ooooof!

It is Sunday afternoon. Neal is roasting a chicken. It is just the two of us in the house for the first time in many days. It feels like a long beautiful exhale, like snuggling into your duvet when you know you're going to be able to go right back to sleep. Like pulling on perfectly fitting hand knit wool socks when your feet are cold.

It has been a delightful summer, but boy howdy has it ever been busy. All year, really. Family visits, work, music projects, birthday parties (oh yes!!) - all great stuff (really great stuff!), but non-stop. For once, I am looking forward to slowing down. To weeks with less juggling. I have been realising that I cannot do as much as I have been doing (can you hear Neal rolling his eyes? He is rolling them so hard it is audible). 

So as we head into what I always feel, affectionately, is the new year, I have some resolutions. Some more intention around activities done and not done, chosen and declined. Prioritisation. Triage, if you like.

And I will finally, DEFINITELY finish painting the front door which I started in July!

Brass band snippet

Tuesday evenings are brass band practise. 2 hours, sometimes with a break for tea and cakes, if it's been someone's birthday. Our conductor, Graham, often gives what he calls "notices" between songs - upcoming dates, information, etc. Tonight, he told us that we needed a new band photo. Everyone groaned. Last time we did two photos, one in our full suit and bow tie uniform and one in the more casual polo shirts. It was a bit chaotic, everyone trying to change in the two small bathrooms in the practise hall.  "No - no," Graham said, "Just polo shirts this year!" A shocked pause, broken by Jo - "gosh I'm glad I'm at the back!" and the whole room dissolved into laughter.

Sunday afternoon

 It's Sunday afternoon - it's 530 and it is not all the way dark which feels like real progress until you remember that it is still February and nowhere near spring, yet. But I picked loads of bright sunny daffoldils in Pauline's garden this morning, and I've planted chilli seeds this afternoon, so there's lots to look forward to.

I should be knitting. I have a test knitting project that is due next Monday which means I have to post it on Saturday which means technically I should have knit it by then, you know, in an ideal world. Maybe not this world which is full of so many other more interesting things. 

Yesterday, as we stepped out of the house, our neighbour was walking by and said, "Hey - I have to take the boat out to the end of the creek and back to run the motor - do you want to come along for the ride?" I have a life rule: whenever possible, say yes to being on or in the sea. We agreed in a gleeful heartbeat and it was amazing. It started out sunny and then the clouds rolled in and we were very cold and fairly damp by the end of it and it was worth every shiver. 

Isn't his boat beautiful? She is called the Nancy Grey and she is charming and welcoming.

Started off sunny but....

The Shipwrights from a different perspective 

A happy sailor