The Last day of the 365 Challenge!

Day 366 - New Years Eve
Prompt 366 - Our Final Day
My Way
"And now, the end is near;And so I face the final curtain.

My friend, Ill say it clear,Ill state my case, of which Im certain.

I've lived a life thats full.Ive travelled each and every highway;

And more, much more than this,I did it my way.

Regrets, I've had a few;But then again, too few to mention.

I did what I had to do And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course;Each careful step along the byway,

But more, much more than this,I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, Im sure you knew

When I bit off more than I could chew.

But through it all, when there was doubt,I ate it up and spit it out.

I faced it all and I stood tall;And did it my way.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried.I've had my fill; my share of losing.

And now, as tears subside,I find it all so amusing.To think I did all that;

And may I say - not in a shy way,No, oh no not me,I did it my way.

For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught.

To say the things he truly feels;And not the words of one who kneels.

The record shows I took the blows -And did it my way!"
- Frank Sinatra

The photos show me last night 30th Dec and 1st Jan 2008

All I will say is thank you Anna and all the 365ers who helped me along the way ..........to do it my way

Day 365
Prompt 365
"Laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease for pain.”
- Charles Chaplin

Well I started the year thinking Peter and I didn't laugh a lot, but my Bah Humbug can definitely enjoy life and laugh when he finds things funny. here he is on Christmas Eve with a talking Eyore which was bought for him by our DS and DIL!!

Day 364
Prompt 364
"Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world."
- George Bernard Shaw

A self portrait on 25th Dec before showering to face the world!!

I have come a long way since January 08 to publish a SP of myself like this!

Day 363
Prompt 363
Rest is not a matter of doing absolutely nothing. Rest is repair.
-Daniel W. Josselyn

Here I am watching the Queen's speech and resting after cooking dinner for 10.

Day 362
Prompt 362
Things are beautiful if you love them.
-Jean Anouilh

Here is my troll bracelet with some new charms and a safety chain which DH gave to me on Christmas morning

Day 361 - Boxing day
Prompt 361
"May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!"
- Author Unknown

A very cold,windy but sunny day spent as always with friends walking from rye harbour to the sea, a soup and whisky lunch at a pub and then dinner at alternate houses. this year we went to their house and spent an excellent and relaxing, peaceful time after the maniac few days we had had!

Day 360 - Christmas Day
Prompt 360
"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping on your nose, Yuletide carols being sung by a choir, And folks dressed up like Eskimos. Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe, Help to make the season bright. Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow, Will find it hard to sleep tonight. They know that Santa's on his way; He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh. And every mother's child is going to spy, To see if reindeer really know how to fly."And so I'm offering this simple phrase, To kids from one to ninety-two, Although its been said many times, many ways, A very Merry Christmas to you."
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL

I have never set my pudding alight until this christmas when i was persuaded by DS2 and his partner to do it!!

Cannot put this day in the right place!!

Day 353
Prompt 353

"There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child"
- Erma Bombeck
Reflect on Christmas past. What are your fondess Christmas memories?

I have many happy memories as an only child with a fun Dad who made my Christmases magical for me!

One childish memory is of me as a single Mum opening presents one year that were under the tree BEFORE Christmas and being caught sellotaping them up again by my oldest son!! yes I am a poker and peeper LOL!!

Day 359 - Christmas Eve
Prompt 359
"The family is one of nature’s masterpieces."
- George Santayana

After 3 days of "Come dine with me" at each families homes!! Here is a photo taken this evening at step DS's home and eating supper on Christmas Eve after going to their Parish church to a Christingle service.

Day 358
Prompt 358
"Everyday is a cause for celebration."
- Anonymous

Well I have been able to celebrate every day of Advent by not only lighting my candle and reading 'A Feast for Advent' by Delia Smith (not a cookery book) but having joined the UKS Advent swap I have had lovely presents to open daily. today I also had my Dizzy dot team SS to open too.

Day 357
Prompt 357
"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas." ~ Peg Bracken

My DH is not really a Christmas Grump(Bah Humbug), His philosophy is that the true spirit of Christmas is giving your time and love to others less fortunate, the homeless and those who have nothing. he hates the long build up to Christmas and all the money people spend on presents for a day which has totally lost it's meaning for people who celebrate it, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Day 356
Prompt 356

"The earth has grown old with its burden of care But at Christmas it always is young, The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair And its soul full of music breaks the air, When the song of angels is sung." ~ Phillips Brooks (1835-93), American Episcopal bishop, wrote 'O Little Town of Bethlehem'.

