Let's wind up 2023. A look back at the year just gone. My highlights. What happened, where have I been.
JANUARY. The Quilting Show at Newark, Nottinghamshire.
FEBRUARY. Walk over the Humber Bridge. - The Yorkshire Sculpture Park. - Wentworth near Rotherham. - Lotherton Hall. - Cycling at Cleethorpes.
MARCH. Newark Showground for the Horse Show. - Bolsover Derbyshire. - Renishaw. - Chesterfield.
APRIL. Conisbrough and Sprotbrough. - Whitby and Pickering. - Caught the nasty bug, 2 weeks staying in.
MAY. Join the local Walking Group. Walks Scotton and Barnetby. - Leeds for a Food Fair, two days car camping- Harewood House. - Flamborough.
JUNE. Conference at Bath. Car Camping, five days. - Lincolnshire Show.
JULY. Day out in Lincoln. - Waddingham and Bishop Norton. - Patchings Art and Craft Festival, 2 days, Walking Calverton, - Oxton, - and Southwell. - Doncaster Racecourse, Craft Fair. - Walk over the Humber Bridge. - Walk Farnsfield, - Bilsthorpe, - Kirklington.
AUGUST. Cannon Hall Crafts Fair, 2 days. - Bolton Abbey and Skipton, 2 days.
SEPTEMBER. Isle of Wight car camping, 8 days.
NOVEMBER. Lincolnshire Showground, Craft Fair. - Craft Fair Elsham. - Went to Hull on the bus. - Lincolnshire Showground again for the Crafts and Food Fair.
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I draw a line under that, it's done and dusted.
Now looking forward to 2024.
Probably more of the above, depending on how my body holds out. It's been pretty good up to now, but who can tell. I keep thinking something has got to give eventually. Something might be brewing inside me, surely this good luck will take a dive at some point. Bodies wear out.
Money, - I might spend a bit on the house in 2024. I will look into the cost of tile replacement on the roof. There are quite a lot crumbling up there. I might change the car in 2024, though my garage tells me to keep the one I've got, it's a good one. My insurance quote has just come through and it's quite a leap from a year ago. I have got the money saved for that so it will get paid. Car road tax comes in February, Recovery insurance comes in April. The idea of having more money than I actually need worries me. My needs are few, I am a make do and mend person. All I need is enough, and knowing what level of income is enough, gives me peace of mind. This is why I refuse to make any extra money online, or by selling my arts and crafts.
As for friends, I am grateful for the few I have, they are the best. I wish for good health and happiness for everybody at the start of a New Year. Regardless of whether they are friends or not. Everyone must find their own utopia, and that can usually be found inside ones head. It is there, you just have to look for it.
I wish all the conflicts all around the world would cease, but that's not going to happen. People have to find their own way. We are all at the mercy of where we were born. Some are lucky some are not. The solution is not to put everyone in a big melting pot. The disruption this causes will create more conflict. The solution lies not with a one size fits all.
Upon recognising what is causing people to hate each other, I believe the way forward is to spread love and kindness. If the fighting continues, in whatever form whether physically or verbally, the outcome will only deteriorate further. We all know now what the Big Plan is. There are some people who have no morals, no scruples, no empathy, and no humanity. They will push forward their agenda no matter what.
Hey, less with this gloom and doom. There are a lot of good people about. I meet them every day, online and in real life. Right now I am going out for the first walk of 2024. A two mile route around the village where I know I will meet friendly dog walkers who love to stop for a chat.
All the best for 2024. Best wishes, Toodle pip. ilona
Happy New Year, Ilona. For insurance and breakdown now I always ring them all friendly, and politely ask if that’s their best price. Especially if you seldom claim or almost never call out the AA etc., they often knock a bit off. My renewal for AA was 112 this year, they reduced it to 97, and I had a lovely chat with the operator. H x
ReplyDeleteThank you Helen. Good advice to shop around. I use a broker for my car insurance, they shop around for me. The cost has gone up everywhere. I mentioned to them about the RAC Recovery always bumping up the price every year. They do a good deal on that through my brokers office. £72 for Misfuel,
DeleteRoadside assistance,
Unlimited roadside repair time,
Cover for the vehicle at home,
Recovery to UK destination,
Hire car or alternative transport, Cover in 50 European countries, which I will never use.
