HODGEPODGE JANUARY 1

 1. Oxford's Word of the year for 2024 is 'brain rot'. Are you familiar with this term? Do you suffer from the condition? Ha! This is a term used to 'capture concerns about the impact of consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content, especially on social media'. If you were choosing a word to capture 2024 (for the nation/world, not your own life personally) what word would you choose? 

Peace

2. It's National Polar Bear Plunge Day (January 1)...will you be participating in one of these events (or even your own)? How will you spend the first day of this brand new year? Do you have a traditional New Year's Day menu? 

I don't know the National Polar Bear Plunge Day, but it's certainly a good thing. Bears I only know from a zoo !

3. What's something that brings you joy and how will you do more of it in this new year? 

Travel and discover more of the world, but for the moment my health doesn't allow it ! It would bring me so much joy !

4. Do you struggle with the January blues? What's one thing you can/will do to keep them at bay? 

I think even the happiest person would get depressed. We had 10 days of sunshine here otherwise it rained or was humid the whole month of December.

I have a light therapy lamp, which should replace the sun. It was invented in the Northern countries where in winter they have 3 h daylight !!! I have it since a few years and I think it helps a bit. You won't get brown with this it's only for the light.

 

5.Will you choose your own personal word of the year for 2025? What about a goal, resolution, or maybe even a bucket list? Elaborate as much or as little as you like. 

I don't have a personal word for 2025. All depends on my lung disease, how I feel. If I am getting better I want to make a little cruise or going somewhere and laying in the sand at the beach. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I think we all have the same thought here, is the sun still existing ? 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

The view of Istanbul by day from the roof of our hotel

and by night

The swimming pool by night

It was pure coincidence that I found a small hotel in the middle of Istambul in Turkey. There were 3 floors and our room was on the top of the building. We could observe the daily life of the people who lived there, the windows were all open, we had a view over the not richest part of the city, but very interesting and even a swimming pool on the roof ! In the hotel were young and old guests from mostly UK and Germany who returned to this hotel for years.

more participants here, and Image-in-ing

AWWWW- WEEKEND DECEMBER 28

 Charlie loved to roll in cow pat (his perfume from Dior)

 

Linking to AWWW MONDAYS 

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Saturday a miracle happened ! The sun was shining the whole day, but it was freezing cold.  Sun and cold lifts the mood ! So we had a nice question and answer game which we always like to do very much.

It's amazing that those who have lost their orientation sense completely and we have to bring them to their room have an excellent general knowledge and know things which I have to google for ! There is a man in a wheelchair because he is too big and his knees gave up to carry him, he knows all African cities from countries I never heard of ! Or most of us thought that the capital of the Netherlands would be Amsterdam, but it is Den Haag. 

There are a lot of us who have bronchitis or a cold, so we were only 12 to play instead of 20.

On Sunday we got the bad weather back and it was even freezing during night. I suddenly had an attack of energy and put all Christmas stuff in its box and tidied up the chest which I hadn't done since I moved in here over a year ago. I found old ball invitations from when I was 16  or something and also my diary which I started when I was 13 years old. Now I have to get rid of the junk I found in there. 

Yesterday I started cycling in our fitness room. I don't walk much, either because I can't or because it's raining again. I can't remember when I last rode a bike! It must have been over 25 years! I was surprised that it was quite easy for me, even though I had to pedal quite hard. After all, I pedaled 250 times yesterday and 350 today! I've told myself to do it every day now!