2018 - how’s it going so far?

Not so bad so far. All the family have been poorly except me. But they are all getting better now. Had a lovely Christmas. Did a bit of gardening yesterday, in the sunshine. Lots of builds coming up which always makes me feel happy. And DD and SiL agreed to come on a cruise with us in 2019 to see the Northern Lights. So booked that. Lots of good things to look forward to.

No changes here or likely to be, but, we haven't succumbed to the lurgy, we ,as others have said, have a home, food and warmth. I'll give it five.

Feel so lucky to have everything we need. We've health issues but are OK. Family are fine. Still standing & still here!

DH had a heart attack just before Christmas so moving on and hopefully upwards from that. Now desolate GC have lost their little cat on the road. January is so grey and hard to get through.

It can easily improve - enough said!

Dull. Cold. Wet. DH made redundant two months ago and didn't get the job he interviewed for. DD with dreadful back trouble.

However, my view is that every day we draw breath without pain is a gift from the gods.

Good things:- I get to spend more time with the DH. He has had some contract work. The DD is slowly on the mend and back to work. Her wedding next year seems to be chugging along (dress chosen). DS coping with difficulties at work. Days slowly lengthening. Awesome TV series beginning. Everyone still alive.

Mum died 3 months ago so still a bit raw, especiallay as dad died the year before. On the plus, we have a roof over our heads, though not ours, food on the table and we can just about cover our bills. Thanks to a pension payout we are having our first ever holiday on our own (always with the children except for a couple of city breaks in UK) and looking forward to some sun and relaxation. Best of all our daughter is getting married this year so after several awful years, this could be the one to turn it around.

I can't even formulate an answer in my head. Last year was bloody awful, this year, well...

Good. My mother had a second fall, two days after the first, on 12 December. We were told we would get extra emergency care for her so she didn't have to go into hospital. Care was actually put in place this Monday - almost a month later - and I truly believe that if I hadn't sorted it out myself it would still not be there. As I was doing two, two and a half hour round trips each day and she only had a quarter of an hour visit by the care team who hadn't attended on the morning of her fall so I am utterly, utterly relieved that the new year has brought the new and very kind, efficient and knowledgeable care team. Would I say she shouldn't go to hospital another time? I thought I would do everything I could to keep her out but another time after this? I don't know.

Excellent. I am warm, have a good roof over my head and enough food - so much better off than many around the world this new year.

Curate's Egg. Got a better than hoped for diagnosis on one of my annoyingly growing list of 'conditions'. This is something that will get worse but I now know it will probably be a lot slower than at first thought. That is soooo good but ... no one will tell me what I can do for myself to help keep it at bay which is incredibly frustrating.

A bit up and down. Dog went over the rainbow bridge at the end of December. DGD had her 11th birthday here on Tuesday and today is DD's birthday. Heard that a much respected ex work colleague has died, so am going to his funeral on Tuesday. On the plus side, we managed to book a room near Hampton Court for July when we go to the Flower Show.
I'll give it a 6 so far.

Well, apart from the lurgy, which appears to be retreating, and turning 69, things seem to be ok!

I can't complain thus far - I'm ok , Grampy is OK, new house is coming together, the dog is fine, grandkids fine , kids fine, family fine.

Come to think of it - its pretty darn good !

We've had a very good start to our new year, new car delivered on Monday, cheque received from a claim re bank charges and most importantly it's our eldest grandaughters 11 birthday and party.
After having a few bad years we hope this is the year that changes our luck.

Much the same as last year. Spending most of my time looking after elderly mother, unwell husband and grand children. Already drained. Thought I was going on holiday in a few weeks but travel companion seems to have changed her mind.

We have had no heating or hot water since December 29th when our hot water tank flooded the house. Need new heating system and have to have builders in to repair water damage. Insurance claim ongoing. The heating engineers have arrived and hopefully will have new system up and running tomorrow. But we’re ok and having a meal out with friends tonight, plus I’m going to the gym to have a shower and hair wash, plus a swim , so the only way is up.

Not brilliant. Not bad. Flu doing the rounds in the family. Weather miserable. DS has health problems. DH turns out to not have cirrhosis - not quite - but is more diabetic than thought. £25 on the Premium Bonds. But we have several bills which are much larger than expected. Still, there's still time for things to pick up! 6 out of 10.

Not good so far we have a funeral next week and another friend has only days left so very sad news , a small win on the Premium Bonds. 4 out of 10 I think.