I had a lovely Christmas Day (after a slightly wobbly start) spending the day with almost all of my children and felt very relaxed on the whole. But Boxing Day and beyond has left me feeling rather flat and I don't know why. Normally I love Boxing Day - after what is normally a hectic day I enjoy a slower pace and leftovers.
I knew we wouldn't have leftovers as my son and his partner hosted Christmas Day but I'd bought in lots of party snacks and cheese and the like and made a Christmas cake. But I'm currently on a medical trial which seems to be impacting my appetite and so my usual food-laden Boxing Day was not so appealing.
My husband and most of my children work in retail so are back to work today while my friends are still on the visiting relatives route. Apart from the ones who emigrated a few weeks ago and are living the dream we envisaged but probably will never achieve. Don't get me wrong, I'm delighted for them but also obviously a bit sad that thanks to Brexit and ill health we will probably never join them full time.
OMG this is a real pity party here isn't it? Well the whole thing has not been helped by me getting ready for a frosty e-bike ride to test out my gift from my husband - a rear view camera and screen which I wanted because my osteoarthritis is so bad I can't turn my head very far any more which leaves me feeling unsafe when cycling. I tried two sets of bike wing mirrors but they always vibrated out of place leaving me testing my balance as I tried to adjust them almost constantly.
I'd messaged my 25-year-old to see if they fancied a coffee in our nearest town where they live, got all my layers on, adjusted my helmet to allow for my hat, found my gloves, fitted the screen onto the holder and went to turn the bike’s power on ..... to discover my battery was flat. We tested the camera briefly in the dark in our cul-de-sac last night which obviously required me to turn the power and lights on and I must have left it on by mistake.
Cue me sadly stripping off the many layers and sitting down to vent my frustration here.
On a positive note, tomorrow I am visiting my cousin and his family, a trip I am very much looking forward to. When our similarly aged children were younger we met up very regularly and had lots of fun but as the little birds have flown the nest and different life commitments have taken over we find it difficult to find a mutually convenient date so hurrah for a match tomorrow!
I know it's going to be a lovely day - it always is- and maybe it will go some way to making Twixmas more festive. Then just New Year to get through and as the lights I love disappear from the house and the streets it will be back to normal life and the pressure to feel I have to make the most of this special time of year will be gone.
And as miserable January (my least favourite month) moves into February we have stag and hen nights and my eldest's wedding in April to look forward to! And that medical trial side effect of no appetite will hopefully mean I slip into my dress a little easier. Hurrah!
UPDATE I charged my bike battery to 50 % and made it for coffee!