!st January 2019. One of my goals for this year has been to write more. Doesn’t matter what it is, just to get into a habit, that may lead to more creative things. So to start with, I will bore anyone who happens to come across this blog, with the gory details of my life.

So I made a list. Of goals (not resolutions – that’s important!), included on this list is to read more and write more, but also be a better friend (family member, all round more socialable me!). Also, be a better vegan. Ok I’m pretty good, but dairy does slip into my diet from time to time, particlaurly when I am away from home and I got really lapse over the Christmas period. But it’s Veganuary! So I shall raise my game and focus on making it last!

Another is – sober for a year. Yeah, right. I’ll give it a shot though (see what I did there?).

Today is day 1. The gym is shut, but the weather is unseasonably balmy. I have decided to walk to my mother’s house, a 12k trek if I take the scenic route along the canal. Which I do. First, though, I get prepared! I make some juice for lunch to take with me, and soup for dinner. My own version of Jason Vale’s Hunky Chunky Veg. When I say my own version, it’s probably pretty much spot on, I just did it from memory rather than following the recipe and think I got it all. Onion, parsnip, carrot and sweet potato. (oops I forgot to take a picture of the finished product. I was HUNGRY!)

Once all is done, I set off. First stop, I check on my swan family. I have written about them before, two swans and their pet goose! The last time I walked along here, maybe about a month ago, goose was around in his usual lookout spot, but the swans were nowhere to be seen. This time, goose appeared to have picked up a harem of ducks, but the swans again were gone. Someone had decided to cut down all the bushes at the spot they make their home (taking away Mr. Goose’s favourite lookout spot) and I was beginning to get a little worried about them. As I get to the very end of their territory, there they were, swimming along, proud as ever.

It is actually a glorious day, a welcome respite from the gloomy, overcast, foggy days of December. My walk is brisk, despite the hold ups from the many families also out taking advantage of the sunny bank holiday weather. Really. Strolling. In gangs. I make good progress but the sun is setting as I near the end of the walk.

I reach my mother’s a little later than I had hoped, but we have a lovely catch up. Also she has laid out food! And home made biscuits, which appear to be made from the same cutters we had when I was a child. Hearts and diamonds!

She has some problems with the new phone we got her and it takes some explaining that the new(er) iPhone has on it all the same things her old iPhone had on it. And that she really no longer needs the old iPhone 3. Which is no longer supported. But she likes it. So will carry the pair of them around for ever I imagine!

It is time to leave sooner than I would like, and I decide to walk home. Not along the canal at this late hour, but a brisk walk through the streets. Only 8k this way! It’s a nice walk, still not too cold, up the steep Carr Lane to be rewarded by a view of blinking lights for miles across Shipley and Bradford and then on to home where I find that Mr. C is actually not at work at all this evening.

Having an array of TV to catch up with, we decide to tackle Cloak and Dagger first. We have little knowledge of the story and settle down to watch a couple of episodes before bed. This turned into four episodes and I had to tear myself away and to bed if I was going to get some reading in before sleep overtook.

We are both intrigued by the series. It makes a refreshing change from the usual comic book adaptations. It’s the first thing in a while that I have been really gripped by. We’ll see how it pans out, but it is definitely looking promising.

I take myself off to bed, and realise I forgot to actually charge my iPad! I plug it in and wait for enough charge to switch it on while I get ready for bed.

Vittorio, by Anne Rice, the second installment of The New Tales of the Vampires is the book I have been struggling with for a while. It is the first book of hers I have found difficult. I will (and do) persevere and move on to complete the rest of the series in both the New and Old Tales of the vampires and then to her more recent books that I have not yet read.

I spend some time messing about, setting up Goodreads (I somehow can’t get into my old account) and trying out Bookly also, then get down to the business of reading. I manager a chapter before I sleep.