New Years Habits.

Usually we take the Christmas tree down but this year we were a day late because we had a lunch for friends neighbours and family on NYE and then family staying the night. Totally exhausted yesterday!

Hogmanay is traditional for a deep clean here so mine was done yesterday ,curtains were washed last week and rehung ,didn;t do the outside of the windows as there was a hoolie blowing so hope my granny is smiling on me and not frowning..lol

Hogmanay is traditional for a deep clean here so mine was done yesterday ,curtains were washed last week and rehung ,didn;t do the outside of the windows as there was a hoolie blowing so hope my granny is smiling on me and not frowning..lol

I don't have a job I do every year at this time but I did clean out the knife drawer and sat DH down and he sharpened all the knives.

I always write all the family birthdays on the new calendar before putting it up,could do it earlier but it has become a little tradition and the number of birthdays grows each year with the grandchildren!

For goodness sake. It took 15 minutes while I was waiting for a chocolate sponge to cool so I could ice it. The chocolate sponge I made because my son and his family came for lunch and tea and they like chocolate sponge.

I enjoyed clearing out ny spices because I am a good cook and enjoy cooking for my family.

This was a sort of light hearted thread - or so I hoped.

Jalima, stop showing off!

Isn’t it sad. There are so many lovely things to do in life and some of us chose to clear out spices!!{!

Well I was going to clear out the pantry. Honestly. But it was such a lovely morning we went birding instead.

I have been clearing out old financial documents in the last few days, so today burnt the old ones. It reminded me of bonfire nights when I was younger. But now I stink of smoke!

Yes!
My nice new address book is in front of me as I type

Oh, I did put the new desk diary out, does that count?

Every year I promise myself that we will have a big clear-out.
Starting in the attic, but not just yet.

I don’t do anything until after Jan 6th.Then clear away all the Christmassy bits and bobs, polish and hoover around.
That’s about it!

ps I am not a total slouch, airing cupboard was sorted out recently, food cupboard ditto, re-arranged some kitchen cupboards, am working through my knitting stash etc and threw out a huge bag of old brochures, magazines etc before Christmas.
It's a wonder I can keep up with myself.

I buy new spices in refill packets then put them in the old jars (washed in the dishwasher of course) so in fact I have no idea of the sell-by or best before date.
Oh dear!

I should have sorted out my handbag, sorted out paperwork, filled in next year's diary, filled in my new address book.
But I went out for a drinks party instead.

I wasn’t looking forward to today as my OH is on long days, local son at an away football match and all my friends doing something with their families and it has rained nearly all day!
But I’ve had a lovely time, sorted out all my sewing stuff, sorted out the airing cupboard, sorted out a pile of stuff to take to the tip tomorrow, taken up a couple of dress hems, done a couple inches of knitting and sorted out the food cupboards.
I really know how to live!

I love the smell of my spice cupboard.

I have a birthday book too and, just before the end of one month, make a list of the next month's birthdays on asticky pad which I stick on the side of my desk.

I have a Birthday "Book" with names written in for birthdays each month and it also has a pocket for cards in each of the months. I usually check if any months are needing a fill up and make a list to buy in January.

I go through my direct debits and have a financial clear out full of good intentions for the year ahead. Old magazine d/d's and stuff we dint need. I clear our all old magazines and clear out u dies drawer! Old habits die hard .?

My great uncle always made a point of turning his coins over in his pockets.

Full of good intentions today but so far nothing done ither than reading GN, doing giant sudokus and eating tiast and marmslade using up the bread I shouldn't be eating. DH is poorly in bed with a cold (man flu you know) so I really should get o and clean the wood burner and reset it before it gets dark. Hopefully tomorrow will see me sorting out all the paperwork I have been meaning to do for the last 3 months.

NYD is a holiday for us so the most I do on this day is note my NY resolutions (yes, I make them - and stick to them for the most part, especially the 'eat more chocolate' one ) onto the 1 January page of my pocket diary, and update the new year desk diary I use on the front hall table to keep DH and me organised - what bin to the kerb on which day, medical and dental appointments, etc.

Being Scottish, my serious house-cleaning and store cupboard clean-out was yesterday. No carrying old dirt and gone-flat seasonings through to the New Year - somewhere in the heavens my Grans are smiling at having taught me well!

Have decided to try a Bullet Journal for 2018. (Bulletjournal.com). It looks like hard work just to set the thing up, but once that's done my life (including all tasks, e.g. spice shelf, shoe cupboard) will run like a well oiled machine. (If only!)

Yes going through herbs, spices and oils is a good one Kitty, I've just chucked out some chilli oil, 2014 it's easy to forget those sort of products and let them linger in the cupboard way past their shelf life.

Other than that get back on a healthy eating regime which was abandoned around my birthday just before Christmas, as was my daily 20 minute yoga sessions via on line tutorials. Try and go to the gym and swim more often I am aware now I'm edging towards mid sixties stiffness is beginning to set in.