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Much of a muchness
Things that make you go 'hmm'…
Happy New Year!
Posted by on January 3, 2009
Well, I’m back. Christmas and New Year passed off very smoothly and enjoyably – ate too much, drank too much, watched too many movies but I am actually facing the New Year (despite the downbeat news) with optimism and equanimity, I am going to make it a good one. It was great to spend time with my boys and my lovely friends. Santa must have thought I had been a good girl last year, as he was extraordinarily generous and somehow managed to get a new 24″ iMac down my chimney.
The dog loved having the boys home as much as I did, and he adored having two large creatures willing to roll about on the floor with him and brave the arctic conditions to chase around the garden and take him to the beach. Boy toys as opposed to toy boys, I guess. Now they have returned home, Milo sits looking at me with a tragic look on his face whimpering quietly, wondering why I am such a boring replacement ( answer – because I am playing with my iMac…..)
I haven’t been blogging (what do you mean you hadn’t noticed?!) but I have been spending an inordinate amount of time on Facebook. Yesterday I decided to delete all the outstanding ‘notifications’ (almost 60), so apologies if you sent me ‘Karma’ , a plant for my Lil’ green patch, an invitation to play poker, scrabble or a war game, or just wanted to poke, hug or throw a sheep at me, but there were so many I decided to start afresh. New Year and all that….sorry.
The new year has begun on a very good note. I was very gratified to read that it is a really bad idea to go on a diet at the moment, what with the flu epidemic and the horrid sickness (and worse) lurgy doing the rounds, apparently if you are on a diet, your body’s ability to fight off the viruses is reduced. Read more here. So that’s one less resolution to have to worry about breaking.
More good news is that Andy Murray has just won an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi defeating both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on the way. And the BBC are announcing who the new Doctor Who will be in 30 minutes in a special program on BBC 1 – all very exciting.
I’ve also been asked to do several web design projects and a big bookbinding project which I will tell you about in a few weeks time. Who knows? Maybe my ‘hobbies’ will start to earn me some money – which would be a fine thing indeed.
I found a really funny image which keeps making me laugh…
So it’s been a really good start to the year. I hope yours has begun as well and I wish you lots of wonderfulness for 2009. The best New Year wishes I read were two both by the great Neil Gaiman
“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.”
“…I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you’ll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you’ll make something that didn’t exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind.”
Wonderful. You can’t put it better than that, can you?
Happy New Year everyone.
Later : Ooh, couldn’t wait so I have seen who new Doctor Who is and thought I would tell you all…it’s ……..Matt Smith. Matt Smith? Who?
Ooh I’m not sure about this at all. My year might have just gone pear-shaped already…
Much of a muchness 
Good to hear you had a great New Year..as for Matt Smith, he’s not exactly what I’d call eye candy!
Happy New Year to you!
I know what you mean! He is very odd looking! He has a very hard act to follow – I will wait to be convinced…
That yummy dish you bought from Sainsbury’s sounds delicious! Never heard of it before either – Rumbledethumps? Sounds like cheesey bubble and squeak to me – yum!
Diane, welcome back to the blogosphere! I hope you’re here to stay for a while. Happy new year and much wonderfulness to you, too!
Love the Wallace poster!
I try not to send people too many “things” on FB. I know it does get overwhelming; I have a few to delete myself. And that was a totally hilarious video spoof of FB! I’ve often thought about how weird online social networking is (and now I’m stuck in it). ;}
Making money from your “hobbies”: does that mean your lovely books will finally be up on Etsy, or some other site like it? 8>
The Neil Gaiman quotes are wonderful; I really need to go read some of his books (instead of snippets of his writing at various blogs *grin*).
Happy 2009 to you, dear Diane!!
Well there you are ……… tsk.
