Out with the old

Cheers lovelies!

....and in with the new, in so many ways for 2026 and thank you to 2025 for the lessons I didn't want or really need!

The vintage half decade that was 2020/2025 was not great and in parts, nearly broke me. The second half has got to be better hasn't it?

YES!

So, I'm opening all the windows and doors, inviting the trash to leave!

Bye now!

No more side swipes, nasty surprises, left field landings or life hijackings!

I'm done, only good things may enter from hereon.

Sausage right off to the year of the snake!

Anywhooooooo......Life goes on apace, as it tends to and it’s still very much a merry 'Betwixmas' at Follies Farm, but in just a few days we will be facing a brand new year, all shiny, unused and untold.

What a gift!

And exhale petal! I think I often forgot to breathe out in 2025!

I realise most of us would have appreciated seeing the movie trailer or the terms and conditions before heading out but them's the breaks! We get what we are given, mostly!

Honestly, It gives me so much joy to welcome the next 12 whole months as of yet, unwritten. A 'blank slate' and I suppose, a much needed 'clean slate' for some! Oddly, we still have hope after such a tumultuous 5 years! We are nothing if not resilient!

Great expectations?

I have none.

Nothing doing!

Nada!

However, I have decided NOT to take any of the last five years shenanigans through the New Year portal with me. This time, it all stays behind.

I will take it from here thanks!

Also, I'm a little older and wiser and realise that we aren't really in charge and whether the planets align or not for us in 2026, it is all to play for! All we can do is be our very best selves. So, as it happens I've no real resolutions other than the usual, which is to get moving more and feeling better about my personal health journey. Going forward, I can be more in charge of my body, heart and mind.

2025 saw stress damage my body so badly.

Thats enough now.

We've had a great Christmas here despite a good dose of the winter plague doing the rounds. I think we are also super worn out, mainly from trying to move our worldly goods in just days before Christmas! A bit daft really. Also, we had an amazing trip to Canada arriving home with just 10 days to go!

Too much!

To add insult to injury he did a much needed trip to France to see the house and retrieve our personals, so I'm not surprised he's unwell. Still, we needed some control back over our home and personal belongings in France, so he made it happen. It's all been a bit much really and eventually we were so exhausted, we both just naturally stopped trying to do it all at once. The fact that my dining cabinets weren't in place didn't matter a jot! No surprise there then eh!

Note to selves for 2026:

We aren't 20 anymore!

Anyway, what didn't kill us, means we are still very much alive and able to forge forward! We are lucky really!

France?

The universe often gives us a good few hints that somewhere isn't for us, right? Well, we got many kickbacks from that particular area in France and clearly needed a few more. What I've found to be true, is that Expats and locals (not all) mostly just use and abuse each other best they can. We've stopped all that in it's tracks and will go about a half life there without publicising it from here on. What will be, will be but it won't entirely be the end until the house is sold. However, we can now limit our interactions with some of the rogue locals. Sometimes, the company we keep says more not less about us eh! Why that should be a rule we break because we are abroad, no clue!

Also, the days of us being a cash point are so over!

Today? I'm currently trying to contact Evri parcel couriers, as P just put the wrong label on the wrong parcel and so John Lewis will be receiving an Amazon slushie machine! Men! All the fun of post Christmas eh! The house is a tip and there's boxes everywhere, it's hard to tell what’s what! Essentially, we still feel grateful and thankful to be here, right here, right now.

What are we looking at for the year ahead? I'd personally just like to be exactly right here, on this sofa, in this house, next Christmas, as I think we need a moving break. Is that possible? The answer will always depend on Mr H being able to earn a crust. If 2024/25 taught us anything, it's that we go where he earns.

Of course, I'm super anxious to get into a place of our own again but thats a 12/24 months away thing. So as it happens we can sit and consolidate until things look like they are moving in the right direction. There's a lot of saving to do. The last 2 years have cost us a lot of money and moving always costs!

We moved in here just over 6 months ago and despite being unimpressed with the Landlord we are going to stick it out regardless. His issue is that his team didn't maintain the house during the previous occupants tenure and now he's sick of us reporting issues! He'd rather we empty our pockets sorting it all, of course he would. We don't mind maintaining anything if handed over in good working condition, but thats not been the case. I'm so done paying for others lifestyles. We pay a market rent for the area and won't be investing in his property unless it suits us. Long term it would just be a waste of our money.

Today is New Years Eve Eve. I'm finally a little excited. I have so much hope tempered with knowing that bad things happen to good people. I truly believe we are survivors of a five year glitch and the way is clear now for a much nicer, kinder, prosperous year ahead. I'm definitely manifesting hard during the last throws of 2025.

It wasn't all bad. P found himself back working with Canada and he loves it. Our daughter found a new job and house, she also loves. Our eldest daughter is out of prison and receiving the treatment she so badly needs. Our son has finished 3 years in Saudi and is spending much needed time with his little family. It's all a good enough ending to the old year and a jolly good start to the New Year ! I'm happy enough with the small wins.

So here's to you, I wish you everything you wish for yourself. I also thank you from the bottom of my heart for your ever loving support, I've appreciated every single post you've made during 2025. May you find 2026 a kind bedfellow and I sincerely hope you keep your health in fine fettle!

Here's to a bucket of gumption, happiness, prosperity and don't forget to be kind but not stupid eh!

We are young enough and alive! It will certainly do for now!

Lets do this together!

Much love

D x