Goodbye 2021! Hellloooooo 2022!

But first, a Confession…

So, let’s be upfront, I’m writing this in November, ready to go out as my December blog. I mean yeah, I usually plan my blogs ahead of schedule, but it feels a bit like cheating doing this one early coz who the fuck knows what I’m gonna be doing at the end of December!

But y’know, it is what it is, and I am feeling so excited for the next few months. I don’t know why that is. I just have something telling me it’s gonna be a bloody fantastic time in my life so I’m embracing that.

What you up to Claire?

So sweet of you to ask 😉 As of right now, I have no plans for Christmas other than I’m taking the week off work and spending it with the 4 most amazing people and our 2 dogs.

I get ridiculously excited about Christmas, almost as excited as I do about my birthday. I’m not big on decorations (although I always put up a cracking tree), I don’t get all the supposed Christmas beverages or partake in the stuffing of face to the point of becoming a sofa-sloth. BUT I am always up ridiculously early, way before any of the kids and I PROPER LOVE wrapping presents and using my fancy curly writing and shiny pens to write letters to the boys from Father Christmas. The teens keep telling me they’re too old for that now, but I think it’s all bravado nonsense… 👀

Tradition is being thrown out of the window this year. Only 2 out of 5 actually enjoy a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. The other 3 would rather eat mud. So yeah, we’re probably going to have something everyday like Chicken Pesto Pasta or Chicken Fajitas with a side of Nachos (2 dishes all 5 of us can chow down on with delight). This will no doubt be followed by muchas chocolate (for me, obvs)!

Then on Boxing Day it’s the youngest’s birthday so there will be more celebrations and yummy food and fun times and presents. After which, we’ll all get that weird, deflated feeling and wonder where the week between Christmas and New Year has gone.

What about New Year?

Ah, New Year. I don’t ‘do’ New Year. Mainly because I’m not a party-person and don’t actually drink that much or to excess these days. It’s highly likely that Mr Clear Skies VA and I will spend NYE sat on the sofa, watching movies and probably being tucked up in bed before midnight. Which, let’s face it, sounds like utter bliss!

For me 2021 has been a time of huge personal growth and learning. Some great times, some not so great. Overall though, I can’t complain, I know how fortunate I am and I count my blessings every damn day.

And I don’t know what 2021 has held for you, I hope it’s been good, but I know of many for whom it hasn’t.

But whoever you are, wherever you are, whichever calendar you follow, I wish you nuttin’ but love and good stuff in 2022 and beyond!

HAPPY FRICKIN’ (GREGORIAN) NEW YEAR PEOPLE!

(P.S. Writing that in November was really weird)