Try as I might, I’ve not made it to this space for the past few months. I’ve missed it. There have been craft projects made and gifted before I’ve remembered to photograph them. Lots of socks and scarves. One of my aims last year was to knit as many socks as I could, ready for gifting. I did it. Filled a small box full of woolly toe warmers.
Now I can start again and maybe share the photos this time next year.

Fitness
I’m not a great one for new year resolutions. September always feels more of a natural fresh start for me, but January is the time new starts are made including fitness classes. I’ve been going to the gym nine months now and I still love it. I find I am more productive during the working day after exercising in the morning.
Along with the gym, I’ve been going to weekly fitness classes too. I’ve tried many, but stuck to yoga, pilates and “Legs, tums and bums” (or pure torture as I call it). This January, I’m picking up my game and I thought I’d try a dance class and strength training.
The dance class turns out to be as much fun as I thought it would be. It is one of the wellbeing courses that the local council run. All the sweeter for being free. I’ve been to one so far. Everyone is friendly and they really don’t care if you’re rhythmically challenged or don’t know your lefts from your rights. They are a chatty lot too and included me straight away. Lots of laughter.
The strength training is a class I’ve wanted to try for a while, but hadn’t plucked up the courage. When I go to the gym, I absolutely steer clear of the free weights area, as I have no clue. So far, I’ve had two lessons. While my legs and core are strong, my arms are excruciatingly weak, which I understand is common in women. It’s a bit embarrassing when the instructor lowers the weights when it is my turn, but I’m persevering.

Craft
No finished crafting to show today, but several projects on the go. I’ve started a blue jumper for youngest (top photo), who picked out the wool before the holiday break. It’s an easy project to click-click away at, while watching TV in the evening. Upstairs project, I’m knitting socks. A red sock with black and white tweed for the heel and toes.
Decluttering
With the decorations down and packed away, January feels like the time to try and thin other areas of the house down. Yesterday, we took six bags of books to Oxfam. Half came from Youngest’s bookcase. He has kindly been hanging on to some of the much loved childhood books, passed down from his older sisters, but are definitely far too young for him. We went through them all, kept some and bagged others for the charity shop. His bookcase has space for books that interest him now. I can’t wait to see what he puts on the shelves.
I’ve also emptied one kitchen cupboard of all the “I’ll sort it out sometime” clutter, which puts me in a good mood.

Last week of the winter break for us. Next weekend, we take the two older ones back to University to start their second semesters, and it will seem so quiet with just the three of us and the hound again. He will mope. Possibly me too. There is always so much laughter and things going on when they are all home. I’m going to make the most of everyone being under the same roof for one more week.
Looking forward to catching up and joining Anne’s word of the week linky. I’m back!
Well done with all the socks that you knitted, they do make great gifts.
It sounds like you are getting on great with the gym and the dance class does sound like fun.
I have been decluttering too, it is such a good feeling when you have cleared a space. x
Makes such a difference seeing clear space. I just have to stop myself putting something else in its place.
Welcome back. It sounds like you’re doing a lot of fitness activities. And enjoying them too, which is always good.Enjoy the last week with your children before the place is quiet again.
Thank you. Yes, thoroughly enjoying all the fitness and how it makes a difference to the rest of my day.
Hello! I must admit now I have a little more time I was thinking about maybe going to the gym again but my arm has to get better first. Well done knitting all the socks! I wish I could knit, my nan tried teaching me once but I was a lost cause LOL Maybe I should try again.
Hopefully you will mend quick and be able to go soon. Knitting is my therapy, but definitely easier when you have use of both your arms 😀
Keeping fit is great and it sounds like a lot of fun too. Hero does look cute, I’d give him a Bonio. I hope you enjoy the last week of having a full house. Welcome back 🙂
Hero thinks you have made the right choice.
Lovely to see you back Cheryl! I disappeared for four years but I’m so glad I cam back. The classes sound like good fun, one of my goals this year is to strengthen my leg muscles as I’ve lost some muscle mass over the last couple of years. I might have a look to see if our local council runs anything similar.
Hope this week is lots of fun for you all together before uni starts again.
Yes to going to the gym. I have never regretted my decision to go.
I saw the dance class going on and was curious. I was told that it was difficult to find the sign up page for the classes on local council site and they were right. Glad I persevered. They have so many other wellbeing classes going on that I’d like to try.
Welcome back Cheryl and happy new year. How lovely to have filled a box of socks for gifting. I love that shade of blue that you are using for the jumper for your youngest. Glad you’re enjoying the dance class and good luck with the strength class. Lovely to do some decluttering. Hope you enjoy this week with everyone still at home before your oldest two go back to university. #WotW
It’s good to be back and I plan to get into the habit again. It’s been fun catching up with everyone else and seeing what they are up to. 🙂
Yay! I was soooooo happy to see an update from you. I’ve really missed your posts.
Well done with the gym! And the dance classes sound fab too.
I also have the decluttering bug. We dropped off god knows how many bags at the charity shop yesterday, feels good to have more space though.
Hero is such a cutie. I’m sure he gets plenty of Bonios! 🙂
I’m not sure I’m really appreciating the space our decluttering freed up, which probably means that I need to do more. Glad you are enjoying more space. Hero agrees whole heartedly with you.