There is always that air of optimism at the beginning of a new year, a new canvas to paint, a new chance to achieve, maybe the things you were intending to achieve last year and lovely as I am sure the festive season has been for many people, I think secretly a lot of us are glad to put it behind us this time and put our backs into helping to make our world safe again.  The news seems to get more and more gloomy and yet with the strike of midnight last night on Big Ben and the laser and fireworks comes that feeling of ‘Let’s get at it and wipe it out.’

Christmas Day on my own was actually fine.  I was in touch a lot with the family and lucky enough to have my wonderful friend and neighbour Yvonne, offer to bring me a plate of dinner when they served up, which she duly did and it was absolutely delicious.  The first time in more years than I care to remember that I hadn’t cooked the Christmas dinner.  I certainly didn’t feel alone.

Christmas Day was also full of sunshine blue sky and crisp cold.  Our Christmas Day walk through sparkling frost was quite magical.  After that it was light the fire and feet up with a glass of mulled wine with just the odd mental slap if I started down the sentimental route!