Today was the fourth Sun of Advent and although I went to church in the morning I couldn't sing or hear very well, so didn't go to the carol service this evening and felt very sad that I missed the beautiful carol music filling the church.

Day 355
Prompt 355
"May peace be more than a season, may it be a way of life" - Unknown

How I agree with that ! - in everyday life, within families, work situations, out in towns and cities, even driving wouldn't it be a wonderful to live in harmony.

Even Florrie cannot always live in harmony with her sister!!

Day 354
Prompt 354
"A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;It makes no noise at all,But softly gives itself away;While quite unselfish, it grows small."
- Eva K Logue

Our house is full of candles burning. I have 2 Advent candles which are nearly burnt down now, and then some lovely M&S candles which I have just started burning and table candles new for Christmas day. The hall are full of red and smelly nightlight candles which we burn when we have visitors and on Christmas night.

I have uploaded the Christingle candle from the Christingle service which symbolically represents the world, the fruits, thered ribbon- blood of Christ shed for us and the candle representing God, the light of the world.

Day 352
Prompt 352

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."
- Norman Vincent Peale

Not only does my lounge look magical and beautiful with welcome lights and twinkling Christmas tree but outside the cold frosty early morning mist gives a tranquil look to the world. I wish it would snow at Christmas, that would complete the magic for me !

Day 351
Continuing the Festive theme this week

Prompt 351
"There is no ideal Christmas; only the one Christmas you decide to make as a reflection of your values, desires, affections, traditions."
- Bill McKibben

Do you have any Christmas traditions?

I think that family traditions are passed down, usually through the females. Since there are 3 sons in the family I notice that their Christmas traditions are now being introduced by my DIL's.

One tradition that has evolved since the children have grown up is my Chocolate roulade which each family want me to make for them as well as having on Christmas day! So of course the photo today had to be of my DIL with one of the chocolate roulades!!

I have made 6 this year!!

Day 350
Prompt 350
"I'm dreaming of a "---" Christmas

Just like the ones I used to know"
- Bing Crosby

What are you dreaming of this Christmas?

Here is a photo yesterday of our nieces children opening some presents we had brought them!

I suppose I just hope that everyone has a traditional Christmas with enough of everything but not in excess in presents or food. - 'just like we used to know". Unfortunately the young only know about having everything they want , so sad in my opinion.

I am going to quote from a fellow Shirley's 365 blog

"Oh, for the good old days when people would stop Christmas shopping when they ran out of money.~Author Unknown

I personally like to take time at Christmas to think of those everywhere in the world including our country who have nothing

Day 349
Slight change to todays prompt. Its Anna's birthday so we are going to celebrate today!

Prompt 349
"Celebrate good times, come on! (Let's celebrate)

There's a party goin' on right here

A celebration to last throughout the years

So bring your good times, and your laughter

Gonna celebrate your party with you"
- Kool and the Gang

What are you celebrating today?

I continue to celebrate Advent.

Today was the third Sunday until we celebrate Jesus' birthday.

I didn't go to church as I wasn't feeling 100%. Nothing to do with a late night after our party last night but the cold I continue to brew.

This little nativity scene is something we put out each year to remind us what Christmas is all about.

Day 348
Prompt 348
"Deck the halls with boughs of hollyFa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la'Tis the season to be jollyFa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-laDon we now our gay apparel"

Is your house all ready for Christmas? YES!!
Tonight we are having a Christmas party. Here I am already and waiting for our guests to arrive and our party to start

Day 347
Prompt 347
"Oh I'm the happiest Christmas treeLook how pretty they dressed meOh lucky lucky me
I got shiny bells the jingleAnd tiny lights that tingleWhenever anyone passes byI blink my lights and wink my eye!"

Here is our tree with new lights but all the other ornaments have been collected in recent years.

Since we moved to our small house we have had an artificial tree. It takes ages to set it up and to take it down but it is worth the time it takes.

