Snow to Sunshine

January is a funny old month, and not one I enjoy a great deal for several reasons:

1. I have no money
2. Its dark when I go to work, its dark when I come home
3. It rains too much
4. I'm always on a new year diet

So this year, it was with some determination that I decided January was not going to be that bad, and indeed it started well with one of my favourite things - snow. Yippee! Went out to dinner one cold night for a friends 40th birthday, came out of the restaurant at about 11.30pm to find about 5" of snow on the ground and huge flakes continuing to fall. After the spontaneous though compulsory snowball fight, we tried to phone a taxi to get home, to find that nothing was running. No taxis, no buses, no nothing. Ho hum. Now I only live about 2-3 miles from the city centre, so walking was by no means a disaster, however my over enthusiastic girlieness that night in dressing for the occassion had lead me to put on high-heeled boots rather than a pair of sensible pumps. So feet were a little on the tender side by the end of our battle against the freezing elements. In general though, the walk was great fun, and full of snowball fights with random people we met along the way. Heres a pic of Eamon and I as we walked home beside the river - really was quite picturesque.

New years resolutions
I never make them - never much see the point of resolving to do something, just because it is a new year. So this year I made some 'plans' for the year (though really the plans began to formulate in my head back in Novemember) - essentially for the purpose of getting me through the January doldrums. Here's what I decided:

• Make more effort to stay in touch with friends - I like these people therefore I should talk to them more. Each month this year, I should have a phone bill that registers at least one outgoing call. Dont send text messages, just because you couldn't be arsed talking to people.
• Go on holiday at least every 2 months. I believe this to be a gooood plan, and it is with this intention that I set of to Valencia last weekend for a few days of sunshine. One of those £20 flights and well worth it to arrive in a land of blue skies and warm winter sun. Didnt actually take any pictures while we were there, because we didn't really do anything when we were there other than have late breakfasts, lazy lunches, slow wanderings and long conversations. It was great. I have come back to the rain and cold of an Irish winter feeling renewed.

I have already planned my next 2 breaks: March - a girlie weekend at a Spa somewhere; May - the Chelsea flower show (yes, I realise I'm not 50 yet, but I actually like that sort of thing, and dream of having a garden in which I can 'create').

So January is nearly over, and I have survived. It only remains for me to start dreaming of summer, and more holidays in the sun.