Matt Smith will be excellent – trust me. All you goddesses will be beguiled ‘ere long. Mind you, I thought a grumpy ol’ Doctor on the verge of dementia would have been good – but I missed the auditions – tee hee
Happy New Year Diane ……… [hopefully my connection will be mended tomorrow ……. I can’t afford the time pages take to load at the moment ……… double tsk]
I do so love reading your blog Diane – it always puts a smile on my face…
I look forward to reading may more in 2009
Love ‘Quantum of Wallace’
I think he’ll be a good Dr Who….as they revealed in the show last night, each doctor sets the agenda for the next one, and after Tennant a younger edgier doctor is a perfect choice. Plus the show is essential viewing for teens and they’ll love him.
Amy – Happy New year to you and it is nice to be back! Touch and go for a while but I will keep blogging!
Hope your eyes are better….
Teresa – yes, my own website is almost ready and you will be able to buy from it. I even managed to sell some books at the Art Sale I told you about a few weeks ago. (The joys of panic buying!)
I’m glad you enjoyed the laughs I found. The benefit of not blogging for a while is that I have found some good new stuff! Hurrah for StumbleUpon!
Happy 2009!
DP – I’m sure you are right. I wasn’t sure about David Tennant when he first took over and look how well he turned out!
Hope your connection gets fixed soon. Hurrah for BT, eh? Not.
Have a Happy New Year anyway!
Carol – you are sweet! We must get together for a dog walk soon. I fancy a trip to the Hive Beach cafe for a spot of lunch too…..
Gail – you are probably right. I reckon he is one of those not obviously attractive people who really grow on you. I rather like people like that. I have strange crushes on Gerard Depardieu, John Malkovich and – wait for it – Jimmy Nail, for instance….
I think the French call them ‘joli-laid’!
Happy New Year to you, Diane!!!
So cool, qantum of wallace. love it.
HNY Diane … onwards and upwards in 2009 :-)
! 2009 and beyond. Happy New Year
Astrid! Happy New Year to you too. Happy bookbinding!
70s – and the same to you! I’m trying to work out what your mini avatar is – doesn’t look the same as the bigger one…
Manoballs – happy New Year to you too!
Happy New Year!
Matt Smith! I heard he was in The History Boys (one of my top five films) so I spent a while desperately trying to match his face to the Lockwood character in my head. Couldn’t. I later found out he was ONLY in the stage production. Also, I saw an interview with him. Wasn’t impressed. I tried my hardest to like him but he just came across a bit affected. Oh, dear. I’ll try and keep an open-mind.
Brrrrrr. I heard it’s cold in England. Stay warm.
Tom
Happy New Year. Glad you are back. I don’t know about the new Doctor yet either.
At least you got to see the Christmas episode of Doctor Who. I don’t think that aired in the United States yet.
Happy New Year, Diane.. :)
Tom – I only ever saw the film of the History Boys too (although I had tickets to the stage production and didn’t go – long story!)
I’m trying to stay positive too.They couldn’t ruin Doctor Who – could they?
It is freeeeezing! I should wait for it to warm up before you head back to the UK although I guess Poland is pretty cold at the mo’ too.
SW – Happy New Year! I taped the Christmas Doctor Who and haven’t got round to watching it yet ….you have just reminded me…tonight maybe!
Dunn – and a wonderful 2009 to you too!
thanks for the add. i like the new year’s greeting. quite different:
“magic and dreams and good madness”. liked it! particularly the ‘good madness’ bit -i think i need a large dose of that ha ha
thanks!
haha! that facebook parody had me cracking up. so did the wallace poster
Facebook? What might that be? Here is to a rain-free Wimbledon in June (yeah, right).
abby – I couldn’t decide which New Year wish I preferred so I included them both as the sentiments in each were so perfect. Happy New Year!
dinflux Ed – glad you enjoyed them. Wallace always makes me smile :-)
mark – you know Facebook – all our friends live there :-)
You are always there when I sign in….
No tickets for Wimbledon this year – forgot to apply in time :-(