And finally - Happy New Year!

Instalment 3 Sept – Dec

Well here’s to the final part of my highlights of 2016. I was very heartened by the messages I received after yesterdays post, mental health is something that clearly touches lots of people and this makes it so important to get it out there!

So – DS#2 finished his training at Harrogate and applied to move to Bovington for Phase 2, working with tanks. We were thrilled when his change was accepted and very excited to join him for a Family Day on the camp once he had settled in. It was packed with things to see and do, including a spectacular display by some of the troops and vehicles. We even got to climb on and into some of them (the vehicles, not the troops - that would just be weird!) The camp is right on the south coast and so after the Family Day we were able to spend a little bit of time enjoying the scenery.

Tanks and people stood on tanks.

The boy and a Challenger 2

The boy in a Challenger 2

My friend Kathy and I travelled into London in October to visit the Om Yoga Show again. We did this last year and had an inspirational and free sample rich day. There were less free samples this year but we both came away feeling motivated. I have booked to go on a yoga retreat to India next year and have been trying hard to keep up my practice. It is still my little oasis of calm in the week.

There were some people doing yoga behind us!

The big event for the family during this time was a new addition! DH sent me a very cute puppy picture via email at work – no message, just the picture. To cut a long story short, a couple of weeks later we were heading home with a very lovely bundle of fur and legs in the back of our car. The new pup was christened Sirius Black (a mix of Harry Potter and the dog star) and is already a very special member of the family! Part whippet, part collie, part tornado, he is into everything and everywhere.

What a cutie!

November saw me off on a retreat. Led by the very wonderful Sas Petherick, Sacred Rascals was held in a beautiful manor house in the Cotswolds. I arrived not knowing anybody, not sure what to expect, full of fear and so totally feeling it was the right thing to do. Well, the weekend was the most wonderful experience. The group of women who attended were the loveliest, most supportive and welcoming bunch ever. We were spoilt with glorious food, space to rest, read and explore, did some magical self discovery and I even spoke out loud! Some of us have stayed in touch since – if any of you are reading this then thank you xxx

Our circle - just magical!

We got to live here for the weekend :)

There was a spiral in the gardens and I found this heart right in the middle.

December has been a bit of a crazy time. I have fitted in some craft fairs and Jane and I had a jaunt to the seaside! One of our new things was to try dancing and so, since around Easter we have been doing a Lindy Hop class with the lovely Alan and Lisa. It has been a total hoot and we have loved it. We decided to sign up for a dance weekend away and so the weekend before Christmas saw us heading down to Torquay. Once there we decided that although the bands were good and there was some fantastic dancing to watch, we were probably neither good enough nor brave enough to join in. This wasn’t a problem as we decided to eat, drink and shop instead. Thus we had a most wonderful relaxing weekend and came back feeling ready to take on Christmas and all that good stuff.

I made acorns for the craft fair

Torquay sunset

And so – I have enjoyed a very quiet Christmas with my family. I have caught up with friends, caught up with some things I wanted to do and have given some thought to the coming year. It has been good to just have time to reflect and regroup. However you are spending the New Year, I wish you well and hope that 2017 is sparkly and wonderful!

Happy New Year to you all - see you in 2017!