Week #95 Happy New Year from Early Retirement Wanderlust

Despite the fact that it has not stopped raining for the last couple of weeks, we have had a fabulous Christmas in the Dales with all of our family. It is probably the first time we have had everyone together including 3 grannies and all the cousins for many years! We did get a small break in the rain on Boxing Day and we managed to get out on a short hike in the hills behind Settle and a pint in the pub!

We spent much of the week before Christmas finishing off lots of little jobs around the house. Richard whipped up a little bench for the outhouse to store shoes under and all the food and drinks that needed to be kept cool. He is very proud of himself! It worked very well when we were inundated with 13 people on Christmas!

My sister rented 3 small cottages that are linked together just down the road in the village. In theory they are just a 10 minutes walk from our house but the reality of torrential downpours and 2 big storms was that we had to drive at least the grannies between the cottages and we were constantly soaked. We were really impressed with the cottages and they are definitely a thought for summer gatherings where we can get out in the gardens and BBQ and explore the area using the plentiful public footpaths and trails.

Richard went to collect his Mum from her care home for the day on Christmas morning, it is the first time she has seen the cottage. We were worried that she would be very confused and that she would not recognise people but it worked really well and she was quite happy to be taken back to the care home, even though she did not remember that it is now her new home. It was so lovely to see her chatting with the grandchildren and tucking into a big Christmas dinner and we are just happy that it all went ok.

Christmas dinner was a little bit of a squeeze in our tiny house but I am very impressed that we managed to cook a dinner for 13 in our small kitchen and sit said people at a table. I likened it to going out for lunch in a small bijou cafe. Like most people, we ate far too much food and drank too much wine, but it was a definite highlight of our year and a great few days.

It has been a quiet week between Christmas and New Year. In fact the weather was so bad on Saturday that we didn't even get dressed and just sat in front of the fire watching Netflix. We took the tree down on Friday so that we could get all the Christmas decorations to our lock up in Skipton before we go skiing. It is amazing how light, big and uncluttered the cottage feels again!

So it is New Years Eve as I write this last blog of the year and all that is left to say is

Happy New Year and to wish you all and you families all the best in 2024.

Jackie and Richard