Looking forward, looking back

We don't go away on holidays anymore but always make sure that the time between Christmas and mid-January is like a holiday.  We both do what we want to do and make sure it's different to the regular things we do during the year. I forget about routines, my meal plans loosen up and I sleep when I'm tired. My main aim is to rest and recuperate, watch Test cricket, tend the garden, read and think and as I pack away another year, I prepare for the year ahead.

Peaches were prepared in front of the TV with the cricket on.

The main indicator for me that we're "on holidays" is stepping back from the computer/ipad/phone. Even though I've earned a living using a computer for about 30 years, technology has advanced so much, it's not just about work now, computers are also for pleasure. So what does than mean for someone who never plays computer games? Social media, You Tube etc can be a huge time sponge. I make sure I have a complete break a couple of times a year, and limit the time I spend online so I have more than enough time to spend living the life I write about. I have ring tones for my phone and messages which I choose to answer immediately or not.  I have zero notifications or alerts on emails or social media and they are checked when it suits me, not when the computer tells me I should do it. Doing this gives me time offline without the annoying intrusion of alarms and a computer making decisions for me.

December was a knitting month for me.  I finished enough dish/face cloths for a baby gift, a few for Shane and a top-up for my kitchen cloths using the end pieces of my usual yarn - organic cotton or hemp from EcoYarns.  I usually use the plain diagonal pattern but I found this one I like in recent days so I'll give it a go next time. I've just moved onto a Marple scarf - one for my sister Tricia and one for me.  The pattern is free on Ravelry. In winter, I like to have something warm around my neck and this scarf is ideal for inside, doing housework - it's short and cosy.  I'm knitting mine in Blue Sky Fibers Organic Cotton Worsted 10 ply and Tricia's in O-Wool Balance 10 ply, a soft blend of organic Merino wool and cotton.

I caught up on reading over the holidays. I finished off The Erratics (on iPad) by Vickie Laveau-Harvie and re-read Wendell Berry's Bringing it to the Table (old paper book). Both were well worth reading. BTW, I never buy paper books now, I've fully accustomed myself to reading on the iPad although there were many times in the past when I swore I never would. It's environmentally sound, cheaper and I don't have a hundred books to look after. I also did a bit of reading on gender variance.  I've known gay people most of my life but, as far as I'm aware, I don't personally know any transgender or gender non-conforming people. I respect everyone I meet and don't want to offend anyone because I haven't bothered to learn how to address them or write about them. This is new to me, and ongoing, but I'm glad I have the opportunity to learn more about the people who make up my world.

During December and January I'm always on the lookout for cheap fruit and vegetables to make into jam and relish. My preference is peach jam and I found good, cheap peaches just after Christmas.  You only need a couple of kilos to make four jars and that does us the whole year along with a batch of strawberry jam I make during winter's strawberry season.  This is the recipe I used.   I also made a batch of tomato relish to have with our Christmas table cold meats.  For that I used two large tins of tomatoes I bought on special for $2 each. That, along with my homegrown chilli flakes and herbs, and some onions, I made up five jars of delicious relish.  These simple jams and relishes take no time at all to make and you don't need any fancy equipment, but they add so much goodness and taste to food during the year.

I've been working on a new bread recipe that I'll share soon; it will be a high fibre white loaf. Developing new bread takes much longer now because a loaf lasts four or five days. The adjustments that are so important are only made when a new loaf is made. Still, that suits my life now and I'm not fussed at all about going slow.

I use all these notebooks but the one on top is where I write notes to myself and record things I want to try or modify. The little tabs help me organise my notes.

An organised notebook and calendar are a must-have at the beginning of the year.  I know that if I have that sorted, when appointments and important days present themselves, I can quickly add them to my calendar or notebook and I know I'll stay on track throughout the year.  It never works as well if I organise myself in late January or February. When I have my calendar sorted, I know I'm sorted too and that feeling stays with me all year.

Charles helping with some Tasmanian devils.

My nephew Charles sent me a video to share with you, just click on the white triangle to play it. It's of him releasing a koala at Port Macquarie, before the devastating fires there late last year.  There is also a photo of him in Tasmania last year doing some volunteer work with the devils. Great work, Charles.

Thanks to everyone who comments here. I don't have time to reply to everyone but I do read all of them and often think about some comments as I go through my day.  Thanks also to everyone who contributed bat wraps, joey pouches or cash donations during the terrible fires that have almost brought us to our knees here in Australia.  For those of you who are overseas, we're supporting each other, relying on our communities and, as in the past, we really do become our best when our country and our fellow Australians need us.  So thank you for being with us as we get through this and start rebuilding. And let there be no mistake - this fight for our country and its animals, as well as the rebuild, is lead by ordinary citizens, not the government.