Blog Posts, Prompts

JusJoJan 31st – the last post

… for JusJoJan 2023. Due to family and work circumstances, I’ve managed to miss a chunk of blogging. So, consider this a mega-blog to make up for it. You may need to engage your endurance, exercise some patience while you’re reading (this post wanders a lot), and make sure to set up your ideal amenities for your persoal comfort.

Meanwhile, as I write my last seasonal JusJoJan, I am reminded to express my gratitude for your friendship, sympathy and support throughout recent events. The Dean family will dust themselves down, take our canine pupster for a good long walk in the fresh air and hope to be back on form again soon.

Looking further ahead, I can already see Mr D’s plans for my retirement… he would like to keep me busy with DIY and furniture up-cycling. I like the idea, but if he even thinks about buying me a paintbrush for my birthday there will be hell to pay… mostly on his credit card!

And with that, I am down to one last word, Phantom. What on earth to do with that? Be grateful that pupster has been spayed so she never has to go through a phantom pregnancy? Or book tickets to see The Phantom of the Opera when Mr D and I are next in London? Who knows!

Oops! Just when you think it’s all done, there’s one more word… periwinkle. This word conjures up two memories. The first one is of me as a small child on the beach, combing through tidal rock pools, collecting periwinkles in my beach bucket and then being sad when I had to let them go at the end of the day. And the second memory is of Mum on my wedding day. She loved periwinkle blue and managed to find an outfit, shoes, hat and handbag, all in matching periwinkle. The colour suited her perfectly. It was my favourite ‘posh do’ outfit and saw a few more weddings after its first outing.

And with that, we are done. JusJoJan is over for another year. I’d like to thank all the word suppliers (see this post for the full list and links) and our host, Linda G Hill. I don’t know how she manages to be so organized!

Blog Posts, Prompts

JusJoJan 16th – Blue Monday is a matter of perspective

Today’s prompt word ‘optimism’ is supplied by June and hosted by Linda G Hill, as part of the JusJoJan challenge. Why not visit both bloggers and give them a follow if you haven’t already.

Phew! On with today’s little jot.

Even though today has been labelled ‘Blue Monday’, I’m not feeling remotely blue. In fact I’m filled with optimism for an improving rest of January.

  • The guest that outstayed their welcome is now sitting in the departure lounge, waiting to fly home to the US.
  • The Dean house feels more settled and relaxed again.
  • And I’ve set the date to hand in my notice at work. The thought of being mistress of my own daily timetable fills me with unbridled optimism to the point of being giddy with excitement.