As 2015 comes to a close and we herald 2016, I am once again wondering where all the time has gone. It seems like only 5 minutes since I was reflecting on 2014.

We were lucky to be able to go on more than one holiday this year, the highlight being our stay in Piran, Slovenia; also taking in Ljublijana, Postojna Caves, Predjama Castle and the near by Koper. We also traveled to Belgium by Eurostar and stayed in Leuven. This allowed Mr C to visit Waterloo and stand on the battlefield on the 200th anniversary of the ‘Battle of Waterloo’. Sadly I think this will be our last Eurostar holiday for the foreseeable future due to economic migrants camping out in Calais disrupting travel as they seek to gain illegal entry into the UK.

For our traditional autumnal short break we visited one of my favourite cities, Newcastle, with my mum. It was lovely that my brother and his fiancee were able to join us for a couple of nights. We were also able to meet up with JD spending  lunch with him. He kindly brought me one of his paintings which is now on the wall near my computer. He also brought a painting for my mum. On our way back from Newcastle we visited Hexham Abbey as recommended by JD. It is a place we will return to.

In addition to our main excursions we had a few short breaks; staying in Lincoln, Nottingham and Hay-on-Wye.

Places we popped into throughout the year include; Dorothy Clive Garden, Arley Arboretum, The Long Mynd, Blenheim Palace, Packwood House, Ellesmere (and the saga of left behind glasses), Warwick, Attingham Park, Ludlow, Wollerton Old Hall, Moreton Corbet Castle and London. Serendipity led us to Sugnall Walled Garden which is a hidden gem we had not heard of before and it does excellent lunches.

We also had the pleasure of attending a 39th birthday party which was a joint 18th and 21st birthday celebration of two siblings. It was intended that the party should be held outside but the weather had other ideas, a storm blew up meaning everyone had to retreat indoors.

2015 also saw the demise of the the lovely oak tree at the bottom of my garden which, after the fall of one of its branches, was severely hacked back (illegally) by the neighbour whose land it is on.

We were lucky  to see the Vulcan XH558 flying past Cosford not once but twice in its final year of flight. On the first occasion she gave us a fabulous display, showing her wings from above and below, dropping her wheels and the bomb doors before climbing vertically and soaring off with the the typical Vulcan Roar.  Another of the year’s highlights was being awarded the Imperial Service Medal for more than 25 years meritorious service to Crown and country.

The run up to Christmas and Christmas itself was hectic as usual but we found a slot in our diaries to go out for lunch and visit Wightwick Manor all decked out for Christmas. It was an enjoyable and relaxing afternoon.

As the New Year turns I am reminded of ‘My Happiness Box‘, a project I started on January 1st. Did I put a happiness thought in the box for each day? Not quite, it was all going so well until my visit to Piran, I was so busy enjoying the holiday I forgot to write down a thought each day and didn’t get started again when I returned home. The project was fun and I look forward to starting afresh in the New Year

I wonder what 2016 will bring?  Now where did I put those holiday brochures..?