My January: A Very Happy (but very long) Post
By pumpkinjam
@pumpkinjam (8818)
United Kingdom
January 11, 2025 4:33am CST
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I do hope that your Christmas/Yule/other was good, and that 2025 has got off to a good start.
My year, so far, has been fantastic. It started with a
1.5lb weight loss, which is great because I've been creeping up recently.
My work has been good. It has been quite busy, and I have had some unusual calls. However, I have had some lovely compliments from my customers thanking me for my help, support, and patience, and praising my knowledge. One particularly lovely one, I shared with my team leader (as we are encouraged to do). The customer said lots of lovely things about how professional I'd been, how I'd listened and how I'd be a good person for others to learn from. He spent a good proportion of the call complimenting me My team leader shared the compliments with my team. We often do have such things but this was the first time one of mine had been shared. I was very proud of that! And others will be learning from me as I'll be coaching a newbie from the end of this month.
I had a 4 year streak anniversary on Duo Lingo. I've done several languages on that but mostly German. When I went to Germany, most people spoke English to me anyway.
I've been checking my stats on a writing site (since someone, I forget who, asked here about how often people check their stats). I happened to see some stats on my poetry blog, surprised that people are reading it when I don't really advertise it or put much on very often. It was a similar story for my WordPress blog. Both blogs have pretty low a activity but not bad for blogs that are mostly forgotten.
The main writing site I use is Vocal Media. Again, I hadn't published anything for some time but my stats were increasing from over 20% more views to over 60% then over 80%. I then did add something and my stats went to 97% increase.
On my last check, it was 112%. I'm hoping this continues for when I submit my next piece!
I saw a thing about a local amateur theatre company. It looked like a bit of an information evening. I thought I'd pop along and see what they had to offer. I didn't realise that my little town had more than one amateur theatre. I used to do youth theatre, which both of my sons did until the company was disbanded due to the venue closure.
My youngest son was involved in other performing arts. Once left college, he didn't do anything for a while. He then joined our long-standing local theatre company when they found a new venue (they were originally based in the same building as the youth theatre). My son began behind the scenes for his first show as he joined mid-rehearsals. For his second show, he gave an excellent comedic performance of Jacob Marley in a silly version of A Christmas Carol. Anyway, I mention this not only as a proud theatre mama but also because I'd missed the stage myself. I'd been volunteering at our newly re-opened theatre (the original rehearsal venue for local theatre was annexed (I think that's the right description) to the main theatre/arts venue. I'd enjoyed that very much but it did also make me realise how much I missed performing. I didn't want to join the same company as my son as I feel that's his thing and he has enough of me at home! When I saw this other local theatre, which uses the same venue, I decided to have a look.
When I got there, I was asked who I knew already. There was one person there that I knew. That's someone I'd known from youth theatre and is involved in various local theatre groups including the one my son is in. I was asked if I was in that one. I said that my son was, and was asked who he was and who he had played in Christmas Carol. When I said, the person I was talking to said how fantastic my sons performance was and that they really enjoyed it. Of course, I think he's brilliant but it's nice for other people to say it
Furthermore, I thought this meeting was just a general one to find out more and see what shows they'd be doing. It was but I didn't realise they'd be expecting for people to decide straight away about the parts for which they wanted to audition. So after not being on stage for a good 20 years, I've put my name down to audition for a main part in a musical. I'm a little worried as my memory isn't as good as it used to be. I know I can act, my singing could be better, and I've no idea if I can dance. I'm usually as graceful as a drunken elephant, although I did a good turn falling down a step and landing on my feet. I was also once told that my archery stance was graceful. Oh yeah, I forgot what I was saying about memory 20 years ago, I could read a script one day and recite the whole thing the next. This time, I've read two very short audition pieces (a single A4 page for one, and half that for another) and remember not a single word of it.
I had decided to learn guitar and have singing lessons. I think doing the musical might cover the singing but I'd still like to do guitar as well.
I've had a few people wanting to arrange social things with me this month. I've just about managed to fit in everything except a date with my best friend. She might have to wait until February! I thought I had lots of free time but signing up to do a show (I'll at least be in the ensemble even if I don't get a speaking part.
My big sister wanted to do something with me and her sister-in-law. We've chosen a day and a place. We just need to sort out specifics (which, for some reason, I offered to sort out so I'd better get on with that soon or it'll be too late to book anything that needs booking).
My auntie asked to get together with me, my two sisters, and my little cousin (auntie's daughter). I'd originally said I'd be available evenings and weekends but then other things happened. I suggested a quiz night at a pub where they have a regular quiz. It's on every Sunday. Getting everyone together at the same time can be tricky with competing schedules, but I thought the Sunday quiz would be good because everyone can get there, we all like quizzes, and I don't think any of us usually do much on a Sunday.
I was limited to which Sunday as I had some Saturday plans and I don't like to do things two days in a row! Saying that, just before I asked the ladies about the quiz thing, I'd been invited to another quiz. That's going to be the 18th then we're doing the pub quiz on the 19th! The one on the 18th is at the venue where I volunteer. My husband and sons will come with me to that. Well, my husband and youngest son both said they would but I've not asked the eldest yet. I expect he'll go. Both boys have also been volunteering there. I was surprised that my youngest seemed willing and even happy to join us
Apart from those little things, January is popular for birthdays in our family! It's a friend's birthday tomorrow. I won't see her but will send her a message.
Next week, my youngest step-daughter will be 28, my eldest son will be 25, and my father-in-law will be very old He will be 79 so that might mean a big do to be planned next year! Next week (all on the same day) is my mum's, mother-in-law's and one niece's birthday. Mother-in-law will be 78, niece will be 26, and my mum will be 70. There will be no big do for her. She doesn't like that sort of thing. I've bought her a book (which was meant as a Christmas present but turned up late - advantages January birthday ) and I've made her something. It's a cross-stitch crocodile with the number 70 on it, which I've inserted into a fridge magnet.
I've also made something for my son - that is a keyring that combines fretwork, pyrography, and paint pens and then I got all the loops and carabiner to make it into a keyring. I also got him stationery because he likes that sort of thing. Everyone else has had just a card or money.
I mentioned a cousin earlier. Two of her three children have January birthdays. I always just send them a card. Then my husband's best friend's birthday is nearer the end of January so we're going out for a meal with him and his wife. I'd almost forgotten about that until my brain told me something about the date.
Today, my husband is treating me to a pub lunch while my youngest son gets some training on the theatre box office. Eldest son is with his dad and, presumably, spending time with other family. He'll be with me on Monday.
Tomorrow, I should get some work done on an article I need to finish.
I think I should make myself a sign saying "Do not disturb until summer"
So that's how my year is going so far. How's yours?
4 people like this
4 responses
@RasmaSandra (81617)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11 Jan
Well, you've been busy and your new year has started out with a bang, Lots of luck in all you do, So far I have a accomplished all I set out to do at the beginning of January,
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8818)
• United Kingdom
12 Jan
Thank you. Did you set out to do a lot? My intention was to aim for and achieve absolutely nothing so I've surpassed that
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (81617)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 Jan
@pumpkinjam in this new year I am taking on month at a time
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (183617)
• United States
11 Jan
Sounds like you are off to a great start!
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8818)
• United Kingdom
11 Jan
Yes, I'm exhausted just thinking about it and I've just had a message from by best friend asking to come over next week. She's made a birthday cake for my son so I'm sure we'll fit her in somehow
@LindaOHio (183946)
• United States
11 Jan
Whew! Thank you for the update. Hope you have a good weekend.
1 person likes this