was 3 for £10 so I got one for myself, my mum and my sister.

I loved this story when I was younger.

I made this cake today with my nephew, it was a packet cake my mum gave me that was going out of date.

We aren't having a very good week here the shower is broken and the electric went off last night and now there is no power to the boiler. Unfortunately, at times like this, when things are going wrong my nan takes it out on me and has a go at me quite a bit. Although I'm fairly used to it now and I tend to know when it will happen, it still upsets me and makes me annoyed as it's not my fault.

I hope you're all having a better week than me.