Starting off with good intentions

2017 was one heck of a year for us.  So much going on, and so many distractions.  If things go to plan, 2018 is going to see some changes.  I'm going to be 60 in March 😳 and I've said all along that I plan to give up work this year.  Clearly I need to decide when to actually go! I've worked at the school since 2001 and it will be very strange to leave but I honestly feel the time is right.  I only work part time so it will be less of a shock to the system than it would be if I worked 5 days a week.  Everyone keeps saying to me 'so when are you going to resign?' and I've been unable to actually choose a time.  But the weird thing is that I woke on New Year's Eve with a clear thought in my mind.  Something somewhere in the universe was telling me that I should go in May.  I can't explain how it was, but I woke up knowing that May half term is when I will leave.  Now I have that thought in my mind, I feel strangely confident that it's the right decision.  

So how will I fill my time?  I don't want to find myself just frittering my days away, I need some structure to my week and I am worried that I will miss learning new things and meeting new people.  Obviously we will continue to look after Leo one day a week but I want to get back into doing more creative things.

My son and daughter in law bought me a set of patchwork charm squares and a book on quilting for Christmas and that has spurred me into action! 

I thought it would be nice to make a quilt where the charm squares they bought me are the major focus and have found a fun quilt called 'Tipsy Tumblers' on the Missouri Quilt company channel on Youtube.  So I've ordered myself some background fabric and a tumbler template and can't wait to get the sewing machine out again.

The other thing that I fancy trying, and this is something I have never done before, is some kind of ceramic painting or pottery.  Again, the universe seemed to be reading my mind and when browsing Facebook the other day a sponsored advert came up for a local pottery class.  It's as if it were meant to be!

My next project is to find a location for a long weekend away with some friends to celebrate the BIG birthday.  We used to go away with them for a few days every year, quite often to a Christmas market somewhere in Europe but got out of the habit a couple of years ago.  They'll be on holiday for my actual birthday so we're going to postpone our celebration with them.  Two locations are currently on the consideration list - 1. Ghent in Belgium.  Which is easy to get to as we can get the Eurostar to Brussels and then an onward train to Ghent. and 2. Bologna in Italy.  Again, easy to get to as Stansted Airport is about 10 minutes drive from us and a couple of budget airlines fly to Bologna.  Two very different places, I wonder which one we'll choose - Belgian chocolate and beer versus pasta and prosecco ...