Day 346
Prompt 346
"It's the most wonderful time of the year.With the kids jingle belling,and everyone telling you,"Be of good cheer,"It's the most wonderful time of the year."

I wonder if it so wonderful for a lot of people this year?

We went to Woolworths today as it is closing due to the recession and global state of finances. I think is just the start of a lot of people who will be out of work in 2009. I feel very sad about all the companies closing,

Day 345
Prompt 345
"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas Ev'rywhere you go; Take a look in the five-and-ten, glistening once again With candy canes and silver lanes aglow. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, Toys in ev'ry store, But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be On your own front door."

Well here is our wreath on our front door, but I cannot take credit for making it, only adding the artificial Christmas roses!!

Our house certainly looks like Christmas now with this wreath and welcome lights, the tree twinkling and other decs.

I LOVE IT!!

Day 344
Christmas is just around the corner, this week lets get inspired by Christmas music!

Prompt 344
The holly and the ivy,When they are both full grown,Of all trees that are in the wood,The holly bears the crown:
- The Holly and the Ivy

This holly in our garden came as one branch from our old house 13yrs ago. It is now a big bush which we often prune back.

But it bears NO berries!

Day 343

Prompt 343

For fast-acting relief try slowing down. -Lily Tomlin

[At this time of the year, we are all guilty of having so much to do and not enough time.]

Well today has been a very busy day but have managed to put up our tree but not much else as I had to get ready for our church 70's night which was a fast acting relief to a stressed day and such funLOL!! The guy I am with is my friend Lynne's husband Ben wearing a shirt and waistcoat which he wore in the 70's!!

Day 342
Prompt 342
There comes a time when you roll up your sleeves and put yourself at the top of your commitment list.
-Marian Wright Edelman

Well this year I am definitely at the top of my commitement list.

Here I an returning from church and visiting family at 3pm in my new gilet which is a tag too small but I will fit into in Feb and will wear next year:) and new trousers and jumper...of course every thing is new!!

Day 341
Prompt 341

These are the magic years…and therefore magic days…and therefore magic moments.
-Anonymous

I always find Advent are magic days when as a Christian I think about the celebrating the birthday of Jesus, Our Lord.

Today we burnt the 2nd candle of Advent. Not long now until we celebrate Christmas day!

Day 340
Prompt 340
"Let us pause to warm both our hands before the fire of life"
-Walter Landor

I used to love warming my hands in front of an open fire. Before central heating I remember sitting in front of an electric fire and burning my shins, this was how we got chilblains too!! In my very cold bedroom I had a 'posh' fan heater when I was in my teens lol!!

All my life we had a fireplace in the homes I have lived in. We downsized 13 yrs ago ready for retirement and this house has no fireplace to warm our hands!! but we are happy with just central heating warmth and able to change the focal point in our lounge in any direction without a thought of where is the a fireplace! and how wonderful not to clean out the fire or relight it, though we did end up in the late80's putting a 'living fire' in our old house fireplace. This photo was taken by going into an electrical shop and asking to take a photo!! Stark raving mad? no I am a 365er!!

December 04, 2008
Day 339
Prompt 339
"If cold December gave you birth, The month of snow and ice and mirth, Place on you hand a Turquoise blue, Success will bless whate'er you do."
Anon

we have plenty of family birthdays this month, Step DD and Step DS, a DGS and niece but I cannot say that any of them have had great success in life. but all I ask is that they are happy and content with their lives.

Day 338
Prompt 338
“How like a winter hath my absence been. From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year! What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen, What old December's bareness everywhere!"
-William Shakespeare

Oh how I hate these dark, cold days and nights of winter and yearn for the summer warmth already!

Day 337

Prompt 337

“How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?”- Dr. Seuss

[The end of the year is nigh, our 365 journey is coming to an end, what has changed since June till now?]

Well it has to be ME who has changed in the last 6 months

My foot has mended having broken 5 small bones on June 5th

I am now a size 16 instead of a size 20

I am fitter

BUT more important I am happier and feel more confident and having fun again

Other changes since June

the weather! - it is very cold today with a frost on the car this morning!

the grandchildren Tom is a teenager and he and Amie are now in yr 8.

Matt is in yr 6 and Lewis in yr 5 and Zac in Foundation yr (reception)

made and met new friends especially 365ers

haven't scrapped as much as I would have liked

My how time flies though and each year as I get older the year goes even quicker! There is never enough time in each day!!

