Another Year Begins

Have you made your New Year’s resolutions? Do I have New Year resolutions, not really? I stopped more years ago than I can remember. Seemed pointless as I never remembered what they were, after just a few days. Eat better, exercise more and drink more wine are a few that come to mind. I do that anyway. I do think we should be looking back at the previous year and remembering the things that made us feel good and do more of them. At the same time remember the things that we did not enjoy and try to avoid them.

We all went for a swim this New Year and the water was cold as ice. Refreshing comes to mind and is a challenge we all were up for. Gary and Alex have not had a swim for a while and I do admire their courage, Claudia took some interesting photos and gave us some moral support but, you guessed it, no swimming. 

We did miss Michael and Kate who were away but the good news is they got engaged, wedding bells are said to be ringing in the summer of 2023. Something to look forward to, although I must admit at my age I only plan a week ahead, that way I will not be disappointed.

Lady Vivienne, an artist of repute, has launched her new work on Instagram. I venture to say it does have some merit and the concept is appealing. We wait on the art critics and their evaluation of this new form of art. Subdued pink and grey complement each other with the text blending in, colours working well together. I like it.

Hogmanay, New Year’s Eve in Scotland, children sing much as we do when we go out to sing Christmas carols and they are rewarded with sweets and cakes. 

Hogmanay is believed to come from the French word ‘hoginane’ which means a grand celebration. The word Hogmanay was first used in the late 1500s following Mary, Queen of Scots return from France in 1561. Quite interesting if you wanted to know all that, I am on a crusade to try and educate those around me on the seemingly everyday words we have no idea where they came from or if they actually mean what we think they mean. More to follow.