To Blog or not to Blog...

 ...that is the question!

2023 has seen the beginning of my 'Gap Year'  celebration, beginning in a fantastic way with all the family together here for Christmas!

It was wonderful despite everyone feeling a little under the weather at one point or another - for Phil it was unfortunately on Christmas day when the other youngsters went for the Sennen Christmas dip.

We held our present opening the following day when he was feeling a bit more like himself.

Down at Porth Nanven at the start of the week..

Hilarious card games going on!

That was a lovely way to start the year.

I arranged for some fun things for the golf ladies too...with a swim and 'beverage' at Cape, and a month later a coffee and cake at The Dog and Rabbit, and then a Curry in Penzance where unbeknown to me everyone treated me to the meal!!

Then I headed up to London to see Bridgie and Tim, I always find London a challenge - I am definitely not a city girl, but I did like this reflection when I turned a corner near The Shard!

                                                                       

Then it was onwards to see Francie and Jon. I did all this trip on the train which worked well - maybe if I did it more I would find it more relaxing... but our train services at the moment are unreliable at best. However I will have another go at it as Francie has a train stop just down the road so it is very convenient!

Sisters!

I thought this was a brilliant idea...a lego model of the abbey raising money... buying bricks to build it! It was very impressive!

It was fabulous to meet up with Beth and her family - what lovely children - a real delight - and Francie made pancakes!

Francie Jon and I had lovely walks in National Trust gardens and in delightful coffee shops!! The walled garden was particularly special despite the drizzly rain!

This may sound odd but one of the things I have enjoyed is not always taking pictures on my phone - I have kept a record for the golf ladies for the last 7 years and decided I would take a break from that during my Gap Year, and it's meant I've a limited pictorial record of what I've done but it has been in some ways more enjoyable.

Since the trip to Francie I have had another trip which took me to Bedford staying with Gill in Felmersham and spending a week or so properly catching up with a lovely number of friends. 

I helped Simon stack his logs - not as neat as Jeannie!

Gill and I walked around the gravel pits at Felmersham (in the rain!)

And had a lovely catch-up with Val who I worked with at Lincroft.

I also saw Margo and Andy - Margo is doing well since her kidney transplant; Hilary from The Slip; Paula who I worked with; Anthea our neighbour from Marriotts Close and Judith and Carl who have moved to Aspley Guise. 

I also was able to play the Pavenham course again with Linda and Anne and have some delightful food at The Sun!

So you can see it was fairly non-stop and absolutely lovely!

I met Tim at Bedford station and we drove home together - him doing the biggest leg from just before Swindon down.

Now I'm planning the next trip - to Scotland!