DLO for a CJ - Household Planner

I chose the month of July

Day 336
Prompt 336
Embarrassment
Embarrassment is an emotional state experienced upon having a socially or professionally unacceptable act or condition witnessed by or revealed to others

Today I am embarrassed because I missed a long awaited dentist appointment so I am having to phone up and explain.

This is a series of embarrassing moments at the moment, the worst being last week when I went to the hospital and saw Margaret's DIL who I knew was having a lump removed. She looked so different reddish long straight hair that didn't suit, her in fact I wouldn't have recognised her if she hadn't been with Margaret. I kept saying how different she looked and how her hair was so different straight and a diff colour [she was dark and curly last time I saw her and thinner faced!! ] Oh boy was I embarrassed when I realised she had had chemo before this op and has lost all her hair and was wearing a pretty awful hair style!! I had to find her and apologise but she was thrilled I hadn't realised it was a wig!!

Day 335
Prompt 335
Love, loving
Love is any of a number of emotions and experiences related to a sense of strong effection

The obvious photo today was DH who I love dearly but I have chosen 2 photos of me with my grandchildren Matt and Tom. The photo was taken yesterday when they visited. It isn't often I get photos of them. Tom is our first born grandchild and became a teenager 2 weeks ago! Now he is taller then me!! Matt is 10 1/2yrs old

I like to think I am a loving person and of all emotions I would always chose LOVE - "for if I do not have love, I gain nothing" [ 1 Cor v3]. As a Christian I am called to love my neighbour as myself . It is sometimes hard for us to love ourselves but I think I owe it to my Father God who I believe created me in his image to make the best of myself and strive to improve in my Christian walk on this earth, to care and to think about others less fortunate than myself and of course to love God before anyone else.

Day 334
Prompt 334
Cry/crying
The term crying most commonly refers to the act of shedding tears as a response to an emotional state in humans

Interesting thoughts here:

We are all animals but only human animals cry!

Babies cry a lot until they can express themselves in other ways

Some people cry more than others.

Some are brought up to think crying in public is wrong (like my DH)

Memories can make us cry

We cry when sad, when happy, when elated

Today we went to the Crematorium to take some flowers in memory of Peter's late wife who died 25yrs ago and my Father who died 33yrs ago. There were no tears just happy thoughts.

On coming home DIL arrived with this poster to put in our car. This brought tears to my eyes but I didn't cry just felt sad

I am not one to cry often but cry mostly when watching an emotional film! and sometimes during singing worship music in a church service.

Day 333
Prompt 333
Anger, angry
Anger is an emotional state that may range from minor irritation to intense rage

In my job as a SENCO I trained teachers and ran courses for children on anger management.

I learnt that anger is an OK emotion when you can control anger and never hurt anyone else!!

I personally try very hard not to get angry and most of my angers are minor irritations. yes and usually I get angry mostly with myself.

I found doing an angry face totally against my personality and didn't really like doing it either lol!! Interesting how most of us have added the colour red to our photos today!! RED for DANGER!!

Day 332
Prompt 332
Laughter/laughing
Laughter is an audible expression, or appearance of merriment or happiness, or an inward feeling of joy and pleasure

Thanks Shirley for this photo you took of Kathy and I!

Didn't we laugh a lot that weekend? BRILLIANT!! [haven't laughed so much for years]

Day 331
Prompt 331
Sad/Sadness
Sadness is an emotion characterized by feelings of disadvantage, loss, and helplessness. When sad, people often become quiet, less energetic, and withdrawn. Sadness is considered to be the opposite of happiness

This is very apt today as the news of my friend margaret's op isn't good. The operation had to remove more bowel than anticipated and she is very poorly and having no visitors. I will be pleased on Friday when her husband Richard comes for an evening meal.

I am also sad with how my DIL has been over the babysitting tomorrow and would love to resolve it.

I have had a lot of unhappiness in my life through loss of parents, a husband who walked out of our marriage for someone else, a son with an illness which will be a disability to him for life. I feel sad for the world and today for the bombings that have occured in India killing so many people.

