happy new year

we celebrated the last breaths of 2012 in the middle of the countryside on the shropshire/welsh border with family and dear friends. a rather more sedate new year than of previous occasions but no less memorable. Pip joined us for the earlier part of the evening, charming everyone with her lovely dress and big girl pig tails before passing out in a travel cot in the drawing room doorway so that we could eat our meal and play word games until 12am. after ringing in the new year, we took the photo of the two of us. we stood by Pip's cot, marvelling that it was no longer her birth year, that she was no longer really a baby. and then caught sight of ourselves in the mirror in the hallway. "and we're no longer teenagers" mused Marto. i stared back at our reflection and realised he was right (and not just because i wasn't wearing any make-up).

the rest of these photos were taken walking this morning. finally the rain of the last few weeks stopped and the brightest, lightest winter sun took it's place. the kind that shows up every flaw but also raises the spirits. just what new year's day needs, really, I think.

and, as the year commences, the mind turns to resolutions for the coming 12 months. and having read quite a few blogs over the course of today, my own are essentially a reoccurring theme (at the bottom if you're interested).

13 for 2013

(12 for 2012 I never posted but 11 for 2011 is here and not much seems to have changed)

. more de-cluttering. successful de-cluttering. more must leave than arrives.

. a home for everything (and that doesn't just mean better storage)

. buy  less (but only beautiful things)

. go to bed earlier

. less take-away coffees

. less procrastinating

. set up business with my sister

. sort out career/income

.read more

. browse internet less (but blog more)

. decide what to do about a sibling for Pip

. be a 'better' wife and mother

. reduce 'worries' list