Optimist vs. Pessimist…

I heard of a report in the news that says that pessimists live longer than optimists. Something to do with them being naturally more cautious because they fear the worst where as optimists will be more fool hardy as they think everything will be alright. 

However I wonder if either of these groups will think that these figures don’t apply to them as a true pessimist would surely believe that he will be the only pessimist not to live longer, and an optimist will believe that he is the only optimist to buck the trend and live to a grand old age.

The Party is Over…

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and are looking forward to the post apocalyptic world (for those who misinterpreted the end of the Mayan long calendar).

We had a good time during the festivities, possibly too good if the weighing scales are to be believed.

We spent Christmas Eve with our good friends the Brown’s staying the night at Sue’s sister’s place and then had Christmas Day at Mum’s staying for a traditional meal with all the trimmings. Boxing Day we packed up the travelling circus and headed up the road to Gill’s where we had a splendid evening hosted by Gill and Uncle Terry. We had a rare day off at home after that before hosting our annual winter walk and meal on the 28^th with work colleagues (not much of a walk due to the inclement weather but a fabulous meal at the local curry house). The following day included another damp walk, this time at Priory Park in Reigate before we retired to the lovely SkimmingtonCastle public house for more food and drink.

New Years Eve was spent painting the bathroom during the day and in the evening we crashed in front of the TV and watching Jool’sHootanannny. On New Year’s Day we went on the annual Westcott Local HistoryGroup walk around the village that ended up at the local farmer’s barn where we had a talk about the farm history whilst eating freshly made mince pies washed down with hot mulled wine.

We were very spoiled with fabulous presents, generous and delicious food, a greatly intoxicating amount of alcoholic beverages and a enjoyed spending time with family, friends both real and televisual.

The return to work with the horrific alarm clock waking us in what appeared to be the middle of the night, and the most tiring experience of having to work a whole three days in a row until the first weekend, was exhausting and very difficult to deal with emotionally and physically. The constant disappointment of the lottery draw was equally depressing. But now we are almost back into a ‘normal’ routine of work, gym, and home… …almost as if it had all never happened.

Heartburn Already…

We are just starting the seasonal celebrations and already I have heartburn from over indulgence. If this is a sign of getting older… …I don’t like it.

Friend’s Milestone Celebration…

Good friends of ours, Chris and Carole, were celebrating 20 years of wedded bliss and we were very proud to be a part of their party at a local restaurant. For us all who were there at the wedding the years seemed to have passed by quickly and we did not feel greatly different to when the happy couple were married, but it was our children, now all grown up and venturing off on their own new adventures, some married and with children of their own, that made us feel old.

Neighbourly generosity…

Sue and Pete, a couple from down the road held a small soirée for a select few of the neighbours to celebrate the festive season. They have a small flat but they were very welcoming and generous with their good humour tasty nibbles and limitless wine. We had a joyful evening and enjoyed good company with lively chat, jokes and spirited debate until we all felt quite replete and sated whereupon we only needed to stagger a few steps back to our own homes.

Raise your voices…

A regular seasonal outing is to visit my Uncle for Christmas carols with his neighbours and friends. For many years this was held in his house, but since my Aunt passed away it has been transferred over the lane to Alistair and Bruni’s place where we gather for songs, liquid courage and good food brought by the guests.

It is a jolly affair supported by the ample skills of the musical members of the Aldbury Morris and the virtuoso talents of other neighbours and professional classical musicians Jo and Paul. All of the guests were in good voice with a mix of young and old singers providing a heavenly sound.

I went on my own this time as Sue felt obliged to go to her company’s party and I think from what she said she would have preferred to come to the choral evening (something about nightclubs, no shoes and tears before bedtime).