PortabelloBelle

There were moments when I wondered why I’d bothered, but there were highlights.

For the first 3 months I was only at work intermittently. Cataract surgery meant I couldn’t drive for a while, and there being little else for me to do I used some annual leave. (“Sick pay” is woefully inadequate.)

By March it was clear the year was going to be a long one.

My break from work did give me the opportunity to catch up on some reading, which is something I miss when working.

By April I was back at work, and within a day or two it felt like I’d not been away, and the year ground on.

Then, at the start of June, after a long wait, we got an allotment, (there are other posts about this) which after much hard work is now growing food, and has already given us some potatoes.

A week in Norfolk, and another on Anglesey later in the year were welcome breaks.

By October I’d had enough, and it was showing, a couple of minor accidents at work was making me wonder if I should just pack it in, the boss wasn’t best pleased, but he was understanding, and even encouraging.

And now here we are, late December. The factory is shut, my truck is in the workshop (they all are, they go in for regular safety inspections) and it’ll soon be Christmas.

But that’s not quite the end of the story:

At the end of last week, I parked my car for what I thought was the last time this year, washed, and waiting to be cleaned inside, when my neighbour decided to collide with it, I’m now waiting for quotes for repairs, after taking it on a tour of some local body shops. I’m not precious about my car, and it was an accident, and no one got hurt, I just didn’t need the hassle.

So, here’s a good riddance to 2025.

I hope you all have a good holiday season, and that 2026 is the year you achieve at least some, if not all,  of your goals.

And as Santa would say: Ho-Ho-Ho, Merry Christmas.