It is very easy to shop around for car insurance yourself - certainly no need to use a broker and pay for the service.
DeleteAs for RAC recovery…how many times have you used them in the last five years? I haven’t needed recovery for years. I maintain my car
I have been with my insurance broker for 50 years. It works for me. I have been recovered by the RAC in the past. They transported my broken down car, and me, 100 miles back home. They have come out to my house to fix a non starter. They have rescued me from the hard shoulder of a busy motorway. As a lone 74 year old female driver, they give me priority. My car is looked after by a nearby garage, who do any repairs necessary.
DeleteHappy new year to you Ilona don't worry about having more cash than you need as sometimes a big expense comes out of the blue and us saver scrimpers out there are better at paying off things like this as we've been a bit carefull.keep up your great blog I don't think your body will wear out for a good few years yetxxx
ReplyDeleteHello Jo. It's reassuring to know that I can pay for things without worrying. Worth all that scrimping and saving.
DeleteHappy Happy New Year ilona!!!! Wishing you many happy adventures and good health in 2024!! 🤗🤗 We have to live each day as it comes and work at spreading the joy and happiness we have.
ReplyDeleteHello Tammy. Yes, spread the joy. There is a lot to be thankful for.
DeleteHappy New Year Ilona-thank you for sharing your thoughts and wonderful ideas with us. You have made so many statements that really make me think, change and grow.
ReplyDeleteHello Michigander85, that's a new one, welcome. Good for you. Life doesn't stand still. I am passing on the tools which might help us all to make better choices. Not a good idea to put all our eggs in one basket, best to shop around. Plenty more to come in the Rabbit Hole.
DeleteHave a happy, creative and healthy 2024 Ilona and keep doing what you’re doing. I know you can’t predict what’s round the corner but I think you’ll be ok heathwise. I know of many people in my circle who have had several doses of the poison and they’re either dead from sudden cancers or constantly ill. I was at the coroners office last week - work related and they were saying about being inundated with sudden and unexpected deaths. I’ve joined a gym as a way of staying healthy and building up my strength which is important as you get older. I’m also careful about food portion sizes and try to eat healthily.
ReplyDeleteHello boatfriend. The information you share here is not widely known. The gym is a good idea. I ought to make an effort, sometimes walking isn't enough.
DeleteI joined the council gym in my area. It’s not expensive and the opening hours are good. I can go as often as I like. As I’ve never been to a gym before I don’t know how this compares to some of the more expensive ones but it’s good enough for me.
DeleteI might look into that. My next door neighbour goes to a local gym. He says it's cheaper than the one in town.
DeleteA very happy and healthy New Year to you Ilona and I hope you keep doing what you are doing for many years yet. You have such vigour and curiosity that Im sure those are your super-powers. What about a Tai Chi or Qigong class - super fun and great for the balance. Good luck with your plans for 2024 - as an owner of an aging house I dread home repairs as one job generally turns into three. I hope your repairs go to plan. What's your thoughts on hybrid or electric cars? Im not a fan yet myself, mostly because Im not convinced the 'benefits' are really benefits.
DeleteHappy New Year Ilona. Last year I decided to move more and eat less and more healthy. It resulted in 35lb weight loss. Thanks for encouraging all to move more and eat healthy. I agree with what you wrote about looking forward to 2024. I would add pray. Talk to God and ask that He reveal Himself to each individual. I know not everyone believes the same thing . Many blessings to you.
ReplyDeleteHello Patty. You know what's right for you, stick with it. My personal thought on religion. It should be a personal choice, it doesn't need to discussed at all. People can pray privately, don't need to make a song and dance about it.
DeleteHappy new year Ilona, keep doing what makes you happy. I hope you have a year full of experiences and I look forward to the lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteThank you Anonymous. It would be nice if you could share your name. Choose one that you like.
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