2018, the year that was.

Obviously losing Mum in January was a horrible way to start the year.
We have also lost three of our boating acquaintances, one of whom was a very dear friend.
Overall, 2018 has not been one of our better years, despite having one of the best Christmases we can remember.
What has marred our year is being plagued with health issues, from severe colds to heart scares, Hubby’s DVT and recently kidney stones.
It doesn’t help that we have a lousy doctor’s surgery. This not only affects us but obviously everyone in town and to date we have yet to find someone with a good word to say for it.
Hubby has no problem with the INR clinic or nursing practitioners, but the lack of organisation, inability to get appointments or continuance of care by making a follow up to see a particular doctor is unacceptable and we are in the process of finding an alternative. Something may be in the wind as the patient lift has been out of order for some three months because the landlord will not pay for maintenance or repair and already the dental surgery intends to close in February.
Even Maggie has had her fair share with a foot injury, impaired hearing and getting that lump removed. Now we’ve found a sore spot on her chest which we are keeping an eye on and if it doesn’t improve in the next few days, we’ll get it looked at.

The house is becoming home though now that we’ve spent a little on furniture and a couple of luxuries by way of a computer monitor and DVD player to watch our collection of DVDs again.
We intend to replace the worktops and tiling in the kitchen next year and also give the spare bedroom and lounge a coat of paint.

The garden gave us a bumper crop of tomatoes and green beans eventually, and our onions lasted several months, only losing 3 originally and then 2 others out of the 50 we planted.
For 2019, we intend to grow the same produce but not in such large quantities.
Our roses have been glorious.
 

We have expanded our social circle of dog walkers and are getting known around town.
We feel accepted as part of the community here, and think we made a good choice with our property. We are lucky in having good neighbours and have got to know more of the local residents. Playing darts also gives me an outside interest, even if we are currently bottom of the league! We all enjoy playing and that’s the general idea. If we win, it’s a bonus!

We have the beach and the park for walks, and it was wonderful to watch both geese and ducks raising families at such close quarters.

 

Sadly we have also seen a friendship of thirty years blow up in our faces, and family issues remain unresolved. I am past the hurt stage now as it has been replaced by indifference.

Hopefully 2019 will be a better year and although we don’t make resolutions, we will aim to achieve what we have in mind and enjoy life.

Thank you all for your support and for following me. May 2019 be a good year for everyone.