Day 330
We are on the home stretch now, with only a few weeks left, before our year long project is completed.
This week we are going to look at our emotions.
Prompt 330

Happiness/Happy
- Happiness is an emotion associated with feelings ranging from contentment and satisfaction to bliss and intense joy

I had to put this photo on my blog today taken by Anna Bowkis during our 365 weekend.

I am very happy with myself, how I am beginning to look and the new found confidence which has come with my weight loss.

I have known happiness throughout my life in relationships, two marriages, the births of my children and dear grandchildren, with various achievements with them and myself and on various holidays with my dear DH.

I also remember the joy in first knowing Jesus Christ and becoming a born again Christian

My presents beautifully wrapped and labelled

Day 329
Prompt 329

"If you woke up this morning, it's time to celebrate!"
-Joe Takash
What are you going to celebrate today?

Little did I know when I woke this morning that Advent Santa's 25 presents would arrive from the North pole!!

I am so excited and like a young child. DH thinks I am raving bonkers!!!

Day 328
Prompt 328
"A mind is a fire to be kindled, not a vessel to be filled.”
- Plutarch (46-137), historian, biographer, essayist
Whats filling your mind today?

Well my mind is thinking about my friend Margaret who has bowel cancer diagnosed the week before we went to Italy at the beginning of October. She and her husband Richard (pictured here) have been very brave and positive but it has been a long few weeks waiting for a date for her operation. She goes in tomorrow Monday and has her operation on Tuesday.

This is what is filling my mind today, prayers for them both for peace of mind and positive thoughts

Day 327
Prompt 327
"Baby it's cold outside"
- Dean Martin
Its freezing cold here in the UK, whats the weather doing where you are today?

It is cold outside but we have had blue skies and sunshine all day.

Well here I am at 3.15pm still in my dressing gown and warm slipper socks, DH is in London at football and I am having a 'ME' time at home!

I am all warm and cosy indoors and I have cropped, cooked and tidied up in a muddled order, a bit of this and a bit of that with my butterfly mind.

I am just going to shower and cook the meal for tonight before Come Dancing. Peter will be home about 6.45pm

Day 326

Prompt 326

"There is no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behavior, like the wish to scatter joy and not pain around us. ‘Tis good to give a stranger a meal, or a night’s lodging. ‘Tis better to be hospitable to his good meaning and thought, and give courage to a companion. We must be as courteous to a man as we are to a picture, which we are willing to give the advantage of a good light. ”—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-82), philosopher, poet, essayist

This quote brought back memories of my father who died 33 years ago next week aged 60.

He treated everyone with same courtesy, respect and time of day, whether they were the down and out in the street or the mayor of the town!! I have always remembered this and even before I became a Christian I tried to be like this too......hard at times because none of us are or will be perfect but a wonderful philosophy to have in life!

Live your life from your heart. Share from your heart. And your story will touch and heal people's souls."
—Melody Beattie; author, journalist

Oh to tell you my life would bore you!!

All I would say that 13 yrs after a very happy marriage and 2 lovely children my heart was broken by my first husband who was my best friend telling me he loved me but also had met and loved someone else.

I was determined not to be bitter about this though I was heart broken and I felt totally demoralised. I had 2 lovely boys to bring up and a career to follow.

6 yrs later I met and married a wonderful man who had lost his wife with cancer and he has made life worth living and made me feel very special again.

How blessed I have been to know and love Peter

Prompt 324
"Courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in the grateful and appreciating heart.”
-Henry Clay (1777-1852), politician and orator

Well this little boy is the most courteous child I have known for a long time. His "please" and "thank you's" and "excuse me" are always there, spontaneous and used at the right time.

Refeshing in this day and age where standing up and giving up your seat for elderly and opening doors for others seems to have siappeared in society.

Look what happened to me today!!

Last week at Slimming World the group had to write down a name to vote for Miss Slinky.

Three of us were nominated and again today the group had to vote for one of us and I was voted as Miss Slinky!! I am holding a lovely trophy a pen in a star which says 'Miss Slinky'

Here we are. Emma has lost 1st 9lbs on the left, Dawn her friend has lost 2st 4lbs - we all started 30th April 2008 and I lost another 2lbs this week

Wish I was slinky but I am getting there and wearing more fitted clothes these days feeling good and more important DH is sooooooooooooo proud of me!