Wow last day of January already and it has been, to be quite honest, chaos as always!  Getting myself ready for an eye op which did not happen (!), waiting for the safe arrival of our new Little Lady (she was late), getting back to work after a wonderful Christmas with our lovely family seemed harder this year and finally the weather.  There has been quite a bit of rain but it has also been very cold, a lot colder than previous years, although we have avoided the very heavy snow.  We have not done too much else, I always think of January as being a bit of a hibernation month after the fun of Christmas. 

February is up next of course and as a little girl I always thought it was the longest month of the year, even though it can be three or two days shorter than all the rest!  I think because it is the end of Winter and here in the Uk sometimes our weather in February can be worse.  The swimming county championships have moved, AGAIN, and it is this weekend and next whereas normally it is the end of February so that has thrown me!  I am definitely having my eye op done at the end of the month and will have to wait another four weeks until I am able to drive again!  

Monday is Groundhog Day and will Phil see his shadow and we have six more weeks of Winter or not and we have an early Spring?  I think he will see his shadow and we have six more weeks of winter!

February 17th is the start of the Chinese New Year and 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse.  This animal only comes around in a 60 year cycle and brings with it intense energy, independent and rapid transformation!  It also says that it will bring with it a year of passion, ambition and volatile fast paced atmosphere which apparently encourages bold actions and significant although sometimes distruptive change!  The way things are going in the World at the moment I would say that the Fire Horse has already been making itself known! 

Of course not forgetting February 14th Valentines Day!  Do you bother celebrating for those in relationships?  In September this year DH and I will have been together for forty years and my love for him has never changed from day one.  However I am not bothered about Valentines Day!  I have always felt it was one of those days for the card suppliers to try and make more money out of everyone, especially after the Christmas period.  Also we, as a family, do not tend to go out for meals on these types of days as the one time we did the food was dreadful, the place was full of course and the whole evening was just not good.  This year it is on a Saturday so if anything DH and I will perhaps have a takeaway and curl up on the sofa with a film!

I hope you lovely lot had a good January and avoiding all the negative news that is out there at the moment and February will be kind to you.  My Op is due on the 23rd so I am trying to get as much as possible done before hand and afterwards I will be relying on my trusty Book Beat subscription to keep me from going stir crazy!  Have a wonderful weekend. 

Hugs & Love, Susie & Coco xx