January 2007 is already passing by at an alarming speed. I realise I haven't posted anything in a while - I've had a reccurance of a 'flu' type virus so I've felt pretty awful for the past few weeks - I suppose it's that time of year - 'post Christmas depression' ha, ha.

My cats are still destroying the furniture - I've never known cats chew so much, in the past few days they've destroyed a telephone, a six pack of bread buns, my daughter's favourite scarf and two toilet rolls! I'll never get any painting done at this rate as they seem to be attracted to my art supplies....

The Christmas cards have only just come down but already the shops are promoting Cadbury's mini eggs and creme eggs. Now I like both these items and eat them all year round (given the chance!) but they’ve got great big displays full of them – please give me a chance to recover from Christmas first…

2007 is here - and I've got a rotten cold (again). Some things never change....

Christmas has come and gone once again. I quite like Christmas regardless of all the things that have happened in previous years.
New Year is another matter - surely I can't be the only person who finds it thoroughly depressing? Maybe it’s the thought of going back to work or all the bills that will be turning up in January or the miserable weather. Whatever it is, I just can’t get excited about it – in fact it makes me feel down right depressed. Maybe that’s why we all drink so much on New Years Eve – we’re not celebrating, we’re drowning our sorrows!! LOL

Christmas Eve at last – presents are wrapped, house is sort of tidy (have hidden the mess!). It’s another one of those strange bittersweet days. I love Christmas Eve – all the excitement and expectations but it’s also a time when I remember people who are no longer here.
My Father died from a brain tumour on Christmas Eve 1979 – the pain has gone but the memories still remain. It was a difficult time for my brother’s as they were both young children. My Mother died just before Christmas last year and I had to have two of my beloved cats put to sleep this year, so I suppose there is a lingering feeling of loss.

Visited some old friends today – I’ve known their three children since they were babies – it’s been amazing to watch them grow. The oldest boy is 15 and played me a CD of his band’s recordings – it sounded really good, reminiscent of ‘Green Day’. My own daughter is now ten and already turning into a proper young girl - she wanted ‘real perfume’ for Christmas!

My partner has bought the cats a present for Christmas – he loves those cats! It’s one of those battery powered hamsters in a ball – he tried it this morning and it wouldn’t work so he had to trail over to the Metrocentre to get a replacement – which is a bit of a shame as he works at the Metrocentre and this was his day off.
Anyway I’m going to break open the Cherry Brandy and Iceland party food and settle down to watch some TV – Merry Christmas all. X X X

It’s my birthday today. Took a day off from work to go to my daughter’s Christmas Carol service at school. It always brings a tear to my eye watching all the kids decked out in tinsel, all singing out of tune.
I feel a bit more in the Christmas spirit now – I had my first sweet mince pie of the year today and the cats are busy chewing the Christmas cards having already demolished most of my birthday cards.

I was just reading through my posts so far – makes pretty miserable reading on the whole.....LOL. I’ll have to try and write something a bit more upbeat. Some of the time I’ve just been posting some of my private thoughts – just think - they’re too private to say out loud so what do I do – post them on the internet for the whole world to read instead……..

Today is the first anniversary of my mother’s death. I didn’t get to see her before she died as I was recovering from surgery myself – I wasn’t expecting it to happen so quickly even though she was bed ridden and had suffered a number of small strokes which destroyed her memory and left her unable to speak towards the end.
I suppose you always expect your parents to go on forever – it’s a shock when they die even though you know it will happen sooner rather than later. I regret not being able to see her for the last time, to hold her hand and tell her that I love her – even though she hadn’t recognised me for a few years. So my message is visit them, phone them or even just send them a card to let them know you care – your parents won’t be around forever.

Today is the 25th anniversary of my joining the NHS. I started working in the NHS 7th Dec 1981 and I'm still there! What do I get for 25 years? Nothing I'm afraid - no recognition, no little gift or token - not even a biscuit. Ah well, I'll have to treat myself to a big cream cake.

As promised some kitty pictures -

Blossom at two years old - a beautiful cat but so bad tempered!

This is Jasper's 3 sisters at 8 weeks old - from the back Angel, Carmen and Daisy.

Jasper at 8 weeks old - he's now seven months old but still as cute.