Hello 2023

HELLO 2023

Hello 2023. I am cautiously optimistic about what you have in store for us. I know it won’t be without more challenges, because that is how life goes, but I hope that there is lots more good stuff within you than there has been in recent years.

I’ve had a much needed break from the blog but I’m ready to get back into it now. There might be some hiccups along the way though (see further down the post for the first one) but I’ll try my best to be consistent. I have lots of thoughts and ideas to share. When I first started typing up this post so much came spilling out, but I soon realised it was too much for one post and so have cut this post back to a more manageable reading size. Do check back now and then though for those thoughts and ideas in future posts to come!

Let’s start by updating you on my Christmas, New Year and 2023 so far.

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

I had my traditional Christmas Eve brekky with my friend Kylie which was enjoyable as always. We have done this since we met way back when our girls were at preschool together (so since 2000) – 22 years now!

I’ve hosted Christmas for the tennis player’s side of the family in the past, but for the first time ever, I hosted Christmas this year for my family. Mum has always hosted Christmas and I’ve only ever been asked (allowed) to take over a salad to contribute. Mum can no longer host Christmas now, so the baton has been passed. I’m not sure if I will always host or maybe it will rotate around siblings. Anyway – it all went well. I’m a perfectionist though so created a lot of work for myself – the house had to be clean and tidy and perfect and then I glazed a ham and stuffed and roasted a turkey for the first time. I even made some white Christmas! The whole week prior to Christmas was scheduled and flat out from the moment I got out of bed until I dropped back into it at the end of the day. Having said all that though – I enjoyed it all, my house got a really thorough clean and tidy, and it was nice to not have to drive anywhere on Christmas day for the first time ever!! Everyone seemed to enjoy the day and that is all I can ask for. 

New Year’s Eve was quiet. We were at home and didn’t stay up till midnight to see in the new year. For many years past we have hosted a family New Year’s Eve bbq with lots of swimming in the pool and always stayed up until midnight to see in the new year. This year though, since we hosted Christmas, and as some had other plans for the night, we let it go and were quite happy to I must admit! 

These are a few posts that I posted to Instagram to wrap up my 2022 and welcome in the new year:

• This is a quick video montage (reel) to wrap up my 2022
• This is what I posted on New Years Day. It didn’t sit right for me to say Happy New Year so instead I said Hello and Welcome to 2023. Please be gentle and kind to us.

Then there’s this post where I documented my first swim for the summer and celebrated hitting 1000+ followers on Instagram:

• This is the post where I documented my first swim for this summer and where I celebrate finally reaching 1000 Instagram followers after 10 years on Instagram. I don’t do things quickly!!

2023 SO FAR

Boxing day and the days between Christmas and New Years Day are my favourite days of this whole season. They’re spent quietly at home, enjoying gifts, tidying up from Christmas Day, swimming in the pool, reading books etc.

We had a lovely day early in the new year over at Mum’s catching up with cousins, some of whom live around Brisbane but one (and his wife) who was visiting from NSW who I hadn’t seen in many years, so it was really enjoyable to catch up with all of them!

I’ve spent some more time staying over at Mum’s and helping her out. Here’s where the first hick-up comes in. I alternate time spent helping Mum during the weekdays with my sister (other siblings help over weekends). I had a couple of nights over at Mum’s last week and so this week it was my sister’s turn. However, her hubby has just tested positive with Covid and she is now a close contact …. soooo …. I’ll be heading over to Mum’s again this week (will be there when this post publishes) as we do whatever we can to avoid any risk to Mum.

I’ve been spending Christmas money online (mostly in the Boxing Day sales). 

I’ve met up with a couple of friends for lunch which is always great!

NEW ZEALAND

We’ve finally made first steps to getting the holiday to New Zealand booked. A very rough itinerary was drafted by us and after a visit to a Travel Agent was changed quite a bit and should be much better now! We’ll soon receive the skeleton draft, including accommodation, to tick off on etc. Once that is all locked in, we’ll then look at what activities we might want to book in for – cruises, tours etc.  This trip will be happening over 3 weeks in mid-May with us heading home in early June. 

THE BLOG

I’ve needed the break from the blog over the Christmas and New Year period, and a break is always a good thing to do! It gives you some head space to dive within and have a bit of an internal review of what you would like to see more of and less of on the blog and time to cultivate new ideas going forward. It also just gives you a much needed break from creating content and doing all the usual blogging things like reading other blogger’s posts and commenting, etc! Just like when you have a ‘real job’, a little holiday is always very beneficial!  

For the first time in a long time, I have a word for the year! I know! I wasn’t expecting that either! It just wouldn’t leave me alone though, so it was meant to be. I was going to reveal it in this post but there’s quite a back story, and my ramblings become too long, so I’ll reveal it in a future post.

I have a really inspiring guest on the blog coming up soon as part of my Art Chat series. Keep your eyes peeled for that post. It will be Art Chat #10. I am also giving a lot of thought to what I’d like to see more of on the blog this year, and how I can get re-inspired to get back into my art on a more regular basis. There may be more challenges (of the art kind) in my future, of my own design, and gratitude is something I feel a need to revisit. It did amazing things for me back in 2012 when I did a 365 Grateful Challenge and I feel like those benefits have started to slide, so I feel like something similar needs to be done to restore all the good I gained from that challenge.  Enough from me for now … 

How was your Christmas? Did you do anything special for New Years Eve? 

Ciao for now,

Linking up with Denyse Whelan’s ‘Wednesday’s Words and Pics‘

Postscripts:

(1) I’ll be over at Mum’s when this post publishes so it may take a day or two until I respond to comments etc. I’ll have to see how I go. I always respond though!
(2) I couldn’t find a nice stock image (that was free) that suited this post so very quickly drew up my own to use instead. It’s got its good points but is a lot rougher than planned. Too rushed is why!